I used to laugh when I would click on a business website that has not been updated for years. Web design is not a static thing. You can retain some elements of familiarity, but the look of your website should evolve with the times. This is what keeps it fresh and relevant to today’s consumers. I use a company that provides web design in Wollongong to keep our site looking great. We do not implement every new feature that is available in web design, but we do add some new things that improve the look of our space on the Internet.

I remember when parallax front page designs were getting popular.

Creating a website can seem like an ordinary thing that every business needs in order to showcase their business and the services it offers, but it typically is much more than that. With online interaction being one of the main sources of contact with companies whether for consumer or business clients, a website becomes a necessary tool in a business’ advertising and marketing arsenal. It needs to be more than just an ordinary website, it needs to shape the company image and either create or further develop your brand. This is why hiring a web design firm is a good move for companies. It is a necessary step in the increasingly online and mobile environment we live in. When clients and consumers visit your website, you want them to know about the products and services you offer, but also what your company stands for.

Branding an online image can mean a variety of things.

The first thing that floats to one’s mind while exploring online websites is definitely the design that it has. If a website were to have an outdated look of simplistic HTML coding, one wouldn’t tend to stay on it for very long. That’s the reason why WordPress, a website that offers a variety of tools for clients to build a website of their own, chooses to have so many themes available. Some require money whereas some are free.

Magazine WordPress themes are stylish and simplistic, being user-friendly and most of the time, intuitive. Most of these themes are paid, as they offer support, updates and are generally easier to use.  Here are the best magazine themes for WordPress.

Master Blog

As the name suggests, Master Blog is one of the most feature rich of themes all responsive WordPress themes. It is a neatly designed minimal theme from RichWP that is perfect for designing both personal blogs and professional websites. It has a modernistic design that includes large typography and big bold image that gives your content that extra special edge. Master Blog also has an array of enticing features which includes sticky navigation menu, optional feature posts section, fading navigation buttons, useful custom templates, support for WordPress post formats, options to add your logo to the blog and various widget areas throughout the theme.  Here is video that shows all of the stunning features.

Compass

On another note, there is the stunning and professional looking Compass theme by WPZOOM. This theme is definitely targeted towards those who prefer a more polished look. It is extremely easy to navigate to find exactly what you are looking for. This is great news not only for the owner, but for the client. The breaking-news bar at the top of the theme also helps to make the website look more credible all while pulling attention. It does exactly what it is intended to: convey news and posts.

Onfleek

Lastly, the theme Onfleek by Dahz theme has a name that fits it well. It is stunning to the eye and very in style with what we’d call the “hipster” culture and way of life. It also has the revolution slider like the first theme, Brixton as it helps create that “pop” effect. Once again, this theme is very customizable, not a luxury that is available in WordPress’s free themes. It’s also easy to navigate and install, permitting the author of the website to start posting right away. Support is also once again available in order to keep the theme optimized and up to date with all of the new technological advancements and updates. Onfleek also has multiple different black and white styles available to choose from.

To wrap it all up, these magazine themes are all very stylish and offer a mobile version, rendering the website which is making use of it, available for everyone to access with ease.

Your website is only as good as the number of visitors you can attract and convert.  Getting traffic that converts and is no easy task, which is why you need a website that is well built and convert.  Here are some tips to help you develop a website that converts and makes your business money.

Ditch the Sliders

Sliders can create a lot of options on your website that you can use to engage your visitors.  This probably sounds like a good thing, but it isn’t.  They serve as a distraction more than anything, and they are pretty horrible for SEO purposes.  Phase them out entirely and it will help your visitors navigate your site and it won’t distract them from calls to action and the things you want them to do.

Instead use the header space for a static design that highlights your brand.  Your visitors can scroll through your site easily and ensure that your website is clearly defined from the front of the home page.

Make Navigation Easy

Website visitors want to be able to scroll through your site, find your products and services and simply have a look around and see what interests them.  If your setup is too complicated they are gone and probably won’t be back.  It shouldn’t take more than 3 clicks to find anything they are looking for, so make your navigation as simple as possible.

Reduce the number of items on the navigation menu, use sub menus instead so your site doesn’t look cluttered.

It Must be Responsive

Responsive design it a must and if you’re site is not mobile friendly then kiss your traffic good bye.  Google has put increasing pressure on web developers over the years to embrace responsive design and now with things like AMP technology, you can’t afford to overlook mobile browsers.  Make sure all of your images are optimized, the menus are mobile friendly and don’t forget the load time.

Typography

Use fonts sparingly and using the right font sizes will work wonders to keep your readers engaged.  It can keep the attention of your visitor while still focusing on your content.  Use larger font sizes especially on the home page, it should blend well with the design of your site. Fonts that are too small are too hard to read and will alienate visitors.

A professional web developer can help you build a site according to solid web design principles that will convert browsers into customers.