Most essential parts of a website

A website is composed of essential parts that help engage users to navigate and learn more about the products and services of the company. In order to make these basic parts extraordinary, we have listed the design trends for each of those parts. Here we have discussed them in detail.

What is a website?

A website is a collection of Web pages accessible through a single domain. Websites can serve many different purposes, and therefore they can have many different design styles. Regardless of the purpose or design, most websites share a common architecture. In addition to the way files are hosted on a server, most websites follow a set of general layout conventions. This ensures a streamlined user experience.

Essential parts of a website

1. Header

The header is the upper most part  of a website, typically includes a title and subtitle for the page. The header is often a permanent fixture of the website, where the main content might scroll beneath it. Moreover, it serves to orient the user to the site. In many cases, the header is the same across different pages on a site. This helps remind the user of the site they are visiting, and helps establish a specific design style for that site. A header might include:

• Logo
• Navigation menu
• Tagline
• Phone number
• Address
• Search box
• Buttons
• Social media icons
• Login or My Account link
• Opt-in box

On the other hand, if you have a nonprofit website, a donation page in the header would likely be more appropriate. Put bluntly, including the proper categories in the header is essential in helping visitors find your most important pages and can ultimately make the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful website.

2. Images

The next thing that comes after the header are images.They can be in any form, like a series of images or video. Together, the header and main image comprise the top section of your website – often referred to as above the fold – and are essential in creating a good first impression. The featured visual, in particular, makes a marked difference in whether users stay on your website or abandon seconds after entering.

With that in mind, this visual should convey something important about your company. Whether it features images of your products or services, or just gives the user a feel of what your brand is about, it is important that it relates to your site as a whole. We suggest choosing your best images or browsing the images and videos available through Wix to give your website a professional edge.

3. Website content

Every website contains text, Content typically means the words written on your site that explain what your website is about, what you have to offer and how site visitors can take advantage of your offerings. The quality of a website’s content usually dictates the value of your website. You can find different types of content in a website. They could come in a form of text, image, audio, video, or a combination of those.

Website content covers a wide array of things. It often refers to the paragraphs that explain your site’s mission, but it can also mean the one word that is placed on your buttons.

While short content on buttons or menus may seem insignificant, it is actually the driving force of sites. This is the content that makes it clear what site visitors should expect when they click, such as “Buy now” or “Shopping cart”. Take the time to carefully plan out your website content to ensure that any site visitor can understand your brand as well as you do.

4. Footer

Footer is the bottom most part of any site. It is as important as the header. They have no particular design. However, they complement the overall design of the website. The footer is a great place to catch the visitor’s attention and guide them deeper into your website when they reach the bottom of the page.

It usually contains a sitemap with links to the pages available on your site. This can help visitors find all of your offerings, including those that may not have made the cut for your header. The footer usually has:

• About us link
• Contact us link
• Terms of service
• Privacy policy
• Sitemap
• Social media buttons
• Address
• Phone number
• E-mail address
• Other offers
• Related links/posts
• Subscription boxes

Footers also might include a social bar that contains small but recognizable icons that lead users to your social media pages. This can help you gain followers on social media platforms, ultimately bringing about greater brand awareness and potential business growth. To make it more engaging, some footer includes taglines or images that will immediately catch the attention of users.

Advanced parts of a website

1. Logo

Logo is an essential element of any website.A logo represents the company and makes it recognizable and memorable to both current and potential customers. 

Typically logos can be found in the top left hand corner of the website header and are usually clickable to help visitors return to the site’s homepage. To get started on your logo, and easily embed it on your site, you can use a logo maker that automatically generates a custom logo for you.

2. CTA

A call to action (CTA) is the part of a website that incites visitors to take action.  It usually involves an attention-grabbing headline, a sentence or paragraph about the benefits of taking the action, and a button or opt-in box.

CTAs are important parts of websites because they enable visitors to actually use or buy your service or product. Without these buttons, you could see fewer sales and a higher rate of customers leaving your site without converting.

Moreover, CTAs are typically displayed on buttons and contain actionable words like “Start now” or “Buy yours”. This type of text directs users to take a specific action and tells them exactly what to expect when they click on a button.

3. Blog

Blogs are essentially groupings of articles or posts on a variety of topics that are all related to your business. These days, it’s increasingly common for businesses to add a blog to their site. While blogs can stand on their own, they also can be added as an additional part of an existing website, functioning as a marketing asset for your company.

Adding a blog to your website is a good way to accomplish a couple of goals. First, it provides more in-depth information to your customers about your offerings or industry. By providing this information, you are nurturing your customers and helping them understand your business better.

4. Sidebar

A sidebar is meant to act as another navigation facet of your site, enabling visitors to find information that is important, but less critical than the information in your header.

Typically, sidebars contain links to other content on your site, a way to sign up to your newsletter, and advertisements. Utilizing this space for ads is a good way to monetize your website and help you grow your business. Alternatively, you can advertise your own products in this space, making them easily visible to site visitors even before they see your product page.

5. Forms

Forms are ideal ways of gathering information from your visitors. Contact forms are very common, and work to get the name and a means of contacting visitors at the very least. Sign-up forms, application forms, shipping information forms, and the like are other examples of how forms are used on websites. Forms are an easy and intuitive way for your visitors, from whatever level of technological background, to get the correct information to you.

For example, you might consider including a contact form, which enables visitors to contact you directly from your site. Another type of form, such as a signup form, can help you gather leads by asking visitors for their information.

Depending on the type of form that you choose to use, you might consider placing them in different areas of your site. Generally speaking, a form might be a bit too aggressive for the homepage, but it can take a spot on a separate web page or perhaps lower down on your site.

Wrap up

Now that you’ve determined which parts of a website you’ll need, you might be wondering how to organize them. There are many different website layouts, each of which has its own benefits and keeps your website orderly. 

Usually, website layout contains a homepage and multiple web pages that enable you to find the information you’re looking for. Another option, however, is a one-page website design. This type of website places all the information on one long, scrolling page.