Top 5 website development trends: what you should know to stay ahead

On By mattroyseIn Digital Marketing

Today, staying relevant and ahead of the game isn’t simply about having an internet presence since nearly everyone is on the internet these days. Instead, you can easily appeal to your target niche and attract new customers just by being unique and setting yourself apart from your competition. The key to setting yourself apart and staying ahead of website development trends. It’s essential to continually adapt to and implement the latest trends in technology.

When designing your website, it’s all about optimization. You don’t just want it to look good, but you want it to perform optimally as well. Access and navigation through content is essential to making sure it is smooth and seamless for your customers. The better a website performs, the more likely you are to entice users to return.

With advancements in tech, engineers and scientists are constantly developing new technologies that simplify performing everyday tasks, and web development is no exception. Several technologies are contributing to the evolution of the internet and how we interact with it.

Below are five new trends and developments in technology that companies should integrate into their websites if they want to continue improving and growing their business.

1. Artificial intelligence (AI)

Have you heard that little “bloop” sound more recently when accessing a website? If so, you’re not alone. Chatbots are becoming increasingly common all over the internet to help users find what they need.

Typically, these AI-driven bots will pop up in a little chat bubble near the bottom of the screen following a message notification sound. Users can choose to interact with them or not. Still, eventually, due to their self-learning and problem-solving capabilities, these bots will perform executive-level functions. They will replace the need for an extensive customer service team.

2. Single page application (SPA)

Single page application is essentially one page where most of the main content and information sits. It requires only a few elements to be updated at a time. While companies like Google, Netflix, and Facebook have made use of SPAs for some time now, they are starting to increase in popularity amongst marketers and web developers when designing websites for smaller businesses.

Think of Netflix or Facebook, for example. Not many changes as your scroll down the page. A SPA only sends what information you need when you click on something, unlike traditional web pages where servers process and render full pages with every click you make. Rendering elements one at a time, as opposed to a whole page at a time, allows for faster load times. It reduces the amount of work a server has to do, thus saving time and money.

3. Accelerated mobile pages (AMP)

AMPs are like a stripped-down version of your main website. The goal with mobile-friendly pages like AMPs is to provide fast-loading designs. They have basic features that are still fully functional for mobile devices. You want users to have still access to all of your most essential elements in a leaner, user-friendly design. Some companies are even focusing on mobile-first development over traditional websites since users turn to their phones more often than their computers to access the internet.

4. Motion user interface (UI)

Motion UI allows web developers to create interactive and responsive designs without slowing downloading speeds. It enables developers and designers to integrate seamless transitions and animations into their design. They don’t need software like JavaScript. It is essentially a stand-alone software-as-a-service (SaaS) library that controls CSS animations and transitions. Utilizing motion UI in your web design enhances user experience and cuts down on cost by saving developers time when building a website.

5. Voice search and navigation

While some might see voice-command features and devices as “lazy” tools, they simplify tasks to save us time and money and make things more accessible for those with disabilities. Our lives are busier and chaotic these days. Technology that enables us to go about our stressful days more easily is becoming increasingly essential. AI-powered voice recognition features allow users to more easily access and navigate websites. It helps users find information and accomplish tasks much faster. 

If it feels like technology is racing towards a future that once seemed only possible in science fiction movies, you’re not wrong. New technologies are developing fast, and it’s understandable if it all feels a bit overwhelming. The key to keeping up with the latest trends and using new tech is hiring a skilled front-end developer.

The only way to seamlessly integrate the newest technology is to hire someone who has experience with the latest technologies. This can mean looking into a developer with years of experience, but it might also mean looking into recent graduates. Colleges and universities are often where students have access to and learn about the latest advancements in tech.

In addition to having a good front-end developer on your team, it’s essential to have someone continually updating your data strategy. They need to use the latest data analytics tools. Having a fancy high-tech website is excellent. However, what’s the point if you’re not keeping track of metrics to understand how you’re performing? Having a data strategy along with a fully optimized website is key to improving performance and experiencing growth.

This guest blog article was written by Noah Rue, a freelance writer who is fascinated with the world of search engine optimization, marketing, and social media.