Why Do So Many Small Business Websites Look The Same In 2020?
Let's dive into why all websites look the same in 2020
Just like popular cars tend to all start looking the same, so do websites. With cars it's an adoption of design, style, adhering safety standards, and ultimately which one sells. Websites are similar but usually this comes down to more analytical data that mere design aesthetic. Smaller website owners look to big brands to see what works, because big brands have the budget to do all sorts of a/b testing with different page designs, and they track the conversion rate through the entire website. So naturally trends and best practices evolve over time, to make the user experience ideal.
While I always recommend installing tracking and constant analysis with as much traffic data as you can collect, you can only do so much with your own traffic. Bigger brands do not leave anything to chance. There is a reason for everything on a website from the colors, font, font size, pictures, how many clicks to the content they are looking for. The reason is not to make the website look "nice". the reason is to get the visitor to convert into a customer in a predictable and efficient way.
Take the shape of an SUV these days and it's pretty much identical with every brand. The only thing that really changes is the bumpers and the logo placement. The car manufacturers have boiled down years of sales data and consumer use to settle on the, in their eyes, ideal car. Sales ultimately prove it.
A similar trend in websites is the layout of an ideal landing page. A landing page is the target for traffic on a website either from organic traffic, or promoted traffic. This is a page that is built to specifically cause the visitor to complete an action. Maybe it's signing up for a newsletter, or perhaps it's purchasing a service or product. Whatever it is, subtle design choices can be the difference between new customers or everyone bouncing to the competitor. Leave nothing to chance. The design needs to have a singular user flow to get them to take the intended action.
For example a typical trend in a landing page is trying to have that action "above the fold". Above the fold means that the content or action the user will take is in plain view without scrolling. If they have to scroll to see what you wnat to show them, you will simply lose most of your traffic as they will think they are on the wrong page.
So if the action is to get users to sign up to the newsletter, the form for that newsletter should be visible as soon as the page loads, both on desktop and mobile. There should really be no other action they can take on that page, to no confuse the visitor on what they are there for. If it's a product you want the user to buy, the buy now button better be front and center and visible without the user needing to interact at all with the page.
Once those fundamentals of a good landing page are taken care of, then you can start drilling down into very specific design changes to test what gets more conversion. Does the button get clicked more when it's red or green? Do people click buy now more when it's on the left or on the right of the page? These are legit differences that you need to track and test to find the perfect landing page. As I mentioned luckily the data on these types of design changes has already and continuously being refined by big brands, so most new or smaller websites will benefit of reviewing what the big brands are doing. There's a good chance they've crunched the numbers and the design is there because it works. So the design cues trickle down to everyday websites sometimes even by mistake because some websites owners simply "want a website like that one" simple because they like the look of it, but chances are they like it because the conversion data works, and nothing was left to chance.
More info
This summarizes information related to why all websites look the same.
- Frenzy and Desperation as Small Businesses Grab for Government Aid ( nytimes.com ) - A $349 billion program to throw them a financial lifeline got off to a rocky start on Friday as the U.S. economy continued to seize up.
- Home ( eeoc.gov ) -
- Why do so many small business websites look the same in 2020? • 2:45Tech Knoxville, TN ( 245.tech ) - We provide technology-driven solutions to help your business succeed through consulting, web development, mobile apps, & digital marketing in Knoxville, TN.
- 27 Eye-Opening Website Statistics [Updated for 2020] ( sweor.com ) - Is your website building credibility and acquiring leads, or is it costing you clients? [27 eye-opening statistics on responsive design & user experience]
- Before You Hire A Web Designer - Read This (Aug 2020) ( websitebuilderexpert.com ) - You should not use a web designer before your business makes money. See our arguments on how to prioritize your resources to build a successful business.
- How to Build a Business Website: The Ultimate 2020 Guide ( websitebuilderexpert.com ) - We'll teach you how to create a business website with a website builder or WordPress, with just 8 steps each!
- Why Do I Need a Small Business Website in 2020? ( jimdo.com ) - When times are tough, a website is better for business than social media alone and easier to set up than you might think. See why!
- Some small businesses are flourishing during the COVID-19 pandemic - Marketplace ( marketplace.org ) - From bidets to delivery boxes, the global pandemic has boosted some businesses.
- How to Choose the Best Website Builder in 2020 (Compared) ( wpbeginner.com ) - Are you looking for the best website builder to start your new website? Check out how to choose the best website builder with our expert pros and cons list.
