Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't have a website for my company"? No, neither have we. Well, maybe once in a blue moon. In our fast-paced world, having a unique website to capture your visitors' attention is critical, whether you want them to buy your products, hire your services, or read your content. Boring websites that don't engage people will fail to attract and maintain their attention and convert them into customers. And here we move on to the topic of today's guide - interactive websites.
We are talking about those fun websites people love scrolling, reading and learning from, sharing on their social networks, and coming back to for more. With that being said, we will discuss how to create interactive websites, starting with what we know best: our very own website builder.
Building a website is an easy code to crack these days, as you don't need to be an expert in coding anymore. So, let's ponder over how to make a website more interactive, using the example of Ucraft.
What Is an Interactive Website?
Every business needs a website. Period. With that being said, here pops up another question: how do you make your website stand out from others in your niche?
The most straightforward definition of interactive web design is that an interactive website is an online asset that nurtures and facilitates user communication and interaction (with the business and other users). Placing any random content on your website just doesn't cut it anymore in our increasingly digitized world.
Besides flawless UI/UX strategies, the secret behind interactive websites is to offer users fun, collaborative, and engaging content. Speaking of appealing, shareable content, don't think we are talking exclusively about blog posts. Indeed, well-written blog articles dealing with hot topics and delivering actionable CTAs are the heart of web interactivity. Blogging provides tremendous benefits for any business, but building a blog is just the beginning when it comes to interactive elements.
The "Technical" Aspects of Interactive Websites
Before discussing features, integrations, and ideas on creating an interactive website, let's take some technical specs out of the way. The design of your website is your foundation, the building block of your online success. More than 90% of all users' impressions regarding a website focus on its design. So let's see a couple of things you need to check first before you go deeper with the details:
Overall website layout. Don't forget that wireframes and prototypes are crucial for UX design;
Modern color schemes, web-safe fonts, modern, engaging layout;
Page speed. Keep in mind that interesting and dynamic elements of your web pages can slow down your load speed. If you are building an interactive website this year, mind what Google has to say about core web vitals and search engine rankings, too;
Mobile responsiveness. Again, make sure that the interactive elements of your website do not interfere with the website's mobile responsivity. If you nail it, however, you increase your chances not only with Google rankings but with phenomenal conversion rates as well;
Navigation menu and website architecture. A well thought out website internal structure with a clear navigation menu and properly interlinked pages boosts users' experience and increases your chances for better search engine rankings;
Striking visuals. If you want to create an amazing interactive website, consider arresting website animations, a collection of professional images, shareable videos, visible and clickable CTA buttons, and more. Make sure you implement them thoughtfully in your website design. They can all make the difference between a compelling interactive website and your garden-variety "whatever" website.
Interactive tools. Whether you add a health insurance calculator, a brand name generator, a free logo maker, or a currency converter, make sure you offer users extra benefits for being on your website. From interactive maps and calendars to other interactive tools, you can keep your users engaged with your website and happy enough to convert into leads and customers.
User-generated content. You can harness the power of user-generated content by adding a few simple elements (features & blocks) on your website: a comments section on your blog articles; a review section for clients' testimonials/opinions about your products & services; chat (with live representatives and chatbots); guest posts from influential users in your niche; interviews with your clients/users/collaborators; a forum section on specific topics, etc.
Why Is an Interactive Website Important?
According to market studies, users are more likely to convert on, recommend or return to interactive websites than they do with "static" websites. Why is an interactive website so crucial for both users and the business? Because this state of "interactivity" offers you a way to create a genuine connection with your audience. Since a static website does not facilitate direct, human, palpable interpersonal relations, you should consider a site's interactivity as a mediator between you and your users.
It's no secret that fewer and fewer people trust brands, companies, corporations, etc. And it makes sense: how can you trust anything or anyone if that entity does not let you in or communicate with you? In a world where people are getting increasingly tired of advertising, they want brands and companies to find various ways and platforms to build trust via genuine communication and interaction.
And here is where interactive websites and user-centered marketing strategies come into play.
How to Make an Interactive Website With Ucraft
Unless you're entirely sure your website is close to perfect, consider these seven simple ways to spice it up and make it more appealing and captivating for your visitors and customers.
1. Tell a compelling Brand Story
People are often hesitant when it comes to trust, especially when they do not engage in a tête-à-tête conversation. One of the simplest ways to alleviate their suspicions and reluctance is to include an About Us page or any section that tells a story about you (brand, company).
