Building a website isn’t just about throwing a few images, some text, and a contact form together. Nope, there’s much more to it! The question on everyone’s mind: what makes a good website? Well, it’s a mix of design, user experience, content, and a sprinkle of SEO magic.

What makes a good website? Here’s the inside scoop

User experience (UX) is everything

When it comes to what makes a good website, it all starts with the user. If users are confused or frustrated, they won’t stick around. Think of your website as a friendly guide that shows visitors exactly where to go and what to do. Smooth navigation, fast loading times, and clear calls to action (like buttons that scream “Click me!”) are essential.

If people land on your site and can’t figure out where to click, they’re out. A good website has intuitive menus, easy-to-follow structure, and no dead ends. You want users to stay engaged, not wander around aimlessly.

Speed matters!

Another factor in what makes a good website is speed. No one likes waiting for a page to load. In fact, if your website takes more than a few seconds to load, you might lose a potential customer. Fast-loading pages not only make for happy users but also give your SEO a boost. Google loves quick websites. So, if you’re not already optimising your website speed, now’s the time to start.

Clear, concise, and valuable content

Content is king, but it needs to be well-written, informative, and easy to digest. A good website uses engaging copy that answers questions visitors didn’t even know they had. If people are coming to your website looking for answers, your job is to provide them — clearly and quickly. A good website doesn’t waste time with fluff or jargon. Instead, it offers solutions and value that users can actually benefit from.

Think about it: you wouldn’t want to read a long paragraph just to find one useful fact, right? Short, punchy paragraphs and bullet points are your friend. Don’t bury your key messages.

Mobile-friendly design

Let’s face it, everyone’s on their phone these days. And if your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re in big trouble. A good website looks great and works well on all devices — from desktops to phones to tablets. If you want to make a good impression, your site needs to be responsive. This means it should automatically adjust its layout to fit whatever screen size your visitor is using. Not doing this? You’re missing out on a ton of traffic!

Visual appeal and branding

So, what makes a good website stand out visually? It’s all about design. A well-designed website that aligns with your brand’s colours, fonts, and style makes a big impact. It’s like showing up to a party looking sharp. Your design needs to reflect who you are as a business and leave visitors with a positive first impression.

But don’t overdo it. Avoid cluttered designs and flashy pop-ups that take away from the experience. A simple, clean, and aesthetically pleasing website is often the best route. Keep the focus on your products, services, and key messages, and avoid distractions.

Strong call-to-actions (CTAs)

A good website doesn’t leave visitors wondering what to do next. Every page should have a clear call-to-action. Whether it’s “Buy Now,” “Get a Quote,” or “Contact Us,” your CTAs should be prominent, action-oriented, and easy to find. You want people to know exactly what steps to take to get what they want. After all, if you don’t tell people what to do, they won’t know! You can also use messenger chat for instant communication, allowing visitors to quickly get in touch with you for support or inquiries, helping guide them to the next step with ease. A great example is the Coastwide Service Centre website.

Security and trustworthiness

No one wants to enter their payment info or personal details on a sketchy website. A good website is secure and trustworthy. If you’re running an e-commerce site, make sure your website is protected with SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption — you’ll see a small padlock symbol in the browser bar when the website is secure. This shows your visitors that their information is safe with you.

Additionally, clear contact info, customer testimonials, and any certifications you can display will help build trust with your audience.

SEO

When you ask what makes a good website, the answer isn’t complete without mentioning SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). If your website is a secret, it doesn’t matter how great it looks or how good your content is — no one will find it. SEO makes sure that your website ranks on search engines like Google, so people can actually find you.

Optimising your website for SEO includes keyword research, using the right tags, optimising images, and making sure your website structure is search-engine-friendly. Without proper SEO, even the best website will struggle to gain traffic. So, make sure you’re putting in the work to get found!

Clear contact details

A good website makes it easy for users to get in touch. Whether it’s through an email address, phone number, or a contact form, make sure your contact details are easy to find. Also, include a physical address (if applicable) or links to your social media profiles. The easier it is to contact you, the more likely people are to reach out. It’s about making your website accessible and helpful.

Integrating social proof

Social proof is a powerful tool that lets visitors know they can trust your website and your business. Testimonials, reviews, and case studies show potential customers that other people have had positive experiences with your brand. This builds credibility and helps answer the question: “Why should I trust you?”

Incorporating social proof into your website is a great way to influence purchasing decisions and build trust. It’s all about showing that your products or services work for real people.

Easy-to-find navigation

So, you’ve got all these great pages on your website. Now, how do people find them? Simple: navigation. A good website makes it easy for visitors to find exactly what they’re looking for. Whether it’s through a sticky header, a simple drop-down menu, or a search bar, keep your navigation clean, intuitive, and easy to use.

A good website isn’t just about design, content, and speed. It’s also about helping visitors move through the site with ease, making it simple for them to find what they need without any frustration.

So, what makes a good website? It’s the sum of many factors: great user experience, speed, mobile-friendliness, strong branding, clear content, good SEO, and trustworthiness. Get these things right, and you’re well on your way to creating a website that not only looks great but performs even better.

Don’t get overwhelmed. Start by making sure your website is easy to navigate, loads quickly, and provides valuable content. From there, you can start optimising for SEO, adding calls to action, and incorporating social proof.

At the end of the day, a good website is one that gets the job done — whether that’s making sales, generating leads, or simply providing helpful information.