In the digital age, having an online presence is crucial for businesses and individuals alike. However, not all websites are created equal. While an average website might fulfill basic functions, a great website goes above and beyond, creating an engaging, user-friendly experience that drives traffic and conversions. In this blog post, we’ll explore the key differences between average and great websites, covering aspects such as design, functionality, user experience, content quality, and SEO.

1. Design and Aesthetics

Average Website:

• Template-Based Design: Often uses generic templates with little to no customization, resulting in a site that looks like many others.
• Basic Visual Appeal: Minimal attention to visual appeal, with standard fonts, colors, and layouts that do not engage or impress visitors.
• Outdated Elements: May feature outdated design elements that do not reflect modern design trends, giving the site a dated look.

Great Website:

• Custom Design: Employs a unique, custom design that reflects the brand’s identity and sets it apart from competitors.
• Strong Visual Appeal: Utilizes high-quality images, fonts, and color schemes that create an aesthetically pleasing and professional look.
• Modern and Trendy: Incorporates the latest design trends and technologies, ensuring the website looks contemporary and fresh.

2. Functionality and Features

Average Website:

• Basic Navigation: Offers simple navigation that may not be intuitive or user-friendly, leading to potential frustration for visitors.
• Limited Features: Provides only the most essential features, such as contact forms and basic informational pages.
• Slow Loading Speeds: Often suffers from slow loading times due to poor optimization, negatively impacting user experience.

Great Website:

• Intuitive Navigation: Features well-structured, easy-to-use navigation that helps users find what they’re looking for quickly and efficiently.
• Advanced Features: Includes advanced functionalities such as interactive elements, multimedia content, e-commerce capabilities, and more.
• Optimized Performance: Ensures fast loading times through proper optimization techniques, enhancing overall user satisfaction.

3. User Experience (UX)

Average Website:

• Inconsistent UX: May have an inconsistent user experience across different devices and browsers, leading to confusion and frustration.
• Poor Accessibility: Often neglects accessibility standards, making it difficult for users with disabilities to navigate and use the site.
• Minimal Interaction: Provides limited opportunities for user interaction and engagement, leading to a passive browsing experience.

Great Website:

• Consistent UX: Delivers a seamless and consistent user experience across all devices and browsers, ensuring a smooth journey for every visitor.
• High Accessibility: Adheres to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) to ensure that all users, including those with disabilities, can easily access and use the site.
• Interactive Elements: Incorporates interactive features such as live chat, user feedback forms, and dynamic content to engage users and keep them interested.

4. Content Quality

Average Website:

• Basic Content: Provides generic, uninspired content that offers little value to the reader and does not encourage further exploration.
• Inconsistent Updates: Content is rarely updated, leading to outdated information and a lack of relevance.
• Poorly Written: Often contains spelling and grammatical errors, reducing the perceived professionalism of the website.

Great Website:

• Valuable Content: Offers high-quality, informative, and engaging content that provides real value to the reader.
• Regular Updates: Frequently updates content to ensure information is current, relevant, and useful.
• Well-Written: Features professionally written content with attention to detail, ensuring it is error-free and polished.

5. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Average Website:

• Basic SEO: Utilizes minimal SEO practices, such as basic keyword inclusion, but lacks comprehensive optimization.
• Poor Ranking: Often ranks low on search engine results pages (SERPs) due to inadequate SEO efforts.
• Limited Analytics: Uses minimal analytics tools to track website performance, missing out on valuable insights for improvement.

Great Website:

• Advanced SEO: Employs comprehensive SEO strategies, including keyword research, on-page optimization, technical SEO, and link building.
• High Ranking: Achieves higher rankings on SERPs, driving more organic traffic and increasing visibility.
• Detailed Analytics: Utilizes advanced analytics tools to monitor performance, track user behavior, and make data-driven improvements.

6. Mobile Responsiveness

Average Website:

• Basic Responsiveness: May offer a mobile version of the site, but it often lacks the full functionality and ease of use found on the desktop version.
• Inconsistent Experience: Users might face issues with navigation, readability, and loading times on mobile devices.

Great Website:

• Fully Responsive: Ensures a seamless and fully functional experience across all devices, including smartphones and tablets.
• Optimized for Mobile: Designs with a mobile-first approach, prioritizing the mobile user experience to ensure ease of navigation, readability, and performance.

7. Security

Average Website:

• Basic Security Measures: Implements fundamental security measures, such as HTTPS, but may lack advanced protection.
• Vulnerable to Attacks: Due to minimal security practices, the website may be more susceptible to cyber-attacks and data breaches.

Great Website:

• Robust Security: Employs advanced security measures, including regular updates, secure hosting, and encryption to protect user data.
• Regular Audits: Conducts regular security audits to identify and address potential vulnerabilities, ensuring a secure environment for users.

8. Customer Support

Average Website:

• Limited Support: Offers basic customer support options, such as a contact form or email address, with slow response times.
• Inconsistent Help: Users may experience difficulty in getting timely and helpful responses to their queries.

Great Website:

• Comprehensive Support: Provides multiple support channels, including live chat, phone support, and detailed FAQs, ensuring users can get help quickly and efficiently.
• Proactive Assistance: Actively engages with users to solve issues and provide assistance, enhancing overall satisfaction.

9. Brand Identity and Trust

Average Website:

• Weak Branding: Lacks a strong brand identity, making it difficult for visitors to connect with and remember the website.
• Limited Trust Signals: May not include trust signals such as customer reviews, testimonials, or security badges, reducing credibility.

Great Website:

• Strong Branding: Clearly reflects the brand’s identity and values, creating a memorable and trustworthy presence.
• Visible Trust Signals: Includes various trust signals, such as reviews, testimonials, certifications, and security badges, to build credibility and trust with visitors.

10. Conversion Optimization

Average Website:

• Low Conversion Rate: Often has a lower conversion rate due to poor design, content, and user experience.
• Limited Calls to Action (CTAs): Uses generic or poorly placed CTAs that do not effectively encourage user action.

Great Website:

• High Conversion Rate: Optimized for conversions with effective design, content, and user experience strategies.
• Strategic CTAs: Features well-designed and strategically placed CTAs that guide users towards desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

Conclusion

The difference between an average website and a great website can significantly impact a business’s online success. A great website is not just about looking good; it’s about providing a seamless, engaging, and valuable experience for users. It’s about having a site that’s easy to navigate, filled with high-quality content, optimized for search engines, and secure. By focusing on these key areas, businesses can transform their average websites into great ones, driving more traffic, increasing conversions, and ultimately achieving greater success online.

Investing time and resources into creating and maintaining a great website is essential in today’s competitive digital landscape. Whether you’re building a new website or looking to improve an existing one, understanding these differences and prioritizing enhancements can make all the difference.

If you’re looking to transform your website from average to great, I am here to help. As a dedicated freelancer, I offer personalized, expert services to enhance your online presence, drive more traffic, and increase conversions. Contact me today to discuss your project and start making your website great!