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The moment you decide to create a website, you need to understand that you’ve only got one chance to make a good first impression on your audience. The web is full of information and you need to ensure your site stands out from the crowd so you can grab the attention of your target audience and keep them engaged with your content. 

No matter what industry you’re in, you’ll need a website that tells the story of your business, provides relevant information, is easy to navigate, and is aesthetically pleasing. 

However, because of the fast technological changes, web designs change as well. Some web designs that were once modern are now overdone. The last thing you want to happen is to lose your customers and prospects just because your website is out of date.

To help you out on redesigning your website, we want to share 9 leading website design trends for 2021. However, before we take the plunge, let’s uncover how web design works for your business. 

Why Is Web Design Important? 

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As you decide to redesign your site, you can’t help but wonder about its importance and its impact on your customers and overall business. 

Let’s start with impressions. Users will get first impressions of your business through the website. If your site is outdated, people will poorly judge your business, which will immediately hurt your business. You’ll miss out on leads and conversions. 

Not only does a good web design improve the user experience but also aids your search engine optimization (SEO). A great web design can boost traffic to your website, which improves your search rankings. This will help position your business in front of leads, conversions, revenues, and plenty of prospects. 

Trending Web Designs in 2021 

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Now that you know the importance of having a solid web design, it is equally essential to know the latest design trends to keep leads knocking on your virtual door. Here are 9 web design trends that definitely make your website stand out: 

1. Website Load Time and Page Speed 

Not only does it help meet SEO factors, but quick loading times are also highly essential in providing users with a great experience. If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, your visitors will most likely leave. In fact, over 50% of internet users want websites to load fast. 

2. Minimalist and Maximalist Designs 

This 2021, minimalist and maximalist designs seem to share the stage. 

Minimalist designs offer simplicity and make a strong and effective impression on audiences. However, it doesn’t always mean simplistic extremes. It promotes fewer features that distract visitors from finding information and booking an appointment. 

On the other hand, maximalist design thrives on young audiences. It helps exhibit the lack of order or concern in a less aggressive, valuable, and creative expression that young people love. 

3. Colour Trends 

Modern web design also explores the use of colour pallets every year. For instance, the popular colour for the web last 2019 was blue and mint in 2021. Gradients will remain a trend this year as web designers are more likely to explore the depths of gradients. 

However, it’s essential to consider that when incorporating colours into your web design, they should also match your brand. For example, colours that will be popular this 2021 will be cool or soft (for information and backgrounds) and warm or bold colours (for the call-to-action). 

4. White Space 

White space is the blank areas in your site that create contrast and provide the perfect balance to your theme. White space helps maintain an uncluttered appearance and helps users focus on the content. 

5. Bold Fonts and Typography 

A new trend on bold typography helps draw user’s attention and keep them engaged. Studies show that incorporating bold fonts on your web design is more effective than using small ones. 

Make sure to use fonts that provide a simple structure and sleek legibility to convey your message, like sans serif and serif fonts. You can also try animated typography to enhance the user experience. 

6. Dark Mode and Low Light 

Some website development companies in Toronto are offering dark mode versions of website designs, which will more likely grow in use this year. Having a dark mode version of your website makes it easier for users to explore your site in low-light environments, making your site flexible. 

Other sites also allow users to choose between light or dark versions.  While this trend is new, I believe its popularity will live on in the future of web designs.

7. Chat Bots 

Another leading modern web design trend is the chatbots feature. As AI (artificial intelligence) continues to get more sophisticated, we expect them to help websites cater to users’ concerns by answering their simple requests. 

For instance, your business is a full-service catering and event planning company. A customer visits your website looking for catering, and the chatbot immediately knows that you still have available vegan catering Toronto services to offer. This can lead to a positive customer experience and even save your budget when hiring a person for customer support. 

8. Video Design Elements

Adding videos to web designs is prevalent nowadays to keep your audience engaged. While videos are purely informational, the evolution of web design has turned them into design elements in new and exciting ways. 

Countless online tools can help you choose how you want your videos displayed on your site. It can be in slow motion, on a loop, floating or cropped into shapes, or even become a transparent background on your site. 

9. Personalized Content

This modern web design trend allows websites to track the history and location of a past user to display dynamic content the next time they go back. Customized content created for returning users to your website increases conversion. Especially if you’re an e-commerce website, personalized content can show that your business is unique from the competition. 
Think of your web design as your virtual real estate. It needs to be kept up-to-date to attract consumers. Now that you know what it takes to create a trendy web design, you are well on your way to increasing web traffic and sales.