If you want to make it big on the internet, the first thing you will obviously need is a website. But not just any website will do. Web design and user experience are crucial and can be a make-it-or-break-it factor for the success of your online business.
Luckily, we came up with a list of web design statistics for 2020 to help you better understand the current state of things. Feel free to take it as a compass that will take you to your goals. Ready? Here we go.
Website Design Statistics 101 (Editor’s Pick)
- 81% of customers research products online before even leaving their homes to visit a physical store.
- If given only 15 minutes, 59% of people will prefer to read or browse through something beautifully designed rather than spend time looking at dull, plain-looking content.
- 39% of people will not engage with a website where images don’t load or take too long to load.
- Users form their opinions about your website within 0.05 seconds from the instant they land on it.
- The mobile version of a website should be as good (ideally better) than the desktop version, according to 85% of adults.
- 71% of designers use word-of-mouth referrals to source new clients.
1. There are nearly 200 million active websites in the world today.
Before we dig into details about the current facts, let’s take a step back to get the general picture. Of over 1.5 billion websites worldwide right now, less than 200 million are actually active. The 1-billion milestone was passed in September 2014, with the number growing significantly in 2016 when it hit 1.7 billion.
(Internet Live Stats)
2. For 48% of internet users, a website's design is the most important indicator of a business's credibility.
Statistics on website design are telling of how important the design of your company’s landing page and website actually is. A recent study by Blue Corona found that a dysfunctional overall design will drive potential customers away. At the same time, investing time and effort into a clean, functional and easy-to-use website will add to the overall experience of your users and clients.
(Blue Corona)
3. 71% of designers use word-of-mouth referrals to source new clients.
Web design industry statistics show that word of mouth marketing reigns supreme when it comes to finding new clients. At the same time, a certain percentage of web design specialists have also tried their hand in other promotional methods, such as email marketing (4%), social tools like LinkedIn (around 1%), and Facebook (roughly 3%), content marketing and SEO (about 6%).
(HubSpot)
4. 39% of people will not engage with a website where images don't load or take too long to load.
Web design conversion statistics show that a website’s loading time is in negative correlation with visitor engagement. The main goal for every business is to ensure their online visitors have a great on-site experience, as this benefits sales. The last thing you want to do is put your visitors in a position where they miss out on your great product or service because your images take too long to load. Images that are not loading or load slowly will send your potential customers directly into the hands of the competition.
(SAG ipl)
5. Users form their opinions about your website within 0.05 seconds from the instant they land on it.
Website design importance statistics from a recent report by John Kramer Marketing show that design is the reason behind almost all (94%) negative feedback from website visitors. Moreover, unless they see a phone number or contact information, 44% of visitors will leave the site immediately. The list goes on, but just one more thing: 47% of visitors would wait a maximum of 2 seconds for your website to load.
(John Kramer Marketing)
6. If given only 15 minutes, 59% of people will prefer to read or browse through something beautifully designed rather than spend time looking at dull, plain-looking content.
One of the facts about web design that is not surprising is that a web page’s visual appearance is a huge factor. After all, the whole point of having good web design is not just to make a site look pretty for you. It should attract, retain, and then help convert visitors into potential leads. You should never underestimate the power of a beautifully-designed landing page. Good looks do matter in the world of online shopping.
(G2)
7. Lousy site navigation causes 61.5% of visitors to leave immediately.
Small business website design statistics show that most of them get it wrong when it comes to designing their sites by following the old “they want it all, and they want it now” creed. However, the facts paint a different picture. 84.6% of web designers think crowded web designs are one of the biggest mistakes small businesses make. And if you thought sliders (carousels) are your friend, think again: only 1% of visitors will ever click on them. The lesson: focus on the essentials and you’ll see the difference in engagement and traffic almost immediately.
(Goodfirms.co)
8. Cutting load speed from 8 to 2 seconds boosts conversion rates by 74%.
Web design sales statistics reveal that there is more than one benefit to making sure your website loads faster. By creating a more user-friendly environment for your visitors, not only will you boost your conversion rate significantly, but you are also likely to rank higher on Google. The search engine’s ranking algorithms use the speed of a website as one of the leading factors to determine where a page will rank on its list. A higher ranking means more traffic, and more website traffic means more sales.
(Standard Firms)
9. Web development DIY platforms grow by 4.9% annually and are currently worth $24 billion in the US.
Professional web design statistics show that most businesses opt for educated and experienced professionals for their site design needs. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with going pro, not everyone can afford it. A lot of times, you need a great website on a budget. This is where DIY platforms for web development in the cloud come in. Not only do they save you some money, but they also give you the option to choose all the small visual and functional details.
(Ibis World)
10. The mobile version of a website should be as good (ideally better) than the desktop version, according to 85% of adults.
Mobile-friendly website design stats should be a top priority for your business if you’re looking to capture the maximum amount of convertible leads. Why? As we said earlier: it roughly takes users 0.05 seconds to form an opinion about your website. And if they have to pinch and zoom on their devices to view your site in detail, you can kiss those visitors goodbye. Responsive mobile web design is the name of this game, as website design stats demonstrate. If you don’t have an app for your website or online store, the least you could do is create a mobile version.
