As the demand for faster, more secure browsing continues to grow, Cloudflare has stepped up with major advancements in web performance technology. Their new suite of tools—including Speed Brain, Zstandard compression, and Encrypted Client Hello (ECH)—is designed to deliver faster, more seamless experiences for everyday users while also protecting privacy.
With internet speeds becoming a key competitive factor for businesses, Cloudflare’s latest offerings not only benefit web developers and site owners but also drastically improve user experiences. Here’s a deeper look at how these innovations are set to change the way we browse the internet.
Speed Brain: Anticipating Your Next Click
At the heart of Cloudflare’s new offerings is Speed Brain, a predictive site-loading feature that makes use of the Speculation Rules API. In essence, Speed Brain is designed to anticipate a user’s next action—such as clicking on a specific link—and preload content before the user even makes the request. This allows websites to load much faster, making the browsing experience feel more fluid and intuitive.
For example, imagine you’re browsing an e-commerce site and have clicked into the “Men’s Clothing” section. As you move your cursor toward the “Shirts” category, Speed Brain begins prefetching content like images and product details for the shirts page. When you finally click, the page appears almost instantly. This preemptive loading has been shown to reduce page load times by as much as 45%.
This technology aligns with a broader trend toward predictive computing, where devices and systems try to anticipate user behavior. According to a 2021 report by McKinsey & Company (The Next Frontier in AI: Predictive Analytics), predictive analytics and AI are transforming industries, from healthcare to finance, with a focus on making processes more efficient. By applying this logic to web browsing, Cloudflare is improving not only speed but also user engagement—an essential metric for businesses that depend on smooth customer interactions.
What makes Speed Brain particularly effective is its conservative approach to prefetching, triggered only when a user hovers over or clicks a link. This ensures resources aren’t wasted, a critical consideration for mobile data and energy-conscious users.
Zstandard Compression: Revolutionizing Web Speed and Data Efficiency
Alongside Speed Brain, Cloudflare has introduced Zstandard compression (zstd), an advanced algorithm that speeds up data transfer by compressing web files faster than existing technologies like Brotli or GZIP. Compression plays a huge role in web performance by reducing the size of the files that need to be transmitted, especially on data-heavy pages like those filled with images or large scripts.
According to Cloudflare, Zstandard compresses data 42% faster than Brotli while maintaining nearly the same compression ratios. For web users, this means sites will load more quickly, especially on mobile devices or in areas with slower internet speeds. In fact, zstd can compress files up to 11.3% better than GZIP, a widely used standard. This not only improves speed but also reduces bandwidth usage, which is increasingly important as more businesses and users rely on cloud-based services.
A 2022 study by Akamai Technologies (Impact of Page Speed on User Experience and Conversions) found that reducing page size by just 100KB could lead to double-digit percentage improvements in load times. Zstandard’s ability to shrink file sizes without sacrificing performance will be particularly beneficial for industries like e-commerce and media, where heavy data loads can slow down user experiences.
Encrypted Client Hello (ECH): The Future of Internet Privacy
Cloudflare’s commitment to speed goes hand-in-hand with their focus on privacy, and the rollout of Encrypted Client Hello (ECH) is a significant step forward in web security. Traditionally, when a user visits a website, certain information—such as the site’s name—is exposed during the TLS (Transport Layer Security) handshake, which establishes a secure connection between the user and the website. This can leave users vulnerable, especially when connected to public or untrusted networks.
ECH addresses this vulnerability by encrypting the Server Name Indication (SNI), which is usually visible during the TLS handshake. By masking this information, ECH prevents intermediaries such as ISPs, network administrators, or malicious actors from knowing which websites a user is visiting. According to a 2021 report by Mozilla (TLS Encryption and ECH: Securing the Future of Web Privacy), ECH is expected to play a key role in the future of secure web browsing, especially as users become more aware of the privacy implications of their online activity.
This privacy-enhancing feature is already enabled by default for free Cloudflare users, while Pro, Business, and Enterprise customers can manually activate it. ECH provides enhanced security without sacrificing performance, ensuring that users enjoy both speed and privacy. This is especially important in regions where internet censorship or surveillance is more prevalent, as it helps protect users’ browsing habits from being monitored.
The Bigger Picture: Why These Innovations Matter
These advancements come at a time when web performance and user privacy are critical competitive factors for businesses. According to a 2023 study by Google (The Importance of Page Load Speed in User Engagement), websites that load within two seconds have a bounce rate of 9%, while those that take five seconds to load have a bounce rate of 38%. The difference is staggering, and Cloudflare’s innovations can play a significant role in helping businesses retain visitors and improve conversions.
Moreover, privacy concerns are at an all-time high. The introduction of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and similar laws in other regions means businesses are now legally required to protect user data. Technologies like ECH offer a competitive advantage by enhancing user trust and complying with evolving privacy standards.
Conclusion: Faster, Smarter, and Safer Web Experiences
Cloudflare’s latest advancements are a win for both businesses and everyday internet users. By combining speed enhancements like Speed Brain and Zstandard compression with privacy-focused innovations like ECH, Cloudflare is setting a new standard for web performance and security. For businesses, this means not only faster load times and improved user engagement but also enhanced trust among privacy-conscious consumers.
