You may have noticed that all websites are starting to look similar these days. While this may seem limiting on the surface, there are actually many benefits to adhering to a standardized set of patterns and elements offered by website creation tools like WordPress. These trends not only make the browsing experience more uniform and intuitive but also offer a myriad of benefits to the designers and developers themselves. So what top trends contribute to website standardization and how can you embrace them? Let’s review a few common tools and elements that today’s website designers are using to revolutionize modern website experiences.
It’s reported that WordPress is used by 60.1% of all websites with a known content management system, which is 30.5% of all websites.1 Website standardization through tools like WordPress is a trend worth embracing.
Consider how these website design trends and popular premium theme markets have converged to make websites more appealing to B2B companies, designers and end-users.
1. User-Friendly Design Trends
Full-width layouts, a full-width image or video in the hero space, flat design for simplicity, centered text, a left-aligned logo, soft white or black overlays, hamburger menus, iconography and bold colors—these are all trends that, while appear simple on the surface, are actually proven to create a more engaging experience. Responsive or mobile-friendly websites also allow for incredible flexibility and adaptability that make the best use of screens and create a more interactive user experience across all devices. The functionality and accessibility of these tactics are what make these trends preferable to designers, developers and end-users.
2. Efficient Frameworks
Another reason why these elements are so prevalent is the rise of front-end frameworks. These include Bootstrap, HTML5 Boilerplate and Foundation to name a few, plus well-known WordPress frameworks and theme packages like X Theme, Enfold and Genesis. Typically, they come with pre-built layouts and styles, grid systems, text styling and a myriad of buttons and elements. These all help simplify the development of a site so that rather than starting from scratch each time, there’s already an easy starting point on which to build. This makes for quicker turnarounds and lower costs.
3. Engaging Media Platforms
Browser support for functions like audio and video marketing without the use of Flash or other plugins allows for even more interesting applications. The degradation of problem browsers, such as Internet Explorer, is making it so that developers don’t need the CSS hacks and browser fallbacks that were necessary five or six years ago. Because full-screen video is everywhere, it’s important to remember that its prominence is due to technology platforms being readily available, making it relatively easy to accomplish and perfect.
So, even though the web is starting to look like a Robert Palmer video full of models that all look the same, creativity is not dead. In fact, the technology we have available has never been more powerful or more native than it is today—it’s a very exciting time for the designers, developers and companies ready to embrace new trends. Ultimately, website creation tools are elevating surface-level sites to offer favorable, intuitive and personalized experiences across the web.
Are you interested in website design and development or other B2B marketing services? Contact Sagefrog Marketing Group today.
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