But don't stop here. Please talk about your staff, what you do, why you do it, how you plan to grow, and why your audience is important to you. If you have a great story about how your product or service is capable of changing others' lives or at least make them better, why hide it?
Just look at one of our favorite success stories, the Artefacto website. With each artisanal craft they create and sell, they change the lives of their artists, the users, and the community as a whole – and they show these things loud and clear right from their home page, not to mention their blog!
When it comes to an About Us page, be sure to include pictures of yourself and your staff members. It shows your visitors they're dealing with real people and will help ease any worries they might have. What's more, mind your tone of voice and try not to sound super formal, cold, or "corporate." This way, people are more likely to connect with you and your story and, why not pass on the word that you are a trustworthy brand.
Don't ever forget to add a blog section to your website as well.
There is no point in mentioning the benefits of blogging for any business again, but we will repeat one thing: when it comes to business storytelling, few other things beat a neat, well-organized, and well-written blog.
2. Let users communicate with you
After learning your story, the typical beginning of your interactions with visitors is the "Contact Us" page. Keep in mind that such a page is among the most visited ones. When built right, it works flawlessly. You have to provide complete contact information on your site. This includes your mailing address, as well as phone numbers. Do you want to build a more interactive website in this context? Add a Google Maps feature, so customers know where to find you if they wish to.
Make sure your contact information is visible on your site. You can also add a form in case your visitors have a question or request. When you build a site with Ucraft, adding a Form element with the appropriate fields is easy as pie. Don't overload the page with irrelevant links and banners to keep your visitors super concentrated. After all, simplicity in web forms always pays off.
3. Be social on your website
Ask any web designer how to create an interactive website, and they will start talking about social media.
Besides the classical contact details, you can also create an interactive website by allowing your visitors to connect with you through social media. Your website should be "likable" and "shareable" on social media. Here comes one "but": being on social media doesn't change anything about you or your company. Being active on social media does. You should demonstrate the activeness on your website as well.
You can achieve this goal while designing your website with Ucraft. Add social media-friendly elements, like a Twitter feed or an Instagram account. This way, you kill two birds with one stone, as you will be socially present on both social networks and your interactive website. On the other hand, you can also interlink your website with your social accounts using the Follow Us element.
If you are currently building a website with Ucraft or developing a blogging platform for your brand, check out our social media integrations and use those that allow faster, more efficient, and genuine communication and interactions with your target audiences!
4. Make 'Accio' real for your visitors
Do you want to know how to make an interactive website that quickly answers all the questions and problems users have with your products/services or content? Don't ever underestimate the power of search!
Quicker search is a formidable feature to make the user experience fancier. Hardly anyone will roam around the entire content of your website to find what they need, believe us. This is why you have to add search functionality, especially if you have category links, tag links, blog posts, related posts, etc.
The search bar comes as an influential element at Ucraft to integrate with Algolia to provide your users with a quick, text-relevant built-in search. Adding the element and entering the relevant codes is enough to add a positive experience for your visitors.
5. Make it easy to hear back from your audience
Striving for better performance is essential to improve your product, delivery, and even your fundamental understanding of your users. That goes to gathering feedback from website visitors in the most intelligent way possible. Visual appeal, navigation, and usability aren't the only essential factors in creating your customer feedback form. What you're asking about and how you word the questions or field labels also impact your form's success and completion rate.
Well, Ucraft offers to power your interactive website with Typeform. After adding the Typeform element, you need to add the link to the previously created questionnaire. You will grant your visitors to talk to you in a more direct, meaningful manner.
Collecting customer feedback via an interactive website is more than a marketing trend; it is a way of actively listening to what your customers have to say. It is a valuable tool, especially when you sell products or services and incorporate users' feedback into your business plan. Audience feedback is a massive topic for marketing, eCommerce, blogging, user-generated content, etc., so we might offer a separate blog post soon!
6. Engage in meaningful conversations with your audience
In our digital world, speed is king! There is no better way to be interactive than talking to your website's visitors directly. As it turns out, live chat can provide the convenient answers that audiences want while also adding significant benefits to companies' staff and bottom line. Your website cannot survive without a live chat, especially if you are dealing with consulting people, selling stuff, or offering services.
Remember that we said that chatbots are one of the hottest online marketing trends to incorporate into your business model right now. We were not kidding! Chatting with your visitors, clients, stakeholders, leads, and fans is the beating heart of any interactive website.