As the web becomes more complex and users demand faster, more private experiences, innovations like these will be essential for staying ahead in the digital landscape. Whether you’re running a high-traffic e-commerce site or managing a local blog, these technologies offer tangible benefits that can boost your online presence and build a more resilient, user-friendly website.
When planning a new website for your business, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is whether to go for a custom website design or use a template-based design. Both options have their advantages and drawbacks, and the best choice depends on your specific business needs, goals, and budget.
In this post, we’ll dive into the differences between custom and template-based website designs, exploring the pros and cons of each to help you determine which approach is right for your business.
1. What Is a Custom Website Design?
A custom website design is a website built from scratch, designed specifically to meet the unique needs of your business. Everything from the layout to the functionality is tailored to your brand, allowing for full control over how your website looks and operates.
Key Features of a Custom Website Design:
Unique Design: No two custom websites are alike. The design is created specifically for your business, ensuring that your site stands out from competitors.
Scalable: Custom websites are built with flexibility in mind, allowing you to easily add new features or expand your site as your business grows.
Tailored Functionality: Whether you need complex ecommerce functionality, integration with third-party tools, or custom forms, a custom website can be built to accommodate your specific requirements.
2. The Pros and Cons of Custom Website Design
Pros of Custom Website Design:
Full Customisation: A custom design gives you complete control over every aspect of your website. You can create a unique user experience that perfectly aligns with your brand and business goals.
Built for Your Business: Custom websites are designed to meet the specific needs of your business. Whether you need advanced functionality, such as booking systems or integrations with other software, a custom website can be tailored to fit your exact requirements.
Scalable: As your business grows, so can your website. Custom websites are built to evolve with your business, allowing you to add new features and pages as needed.
Unique Brand Identity: A custom website allows your business to stand out from the crowd. Unlike template-based websites, which can look similar to others, a custom design reflects your brand’s unique identity.
SEO-Friendly: A custom website can be optimised for search engines from the ground up. You’ll have full control over site structure, meta tags, and other important SEO elements, giving you a better chance of ranking higher in search results.
Cons of Custom Website Design:
Higher Cost: Custom websites are more expensive because they require more design and development time. The cost of a custom website can range significantly depending on complexity.
Longer Development Time: Building a website from scratch takes time. If you need a website up quickly, a custom design may not be the best option.
Ongoing Maintenance: Custom websites may require more maintenance and updates over time, especially if you’re adding new features or upgrading technology. However, they can be much easier to work with and add to as your business grows.
A template-based website design uses pre-designed website layouts that have been created previously. They can be customised to a certain extent and although they have a few limitations compared to custom designs, they have some benefits too.
Key Features of a Template-Based Website Design:
Pre-Designed Layouts: Templates provide a starting point with pre-made layouts that can be adjusted with your business’s branding, images, and content.
Faster Setup: Template-based websites can be up and running in a fraction of the time compared to custom websites.
Lower Cost: Since the design and development work is already done, template-based websites are typically much more affordable than custom builds.
4. The Pros and Cons of Template-Based Website Design
Pros of Template-Based Website Design:
Cost-Effective: One of the biggest advantages of a template-based design is the cost. Because the design is pre-made, you can save significantly on design and development fees.
Quick to Launch: Template-based websites can be set up and launched much faster than custom websites. This makes them an ideal solution for businesses that need to get online quickly.
User-Friendly: Many template-based platforms, like WordPress, come with user-friendly interfaces that make it easy for non-technical users to update content and make changes.
Wide Range of Options: There are thousands of templates available, so businesses can choose a layout that closely matches their vision and customise it to fit their brand.
Cons of Template-Based Website Design:
Limited Customisation: While templates offer some customisation options, they are generally limited to basic changes like colours, fonts, and images. You may not be able to fully customise the site to meet your specific needs.
Not Unique: Since templates are widely available, it’s possible that other businesses — including your competitors — are using the same design. This can make it harder for your brand to stand out.
Less Scalable: Template-based websites aren’t always built with scalability in mind. As your business grows and you need more advanced functionality, you may find that a template can’t accommodate your needs without significant workarounds.
SEO Limitations: While some templates are optimised for SEO, many come with limitations that can affect your ability to rank well in search engines. Customising SEO elements may be difficult or require third-party plugins.
We have more information on Template Websites here if you want to find out more!
(Best selling products section on a ecommerce website template design)
5. Which Option Is Right for Your Business?
Deciding between a custom website design and a template-based design ultimately comes down to your business’s specific needs, goals, and budget. Here’s how to determine which option is best for you.
Go for a Custom Website Design if:
You want a completely unique website that reflects your brand identity.
You need specific features and functionality that a template can’t provide.
Your business is growing and you want a scalable website that can expand as needed.
You have the budget to invest in a long-term, custom solution that will differentiate your business.
Go for a Template-Based Website Design if:
You need a website quickly and on a tight budget.
You’re a small business or startup that doesn’t need complex functionality.
You’re looking for a simple, user-friendly way to manage your website.
You’re okay with some limitations on customisation and don’t mind using a pre-designed template that other businesses may also use.
6. Hybrid Solutions: Customising a Template
If neither option seems like a perfect fit, a hybrid approach may be the solution. Some businesses choose to start with a template and invest in customising it to better meet their needs. This approach offers a balance between affordability and customisation, allowing you to get more control over your website’s design without starting from scratch.
