Custom Web Design Services: What Should I Expect & Who Are The Best In Singapore

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As a business owner, one of the biggest dilemmas is choosing between a custom web design and using website templates.

42% of internet users in Singapore go online to research before purchasing an item, which underlines the importance of having a well-designed and unique looking website. An additional 25% also use the web to read product reviews.

Although the decision over the two options is entirely subjective, you have to be careful before you make the final choice. Keep in mind that consumers are more likely to purchase from a website that appears professional, unique, and creative over one that has a generic design.

The Difference between Custom Web Design Services and Website Templates

In the past, only trained web developers could design and publish a website. The introduction of platforms such as WordPress has changed this, and you can now start a website without any experience in programming. Website templates are the resources availed by such platforms that make it easier for novices to build their websites without assistance from experts.

Custom web design services, on the other hand, are projects where a business owner contacts an agency to build a website on their behalf. While it is a more expensive approach than using pre-made templates, it has significant advantages that justify the extra cost. Most people prefer custom designs due to their competitive advantage over basic website templates.

The Benefits of Custom Web Design Services to Your Singapore Business

Here are the benefits of outsourcing your website development project to a professional agency.

custom web design services

High ROI and Conversion Rate Optimization

Customized websites yield a higher ROI than generic websites made from templates. The reason behind this is that custom sites are designed to the exact specifications of the business owner. Such websites cater to the needs of your target audience and largely conform to your business goals.

Another area that custom sites excel over website templates is increasing the number of conversions. With only 22% of businesses globally showing satisfaction in their current conversion rates, investing in customized website designs is an absolute necessity. Professional agencies have the experience and knowledge required to optimise your site and increase conversions.

Better User Interface and User Experience

Custom-built websites are pre-dominantly user-friendly. Developers anticipate the expectations of your audience and tailor the site to meet them. According to Forbes, a site that provides an excellent user experience could increase its conversion rates by up to 400%. With a better conversion rate, you boost your sales and grow your business significantly.

The user interface also has an impact on the revenue generated by a website. The brain processes visual content up 60,000 times faster than other types of content, showing the importance of having an aesthetic interface. Custom development gives you the freedom to adjust the visual appeal of your site, which translates to increased engagement with your traffic.

Personalization and Localization

Personalization is one of the aspects that increase the appeal of a website to its users.  It enhances the overall user experience, which can increase engagement levels by 48%. Most people do not like interacting with robots, and adding a personal touch makes them feel valued. As a result, they are likely to spend more time on your website.

If you hire an agency specializing in web design services in Singapore, they will optimize your site for local search. According to SEO Expert, 92% of searchers pick the businesses that appear on the first page of local search results. Localization ensures that your site is optimized to suit the preferences of your local audience, which results in a significant boost in revenue.  

SEO

One of the primary reasons for hiring a web design services company is to improve the ranking of a site on search results. The sites ranked on the first three pages of search results generate a click-through rate of 36%, which explains the need to rank high on organic search. Web development agencies leverage their expertise to ensure that your site stands out from competitors and attains a position on the first page of SERPs.

Better SEO also means an improved user experience. Google usually considers the quality of user experience and relevance of content when ranking a site, meaning the agency must also work on these when developing your website. Find out how you can get a better SEO ranking here.

Unique Design

When an agency handles your web development, you are sure of getting a unique design. This is not often the case with templates, where you have a limited number of choices. The benefit of the distinctive design is that it makes your brand easy to recognize. This, in turn, creates an image that your audience associates with your brand.

Scalability

A website is an entity that grows as your business develops. Another significant advantage of opting for a custom web design services company is that you can quickly scale your website whenever the need arises. For instance, an increased number of users can hurt the speed of a website if you do not shift to a better host. Slow loading speeds are a nuisance, with 46% of internet users saying that they dislike slow websites. With website templates, this feature is either limited or unavailable.

Maintenance

Lastly, a website needs frequent maintenance. Unless you are planning to install a content management system, the best option is to hire a web design services company to handle this task. This way, you are sure that your website will always be up and running.

