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Writer's pictureMatt Jones

What Makes a Good Website? A Simple Guide

Creating a good website can seem daunting, especially if you’re not tech-savvy. But understanding what makes a website “good” isn’t as complicated as it sounds. A great website is one that meets the needs of its visitors, is easy to navigate, and looks appealing. Here’s a breakdown of what I do when creating websites for clients:


1. Easy to Use


A good website is simple to navigate. Imagine walking into a store where you can’t find anything because the aisles are confusing. A website should be like a well-organised store—everything should be easy to find. Your visitors should know exactly where to click to find the information they need.


Tips for Good Navigation:


• Use clear menu labels (like “Home,” “About Us,” “Services,” etc.).

• Include a search bar for easy access.

• Make sure important information is just a few clicks away.

Clear call to action website example


2. Attractive Design


First impressions matter, and the same goes for your website. A visually appealing design doesn’t have to be complicated or flashy. Instead, it should be clean and professional, reflecting the personality of your brand or business.


Tips for a Great Design:


• Use a consistent colour scheme and fonts.

• Keep it simple—don’t overcrowd pages with too much text or images.

• Ensure images and graphics are high-quality and relevant.

Image of an attractive website done by Mj Web Design

3. Fast Loading Speed


No one likes waiting, especially online. If a website takes too long to load, visitors are likely to leave. Make sure your website loads quickly so people don’t lose interest before they even see your content.


How to Keep Your Website Fast:


• Optimise images so they aren’t too large (Under 2MB)

• Limit the use of heavy scripts or animations.

• Choose a reliable hosting service.

Screenshot of a fast loading website and the stats

4. Mobile-Friendly


More and more people are using their phones to browse the internet. A good website should look and work well on all devices, whether it’s a computer, tablet, or smartphone.


What to Do:


• Use a “responsive” design, which means your site automatically adjusts to fit any screen size.

• Test your website on different devices to make sure it’s easy to read and navigate.


Person holding a mobile phone with the Fondant and Flour website on it

5. Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)


What do you want your visitors to do on your website? Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, contacting you, or purchasing a product, make sure your website clearly tells them what to do. This is called a Call-to-Action (CTA).


Examples of Effective CTAs:


• “Contact Us Today for a Free Quote!”

• “Sign Up for Our Newsletter!”

• “Shop Now and Get 20% Off!”


Screenshot of Outside the square  coaching and Psychology showing clear call to actions

6. Valuable Content


Your website should provide useful information that meets the needs of your visitors. This could be anything from product descriptions to blog posts, depending on what your website is for. The key is to offer content that is engaging, helpful, and easy to understand.


Content Ideas:


• Write clear and concise descriptions of your services or products.

• Use headings and bullet points to make text easier to read.

• Regularly update your content to keep it fresh and relevant.

Screenshot of MJ blog showing the importance of relevant information

7. Good SEO Practices


SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, is what helps your website show up in search results. While SEO can get technical, you can focus on some basics to improve your website’s visibility.


Simple SEO Tips:


• Use relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions.

• Make sure each page has a unique title and description.

• Use alt text for images, which helps search engines understand what the image is about.

Screenshot of an SEO checklist

Final Thoughts


A good website doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It’s all about meeting the needs of your visitors, making things easy to find, and presenting your information in an appealing way. Whether you’re building a website for a business, a personal blog, or anything in between, these tips can help you create a site that visitors will love.


Remember, your website is often the first impression people have of you or your business, so make it count!


If you are in need of a new site and you like my approach to web design, just drop me a line today on my contact page. Below is my CTA 👇



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