Advantages of a Hybrid Approach:
Lower Cost: You save on design costs by using a template as a base, while still getting the custom features and look that align with your brand.
Faster Launch: Since you’re not building from scratch, you can get your website up and running faster than a fully custom solution.
Customisation Potential: Depending on the platform and template you choose, you can still make significant customisations to your site’s functionality and design.
This option is particularly useful for small to mid-sized businesses that want a more tailored website without the high cost of a fully custom design.
Conclusion
Choosing between a custom website design and a template-based design comes down to understanding your business’s current needs, goals, and budget. Custom websites offer full control, flexibility, and scalability, making them ideal for businesses that require unique features and a strong brand presence. On the other hand, template-based designs provide an affordable, fast solution for businesses that need a straightforward website without the complexity of custom development.
Whichever route you choose, it’s important to consider your long-term goals and how your website will grow with your business. If you’re unsure which option is right for you, get in touch with us here and we’ll help guide you through the process!
Selecting the right Content Management System (CMS) for your website is a crucial decision that can impact your site’s performance, scalability, and ease of management. With a variety of options available, it’s essential to choose one that aligns with your needs—whether you’re building a simple blog or a complex e-commerce platform.
In this guide, we’ll explore 8 CMS options, from traditional choices to modern, headless solutions, helping you find the right fit for your project.
1. WordPress
(WordPress Website CMS UI Dashboard)
When people think of CMS, WordPress is usually the first name that comes to mind, and for good reason. Launched in 2003 as a simple blogging platform, WordPress has grown into a powerhouse that now supports over 40% of websites on the internet. Its evolution has made it one of the most versatile tools, capable of managing everything from personal blogs to robust e-commerce stores and even large-scale corporate websites. With a huge library of plugins and themes, plus a user-friendly interface, WordPress allows both beginners and seasoned developers to build beautiful, functional sites with ease.
However, WordPress isn’t just for the non-tech crowd. Its open-source nature means developers can dig deep into the code to customize the platform however they see fit, offering tremendous flexibility. But with such popularity comes challenges—especially with security and performance. Despite this, it’s hard to deny WordPress’s staying power and its potential to create almost any type of site.
Pros
User-friendly: Non-developers can manage content with ease.
Extensive plugin ecosystem: Thousands of plugins allow customization without coding.
Large community: Extensive resources and community support.
Cons
Security: Due to its popularity, it’s a frequent target for hackers.
Speed: Plugins and themes can slow down your site if not managed well.
Customization limitations: Custom development can be cumbersome if you’re not familiar with PHP.
2. Drupal
(Drupal Website CMS UI Dashboard)
Drupal is a veteran in the CMS world, known for its robustness and ability to handle complex, high-traffic websites. While it might not have the mainstream appeal of WordPress, Drupal is a favorite among developers who appreciate its flexibility and power. It’s especially well-suited for large, data-driven sites that require heavy customization, advanced security, or integration with other systems. In fact, many government and educational websites use Drupal due to its emphasis on security and scalability.
What sets Drupal apart is its flexibility. Developers have complete control over every aspect of the site, from content management to design, which makes it perfect for large-scale applications. However, this comes with a catch—Drupal’s steep learning curve can be intimidating for beginners. It’s a CMS that tends to be more developer-centric, so if you’re not comfortable with code, it may not be the easiest platform to manage.
Pros
Highly customizable: Perfect for websites that need complex workflows, user permissions, and custom content types.
Strong security: Often chosen for websites that prioritize data security, like government or enterprise sites.
Scalable: Can handle massive websites with high traffic and complex data structures.
Cons
Steep learning curve: Not ideal for users without technical knowledge or a dedicated development team.
Resource-intensive: Running a high-performance Drupal site can require significant server resources and maintenance.
3. Joomla
(Joomla Website CMS UI Dashboard)
Joomla is like the middle child of the CMS world—somewhere between WordPress’s ease of use and Drupal’s power and complexity. It’s an open-source platform that can serve a wide variety of purposes, from simple blogs to complex business directories and e-commerce sites. Joomla is often praised for offering a balance of user-friendliness and advanced functionality, making it a solid choice for both beginners and developers alike.
While not as popular as WordPress, Joomla has a loyal user base and an active developer community that contributes extensions and plugins to enhance the platform. It has built-in multilingual support, advanced user management, and powerful content management features right out of the box. This makes it a great option if you need more flexibility than WordPress but aren’t quite ready to dive into something as complex as Drupal.
Pros
Flexible and customizable: Great for websites that need a mix of ease and custom features.
Multilingual support: Built-in language features make creating multilingual websites easier.
Strong user management: Excellent for sites that require multiple user roles and permissions.
Cons
Fewer themes and plugins: While it has a decent selection, Joomla’s library isn’t as extensive as WordPress’s.
Requires some technical knowledge: It’s not quite as beginner-friendly, especially for users who want to customize beyond the basics.
4. Shopify
(Shopify Website CMS UI Dashboard)
If your primary goal is to build an online store, Shopify is one of the best CMS options out there. It’s designed specifically for e-commerce, meaning everything from the design to the backend is optimized to help you sell products quickly and easily. Shopify takes care of all the technical details, like hosting and security, so you can focus on growing your business without worrying about the backend infrastructure.