The Disadvantages of Custom Web Design Services

The most significant disadvantage of outsourcing website design services is its expensiveness. You also need to spend a considerable amount of time planning and searching for the right agency. Lastly, a custom website has to undergo a series of tests before launching to ensure that it is running smoothly. 

Affordability is the main reason why some business people opt for website templates when creating their websites. Despite the disparity in pricing, custom web design services have more advantages and are, therefore, the smarter choice in the long run.

 


If you are attempting to do WordPress custom web designing by yourself or at least be in the position to know what to look out for and instruct your web designer then you should view this tutorial:

YouTube video

If you prefer to get the professionals to do it for you, then read on.


How to Choose a Custom Web Design Services Agency

With over 1.5 billion websites in the world and a substantial number in Singapore, the competition for online visibility is at a record high. Businesses are competing against each other to get a share of the endless opportunities offered by the internet.

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The expertise needed to design, develop and run a website successfully might prove to be too much for businesses to handle, which explains the proliferation of custom web design services companies. You need to be proficient in design, coding, and digital marketing to generate profits from a website, skills that your employees might not possess.

The company you choose has a significant impact on the performance of your website. For this reason, it is a process that requires extensive planning and research.

 Here are the steps you should follow when looking to hire a custom web design services company.

1. Set Your Goals

Before you start looking for a website design agency, you need to set goals and a timeline defining how you want to achieve them. The objectives of your website should be in line with your overall business goals.

The custom web services company you choose should also help to achieve your goals. That said, you need to be flexible such that you accept any recommendations made by the agency you select to design your site. Besides design, you also need to figure out how you will market your website.

Here is a shortlist of some of the items you need to plan for before hiring a web design agency.

  • The primary objective of the website.
  • The audience you are targeting
  • The budget you have.
  • The marketing of the website.

2. Research

Once you have defined your goals, the next step is research. There are several ways of finding the optimal web design services company.

First, you can ask for referrals. Consulting other companies is an excellent way of gauging the ability of different companies to deliver quality websites. You will also get the opportunity to test their products and see if they meet your standards.

 Alternatively, you can browse through the portfolio of previous clients shown on the websites of various design agencies.  By looking at their history, you will know if a company has the experience of developing sites for companies in your niche. You can also read the reviews provided by each of the clients.

Although checking the portfolio of a website design service company is useful, you cannot see aspects such as the database or software development. It is crucial to use a combination of the two approaches mentioned above to ensure that you find an agency that meets your standards.

Here are some of the qualities you should look for when choosing your preferred web design services agency.

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  • Design portfolio
  • Technical expertise
  • The design process
  • Other services offered

Design Portfolio

The portfolio of a company that excels in providing web design services in Singapore should exhibit consistency, diversity, and more importantly, quality.  Evaluating the previous works shows you what to expect from a particular agency. If you deem their samples to be up to your requirements, you should initiate contact and book an appointment.

It is promising if an agency has already handled projects for companies operating to your niche. This certainly makes it easier for them to adapt to your needs. If you intend to work with a development company for an extended period, make sure that they offer long contracts.

Lastly, you should check the location of the clients listed in the portfolio. Go for a company that has both international and local clients so that your marketing services blend local and global approaches.

Technical Expertise

Technical proficiency is one of the most crucial qualities that define a website design services agency. A reliable firm should be competent in design, development, database integration, and SEO, and so on. The best way of assessing these qualities is by checking the agency’s website. If it has an impressive design, it is an indicator that they are proficient in this area.

The Design Process

A custom web design services company should outline the processes it takes to complete the development of a site. The firm must take time to understand your objectives before starting the design process. Keep in mind that the internet has an abundance of web design agencies, and it can be challenging to find an option that delivers a quality project. Be cautious so that you do not waste time and money on a company that will deliver a shoddy job.

Other Services Offered

The majority of web design services in Singapore offer more than development services. These extras include SEO, graphic design, email marketing, web hosting, and so forth. It is advisable to go for a company that offers other value-added services, mostly because it saves the time and resources that you would have otherwise spent looking for such services from other providers. Prioritize the services that are relevant to your project before looking at bonus offers. 