(Sweor)
11. Visual information accounts for 90% of all info that the brain processes.
The human brain processes images and videos 60,000 times faster than text. This can give you an idea of the impact a good website design can have on your overall business. This is perhaps also probably the reason why your website’s design is so important for the customer’s general impression and opinion about your business
(Clique)
12. 36% of small businesses don't have professional-looking websites.
Here are some more fun facts about web design: a 2018 Small Business Survey by Clutch found that close to a third of small businesses are yet to level the playing field on the internet. They are less likely to invest in exploring ways to attract new customers continuously. In other words, they have the most to gain from having a professional-looking, eye-catching, and responsive website. If you happen to be a small business owner, better make your website and overall online presence a priority.
(Design Doxa)
13. Bing boosted its annual revenue by $80 million by selecting a particular blue hue for their website.
One of the interesting facts about web design has to do with Bing and shows that the devil is in the details. This story tells us that even the smallest design changes and modifications can pay off in the end. Maybe you shouldn’t set your expectations as high as Bing, but touching some minor details on your website can bring improvement. Even if it’s just one more paying customer in your books, an increase is an increase nonetheless.
(Tap Local)
14. 70% of small business websites don't have clear and concise call-to-action.
Web design stats reveal a very clever hack you can use to boost conversions, especially if you’re a small business owner. You can’t expect your visitors to know what you want them to do if you don’t place a call-to-action on your landing pages or homepage. A call-to-action is essential as it is the final step in the conversion process. Try crafting a few messages and call-to-action and test them out to see which ones work best with your particular visitors.
(FVM)
15. Mobile devices account for two of every three minutes spent online.
Modern web design statistics provide a useful insight into the current state of the industry, as well as the best practices of successful companies. According to them, mobile devices are the source for 52.2% of all website traffic at the moment. Additionally, the majority of businesses (68%) who took the time to craft mobile-first websites significantly increased their sales. Remember: it’s never about quantity with mobile users. Because they view your content on smaller screens than desktops or laptops (mostly smartphones), they always favor quality.
(Finances Online)
16. Mobile users generate 50% of eCommerce revenues today.
Ecommerce website design statistics confirm the importance of mobile optimization for sales. In the world we live in, virtually everything has become mobile. Smartphones have not only taken over internet browsing and traffic; they are slowing taking over online shopping as well. More than ever, you’re able to benefit from catering to these users. All you need to do is make sure your mobile browsing experience is just as flawless and as fast as your desktop one. It’s that simple.
(UK Web Host Review)
17. 84% of users believe design-driven businesses are outperforming their competition.
Website design statistics reveal the difference between those businesses that don’t consider their website design to be a priority and those that do. Obviously, people prefer to browse beautiful and functional websites and this impacts their decisions to buy a product or a service. A beautiful and fast website demonstrates a business cares more about their clients’ experience. It’s all about going that extra mile.
(Web Alive)
18. 81% of customers research products online before even leaving their homes to visit a physical store.
Web design facts prove that beauty and functionality attract visitors. With the spreading popularity and convenience of online shopping, you want to make sure your website design is beautiful, inviting, and accurately reflects your products and services. By the time your users swing by your physical store, you’ll want to do nothing other than charge them and pack up the product. Use your web design to your advantage, not the other way around.
(Impact)
19. Just 22% of marketers state they provide a stellar level of user experience in terms of responsive design.
Web design statistics show that providing a flawless online browsing experience through excellent web design is more difficult than it seems. A report from eMarketer revealed that 4% of marketers claim their online browsing experience is hopeless. As much as 23% said their sites are somewhat responsive, but far from what modern users expect. 29% feel their overall experience level is about average compared to the competition.
(Hook Agency)
20. 47% of customers visit the products/services page before looking at any other area of a website.
Web design statistics shed light on areas of your web design where there may be room for improvement. If you sell products or services online, you want your visitors to land on these pages first. Customers will most likely be looking for pricing information, sizes for clothing items, payment options, availability, delivery, and so on. Ensuring your products and services page is informative, concise, and easy to navigate will help increase customer retention and minimize bounce rates.
(John Kramer Marketing)
21. If your website and business offer free shipping, eight out of 10 consumers are likely to shop online with you.
Web design business facts suggest free shipping is highly desirable for the vast majority of shoppers today. The reason is that it adds significant convenience to the overall process. Meanwhile, data from a recent report by Cubicle Ninjas show that nearly 80% of smartphone users access retail content online. Offering (and highlighting!) free shipping can significantly increase your chances of capturing more leads and grabbing a chunk of this enormous pool of potential customers.
(G2)
Conclusion
Our list of web design statistics above clearly highlights how important it is to have a beautiful-looking site. Excellent quality content goes without saying. But content alone won’t amount to much without a website that loads fast and renders images and videos flawlessly. As the number of mobile users continues to grow at amazing rates, businesses should focus particularly on providing second-to-none mobile experience. There is an ocean of opportunities out there for all looking to conquer the web in 2020. Ready to jump in?