Shopify stands out because it’s not just a CMS—it’s an entire e-commerce ecosystem. You can manage products, payments, shipping, and inventory all in one place. Plus, with a wide array of themes and apps, you can customize your store’s appearance and functionality to suit your brand. However, these features come at a cost, and the monthly fees—plus additional transaction fees—can add up for larger stores.
Pros
E-commerce focused: Everything you need to run an online store is built in.
All-in-one platform: Shopify handles hosting, security, and software updates for you.
Great for non-technical users: You can set up a store quickly, even without coding experience.
Cons
Recurring costs: Monthly fees and transaction fees can get expensive.
Limited customization: While easy to use, it’s not as flexible as open-source platforms like WordPress or Magento.
Vendor lock-in: You’re dependent on Shopify’s infrastructure, which can make switching platforms more challenging.
5. Strapi
(Strapi Website CMS UI Dashboard)
Strapi is one of the rising stars in the CMS world, particularly in the headless CMS category. A headless CMS allows developers to decouple the front-end presentation from the backend content management, giving them the flexibility to deliver content to any platform or device—whether it’s a website, mobile app, or IoT device. Strapi is built with modern developers in mind, using JavaScript, and it’s entirely open-source.
One of Strapi’s biggest selling points is its flexibility. It’s designed to work seamlessly with modern front-end frameworks like React, Vue, and Angular, giving developers full control over how their content is delivered and displayed. While Strapi provides an admin panel for content managers, its real power lies in the custom APIs you can create, making it perfect for projects that require dynamic, omnichannel content.
Pros
Headless architecture: Freedom to design custom frontends and deliver content across multiple platforms.
Highly customizable APIs: You can create custom APIs to serve your exact content needs.
JavaScript-based: Built with JavaScript and designed for developers familiar with modern frameworks like React or Vue.
Cons
Not ideal for non-technical users: Strapi’s headless nature means it requires a developer to set up and maintain.
Hosting and server management: Unlike SaaS CMS options, you’ll need to manage your own hosting and infrastructure.
6. Payload CMS
(Payload Website CMS UI Dashboard)
Payload CMS is a newer entrant in the CMS space, but it’s quickly gaining attention among developers who want full control over both the frontend and backend of their web applications. Built with Node.js and React, Payload offers a fully customizable, self-hosted headless CMS that’s tailored for modern web development workflows. Whether you’re building websites, web apps, or even mobile apps, Payload’s flexibility lets you create a tailored API that fits your needs.
Designed to be developer-first, Payload is perfect for those who are comfortable managing their own infrastructure and want to build something truly unique. It’s not just a CMS—it’s more like a framework for building content-driven applications.
Pros
Modern tech stack: Built using Node.js and React, ideal for developers familiar with these technologies.
Full control over data: Every aspect of the data structure and API is customizable.
Headless and API-driven: Perfect for building custom applications or websites with complete freedom over the frontend.
Cons
Steeper learning curve: Requires technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
Self-hosted: You’ll need to manage your own hosting and infrastructure, which can add complexity and cost. Unless you decided to use Payloads hosting service which can be expensive
7. Webflow
(Webflow Website CMS UI Dashboard)
Webflow is a modern CMS platform that bridges the gap between designers, developers, and content creators. It’s an all-in-one platform where you can visually design, manage content, and publish your website without needing to write code. What makes Webflow unique is its ability to offer complete design control, making it an excellent choice for designers who want to create custom, responsive websites without being constrained by templates.
With Webflow, you’re not just managing content but also designing your site visually while the platform generates clean, semantic code in the background. It’s highly favored by agencies and freelance designers who want flexibility and control over their designs but don’t want to deal with the technicalities of code. On top of that, Webflow includes powerful CMS capabilities, allowing users to create dynamic content, manage databases, and more—all while using a sleek visual interface.
Pros
Visual design interface: Allows you to design a website visually, while generating clean code behind the scenes.
Responsive design: Automatically creates responsive websites that look good on all devices.
Great for designers: Combines the ease of visual design tools with the power of a full CMS, without requiring coding.
Cons
Steep learning curve: Webflow’s robust design features can be overwhelming for beginners.
Pricing: It can be more expensive compared to traditional CMS options, especially if you need advanced features like CMS hosting and eCommerce.
8. Sanity
(Sanity Website CMS UI Dashboard)
Sanity is another strong contender in the headless CMS category, offering real-time collaboration features that set it apart from other platforms. It’s designed to be highly flexible, allowing you to define your content structure however you like, while also providing a live preview feature so editors can see how content will look before it goes live. This makes it a fantastic choice for teams that need to work together on content in real-time.
Sanity is also API-first, which means developers have full control over how content is delivered and displayed across different platforms. Whether you’re building a website, mobile app, or something else entirely, Sanity’s flexibility and collaboration tools make it a popular choice for teams working on complex projects.
Pros
Real-time collaboration: Editors can work together on content in real-time, which is great for teams.
Highly flexible: Allows for full customization of content models and structures.
Headless CMS: Ideal for delivering content to multiple platforms and devices.
Cons
Requires technical knowledge: Not the best choice for non-developers or those looking for an out-of-the-box solution.