3. Request a Proposal

Companies that offer custom web design services usually send a quote to prospective clients before you sign a contract with them. All you need is to do is make a request, and it will be sent to you.

You should specify that the quote should include an overview of your goals. This is a smart way of seeing if the agency understood your requirements, as well as the approach they intend to use to achieve them. The quote should also include a description of the design process, along with the pricing of the entire project. This enables you to understand what the developer needs of you and adjust your budget accordingly.

4. Sign the Contract

The company you choose to handle your custom website design services is responsible for all aspects of your online presence. Before signing the contract, confirm that they will add value to your business. The agreement should contain detailed information about the scope of the project, its costs, mode of payment, maintenance, and the consequences of termination. If the company offers extra services, it should also include the types of services and their costs.

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How to Choose the Best Template for Your Website

You do not have to be a web developer to create a stunning professional website. The internet has several resources and readymade templates that enable novices to create sites within a short time.

For a beginner, it is challenging to find the best pick from the abundance of options available online. Here are some useful tips to help you in selecting the best template for your website.

Know the Website that You are Developing

The type of website that you are building impacts your choice of template. More importantly, you need to ensure that the template you pick is relevant to your target audience. Most newbies mistakenly choose visually appealing themes without considering if it suits their needs.

It is worth noting that each website has its unique requirements. You cannot develop a functional e-commerce website using a template designed for personal blogs. Although it is usually overlooked, understanding the features of your site is the most critical aspect of choosing a template.

Choose Quality

There are plenty of choices in the market, including free and paid options. Budget is one of the top consideration factors when designing a website, but this does not mean you should compromise on quality. 

It is tempting to go for free templates, but this can be a problem. Free templates usually have issues such as poor quality, unreliability, and lack of technical support, and so on. On the other hand, paid templates have excellent support and reliability, which saves you time and allows you to focus on the areas of your business.

That said, there are free templates that produce quality websites. Make sure that you research extensively before settling on a particular choice.

Take Your Time

The excitement of launching a website can lead you into making hasty decisions. For instance, you might select a generic template with the hope of improving once your site gains substantial popularity. This approach often results in disappointment and wastage of resources, as you usually have to start over with a new template.

It is essential to take your time and do research to see the template that will serve you now and in the future.

Emphasize Customization and Flexibility

You will need to make adjustments to your template to add a personal feel to your website. If you apply a model as it is, you will struggle to stand out from other websites that use the same template. This explains why some templates have customization options. You should avoid templates that do not allow tweaking.

Even if you are not experienced in coding, you could still make some minor adjustments. As you get familiar with website management, you can make further tweaks so that the template resonates with your brand image.

Choose Responsive Templates

Over 80% of Singaporeans access the internet using mobile devices. If you have a non-responsive website, you are missing out on a massive opportunity. Responsive templates ensure that your site displays correctly across all devices. Regardless of the type of website you are building you have to make sure that it responds to all screen sizes, especially on handheld devices.

Also, Google ranks responsive sites higher in search results than no-responsive sites.  This is crucial if you want to gain more traffic from organic search. Keep off templates that do not support mobile-friendly layouts.

Know the Template Developer and Customer Support

Many developers publish their templates on the internet. However, these templates usually experience issues at some point. A poorly designed template will add problems to your site, so make sure that you get one from a reputable supplier.

Research widely to get the opinion of previous users about a template before you use it to make your website. Also, make sure that the template you choose has a reliable customer support system. This way, you will know who to contact in case you experience any challenges.

Choose SEO-friendly templates

The number one result in Google’s search results has an average click-through rate of 31.7%. Every business strives to achieve the coveted number one spot on Google’s SERPs. Even if you build a website with a stunning aesthetic appeal, you still need to implement SEO strategies to increase your visibility on search engines.

Use templates that make your site easy to navigate and have proper information architecture. Moreover, use a consistent theme throughout your site. Using different templates on your site hampers navigation, which affects the overall user experience. A poor UX design hurts your ranking on search results.

Finally, the loading speed of a template has an impact on your SEO efforts. A poorly designed template increases your bounce rate and hurts your search rank. On the contrary, a fast template boosts your rank because of the improved user experience.


