The internet has rapidly changed over the past decade, with social media being a major driving force in this change. In the modern era, websites must be optimized to be accessible and attractive on diverse social media platforms, fundamentally altering the way web design has traditionally been approached. This article explores the ways in which social media is impacting website design and how adapting to these changes can help businesses succeed in the digital age.
1. Connecting the Digital World with Website Design
As the digital world continues to expand, businesses need to jump on board and update their approach to website design. With the rise of new technologies, there are now more possibilities for businesses to try out when it comes to web design. Here are some of the ways in which businesses can make the most of the digital world with website design:
Focus on Mobile Optimization
Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices have been on the rise for quite some time now, and that means businesses must start paying attention to mobile optimization. Responsive website design is essential to stay ahead of the competition and keep your website up to date.
Stay Secure
In a digital world, it’s essential that businesses are aware of the potential risks associated with their website design. Security is of utmost importance and businesses must promise their customers total security when they use their website.
- Keep Content Fresh: Content is king, so updating your content often is essential.
- Focus on UX Design: A great user experience is key to a successful website design.
- Invest in SEO: SEO is an integral part of website design in the digital world.
With the right website design, businesses have the chance to truly take advantage of the digital world. High quality website design and security is vital for businesses that want to strengthen their presence online and boost their profits.
2. Exploring the Influence of Social Media
The world of social media has become ubiquitous and its influence is ever growing. It has been credited for facilitating democracy and advocacy, creating communities and facilitating friendships, spreading news and information. It has also been pinned with serious issues like cyberbullying, trolling, and an unhealthy preoccupation with likes and followers.
It is evident that social media has started to shape not just our personal lives, but how we perceive the world as well. It has redefined the meaning of relationships, and created a new kind of influencer economy, promising fame and success. This new currency of likes and follower counts has given a platform to many new age entrepreneurs. However, this kind of technology has also been blamed for fueling the darker side of our egos. Despite its proven pros and cons, the ability of this growing technology is still an unknown.
3. How Social Media Impacts Web Design
The impact social media has had on web design and development is palpable. As people continue to spend more and more time online, the need for a better, more engaging user experience on the web has never been greater. Here are some key ways in which social media has changed web design:
- Faster Development Cycles: Social media demands quick turnarounds, so web developers and designers must remain agile and adaptive to keep up with new trends and user demands.
- More Responsive Design: Websites must respond quickly and responsively to user comments, feedback, and interactions.
The design of a website needs to feel both personal and inviting to draw users in. Color, images, animation, and other media all play a role in making a website attractive and user friendly. Design elements, such as fonts and color schemes, should be carefully chosen to evoke emotion and create a memorable user experience. Consequently, web designers must understand how to best leverage social media platforms to create a cohesive website look and feel.
4. Crafting an Engaging User Experience
Creating a memorable, inspiring user experience is all about the details. From ensuring intuitive navigation to layering on delightful embellishments, crafting a great UX requires careful forethought and design savvy. Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Tailor the Experience: Personalizing the user experience is key. Whether it’s tailored searching functionality or custom content, strive to make the user at ease and encourage them to stay longer, explore more and enjoy the experience.
- Simplify: To keep users engaged, simplify the user interfaces, navigation and steps so that the experience is easy to understand.
- Give Clarity: Make sure that users understand what they’re looking at, and how it links to other elements on the site. Use language, labeling and visuals to help users quickly and clearly identify what they need.
Ensuring a delightful user experience is all about making the experience intuitive and easy. By making small refinements and simplifying content and user flow, you can help people find their way around quickly and without friction.
5. Crafting a Customized Digital Platform
Creating a Unified Interface
Creating a digital platform requires cohesive UI solutions to unify experiences across multiple digital channels. It’s critical that customers experience the same look, feel, and functionality regardless of device. Designers should take the lead in unifying the various elements of the platform, from fonts to menus, to buttons and more.
Leveraging Existing Practices
When beginning the UI design process, it’s essential to research and understand existing platforms and practices that the project aims to incorporate. Leveraging existing patterns is an excellent way to help customers understand the platform more intuitively. Think about elements like:
- Menu layout
- Navigation conventions
- Usability guidelines
By understanding existing practices, designers can create a platform that’s both familiar and customized. As we have seen, social media plays an increasingly important role in website design. Its impact can be positive, negative, or both, but ultimately the design of a website is a key factor in determining a user’s experience. With this in mind, as website designers we should be mindful of the interplay between social media and our designs, and strive to create beautiful and functional websites that take advantage of the various tools and platforms at our disposal.
Jordan Jankoviak 