Cost can add up: While Sanity offers a free tier, the cost can rise quickly with more complex projects and higher content needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right CMS depends on your project’s specific requirements, whether you need a simple blogging platform, a flexible headless CMS, or a robust e-commerce solution. For small businesses and non-technical users, platforms like WordPress or Shopify are great options. On the other hand, developers looking for modern, headless architectures may find Strapi or Payload better suited to their needs.
Whichever CMS you choose, be sure to weigh the pros and cons, as well as the long-term scalability and support available for each option.
If you want a hand or to find out more, you can contact Builtflat here.
Web design is constantly evolving, and staying ahead of the latest trends is essential for businesses looking to maintain a modern and competitive online presence. As we move through 2024, new technologies, user behaviours, and design principles are shaping the future of web design. From AI-driven personalisation to immersive virtual experiences, the trends emerging this year will redefine how businesses engage with their audiences online.
In this post, we’ll explore the top web design trends to watch in 2024 and how incorporating these innovations can help future-proof your website.
AI-Driven Personalisation
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way websites interact with users, delivering personalised experiences based on user behaviour, preferences, and data insights. In 2024, AI-driven personalisation is becoming even more sophisticated, offering dynamic content and recommendations that enhance user engagement.
How AI Personalisation Impacts Web Design:
Dynamic Content: AI can analyse user data in real time, delivering tailored content such as product recommendations, personalised greetings, or location-based offers.
Behavioural Insights: AI-powered tools track user behaviour to predict what users are likely to do next, allowing websites to serve relevant content or guide users through the conversion funnel more effectively.
Chatbots and Virtual Assistants: AI chatbots are becoming more human-like, providing real-time customer service, answering questions, and even making product suggestions based on user input.
By integrating AI into your web design, you can create a more engaging and personalised user experience that boosts conversions and customer loyalty.
Immersive Experiences with VR and AR
Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are making their way into mainstream web design, creating immersive experiences that go beyond traditional two-dimensional browsing. These technologies allow users to interact with products or environments in ways that weren’t possible before, particularly in industries like real estate, fashion, and retail.
How VR and AR Enhance User Interaction:
Virtual Try-Ons: Ecommerce businesses, especially in fashion and beauty, are using AR to allow customers to virtually “try on” products, from clothes to makeup, before making a purchase.
Interactive Product Demos: For industries like furniture, home décor, or real estate, VR can provide 360-degree views or virtual walkthroughs of products, giving users a deeper sense of what they’re buying.
Immersive Brand Experiences: AR filters or VR experiences can be used in marketing campaigns, creating memorable and interactive experiences that differentiate your brand from competitors.
As AR and VR technologies become more accessible, incorporating them into your website can provide an engaging and immersive experience that captivates users and enhances decision-making.
The trend toward minimalist web design continues through 2024, but with a stronger emphasis on functionality and performance. Rather than focusing solely on aesthetics, minimalist design in 2024 will prioritise clarity, simplicity, and the user journey. Clean lines, ample white space, and intuitive layouts help users find what they need quickly and without distractions.
Key Elements of Functional Minimalism:
Clutter-Free Layouts: Simplified navigation menus and stripped-down interfaces help users focus on key content or actions. This reduces cognitive load and makes browsing more intuitive.
Fewer, More Impactful Elements: By limiting design elements, such as animations or large images, websites can load faster and perform better across devices, improving user experience.
Focus on User Intent: Minimalist design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about understanding user intent and designing with the goal of helping visitors accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently.
By embracing minimalist design with a focus on functionality, your website can deliver a sleek, modern experience that’s both visually appealing and easy to navigate.
Microinteractions for Enhanced User Engagement
Microinteractions are small, subtle design elements that provide feedback or enhance the user experience in an almost invisible way. These tiny animations or responses, such as a button changing colour when hovered over or a small sound effect when an action is completed, add personality to a website and make interactions feel more natural.
Examples of Microinteractions:
Hover Effects: Buttons or icons that change colour, grow in size, or animate slightly when hovered over provide instant feedback, making the user feel more connected to the interface.
Form Validation: Instant feedback when users fill out forms (such as check marks when fields are correct or red text for errors) reduces frustration and helps guide users through the process.
Loading Animations: A small spinning icon or progress bar during loading times reassures users that the page is working and reduces the perceived wait time.
Microinteractions not only enhance usability but also add an element of delight that can make your website feel more interactive and engaging. These subtle design touches can lead to improved user satisfaction and higher engagement rates.
As businesses become more eco-conscious, so does web design. In 2024, sustainability plays a large role in digital development, with websites designed to minimise their environmental impact. Energy-efficient design practices not only benefit the environment but can also improve website performance and user experience.
Sustainability in Web Design:
Lightweight Pages: Websites with optimised images, minimised code, and fewer elements require less energy to load and run, reducing their carbon footprint. These optimisations also improve load times, benefiting both users and the environment.
Green Hosting: Choosing web hosting providers that use renewable energy or carbon-neutral technologies is becoming a popular choice for businesses looking to reduce their digital impact.
Dark Mode: Offering a dark mode option not only provides a better viewing experience in low-light environments but also reduces energy consumption, particularly on OLED screens.
Incorporating sustainability into your web design practices reflects your brand’s values and demonstrates a commitment to reducing environmental impact, which can resonate with eco-conscious consumers.
