Companies need a website complete with a crisp and interactive website design to represent their brand in the digital landscape. The fast-paced evolution of technology sets high standards for businesses to keep their websites competitive in their industry. Behind every successful brand is a skilled website developer working hard to keep the business’s website up to date, on-brand and on-trend through front-end branding, back-end integration and user-friendly UX designs. Here are four website development trends your brand needs to be aware of to stay ahead of the competition this year.
The rise of progressive web apps
Progressive web apps (PWAs) are web apps that have an app-like functionality, design and experience but are developed as true web pages or websites. PWAs are gaining popularity in website development because of the familiarity and ease-of-use these integrations bring to consumers. The look and feel of native mobile apps integrated into the features of a fully developed website increase user engagement and improve conversations. PWAs can load instantly, work offline and respond rapidly to user interactions with swift, clean animations and designs. The result? Targeted audiences stay on websites longer and turn more users into return customers.
An emphasis on motion user interface
Your website interface determines the experience your users have when visiting your website, and therefore, needs to engage and interact with your audience to create truly personalized experiences. Motion user interface is gaining traction this year because it is changing the way brands connect with their customers through high-quality customization capabilities that create more meaningful, streamlined and experience-focused interactions. A motion user interface allows developers to work with brands to create a website complete with more extensive motion control than ever. These capabilities include animation, cloning, overlay, dimensionality, obscuration parenting and offset-delay. The addition of such UI technologies makes it easier to alert users to important notifications, guide users through your site, deliver messages and enhance user experiences.
The transition from Flash to HTML5
Video production and animations improve the user experience and enhance the interactions between brands and customers, and up until recently, Flash-based video and animation have been the norm in website development. However, website developers are seeing a wide transition from flash to HTML5 to maximize the impact of video production on websites. HTML5 supports cleaner, quicker and higher-quality animation integrations into websites. It also allows your animations to contribute to your website optimization on search engines and functions on a wider variety of devices.
An increased focus on mobile-first design
Mobile traffic has surpassed desktop browsing, and it’s only increasing. The importance of a brand’s website compatibility on mobile devices has never been more essential. Now that mobile design has advanced and matured, website developers are zeroing in on mastering mobile-first design to deliver high-quality content that can be best consumed on mobile devices. Websites are designed and developed with a mobile approach in mind, but this year’s website development trends bring more focus on how to make lasting interactions on websites that can be accessible and effective on mobile devices. Among these mobile-first website design considerations, website developers are focusing on aspects such as thumb-reach navigation across smartphone screens to lead the way for more sophisticated mobile functionalities.
With new advancements in the website development industry, businesses need to keep their websites competitive. Make sure your brand utilizes these website development trends to improve the impact your brand has on customer interactions.
Looking for a website developer to build or update a website for your brand? Rivers Agency is equipped with the most talented website developers in the Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, North Carolina area who know how to build a stunning website that elevates your brand with unprecedented frameworks and cutting-edge features. Let’s talk!