The Best Custom Web Design Agencies in Singapore

Singapore has several companies that specialize in providing custom web design services. The following are the most outstanding options.

MediaOne

MediaOne Custom Web Design Services

MediaOne is the best website design company in Singapore.  So far, the company has worked with over 800 clients, both locally and internationally. The company launched in 2009 and has helped several businesses to attain the number one spot on search results in their respective niches. For this reason, they have received prestigious awards such as the ‘Best in Search’ and ‘Top SEO in Singapore.’

The company has its headquarters at 40B Trans Street S (07879). You contact them on the phone by calling either +65 6789 3852 or +65 6742 1048.

In addition to web design, MediaOne offers other services relating to digital marketing such as search engine optimisation, search engine marketing, social media marketing, and so forth.

Additionally, you can learn new skills by registering for the digital marketing courses offered by MediaOne. The program’s instructors are employees of the company, which guarantees the delivery of quality education. These courses are also useful to people who wish to pursue a career in the profitable online marketing industry.

The prominence of companies and organizations in the portfolio of MediaOne is another indicator of the excellence of their services. Some of the companies that have worked with this agency include Sheraton Hotels, the ministry of law, the University of Cambridge, ST Electronics, the Changi Airport, the Intercontinental, and many more. Even better, these companies have lauded the promptness of the customer support as well as the timeliness of the services offered by MediaOne.

The best thing about this agency is that quotes are available for free to all clients who express interest in any of their services. Also, they are familiar with developing websites for companies from all sectors of the economy.

Global Dot Com

Global dotcom Custom Web Design Services

Global dot Com is a web design development company based in Singapore. The firm stands out from other options in that it offers a free SEO analysis report for client websites.  For this reason, it received the award known as ‘Singapore’s Outstanding Enterprise.’

Here is a list of services offered by Global Dot Com.

  • Web design and eCommerce development
  • Search engine optimization and marketing
  • Graphic design and copywriting
  • Branding and CMS development

The offices are located at 7030 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5 #09-85, Northstar, Singapore 569880. You can reach them on phone via +65 6908 5866.

24K Design Studios

24k Designs Custom Web Design Services

24K Design Studio is a Singaporean web design and digital marketing company. The company launched in 2009 and aims to grow brands by delivering tangible results.

The services offered by 24K Design Studio Pte include;

  • Web design and development
  • Graphic design and content management systems
  • Web and email hosting
  • Copywriting

You can visit the company’s head offices at 61 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Tat Wan Building #05-02, Singapore 534816. You can reach them on phone by calling +65 6844 0132.

Novage

Novage Custom Web Design Services

Novage prides itself as the leading website design company in Singapore. The company has existed since 2010 and has built several websites for all types of businesses. The firm also provides a year of free hosting once they develop your website.

Here is a list of services offered by Novage.

  • Website design and maintenance
  • Domain registration and web hosting
  • Digital marketing
  • E-commerce development and landing page design

You can visit the company offices at The Commerze @ Irving Place #09-01 Singapore 369546. Alternatively, you can call them on +65 6744 4064.

Oasis Web Asia

Oasis Custom Web Design Services

Since its launch in 2009, Oasis Web Asia has created several websites and mobile apps for small and upcoming businesses in Singapore. Four years ago, the company signed a deal with Illigo Pte Ltd and became a unified entity.

Here are the services offered by Oasis Web Asia.

  • Web design and e-commerce development
  • Mobile app development
  • PPC and social media marketing

iFoundries

IFoundries Custom Web Design Services

iFoundries is a company that specializes in offering custom web design services. The firm, inaugurated in 2005, has its headquarters in Singapore with regional offices the nearby Vietnam and Malaysia.

The following is a list of services offered by iFoundries.

  • Web design and development
  • Web hosting
  • Digital marketing

The head offices are located on 69 Ubi Road 1, Singapore 408731. You can also reach them by calling +65 6297 7751.

Etereo Media

Etreo Custom Web Design Services

Etereo Media is a web design company that serves the Singaporean market. The following is a list of services provided by this firm.