Voice User Interface (VUI) Optimisation
With the rise of voice search and virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, optimising your website for voice interaction is becoming increasingly important. Voice user interfaces (VUI) enable users to interact with websites using natural language, creating a more intuitive and accessible experience.
Voice-Optimised Design Strategies:
Conversational Interfaces: As voice search grows, websites will need to be optimised for conversational queries. This means focusing on longer, natural language phrases rather than short, keyword-driven terms.
Voice Search Integration: Implementing voice search functionality on your website can help users find information quickly, especially on mobile devices or hands-free setups.
Structured Data for Voice Search: Using structured data (schema markup) makes it easier for search engines to extract relevant information from your website and deliver concise answers to voice search queries.
Voice interfaces are becoming an essential part of the user experience, especially as more people rely on voice-activated devices. Optimising for voice search ensures that your website remains accessible and user-friendly in this growing trend.
Asymmetrical Layouts and Experimental Grids
Asymmetry and unconventional grid layouts are gaining popularity in web design, offering a bold, dynamic alternative to traditional, symmetrical designs. These layouts break away from the rigid structure of grid-based design, allowing for more creativity and visually engaging compositions.
Benefits of Asymmetrical Design:
Unique Visual Appeal: Asymmetrical layouts stand out from the uniformity of typical websites, capturing user attention and creating a memorable browsing experience.
Directing User Focus: By breaking traditional grids, you can guide users’ eyes to specific sections of your site, highlighting key content, calls to action, or products.
Brand Personality: Asymmetry allows for more creative freedom, enabling you to express your brand’s personality in a way that feels fresh, modern, and original.
While asymmetrical designs can be more challenging to execute, they offer a unique and engaging experience that differentiates your brand from competitors.
Layout design from MakeYourMove Rehabilitation
Conclusion
As web design trends continue to evolve, businesses must adapt to stay competitive and meet changing user expectations. From AI-driven personalization and immersive VR experiences to minimalist design and voice interfaces, the trends shaping 2024 offer exciting opportunities to enhance user engagement, improve performance, and future-proof your website.
By incorporating these trends into your website, you can create a modern, high-performing digital experience that resonates with your audience and positions your business for long-term success. Don’t just follow the trends — embrace them strategically to ensure your website remains relevant, engaging, and ahead of the curve.
If you want a hand or to find out more, you can contact Builtflat here.
Taking that first step to digitise your business can be a hard one. You have to navigate through millions of websites offering you a product that will (probably not) increase revenue, efficiency or some metric related to size.. Don’t do it, it’s a trap! It’s tough avoiding those cheap parlor offers when taking your first steps online, especially if you don’t know what’s out there in the community. Regardless of these ‘snake oil’ sales websites – we believe the benefits
So to do our part, we at Builtflat have compiled a list of online tools or methods to help you simplify and take full advantage of your digital journey. These tools range from free to paid options and are perfect for any type of website from e-commerce to entertainment, no matter the category or industry.
Let’s start with the free tools!
Social Media.
Connect better with your customers.
Thousands of people around the world have started and successfully run their business solely on social media, thousands more use it to supplement their business structure and growth.
Social media is an interesting one that a lot of businesses neglect, usually saying it’s not worth the time or that their audience isn’t targetable. You only have to look at the growth of social media channels over the past decade to know that there is nowhere else in the world where you can reach so many people in one space. And targetability.. Think about websites like Facebook and the details they gather from you when you sign up, plus all the page Likes and Follows, the groups you’re in, the location data, your friends and even their interests. All that can be used at your disposal.
Starting off you’ll need to get an idea of your ideal target customer and keep that image of the person in your mind, or better yet – write it down. Then it’s time to pick your platforms and there’s a few to choose from. Use your identified target customer for reference when picking and have a look through the stats of each. For instance, Instagram is very popular with those ages 18 to 24 whereas Facebook with 2 billion monthly active users is more popular with those aged between 25 to 34.
Once you’ve picked out the appropriate channels you’ll need to start planning your approach. Think about how you can connect to your target audience through your profile and build around that. Are they after professionalism? Would a good laugh help convert them? Would making the brand seem more humane create a great connection with your customer base? Build that into your profile and your approach to your customers on these channels.
Next, think about the content you would create and how often it could be created. I always think of Social Media as a content beast, constantly hungry for content. This doesn’t mean you need to overfeed the beast – It means you need to be active and keep him on the appropriate diet. Tie this in with Social Media analytics and you’ll be able to spot the perfect recipe to feed him with down to the type, time, quantity, and more. Protip: Having a content calendar helps!
A big benefit for businesses on social media is the advertising capabilities. The targetability is insane! Not only that, it’ll give you a rough idea of your ROI and estimate the reach size of your campaign. Do it! Start off small, play around with the types of content you’re advertising, the time you’re posting, and the groups you’re targeting. Track your results and build out the roadmap for making successful advertising campaigns.
The final step is well, just taking the first step and doing it. Apart from the advertising it’s all free to set up and can be done from the comfort of your desk chair, sofa, porcelain throne, or movie theatre – Although, goodluck with that last one.
Google Analytics.
A must for any website, especially an e-commerce website.
In short – Google analytics is like a marketers wet dream.
