10 Best Practices For Boosting Conversion Rates With UX Design

Key Takeaway

UX design plays a vital role in boosting conversion rates. Make sure your product or service is easy to use, offer helpful customer support services, and regularly test and measure. You can improve the user experience by monitoring performance and encouraging more people to convert.

Here are 10 tips on using UX design principles to boost conversion rates.

1. Understand Your Target Audience

Before you start designing, you must understand your target audience and what they are looking for.

This will help you create a design that resonates with them and guides them through buying.

3 key things to remember about target audience research:

• Focus on the user’s needs

This means understanding their wants, needs, frustrations, and what motivates them.

• Test your design with actual users

This means conducting usability tests to get feedback and make adjustments.

• Develop use cases to better understand

This means creating stories of how a user would navigate your website and the actions they might take.

2 Action steps you can do right now:

• Identify your target audience

Think about who you are designing for and what their needs might be.

• Set goals and objectives

What do you want your website to achieve? What action do you want users to take? Set clearly defined goals so that you can measure success.

2. Make Sure Your Site is Responsive and Mobile-Friendly

A website that responds to different devices is critical for improving the user experience.

Ensure your site is optimized for mobile by ensuring images and text are resized correctly and buttons are sized appropriately.

3 key things to remember about making your site mobile-friendly:

• Keep it simple

Simplicity is key. Make sure your design is built with mobile in mind, and the user experience is easy to navigate.

• Optimize page loading speed

Page loading speed plays a big role when it comes to user experience. Aim for a page loading time of fewer than 3 seconds on desktop and less than 2 seconds on mobile.

• Test different devices

Test your website on multiple devices and browsers to ensure everything looks and functions as expected.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Check out responsive web design tools

There are many great tools that offer responsive web design solutions, such as Bootstrap or Foundation. Experiment with different tools and find the best one for you.

• Optimize images

Optimizing your website’s images can help with page loading speeds. In addition, compressing or resizing your images will help reduce file size without sacrificing quality.

• Monitor page speed regularly

It’s essential to keep an eye on your website’s page loading speeds to make sure everything is running smoothly.

Use a tool like Google PageSpeed Insights to track page speed over time and make adjustments as necessary.

3. Create a Clear and Intuitive Navigation Structure

Navigation is a powerful tool that can help guide users to the information they need quickly and easily.

To create an intuitive navigation structure, use clear labels and organize your content in logical categories.

3 key things to remember about creating a good navigation structure:

• Use simple labels and terms

Make sure you’re using words that make sense and are easy to understand. Avoid jargon or technical language; opt for more familiar terms instead.

• Keep it consistent

Ensure your website uses the same design conventions, such as font size, color scheme, etc.

This will make it easier for users to navigate between pages without confusion.

• Don’t clutter up the navigation

Don’t add too many links or categories to your navigation bar.

Keep it simple and make sure only relevant information is included.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Group related pages together

Organize your content into logical categories to make it easier for users to quickly find what they are looking for.

• Provide an easily accessible search function

Make sure your website has a search function that allows users to locate specific items on your site quickly.

• Include breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are small pieces of contextual information that help users understand their current location within the website.

They are a great way to improve user experience and provide an additional navigation layer.

4. Keep Content Relevant to the User’s Goals

The content of your website should be tailored to the user’s needs.

Make sure each page is relevant and provides helpful information that is easy to understand.

3 key things to remember about creating relevant content:

• Focus on what matters

Make sure you are focusing on the topics that matter most to your users and provide them with solutions to their problems.

• Keep it simple

Use straightforward language when writing content for your website. Avoid jargon or overly technical language; opt for simpler terms instead.

• Test thoroughly

Testing your website and its content can help ensure users have a better experience and can easily find the information they need.

Take time to go through all website pages and ensure everything works as it should.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Add visuals to content

Using visuals such as images, videos or infographics in your content can help users understand the information more quickly and easily.

• Keep content fresh

Make sure you are constantly updating your website’s content with fresh, relevant articles, tips or resources to keep users engaged.

• Offer user feedback options

Including a feedback form on your website allows users to provide constructive criticism that can help improve the overall experience of your website. Take this feedback into consideration when making changes or adjustments to the website.

5. Use Visual Cues To Guide Users Through The Process

Visual cues are an effective way to guide users through the website and direct them towards the desired goal.

3 key things to remember about using visual cues:

• Use contrasting colors

Contrasting colors can be used to draw attention to certain elements on a page, such as call-to-action buttons or form fields.

• Utilize whitespace

Whitespace helps create breathing room between elements, making it easier for users to focus on important aspects of the page.

• Incorporate animation

Animation can help make your website more visually engaging and can also provide feedback when users complete specific actions.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Design with the user in mind

When adding visual cues, consider what is most helpful for the user and think of ways to make their experience more enjoyable.

• Add hover effects

Hover effects can draw attention to specific elements on a page or provide additional information when a user hovers over an item.

• Incorporate micro interactions

Microinteractions are small animations that help provide feedback when users complete certain actions.

They can be used to indicate progress or confirm success.

6. Utilize Strategic Placement of CTAs (Calls-to-Action)

Calls-to-action is essential for encouraging users to take action.