- 20 Best Small Business WordPress Themes 2020 - aThemes ( athemes.com ) - Every small business needs a good website – at least those that are looking for more clients and customers. However, not all small business owners…
- Small Business Website Cost (2020 Update) - Mark Brinker ( markbrinker.com ) - An honest, detailed explanation of the factors that increase/decrease the cost of building a website for a small business.
- Revised: New SBA and Treasury Programs Available for Small Business Relief ( fdic.gov ) - Revised: New SBA and Treasury Programs Available for Small Business Relief
- SAME > Home ( same.org ) -
- Small Business Grants: Here Are 32 You Can Apply For In 2020 ( digital.com ) - Need funding for your business? Read our guide on how to find & apply to grants, plus a links to 30+ best grants for small business owners and entrepreneurs.
- The Best Website Builders for 2020 ( pcmag.com ) - Anyone with an organization, a small business, or just a passion needs a website to share it with the world. These are the best website builders we've tested for making it easy to create full-featured, mobile-compatible sites on a budget and with no coding required.
- Small Business Tax Information ( usa.gov ) - Learn about business taxes and incentives.
- The Ultimate List of Online Business Statistics (2020) ( wpforms.com ) - Are you wondering about online business statistics that might help give you insight into how to grow your business? If so, check out this ultimate list.
- Remarks by President Trump, Vice President Pence, and Members of the Coronavirus Task Force in Press Briefing ( whitehouse.gov ) - James S. Brady Press Briefing Room March 23, 2020 6:11 P.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you very much. And I see we have fewer people because of the v
- 10+ Best Small Business Website Examples of 2020 ( wix.com ) - These small business website examples provide users with a compelling and intuitive browsing experience, and will inspire you in promoting your brand online.
- 5 Reasons Not To Use Wix For Your Website – A Brief Wix Review ( fullychargedmedia.com ) - Building a DIY website with Wix could cost your business $317,782.40 in lost revenue. Find out why.
Topics
These topics were mentioned multiple times across various sources:
- web design
- business owner
- social media
- website builder
- domain name
- user experience
- content management system
- color scheme
- email marketing
- app store
- landing page
- social network
- home page
- credit card
- content marketing
- web development
- blogger
- call to action
- mobile phone
- search engine optimization
- target market
- graphic design
- user interface
- responsive design
- digital marketing
- web presence
- open source
- target audience
- supply chain
- front end
Questions
These are some relevant questions found across sources:
- How Much Does It Cost To Build A Website For A Small Business?
- How to Build a Business Website with a Website Builder
- why should you pretend to be a website developer when your business depends on your website?
- How can I create a website for my business for free?
- How to Create a Business Website using a Website Builder
- Which website builder is best for business websites?
- Why Do I Need a Website for My Small Business?
- How long does it take to create a business website?
- When is the Right Time to Hire A Website Designer or Developer?
Sections
These are some relevant subsections found across sources:
- Website Building Support Options
- Get your hands on our Ultimate Website Building Checklist for free!
- Website Design Tools
- GoDaddy Websites + Marketing
- Here are some helpful resources to help you pick the right web builder and design template:
- Free Website Builders
- You Need a Website
- Best small business website examples
- Making Money From Your Website
- Choose a website builder and make money online today
Statistics
These are some factual sentences found across sources:
- According to Google, of users are unlikely to return to a site on mobile if they had trouble accessing it and 40% visit a competitors site instead What it means: ( sweor.com )
- But for some reason, an estimated 30-40% of small businesses have been slow to get online. ( jimdo.com )
- According to one survey , 29% of small businesses plan to use a website for the first time in 2020. ( jimdo.com )
- Credit: Nina Roberts With an immediate recession predicted due to COVID-19, venture capital funding is drying up and startups like Cleancult are worried. ( marketplace.org )
- He estimated his business has increased 400% since COVID-19 spread to Europe and then North America. ( marketplace.org )
- Will require an investment of several thousand dollars (most likely in the $3k-$10k range) to create a new site from scratch or redesign an existing site. ( markbrinker.com )
- : 50 percent off 1&1 IONOS : One month free trial *Deals are selected by our partner, TechBargains Getting your own website used to require a lot of tech wizardry, including knowledge of servers, HTML, FTP, site registrars, and web hosting services . ( pcmag.com )
- These are the 2020 Estimated Federal Tax due dates: ( usa.gov )
- Asia has the highest percentage of internet users (49%), followed by Europe (16.8%), Africa (11%), and North America (8.2%). ( wpforms.com )
- It's estimated that by the year 2040, 95% of purchases will be through eCommerce. ( Nasdaq 16. ( wpforms.com )