Personally I spend hours.. I mean not hours, I do actually have a life.. Anyways – I spend an ‘amount’ of time gathering information from our own Google Analytics dashboard to better serve our customers to grow our business. This free tool is made by Google and piggybacks off your businesses website to give you accurate and insightful data to use how you see fit. It might not help you take over the world, but it’ll help you increase conversions.
Well, it doesn’t directly increase conversions.. but Google Analytics creates a space for testing and feedback so you can make those conversion increasing changes to your website. For example,
Google Analytics can show you a potential target customer base you haven’t noticed before. You could be targeting customers locally and not even realise 90% of your traffic is coming from overseas, how could you take advantage of that?
Leading on from point 1 – Google Analytics can show you the demographics of users landing on your website. This information is invaluable to any marketing strategy.
You might not even know that particular website pages are broken or turning your customers away – Google Analytics breaks down your Bounce Rate to identify where problems are so you can fix them.
You can find out how users are getting to your website – Is there a potential opportunity to capitalise on there?
Do you want your user base returning frequently to your website? You can track your user retention through Google Analytics.
Google My Business
Not literally Google my business – it’s called Google My Business.
The second free tool from Google I’m going to recommend is Google My Business (GMB). An essential for any business, GMB gives you a dedicated information feed for customers to use when they’ve organically searched for you. Imagine GMB as a basic storefront that shows your contact details, your location, your opening hours, and images related to your business.
It can even be used for finding directions to your business locations, for customers to post reviews about their experiences, or so they can colab and upload their photos of your products or store. Google’s constantly expanding on GMB and now offers an updates feed, a direct messaging option, and a space to post frequently asked questions. Offer your services, show off your menu, let customers know how they can shop with you. Google My Business is an essential free online tool.
Google Trends.
Google really likes giving out free tools!
Bit of out of the loop nowadays? You’re not alone. Trends change as often as you change your underwear.. That’s every day for those who didn’t know. Thankfully, you don’t have to be hooked into every social orifice of the wide web to keep up to date and can opt for another free tool by Google called Google Trends that lets you know what people are Googling. It’s perfect for content creation and for keeping your brand up to date with trending trendy trends.
It’s super simple to use, just search different terms and topics related to your business or marketing campaign ideas. This will give you common search phrases, related topics, and queries which can be compared against other keywords. Google Trends also lets you search geographically by area or worldview so you can see what’s trending in different locations. They even have data on previous years search trends. Pair this with a Social Media and content creation strategy and you’re good to go!
Google Drive.
Google’s all-in-one tool to help you get online.
When I first started using Google Drive as a student I was pretty reluctant to do so. After using Microsoft applications for years I was unwilling to step away from the norm but quickly I realised how behind on the times I was. Google Drive is one of the best online tools you can get nowadays and a majority of it is completely free. You can craft sharable essays, documents, presentations, spreadsheets, questionnaires or forms, and PDF’s. Not only that, you can store files and images, use Google’s Calendar, its Gmail email service, host video calls or chatrooms, manage Google advertisements, or take advantage of Google Workspace for teams.
It can be pretty overwhelming when you look at all these online tools Google offers but Google’s built all these tools to be as user friendly as possible. Not only that, they follow the same conventions as all the other tools out there, making switching easier than ever. To this day I continue to use their services daily. By integrating it into Builtflat we operate smoother, get work done faster, and in the beginning it saved us a lot of money we didn’t have to spend on expensive programs or annual subscriptions. If you’re not already a Google user or haven’t taken a full drive in, this is one online tool to check out and take advantage of.
Email Marketing
One of the earliest forms of digital marketing.
Since its conception in 1971 by a computer engineer named Ray Tomlinson, email has grown as a useful tool. So useful that it’s estimated that in 2022 333.2 billion emails [https://www.statista.com/statistics/456500/daily-number-of-e-mails-worldwide/] are sent every day. Marketers everywhere understand the power of email marketing and its ability to grow communities, relationships, and businesses. But if you’d rather see a dollar value of email marketing, check out this study which found every £1 spent on email marketing had an average return of £38 on their investment.
So, where do you get started? Getting your email list, and no I don’t mean buying one. Unless you earn those email addresses, whatever addresses you have are from people who haven’t opted in and 9/10 of them would not be happy receiving your emails. This is a two way street here, you give and you get. Experiment with different techniques for getting people to sign on to your emailing list. For instance, using competitions sign ups, trading them for discounts or free shipping, or even just asking your customers are all ways of getting emails.
If it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense – Well Xero makes sense of the dollars!
Xero makes an often unpleasant task of dealing with the bookkeeping easier for everyone, which is why it’s made our list of digital tools to help your business. This paid cloud-based accounting software covers purchasing, managing invoicing, bookkeeping, expenses, inventory, bank reconciliation, and more from any device with an internet connection. Not only that, it’s recognised by and integrates flawlessly with hundreds of third-party applications such as Stripe, PayPal, and Capsule. This only makes Xero perform better. For instance, if you integrate Xero with Stripe your customers can then pay their bills directly with a debit or credit card.
I’m not going to overload you with Xero’s features so I’ll keep this short and sweet. From a digital developer standpoint, what I love about Xero is how easy it is to use. The UX and UI design throughout their website and application dashboard means even a dummy like me can do my GST return in 3 clicks. I never see Xero as a task to do. To me, it’s a helpful employee who takes the stress out of often-times complicated jobs, keeps me updated and informed about our books, and helps our business run smoothly.
