Artificial intelligence is integral to the design process. Many companies are using AI to create powerful logos and better products.
Another area where AI can be fundamentally important is in web design. Web developers are using AI technology to optimize the user experience and execute their designs more quickly
However, there are some mistakes that companies can make when trying to use AI to develop new websites. It is important to be aware of these heuristics and ensure that your company doesn’t fall victim to them.
AI is Radically Changing the Face of Website Design
It takes a fraction of a second for people to form an opinion and make up their minds about the likeability and competence of other people. Websites are no different. As more and more people increasingly turn to the internet to search for information and shop for products, startup companies and brands are quickly realizing how important it is to not just have a website but a strong online presence.
Think of a website as the digital face or calling card of your business on the internet. A good website design is important for creating first impressions as it influences your audience’s perception of your brand. And as a business, you only have a whopping 50 milliseconds (that’s 0.05 seconds) to make the first impression on your audience. Yes, this is the exact amount of time it takes for users to form an opinion about your website— and decide whether to stay or leave.
You may have the most innovative product in the market, but if your website’s design looks unappealing and outdated, your customers will think that’s how your business is too. And you’ll end up missing out on leads. Your website design can also help you build trust with your audience and set your business apart from the competition.
This is where AI-driven design approaches can come to the table. More companies are discovering the benefits of using AI technology to streamline the website design process.
With so many people claiming to be ‘experts’ in this field and giving advice on how businesses should plan and execute their website design processes, you want to be careful not to fall for any of the following misconceptions that circulate out there. There are a lot of benefits of using AI to design a website, but you don’t want to make any of the more common mistakes.
Website Development Companies Aren’t Worth the Money
As an entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard so many rumors and stories about working with website development agencies or a branding agency. And if you were to ask some of the people in your network whether a website design company is worth your time and money, chances are a good number will advise you to build your website on your own. After all, you have the basic website skills and you can use some of the free tools available online to build your own site.
They often use AI and data analytics tools to assess website performance over time and rework the design for a better user experience. This is important to appreciate, because UX is very important for business management, especially for companies with a strong online presence.
And if you were to ask some of the people in your network whether a website development company is worth your time and money, chances are a good number will advise you to build your website on your own. After all, you have the basic website skills and you can use some of the free tools available online to build your own site. The good news is that you don’t need a massive budget to create a website with AI functionality. AI technology is highly affordable, but you need to budget strategically.
The truth is that many people find themselves at crossroads when they need a website. So, you’re not alone. However, it’s important to understand that working with a website development company is your best option if you plan to scale your business. With 59 percent of startup companies outsourcing their web design and development work to save time and reduce costs, the idea that web development agencies aren’t worth the money is actually far from the truth. It can be a great idea if you do your due diligence and make sure that they have AI tools to better execute the design.
Web development companies are increasingly adopting AI and DevOps and agile development, which enable them to work around your budget and ensure rapid delivery of products. Plus, with a website development agency, you get a highly skilled and experienced team of designers, marketers, developers, and content creators who closely work together to develop and deliver a beautifully designed, professional website— which your audience will love to use. Be sure to choose a website development company that’s familiar with your niche/industry.
If You Build It, They Will Come
A well-designed, modern website is great for attracting new customers and adding instant credibility to your business. However, the idea that customers will just start showing up at your doorstep once you’ve built your website is actually further from the truth.
Sure, you’ve hired the best web development agency and ensured everything looks great and visually appealing. But, as with all digital and technological innovations, website design evolves quickly— and you must keep up with the trends. Your well-designed, visually appealing website may look outdated in a few years if you don’t keep updating its design. Additionally, you’ll need to maintain your website routinely and invest in online and offline marketing to attract quality organic traffic.
Starting a blog section where you can post high-quality, valuable content regularly is a great way to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more. It’s also important that you optimize both your site and content for better search engine rankings.
Desktop Designs Are Priority
With the rapid growth in mobile technology and smartphone ownership around the world, AI-based responsive website design is more important than ever. A recent study found that 61 percent of all visits to U.S websites in 2020 came from mobile devices. Desktop devices, on the other hand, accounted for 35.7 percent of all visits during the same period.
Globally, mobile devices drove 68.1 percent while desktops accounted for 28.9 percent of all visits. It’s even projected that 72.6 percent (nearly 3.7 billion people) of web users globally will access the internet primarily via their mobile devices by 2025.
Having a well-designed desktop site is certainly important. But to ensure your audience has an easy time accessing your business site from a multitude of devices— and have a positive experience— you must integrate responsive design in your website design.
Website Design is Easy
You’ve probably heard someone talk about how easy it’s become to create a website today. Well, this idea couldn’t be further from the truth. It is true that AI has helped make it easier, but the process can still be rather involved.
While there are many free tools and platforms that anyone can use to build basic websites, professional web design requires a lot of expertise and experience. Take a moment to compare a professional website built by a web designer and a basic site built by some random guy with zero programming knowledge and experience. The difference is obvious.
The truth is that website design isn’t something that just anyone can do and excel in. You need a detailed understanding of AI and the other technology that comes into play. It’s a complex process that requires professional training and years of experience. Plus, a lot of research and collaboration with other professionals is involved to ensure a website reflects your company’s voice and brand. You, however, need to be careful not to fall for people and agencies boasting low hourly pricing, but end up delivering poor quality websites.
A Website Audit isn’t Necessary
Much like your motor vehicle needs regular maintenance, your website’s overall health and performance can deteriorate over time without proper maintenance. Unfortunately, many business owners don’t realize this until it’s too late and there’s zero traffic coming into their site. Some do it ignorantly because no one has ever told them how important it is to conduct a website audit while others have been convinced website audits are a waste of time.
Again, much like your car or washing machine— understanding what technical issues or problems exist on your website can save you costly repairs down the road and improve your site’s performance and ROI.
A website audit is all about examining your website to uncover issues that could be frustrating site visitors, negatively impacting your campaigns, and hurting your online visibility. It’s only through a website audit that you and your team can identify technical issues, assess your search engine optimization, and come up with improvements that can help boost your conversion rates, improve engagement, and drive more traffic.
AI is Essential for the Web Design Process
There are a lot of benefits of using AI technology to create more effective websites. You should be aware of these benefits and use AI tools strategically during the design process.