If you want to learn more about making interactive websites with Ucraft, read on because we have some solutions for you!
Ucraft offers several integrations that can benefit your users and bring a huge increase in leads. The integrations include Intercom and Zendesk, but we strongly recommend checking out our entire catalog of interactive website integrations. You might love what Live Chat or User Voice might add to your highly professional, interactive website.
· Intercom is a practical set of tools to manage conversations with your site visitors, send targeted messages to the right people at the right time, and educate them. Just access all the fantastic features on Intercom by connecting your ID to Ucraft.
· Zendesk can help you build trust with customers by offering the proper tools to manage customer support like a pro. Connecting Zendesk couldn't be more effortless, by the way!
In any case, you can also add your preferred chat via HTML tags. The bottom line is talking to your users whenever they turn to you and win their trust.
7. "Pick up" your visitors
We bet you want to keep your newly-created "bond" with your visitors at all times. So think of adding a subscription option to your website to build a long-term audience and monetize it responsibly. You might believe you are spamming, but in fact, people constantly check their email. It's super easy and practical to include such a component with Ucraft: add subscription elements with corresponding fields and get ready to gather precious email addresses.
Use our integration with MailChimp to manage your marketing activities and send newsletters to customers. Power up your online store with predictive email marketing with the help of Rare.io. From newsletters to preventing shopping cart abandonment or boosting sales via emails, you have a constellation of Ucraft features and integrations to make your website more interactive.
What Is the Purpose of an Interactive Website for Your Business?
As we said and you could easily figure out, the purpose of an interactive website is to keep your audiences engaged, compelling them to come back for more. We might dedicate a few shorter articles to complete this guide with more details and actionable advice because beginner entrepreneurs and companies have a lot to learn when creating interactive websites to harness this potential.
What we will offer you today, however, is a quick list of benefits you could enjoy by investing in interactive website design and website features/integrations that boost interactivity. So let's see them, shall we?
1. Connect and engage with your audience
We have been talking about this so far, but if you want more compelling reasons to build an interactive website, we will offer you a quick statistic. Studies show that it takes users less than 10 seconds to decide whether they trust your company just by looking at your website design. In other words, when you talk to web designers regarding your new site, take their questions seriously and think about every little detail concerning user intent, experience, and interactive web pages.
2. Improve the personalization of the website and cater to the users' better experience
Building an interactive website allows you to personalize the user experience with all the elements and pages of that website. You can track all the interactive actions occurring on your website (number of people watching a video, images clicked, forms filled, social media shares of blog articles, newsletter subscriptions, etc.).
Tracking users' interactions also means testing the elements that work and do not work so well. In other words, you can upgrade and revamp your website so it offers a unique, customized, and satisfactory experience to your audiences.
Following the Ucraft example, we suggest you check out our Analytics & Reporting integrations. Use those that can help you better understand who your visitors are, what they enjoy most about your website, and how you can meet their needs while exceeding their expectations.
3. Increase time spent on your website
The more people interact with your website (watch videos, send you feedback/reviews, download a free document, fill out forms, etc.), the more time they spend engaging with your pages. In an SEO context, search engines will consider your website more valuable if people spend more time on it and lower the bounce rate.
4. Encourage sharing and brand awareness
It is unlikely that users will share a subscription form from your website. Still, they will surely share a video guide, an interactive tool (such as a calculator/converter), or a link to a free downloadable piece of content. When users find an interactive website with compelling elements, they will understand your brand better, trust it more, and become ambassadors of your interactive web pages.
5. Boost conversion rates
Now, we have come full circle. When you build an interactive website, you earn the trust of your users. Thus, they will feel more comfortable acting on your website (convert): buy a product, subscribe, contact you for a service, etc. The more credibility you offer, the more conversions you will gain.
The Power of Interactive Websites
In a nutshell, building a website is not an issue nowadays with splendid website builders such as Ucraft. What matters most is establishing a positive online atmosphere for your visitors and keeping in touch with them. It's a waste of energy and resources to create a website if you fail to do your best to make it stand out.
If you don't have a site yet, we hope we helped you learn how to make an interactive website from scratch. If your website already exists, use these tips to make it more interactive for your visitors. The lesson to learn here is that you need a beautifully designed, mobile responsive, and engaging website to stand out from the competition!
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