Cloud storage
Is your head in the cloud? No? It should be!
The evolution of data based storage has transformed in leaps in bounds. From fridge-size devices to usb drives with x100 better storage and performance. Then came the Cloud which revolutionised how we accessed our stored data. Cloud based storage means your data gets stored away on servers located around the world which you can access anytime and anywhere you have an internet connection. There’s now no need for you to lug around your fridge-sized harddrives anymore! This is why Cloud storage is one of the most important digital tools to get your business online and to improve your day to day operation.
Ever lose a usb drive? Or arrive at a meeting and realise you’ve forgotten to get your presentation? How about going into the office to get some data files so you can work from home? These are some annoying situations that Cloud storage fixes, but there’s something even greater it can do, protect your data. Nowadays you always hear about businesses suffering from ransomware, an attack on your computer systems that locks you out of your files unless you pay a ransom. Well, if your files are backed up to the Cloud then you’ve still got access to them. I think that’s Hackers – 0 and Cloud storage – 1.
There’s now a lot of different options out there to get access to this great digital tool with free and paid packages ranging from 2GB to, well.. the skys the limit really. Dropbox has gained popularity in the Cloud space and offers great team packages for you to take advantage of. Even Google and Microsoft have their own in the form of Google Drive and OneDrive, each with their own features. Have a look at these three and the many others out there and get your head in the Cloud!
Website development.
What’s the point of getting online if your customers can’t find you online?
Conflict of interest here – At Builtflat we build and develop websites. But I’m not here to tell you why you should pick us to do so, I’m here to tell you why websites are the best online tool you need as a business. We’re in this line of work to help people out, not push sales.
Expectation
A while ago, if you wanted to find a business you would check the Yellow or White pages. Now, you do an internet search. There now is an expectation amongst a majority of the population that your brand will have a website they can find for information or purchasing. If they can’t, you’re really going to suffer with points 2 and 3.
Credibility
Why can’t I find your website? Are you hiding something? Do you even exist? How do I see the quality of your business? A good website answers all those questions that potential customers might ask themselves if you don’t have one. Here’s a fun fact, 74% of users admit to judging a businesses credibility just off the website design alone. How would they judge a business who doesn’t have one at all? A website is an opportunity for your business to show your customers that you’re the best, that you’re around, and that you’re ready and waiting for them whenever they want.
Sales
Think of a website as a silent salesperson who’s working 24/7 and costs less wages than any employee you could ever find. They’re just sitting there and waiting for a potential customer to land on them so they can use their integrated sales techniques to help convert them to a sale or generate a lead. With minimal effort, that’s an opportunity for you or money straight in the bank.
Market expansion and growth
If you run brick and mortar retail stores, market expansion might be opening another store in a different town or suburb. It’s definitely more reach than what you had previously but how does it stack up against having a website that can be accessed by anyone nationally or around the globe? A website offers unparalleled market expansion and growth for any brand and business. So if more opportunity and money is what you’re after, then you’re after a website.
Consumer insights
What good would all that expansion and growth be if you couldn’t grow it further! Like we covered with Google Analytics, having a website means you can access those juicy consumer insights which gives you a literal roadmap to success. Identifying potential markets, tracking promotions, finding customer issues, track retention, test changes and their outcomes, and more, and more, and more.. You get the idea.
Advertising
Having a well-built website means you have a platform to advertise that’s purpose is to convert potential customers into sales or leads, and increase brand awareness. Without one it becomes very hard to take advantage of Google’s own Google AdWords or the many other online advertising outlets available. Trust me, you want to take advantage of one of the most targetable, accurate, and cost effective marketing solutions available.
Customer service
One great ability websites offer businesses is their customer service. Not only can you reduce your customer services costs and save time, you’ve got that 24/7 sales person sitting there. They’re answering all those pricing enquiries, frequently asked questions, providing credibility and reviews, giving brand insights, showing your products and services, your office hours, your locations, and more.
Competition
It’s pretty likely that your competition has their own website, trying to take as much from the market as they can. Ramp up the competition a bit. Make it harder for them to get those easy online sales or run them out with a perfectly built website, digital marketing strategy, and some willpower.
What else..
Well, there’s heaps of reasons. Websites can make you industry leaders, an authoritative source of information, it can help build relationships with your customers, give out brand updates or promotions, help you compete with larger brands, teach consumers about your brand and offerings, show your professionalism, and your brand identity. The possibilities are kind of endless..
I really hope you’re taking advantage of these digital tools to help get your business online. If you’re not, I hope this article has given you a slight push to give them a go. Look at the offerings Google has and how it can help your marketing and online presence. At how Social Media can build a closer connection with your customers. Think about how email marketing or Stripe could grow your business, or how Xero could streamline your operations. Check out the offerings for Cloud storage because your data is an important piece of your business. Keep in mind the benefits you can reap from having a website for your brand.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article, we hope it’s helped and giving some clarity to the vast amount of digital tools available. Besides this list, there’s hundreds more tools out there just waiting for you to take advantage of. If you ever need some help or guidance in this sometimes daunting digital space, contact Builtflat anytime. We’d love to help out any way we can!
