Clear, intuitive navigation
The best websites don’t make visitors think - they make it easy. Navigation should be simple, clear, and easy to follow. Whether you're selling products, offering services, or sharing your story, visitors should be able to find what they're looking for without frustration.
Pro tip: Keep your navigation menu minimal with only the essential links - think “home,” “about,” “services,” and “contact.” Anything else can be tucked away under a “more” or “resources” section.
Responsive design
Your website needs to look good on every device, whether it’s a phone, tablet, or desktop. With more people browsing websites from mobile devices, responsive design has gone from being a nice-to-have to a must-have.
Pro tip: Test your site on multiple screen sizes and resolutions. If your website looks clunky on a phone, it’s time to rethink your approach.
Fast loading times
Nobody likes waiting for a slow website to load. Studies show that over 46% of visitors will leave a page if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. To keep your visitors happy, fast loading speed is key.
Pro tip: Optimise your images, use proper compression, and consider using a content delivery network (CDN) to improve site speed. We can help with this!
Clear calls to action (CTAs)
A good website isn’t just about looking great - it’s about encouraging action. Whether it’s making a purchase, booking a consultation, or signing up for a newsletter, clear CTAs guide visitors towards what they should do next.
Pro tip: Your CTA buttons should stand out visually and use actionable language. Think “get started,” “book now,” or “contact us.”
Optimised content for search engines
You can have the best website in the world, but if no one can find it, it won’t do you much good. That’s where search engine optimisation (SEO) comes in. SEO helps search engines like Google find and rank your website, so potential customers can discover you.
Pro tip: Use keyword research tools, focus on creating high-quality content, and don’t forget about meta descriptions, image alt texts, and internal linking.
For Coastal Holidays, we implemented an advanced SEO package that boosted their site’s visibility, resulting in more bookings and increased organic traffic.
Quality content & visuals
Great websites don’t just rely on pretty pictures—they rely on content that speaks to your audience and visuals that support your message. Whether it’s blog posts, service pages, or case studies, your content should be clear, valuable, and authentic.
When we built Three Rivers Museum Trust's new website, we worked closely with them to showcase their rich history with engaging visuals and detailed catalogues, making it easy for visitors to explore their collections online.
Pro tip: Invest in high-quality images and ensure your content answers your visitors' questions and addresses their pain points.
User experience (UX) design
A website that’s hard to use is a website that loses visitors. UX design is about making sure your website is intuitive, easy to navigate, and provides a seamless user journey. Every click should feel purposeful, and every action should be simple to follow.
Pro tip: Prioritise user testing to ensure your website meets the needs of your audience.
Security & privacy
With rising concerns about data privacy, websites must prioritize security. Using SSL encryption to protect user data, implementing strong passwords, and following best practices for data storage are all essential for building trust with your visitors. GDPR is becoming more important across websites as websites store and track data of users, so ensure your cookie and privacy policies are up to date
Pro tip: Use SSL certificates, keep your software up-to-date, and regularly audit your website for security risks.
I hope these 8 key features of a website that’s designed to perform and deliver results. Whether you’re improving your current website or building a new one, these features should be top of mind.
At Coysh Digital, we’re passionate about creating websites that are not only beautiful but also work well for you and your audience. If you’re ready to take your website to the next level, let’s chat!