  • Branding – this covers web design and development, graphic design, and the design of print media such as packages and brochures.
  • Digital marketing – this covers social media marketing and management, UX and UI development, search engine optimisation, and search engine marketing.
  • Content Marketing – this covers website content creation, website content management, copywriting, and editing, and so on.

You can call Etereo media on +65 6871 8838. Alternatively, you can visit their office at 258 Middle Road #02-01 Singapore 188987.

I Concept

iConcept Custom Web Design Services

I Concept is a web design company that creates products for online businesses in Singapore. The company was introduced in 2008 and develops solutions for web design and digital marketing. They include;

  • Responsive web design
  • Digital marketing
  • Copywriting

The headquarters are located on 140 Paya Lebar Road, #06-26, Singapore 409015. You can also call them on +65 6333 4636.

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Smart Hosting & Design Services

Smart Hosting Custom Web Design Services

Smart Hosting & Design Services is a company that mostly deals with custom web design and web hosting. The company aims to develop customized web solutions for each customer. It provides services such as;

  • Web design
  • Web  and email hosting
  • Digital marketing

The company headquarters are located on 1 Sophia Road, Peace Centre, Singapore 228149. You can also call on +65 6337 7971.

Creative eWorld

Creaworld Custom Web Design Services

Creative eWorld is a company that targets small and upcoming businesses intending to make them stand out from competitors. The firm specializes in a range of services, such as;

  • Mobile app development and website design
  • Digital marketing
  • Web hosting and maintenance.

The head office is located on 315 Alexandra Road #05-01, Sime Darby Business Centre, Singapore 159944. The phone number is +65 6392 2857.

Digital Marketing Agency

DMA Custom Web Design Services

Digital Marketing Agency is an international web design and development establishment that has offices in Singapore. Here are is a list of services they provide.

  • Web development
  • Search engine optimisation
  • Conversion  rate optimization
  • PPC  advertising

Their Singapore office is located at 16 Collyer Quay Singapore, 049318. Alternatively, you can send an email to singapore@digitalmarketingagency.com

Web Design Singapore

WDS Custom Web Design Services

Web Design Singapore deals with the development of websites and internet marketing. The following is a list of the services they offer.

  • Web design and development
  • Web hosting
  • SEO and SEM
  • Google AdWords training

Their offices are located at 138 Market Street, Level 24 CapitaGreen, Singapore 048946. Their phone number is +65 6699 9137.

 


 

10 Common Website Mistakes To Avoid

10 Common Website Mistakes To Avoid

Undoubtedly, investing in a custom website design is your best bet to getting ahead of the curve. Already, we have discussed the benefits of a custom web design and the best website design companies in Singapore.

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The next step is looking at the top 12 unforgivable web design mistakes you should look out for in the final design. Be sure to request the agency to correct them before going live to avoid losing clients and compromising your company’s credibility.

 

Mistake 1: Too Much Information

Having a website with a plethora of information about your brand may seem like a good idea on the surface. However, the information overload makes the website look cluttered and unprofessional. In addition, trying to convey the same message in different ways discourages visitors from doing business with you.

You only have seven seconds to convince the prospect that your company has the ideal product or service. A clear message will diverge any doubts they may have about your brand and encourage them to either contact you for more information or place an order outright.

Ensure that the website design agency includes concise content above the fold to capture the reader’s attention. This section of the site should convince the reader to scroll through other site sections to learn more about the brand.

While there, take note of the over-embracing minimalism syndrome. Providing too little information will have a low impact on potential customers. Consequently, customers will gravitate towards your competitors due to a lack of enough information about your offerings. Do not expect customers to use their imagination to understand what your brand is all about – tell them!

Here are four recommended ways of adding content to a custom website design.

  1. Make sure the products or services are displayed on the pages.
  2. Ensure on-site content communicates what the company does and how it will improve the lives of the customers
  3. Enhance navigation to make it easy for users to move from one page to another
  4. Contact information should be on all the pages

 

Mistake 2: Lack of Poor Consistency

This is by far one of the most common mistakes that we see, especially on new websites. Every page should have similar branding elements and design. Doing so will ensure that the customers get the same feel of your brand regardless of their location on the website. The same case applies to content used for email, social media, and other digital marketing platforms.

