One of the problems that come with seemingly full-proof plans to help new businesses succeed is the fact that they sound good on paper, but tend to fall flat when it comes to execution. It requires that the seller get everything done right to ensure that their business succeeds, which is not a realistic enough scenario for most budding companies to make it through. The best website design, while possible to achieve, might be too challenging without a realistic plan.

Fortunately, there is no need for most startup owners to worry. Provided they have products that they can sell and are willing to put up with strong demand, it is more than possible for them to focus on the best website design and weather the storm. Here are just five actionable and realistic website design tips for startups and small businesses.

1. Focus on the mobile market, everything else is secondary

While it might seem like an obvious route for any business in 2021, a surprising fact is that many online stores are still sticking with browsers as their primary platform. While there are still plenty of people that make use of browsers, it pales in comparison to those who are using the mobile platform to purchase what they need.

2. The best website design doesn’t have to be creative

The second actionable tip when it comes to general website design is that the seller does not have to be inspired or passionate to create a website that online shoppers can appreciate. As a matter of fact, the amount of clutter on a website will only serve to discourage online shoppers from continuing. While fansites of certain types of creative licenses can get away with such things, an online store should focus only on getting straight to the point. A good first tip would be to introduce a proper headline that can catch the attention of online shoppers and tell them exactly what to expect from the site.

3. Ensure the images are compressed/cropped

Not many sellers realize that even if they might try to go for the simple route when it comes to the best website design, the loading times could still be far too long due to the quality of the images. While high-quality images are undoubtedly a good place to start, there are some with ridiculous resolutions that could very well cause the loading times in some websites to tank. It does not have to be said how frustrating it can be to shop on a website where it takes ages to load even a single image. As a seller focused on the best possible design, the first order of business would be to ensure that all the images are properly cropped/compressed.

4. Make use of local content to target a specific city

For small businesses, it is often the much better route to make use of geo-targeting rather than praying that online shoppers choose to click a website that caters to the national/worldwide level. Having content that relates to current events are sure to help any website looking to attract local shoppers. The best part is that an online store can focus entirely on local rankings and achieve just as much success due to a more focused approach. Consider local events and the most popular items within a specific city, and there is always a potential to earn.

5. Make sure that the website is easy to navigate

Last but certainly not least, just because something is made with simplicity in mind does not necessarily translate to an easy-to-navigate interface. Fortunately, many of the top website builders for e-commerce have templates that can help provide a fresh start for new business owners. While the seller might not necessarily want to use everything a template has to offer, there are many that can offer clues with regards to building an easy-to-navigate website. There are also plenty of tips available that can teach those looking to excel. It will only be a challenge at first; setting the stage will allow a business to launch an avalanche of potential.

The best website design can differ greatly depending on the function of the site. That said, for any online store owner looking to take advantage of e-commerce, the best possible design is one that gets to the point while being easy enough to navigate. While it might not always result in success, a bit of search engine optimization (SEO) can help boost visibility.