written by
J.D. Lindsay

Whatever You Do, Make It Beautiful

Design Your Website Sucks Websites Photos Video 2019 2 min read

Your website's design can elevate your work 🔥

Hey, thanks for visiting the blog! Quick heads up - this is a micro-post in a long running series called Your Website Sucks - Let's Fix That. If you find what's written here useful, check it out!

Make your first impression count! That's a mantra often repeated for face to face interactions, and it importance certainly applies online.

Every small decision you make builds a persona. And every design decision on your website builds an impression. Even if a first time website viewer doesn't convert, an enjoyable experience creates a positive experience that may drive them back later.

I find that beautiful & simple go hand in hand. See Open Habits

Where to start

For a beginner, the best way to improve is from looking at the best. Creating a website is a long process, and it's easy to lose sight of the end goal. Don't let this happen. The best way to create something awesome is to have a picture of success.

Don't be afraid to look at what folks are doing in other industries! It doesn't have to be a specific design that inspires you, it can be the more essential things: writing, fonts, colors, layout, etc. All of these work together for an awesome web experience.

Beautiful landing pages don't have to be complicated. Take LucidDreamBot

These sites are how I look for ideas when designing websites. If you're thinking about a redesign, I highly recommend these collections:

  • HeyNishi Knock-out websites with a knack for copy-writing. If your website's writing is boring, look for inspiration here.
  • One Page Love Great websites done in one page. Many websites can accomplish as much in one page as they do in half dozen.
  • Land-book If I had to pick one, this collection is likely the most consistently beautiful. Really great stuff!
  • My Own Personal List If you know of a kickass website, let me know! I love bookmarking beautiful websites.
Beautiful websites communicate a lot while sacrificing little. See Rob Walling

Whatever you do, have a vision of success. Find website designs from all sorts of industries, and see if they would work well for you brand. And stayed inspired. Inspiration is a well for creativity.

Thanks for reading! Want to learn more? Subscribe to my personal newsletter:

This series of articles is constantly evolving and always open to improvement. If you have any thoughts don't hesitate to reach out. Feel free to drop me a note at [email protected]

  1. Need help with your website? Check out my portfolio, or give me a shout!

Cheers, 🍻

- Josh @kraahkan

Cover photo by Gatis Vilaks on Unsplash

Your Website Sucks Kelowna Vernon