When comparing the presented designs, avoid those with too many themes, typefaces, images, and other visuals. The rule of thumb is choosing a design with one theme, one typeface, and one logo.

Here are best practices for ensuring consistency.

  1. Text font size should be readable both on desktop and mobile devices
  2. Use one font on all the pages
  3. Sans Serif is the best font as it is compatible with virtually all devices and browsers
  4. Use H1, H2, and H3 to organize the on-site content. These headings help search engine bots crawl the content
  5. Make sure the website design is responsive
  6. Don’t ignore small elements such as favicon
  7. Include a custom 404 page that redirects potential customers to the correct pages on your website
  8. Work on website speed

 

Mistake 3: Using CTAs Wrongly

CTA (call to action) buttons are crucial to the performance of the website. Without them, visitors will not know which actions they should take when they land on a particular page. Unfortunately, the website design agency may not discuss the importance of CTAs.

That is, the best website design service provider will enlighten you about them and give you suggestions for the different service pages and landing pages. Ideally, they should be strategically placed throughout the site to boost the conversion rate.

Make sure that the CTA is connected to the right page to get the most results. For instance, if the goal is to increase subscriptions, ensure that the “Join Now” CTA directs users to the registration or sign-up page.

 

Mistake 4: Cryptic Information

Don’t let the cutthroat competition for customers lead you to use intelligent words in the on-site content. Even if you are an authority in your niche, desist from using complex words. 

The content and website design should be digestible to an 8-year old. That is, the content should be simple to understand. Use your creative skills or hire a professional copywriter to write mundane or complex topics in a simple way.

Concisely, the intended message should be simple and visible. Avoid any wittiness that could make it difficult for a new client to understand how the product or service will help them.

 

Mistake 5: Poor Quality Content

The best web design agency in Singapore always advises clients to work on the content immediately after creating a custom web design template.

The beauty of the internet-based business landscape is that it is powered by content. Therefore, there is no point in investing thousands of dollars on a new web design then adding poor quality content.

The content should be concise and simple. Due to your busy schedule, you may not get enough time to research and write the content. Save time for other obligations by hiring the best content writing agency to do it for you.

For the site to earn a high ranking in SERPs and generate sales, it needs different types of content, namely:

  • Landing Page: This page should have concise and simple content to encourage visitors to complete the purchase. The visitor probably landed here after clicking an ad or CTA. Make sure the content is not too salty. 
  • Blog Content: The homepage and service pages are great, but you need to go the extra mile and have a dedicated blog page. On this page, post articles packed with valuable information related to your brand. The articles should be comprehensive, and search engine optimized to enhance the visibility of your site. 

 

The length of the blog articles is dependent on the motive. For example, press releases should be less than 1,000 words long, but buying guides should be at least 1,500 words. Remember, Google prefers long-form content to short-form content as the latter lacks depth.

  • Additional website pages: The number of pages on the site depends on your business model. For example, if it is an e-commerce site, you will need category pages and product pages. The content in these pages should be cohesive and in tandem with the goal or objective. The product page should have a succinct description and a CTA button. 

 

Here are the fundamental website content best practices to keep in mind.

  • Ensure it is scannable
  • It should be entertaining and information
  • It should be original and unique
  • Make it easy to understand for all users
  • Proofread to eliminate all grammatical errors and typos
  • It should answer questions visitors may have regarding your brand and products/services

 

Mistake 6: Undesirable Mobile Experience

Majority of the internet users use mobile devices to conduct searches. Not having a website that is accessible on mobile means you will miss out on thousands of potential leads. Responsive website design was a must-have ten years ago.

Now, you need a custom web design that is responsive and in line with mobile-first design requirements. This kind of design is tailored to provide an optimal experience to all mobile users. One of the highlights of this design is that it is still responsive, so you will not lose customers who prefer accessing the website using a desktop.

