9 Trends in Small Business Website Design in 2023

If you are a small business owner who’s trying to have a prominent online presence, you must know the ins and outs of small business website design. 

Though you need to either get the work done from your in-house team or outsource it to a web design and development company, knowing the latest trends will keep you updated. 

You will be able to implement your thoughts and ideas with the team of developers easily.

Website design, just like any other industry, is ever-evolving with the changes in technologies. The web designing trends that were evident in 2021 or 2022 may not seem persistent in 2023. 

Hence, we’ve made our research on the same topic and found the latest web designing trends that are suitable for small businesses. 

So, without any further ado, let’s explore the 7 trends in small business website design in 2023.

#1  Horizontal Scrolling

Horizontal scrolling in UI/UX design has been around for quite some time, but it has gained popularity in recent years due to the increasing use of mobile devices and touchscreens. One of the main advantages of horizontal scrolling is that it allows designers to create a more immersive and storytelling experience for users. By dividing the content into sections and using animations and transitions, designers can guide users through a visual journey that is more engaging than simply scrolling up and down.

Horizontal scrolling is also a great way to display visual content such as images, videos, and infographics. By using a horizontal layout, designers can showcase these elements in a more prominent and engaging way.

#2 Faster Page Load Speed

After facing slow load speed, almost 88 percent of visitors leave a site and never visit again. More than half of the internet users nowadays base their loyalty on the page loading speed of a company. For all these reasons, web designers have started focusing more on page loading speed than ever before. 

As a result, almost 27 percent of conversions have increased of sites that have improved the load speed by at least one second.

#3 GIFs as Graphics

Using GIFs as graphics in UI/UX design is not necessarily a new trend, but it has become more popular in recent years as online communication has become more visual and interactive.  One of the main advantages of using GIFs in UI/UX design is that they can make the user experience more dynamic and entertaining. For example, a loading screen can be made more interesting with a GIF animation, or a product showcase can be enhanced with a GIF showing the product in action.**

However, it’s important to use GIFs sparingly and appropriately in UI/UX design. Overusing GIFs can be distracting and overwhelming for users, and can even slow down the performance of the website or app.

#4 Target Driven Content

Target-driven content typically involves conducting thorough research on your target audience, including their demographics, interests, behaviors, and pain points. This information can then be used to create content that speaks directly to their needs and interests. Examples of target-driven content may include blog posts, infographics, videos, and social media content.

One of the benefits of target-driven content is that it can help to improve your website’s SEO (Search Engine Optimization). By creating content that is highly relevant to your target audience, you can increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant keywords.

#5 Smart content loading

There are several techniques used to implement smart content loading, including lazy loading, asynchronous loading, and progressive loading. Lazy loading involves only loading the content that is visible on the user’s screen, and then loading additional content as the user scrolls down the page. Asynchronous loading involves loading multiple resources at the same time, rather than waiting for one resource to load before starting on the next. Progressive loading involves initially loading a lower-quality version of an image or video, and then gradually increasing the quality as the user continues to view it.

Implementing smart content loading techniques can help to improve website performance, user experience, and ultimately drive more traffic and revenue to a website.

#6 Impressing Google

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is critical for small businesses. One of the key ways to achieve this is by impressing Google. Google’s search algorithm determines the ranking of websites in search results, and higher rankings lead to more traffic and increased visibility. Small business web designers are focusing on several areas to make Google happy and improve rankings.

One of the most important areas is aesthetics. Websites with visually appealing designs are more likely to keep visitors engaged and on the site for longer. Small business web designers are creating clean, simple designs that prioritize user experience and are easy to navigate. They are also focusing on improving the loading speed of the website, as Google values websites that load quickly.

#7 Adding Instagram Integration to Provide a Personalized Touch

Many businesses and individuals are using Instagram to showcase their products, services, or personal experiences, and integrating this platform into their websites can help them create a more engaging and dynamic online presence.

By embedding an Instagram feed on a website, visitors can see a curated collection of images or videos that reflect the brand or individual’s personality, lifestyle, and values. This can help establish a stronger connection with the audience and make the website feel more personal and authentic.

#8 Mobile-Friendly Design

Mobile-friendly design refers to creating website designs that are optimized for viewing on mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. This involves using design techniques that make it easier for users to navigate and interact with the website on a smaller screen. For example, mobile-friendly designs often use larger fonts, simpler layouts, and intuitive navigation menus that make it easy for users to find the information they need quickly.

For small businesses, optimizing their website for mobile devices is particularly important as it can lead to increased traffic and improved user engagement. By ensuring that their website is mobile-friendly, small businesses can attract and retain more mobile users, who are increasingly using their phones to browse the internet and make purchases online.

#9 Dark and Light Mode Toggles

Dark mode is a design concept that uses a darker color palette for the background, text, and other UI elements of a website. It is often used to reduce eye strain and provide a more immersive and aesthetic experience, particularly for websites that feature a lot of visual content.

On the other hand, Light mode is the traditional design concept that uses a lighter color palette for the background, text, and other UI elements of a website. It is often used to create a more clean and minimalist aesthetic and can be easier to read in bright environments.

The popularity of dark and light mode websites has been driven in part by the increasing use of mobile devices and the need for websites to be optimized for different lighting conditions. Users can choose which mode they prefer based on their personal preference or the lighting conditions they are in.

In conclusion, having an effective website is crucial for small businesses to stay competitive and reach their target audience in today’s digital age. By incorporating the latest web design trends such as horizontal scrolling, faster page load speed, GIFs as graphics, target-driven content, smart content loading, impressing Google, Instagram integration, mobile-friendly design, and dark and light mode websites, small businesses can create an engaging and personalized online presence that builds brand trust and loyalty. It’s important for small business owners to keep up with these trends and work with their in-house team or web design company to create a website that meets the expectations of their target audience. With an optimized website, small businesses can increase their chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages, drive more traffic and revenue, and ultimately grow their business.

If you are searching for a reliable web designing company that can help you create your dream project, look no further than us. 

We at Real Monkey provide top-notch services when it comes to highly scalable web designing services at affordable budgets. 

Whether you want to design your website from scratch or redesign your existing website, feel free to get in touch with us today!