In the time of isolation brought about by the pandemic, more people turned to social media to stay connected with the world and their loved ones. As such, it has become an indispensable part of daily life.
With the majority of the world distributed across different social media platforms, its effect on commerce and business can not be overstated. Viral posts and online popularity can now be translated to potential sales. On the other hand, web development and web design are geared towards establishing connections with people through reliable branding and a great user experience. In marketing terms, all design and functionality elements should work together to ultimately persuade consumers toward a product, service, or concept.
Harnessing the power of social media could be beneficial to brands. This could even be translated to other aspects such as web page development and design. To make the most out of technology reaching people, here are three social media tips to boost your web development and web design efforts.
2. Consistency is the key
While it sounds like an overused phrase, social media is a great space to examine what makes people subscribe to a brand. Aside from the uniform layout of the platform itself, effective brands maintain consistency in the design and sometimes the schedule of their posts. This helps people associate certain design elements with the brand. It usually starts with the brand name and the logo, then, later on, extends to certain keywords, slogans, or even color palettes.
The same applies to web design. Of course, if you’re looking to establish a specific identity, you have to choose the elements that will represent it – and stick with it. A changing website design or layout will make your brand appear inconsistent, if not outright suspicious. It also includes the use of your logo that should always be the same color scheme and aspect ratio when you use it in different parts of the site. Even in the use of media, you’d prefer photos of the same size and quality to imply an organized and orderly enterprise behind them.
In terms of web development, accessibility is important. This means that a wide range of users must be able to reach and navigate across your website. Small tips to help you in this part include the use of alt texts for screen readers to explain images for visually impaired users. Web devs should also keep in mind the overall branding and try not to deviate too far from it. Not only do additional features risk alienating users, but they can also affect website speed – another important factor that affects the overall user experience.
2. Follow the trend
One defining characteristic of social media is how it amplifies a certain topic, giving you an idea of the hot topics of the day or the public’s reception to a certain issue. Aside from monitoring your presence, you can also use social media listening tools as a source of ideas to better improve your practice. Additionally, social media is turning into a platform for support outreach, which you can also use yourself to increase brand awareness.
Another common practice in social media you can incorporate into your web design and development is the use of contests and other promotional activities. It creates an easy channel to engage and establish a connection with audiences through the elements of prizes and chance. Other contests, such as those hosted on different social media platforms, only require them to like or share posts. However, there are other contests that ask them to provide information that you can use for your lead generation efforts. However, the collection and storage of user information on your website is a tricky matter.
To ensure that you’re ready for these kinds of activities, check whether you have a HIPAA-compliant web design. This set of standards rules the protection of data, especially those involved in patient care. If you’ll be handing, collecting, storing, or transmitting any form of such data, HIPAA compliance applies to your website.
3. Share the good word.
Another way to create buzz and establish trust with your potential customers is to publish good reviews from your customers. Good reviews are effective marketing tools because, most of the time, they come from real people with verifiable accounts. Include it across your channels. Aside from the good reviews, user reviews, in general, are great opportunities to improve and establish your brand more. It helps to include a photo of the reviewer and a link to their website. Aside from adding credibility to the review, it improves both of your websites by adding an external link.
A good example is if you’re looking to extend your reach by developing a mobile app available on Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. User feedback can help you identify issues with the app, which in turn accelerates your mobile app bug testing phase. With an open feedback channel, you can even identify opportunities for improvement. Of course, the good reviews regarding your new project can help convince other people to try the same.
Conclusion
Trends, strategies, and best practices in social media can be used to improve your web design and web development efforts. After all, the goal is to offer the best you can to people who see what you do. From aesthetics to functionality, there are tips and tricks from social media that can help you get the most out of your work.