The point is; make sure that the custom website design delivers an excellent mobile experience to the target audience. Carry out multiple A/B tests to pinpoint sections of the site that need to be revamped to adhere to mobile-first design requirements. Count on a reputable web design agency to carry out the tests and tweak the identified sections before submitting the final design to you for review.

 

Mistake 7: Not Paying Attention to Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the secret recipe to success as an online business. It will determine how the site ranks in search engine results pages and the amount of traffic it will generate.

Your website needs to appear in the top search results to generate organic traffic and, consequently, sales. One of the mistakes businesses make is implementing SEO after receiving the custom design. I’m afraid that’s not right – as there are technical SEO strategies that should be implemented in the web design phase. They include;

  • Link structuring
  • Website structure
  • Content structure and distribution

The above list is far from complete. Consider hiring a boutique Singapore digital marketing agency that offers website design and SEO services under one roof. The two departments will work together to ensure that the final web design is responsive and in line with Google’s recommended SEO practices.

Note that going back to re-design some aspects after launching the site may be tedious, time-consuming, and expensive. In the worst-case scenario, the site will be offline as the designers implement the changes, resulting in revenue loss.

 

Mistake 8: Use of the Wrong Images

The human brain processes visuals 60,000 times faster than text. Keep this fact in mind when seeking custom web design services. Visuals will make your site user-friendly, but just adding images will not get the job done.

The images should be not only relevant to the business and page but also well-optimized. That is, the size should be ideal, resolution perfect, and have titles and tags (ALT). Alternative text (ALT) informs bots what the image is all about and will display the text if the image fails to load.

On the same point, large images hamper website speed resulting in a poor user experience. Work on the size of the images to supercharge the website. Proper image optimisation will increase site ranking and increase the traffic it generates from search engines and other platforms such as social media.

Here are tips on how to add images to a custom website design.

  • Steer clear of ugly or golly images
  • They should add value to the website content
  • Leverage custom images
  • The resolution of all the images should be optimized. Ensure the size doesn’t exceed 200Kbs
  • Each image should have a descriptive title
  • Include descriptive alt text

Custom images will enhance your branding efforts. You also stand a chance to get free backlinks whenever other websites use the images in their content.

 

Mistake 9: Duplicate Content

Duplicate content will hurt your site ranking and credibility. Use tools such as Copyscape to ascertain the originality/uniqueness of the content. Unique content will give your website the muscle it requires to generate not only traffic but also sales.

Unlike in the past, Google bots are smart enough to tell whether the content is original or span. Websites found to have duplicate content are penalised, and recovering after the penalty may take months.

 

Mistake 10: Not Setting Up Google Analytics

Google Analytics will help you monitor the performance of the website continuously. Not correctly setting it up means you won’t know which pages are performing well and which ones need improvement.

Concisely, properly setting up Google analytics on your custom website will give you more leverage by providing accurate and real-time data for decision-making purposes. You will also get a clearer perspective of the site ROI.

The benefits of connecting the site to Google analytics include:

  • Measuring website traffic
  • Monitoring return on investment (ROI)
  • Evaluating SEO performance
  • Recording data for social media campaigns such as Facebook ads
  • Supports PPC Ad campaigns
  • Conducting remarketing ad campaign using Google Ads
  • Setting Google shopping ads

 


Conclusion

There are two main approaches to building a website – using premade templates and investing in custom web design services. While using templates seems convenient, it is better to opt for customized web design because it has more benefits.

The list above is an excellent starting point if you are looking for a company to help you with building a custom website. Make sure that you adhere to the guidelines in this article before settling on a particular option.

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tom koh seo expert singapore

Tom Koh

Tom is the CEO and Principal Consultant of MediaOne, a leading digital marketing agency. He has consulted for MNCs like Canon, Maybank, Capitaland, SingTel, ST Engineering, WWF, Cambridge University, as well as Government organisations like Enterprise Singapore, Ministry of Law, National Galleries, NTUC, e2i, SingHealth. His articles are published and referenced in CNA, Straits Times, MoneyFM, Financial Times, Yahoo! Finance, Hubspot, Zendesk, CIO Advisor.

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