7 steps to improve your website’s user experience
Ever walked into a shop and instantly wanted to turn around and leave? Maybe it was dark or disorganised, or the layout was just plain confusing. That’s exactly how visitors feel when they land on a clunky, hard-to-use website.
Good user experience (UX) isn’t just about looks – it’s about making things simple, smooth, and enjoyable. The best part? You don’t need to start from scratch – a few smart changes go a long way. Here’s how to get started.
1. Don’t keep visitors waiting
No one likes a slow website. If your pages take longer to load than it does to stick the kettle on, something’s gone wrong.
Speed plays a huge role in UX – and it’s one of the easiest things to improve. Start by optimising your images (because no one needs a 4MB header photo), enabling browser caching, and ensuring you’re using a reliable web hosting provider to keep things moving.
Page speed isn’t just important for your visitors. Google uses it as a ranking factor. A sluggish site could be hurting your SEO – and costing you potential customers in the process.
2. Get mobile-friendly or move along
Over half of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. If your site isn’t built to handle this, you’re alienating a significant portion of your audience.
Responsive design is key – your website should adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes. Test it regularly on phones and tablets, and steer clear of fiddly buttons that require Olympic-level precision to tap.
It’s not all about aesthetics either – Google prioritises mobile-friendly sites in its search results, so it’s well worth the effort.
3. Make it easy to navigate
Everyone loves getting stuck into a game now and then – but that doesn’t mean your website should leave users playing ‘Where’s Wally?’. If people can’t find what they need within a few seconds, they’ll bounce – and probably won’t come back.
Keep navigation simple and intuitive. Use clear categories, logical page structures, and don’t forget a search bar – it’s a small touch that can make a big difference. The goal is to make every click easy, not frustrating.
4. Create content that speaks to humans
We’ll tell you straight – no one wants to read an essay when they’re just trying to find an answer. Big blocks of texts? Hard pass.
Your content should be engaging, scannable, and easy-to-read – that way, it appeals to browsers skimming on their lunch breaks and people properly diving in. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and plenty of subheadings to break things up. Write like you’re talking to a real person – so ditch the jargon and corporate waffle.
And don’t forget a strong call to action. “Buy now”, “Read more”, or “Get started with Fasthosts” – hint hint – make it clear what the next step is.
5. Get serious about security
Would you hand over your card details to a site that looks like it was built in 2002 and doesn’t have a padlock in the address bar? Didn’t think so.
Building trust is key. Make sure your site is secured with an SSL certificate – which Fasthosts includes with all of our hosting plans. Beyond this, display genuine testimonials and clearly list your contact information. A trustworthy website is one your customers will feel safe using and return to often.
6. Test, tweak, repeat
Good UX isn’t a case of set-and-forget. The best websites are constantly improving based on what users need and how they behave.
Use tools like Google Analytics to track bounce rates and visitor flow. Heatmaps can show where people are clicking – or not clicking. And of course – ask your users directly! Feedback is gold dust when it comes to making meaningful improvements.
7. Support your UX with the right host
Improving your website’s user experience doesn’t need to be a massive overhaul. With a few clever changes – faster load times, mobile-friendly layouts, simple navigation, and trustworthy content – you can create a site that your visitors will love.
And behind every great website? Solid, reliable web hosting. Fasthosts keeps your site fast, secure, and always ready to impress. Check out our hosting services to start building a smoother, smarter customer journey today.