Make sure your CTAs are placed strategically on the page for maximum effectiveness.

3 key things to remember about the strategic placement of CTAs:

• Place them above the fold

CTAs should be placed where they are most likely to be seen, usually at or near the top of the page.

• Use directional cues

Directional cues such as arrows can help guide users toward a desired goal and make it easier to find a CTA.

• Test different placements

Testing different CTA placements can improve website performance and increase conversion rates.

Experiment with different locations until you find one that works best.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Choose the right colors

Choose colors that complement your website design and stand out from other elements on the page to attract attention.

• Add hover effects

Adding hover effects to CTAs helps draw the user’s eye and make them more clickable.

• Create urgency

Creating a sense of urgency with CTAs is an effective way to encourage users to take action. For example, try using phrases like “limited-time offer” or “act now”.

7. Minimize Distractions on Pages With Forms or Checkouts

When a user is filling out a form or going through a checkout process, any distractions can cause them to lose focus or abandon the page.

Make sure your pages are free of distractions by removing unnecessary elements and streamlining the experience.

3 key things to remember about minimizing distractions on pages with forms or checkouts:

• Keep it simple

The simpler the design, the easier it will be for users to complete the task.

Remove any extra text, images or other elements that may be distracting.

• Use progress indicators

Progress indicators help keep users informed of how far along they are in their tasks and make it more likely that they’ll finish what they started.

• Implement error handling

Error handling is essential for helping users correct mistakes while filling out a form or checking out.

Make sure to provide helpful feedback when errors occur.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Streamline the process

Look for ways to streamline the checkout process by removing extra steps or reducing the number of required fields.

• Utilize autofill options

Autofill options help reduce user effort and save time, making it more likely that they’ll complete their task.

• Offer additional payment methods

Multiple payment methods make it easier for users to pay and increases the chances of conversion.

Consider offering popular services such as PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

8. Offer Multiple Payment Options for Customers

Offering multiple payment options is essential for providing a good user experience.

Make sure to provide users with a variety of payment methods that meet their needs and make it easy for them to pay.

3 key things to remember about offering multiple payment options:

• Understand customer preferences

It’s important to understand the different types of customers you have and what payment methods they prefer.

This can help you choose the right payment methods for your business.

• Integrate with third-party providers

Integrating with third-party providers such as PayPal or Apple Pay makes it easier for customers to check out quickly and securely.

• Provide clear instructions

Provide clear instructions on how to use each payment method to make it easier for customers to complete their purchases.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Offer digital wallet options

Adding digital wallet options can provide users a more convenient and secure way to pay.

• Consider alternative payment methods

Alternative payment methods, such as cryptocurrency or cash on delivery, may be worth exploring, especially if your target audience prefers them.

• Use mobile optimization

Ensure your checkout process is optimized for mobile devices so customers can easily purchase from their phones.

This will help increase conversion rates and provide a better user experience overall.

9. Provide Easy Access to Customer Support Services

Having a customer support system in place is essential for providing a good user experience.

Make sure customers are able to quickly access help, whether it’s through online chat, email or phone.

3 key things to remember about providing easy access to customer support services:

• Offer multiple channels

Provide different ways for customers to get help, such as an online chatbot or a telephone number.

This will make it easier for customers to find the best way to reach out and get their questions answered.

• Respond promptly

Make sure you respond quickly to any questions or requests from customers. This helps build trust and encourages them to continue using your service.

• Follow up after the issue is resolved

After the customer’s issue has been resolved, follow up to ensure they are satisfied with the outcome.

This will help improve your customer service reputation and encourage more users to trust your services.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Provide helpful knowledge base materials

Create a comprehensive knowledge base or FAQ page that answers common questions customers may have about your product or service.

• Train team members on customer support best practices

Train team members on customer support best practices so they are better prepared to provide timely and helpful assistance to customers.

• Monitor feedback from customers

Monitor feedback from customers to identify any areas of improvement in your user experience and customer service.

This will help you make changes to improve the overall experience for your customers.

10. Test, Measure, and Monitor Performance Regularly

It’s important to regularly measure and monitor the performance of your product or service.

This will help you identify areas that need improvement and make changes as necessary.

Have a plan for how you will test, measure, and monitor performance on an ongoing basis.

3 key things to remember about testing, measuring, and monitoring performance:

• Regularly track user behavior

Analyze user behavior data to see where people are dropping off or getting stuck so you can make adjustments accordingly.

• Use analytics tools

Make use of analytics tools such as heat maps and A/B testing to gain more insight into the user experience.

• Monitor customer feedback

Monitor customer feedback to get an understanding of how customers are responding to your product or service.

This will help you identify areas for improvement and make changes to enhance the user experience.

3 Action steps you can do right now:

• Test new features

Test out new features before launching them publicly to see if they improve the user experience.

• Analyze usage data

Look at usage data such as page views, session duration, and page abandonment rate to gain more insight into user behavior.

• Improve customer support process

Evaluate your customer support process and look for ways to make it more efficient and effective.

This will help ensure customers get prompt responses when they need help with something.

Here at SAAI, we specialize in conversion rate improvement; give us a call to find out more.

Till next time!

Pablo Espinal