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Why Everyone Needs a Website, Including You

Posted on October 2, 2018 by Hosting

The post Why Everyone Needs a Website, Including You appeared first on HostGator Blog . Back in the day, a business card was an indicator of being in business. It told the world what you were about and where you were heading. Today, the same can be said for your website. If you run a business , do freelance work, or even work as an employee, a website has become indispensable. With endless social media profiles and other forms of digital representation the question arises, “Do I even need a website?” The answer is a resounding yes . Having your own website gives you a medium that you control 100%. Beyond that, we offer even more reasons below. Keep reading to learn why everyone needs a website. 1. Set Yourself Up for Future Success Your website gives you a vehicle to showcase your expertise, build a personal brand , and offer a way to showcase your creativity. Your site will continually evolve with you as you progress throughout your personal and working life. By having a personal website you extend your opportunities for growth and success. For example, by creating a blog that’s filled with captivating and compelling content around your area of expertise you’ll not only be able to network with other’s in your niche but also establish your authority in time.   2. Stand Out From The Field You can even think of your website as a digital resume. Instead of just listing places you’ve worked and skills you’ve acquired, you can actually show off those skills in real time. If you’re looking to give yourself a leg up on your competition, then your website can be the perfect way to showcase your skills. For example, a standard resume is kind of boring. You can use your website to the same effect, but you can also make your past work experience more engaging by including photos, testimonials, additional text, and even video.   3. Control Over Your Image Having complete control over how you present yourself is important. Today, whether you’re applying for a new job, pitching a potential project, or simply introducing yourself to someone, the chances are high that they’ll Google you first. Even though your social media profiles may come up, this won’t give people a curated version of yourself, but instead, an aggregation of the pictures and words you thought were worth sharing with the world at that moment in time. Your website gives you a chance to showcase yourself in digital form. It’s near impossible to have this same level of control by relying on other platforms, or not having a website at all.   How to Get Started Building Your Site So, you’re convinced you need to build your own site. That’s good, creating your very first website is a closer reality than you think. With the new GATOR builder , you can have a site online in as little a couple of clicks. Of course, you’ll want to spend time thinking about the overall goals of your website, what you want it to look like, and it’s purpose for existing. But, by using a website builder you can create your site without having any existing development experience. Just select your theme, drag and drop certain elements until you’re satisfied, then publish your site online. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the importance of having your own website, even if you aren’t planning on monetizing it directly. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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HostGator Announces 2019 Technology Scholarship Winners

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Hosting

The post HostGator Announces 2019 Technology Scholarship Winners appeared first on HostGator Blog . HostGator is pleased to announce the winners of our 2019 Technology Scholarship competition . Supporting education has always been a foundation of HostGator, particularly since HostGator was founded in a college dorm room back in 2002 . More than 300 applicants answered the essay question – “In what industry or area do you see technology making the largest impact in the next 10 years?” Our business relies on technology and the creative minds of tech-savvy individuals who have ideas for websites. That’s why we’re so proud of these three winners and their innovative ideas for the future of technology. HostGator staff selected the top candidates based on the originality, quality, and innovation of the ideas in their essays. Three winners were selected to receive a $1,500 scholarship. HostGator is pleased to announce the following winners: Sara Guerry, Radford University, studying social work Nathan Schams, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, studying finance Anita Whittner, Nassau Community College, studying psychology Enjoy reading their essays, and drop us a comment at the bottom of the page to let us know what you think about the impact of technology over the next 10 years. Sara Guerry, Radford University In the next 10 years, technology is going to make the biggest impact in the field of mental health. It already is. And we will see the results of that impact in the coming years; both in positive and challenging ways. I’ve been really curious about the development and success of app-based app based therapy such as TalkSpace. In this time of Millennials and Generation Z, people are not connecting as much face-to-face as we used to, but our fears and anxieties are still present. TalkSpace allows clients to reach a therapist any time in a way that works for them – text, video, or phone. Life is always on the go and not many people have time to dedicate to sitting in an office talking about their problems for an hour. Additionally, services like TalkSpace are affordable. With the rising costs of medicine and the uncertainty of insurance and policies governing our health, mental health is the first thing to be cut out of most budgets. These types of applications allow anyone to afford mental care and seek help in an ongoing manner. We also live our lives more externally now. There is still a stigma around mental health and seeking help. But now there’s also a stigma around wearing the same thing twice or tripping on the sidewalk or any other number of things that can be photographed, videoed, snapped, and put on the internet for time immemorial. The perceived shame of being ‘caught’ going to a therapist or talking to one in person can be a major barrier to seeking help. When siloed into our own heads and seeing the posts of our friends on social media, it’s easy to get perceptions misconstrued. Social media is media of choice and permanency on a very minute level. Everything we post is archived. And, for that reason, there’s a lot of stress involved with marketing oneself just-so 24/7. One thing that excites me, however, is technology’s opportunity to shift the paradigm. Just as many people see technology as driving a wedge between us as people, it also stands to be the magnet that brings us all back together. Right now, at this moment, I can talk to someone on the other side of the world via a free app. High-speed trains are connecting cities at greater and greater distances, bringing cultures together. What’s on the horizon next? How can technology reprogram us to being more social in person? How can it help us gain greater appreciation for those around us? What is the potential for finding our way back to each other? Where technology started this challenge, it can also rise to the occasion and redefine the results. In bringing ourselves back to the physical world through technology, we can center our minds on our environment, on each other, on ourselves. Our mental health can be more focused on our well being. This is why technology is going to have the greatest impact on us in the next 10 years.   Nathan Schams, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse In the short time that I have been alive, I have seen the dramatic effects technology has on the world. It is easy to see how technology has inserted itself into our modern culture. From our phones to our cars, technology leads the way. However, there is one industry that technology has left almost untouched, and I believe that is the construction industry. We have seen how things like self-driving cars and iPhones have changed everything from how we take notes to the way we farm, yet we have not seen near enough of this technology implemented into the methods of building our infrastructure. I believe that in the next ten years especially, the construction industry will evolve into something even more phenomenal than it currently is. Of course, some may say “well Nathan, construction companies have already adopted technologies like Global Positioning Systems and have even gotten complex systems of sensors to control the Los Angeles stoplights to decrease emissions.” However, this is only the tip of the iceberg for construction companies. Could you imagine a world where road construction lasted only weeks not months, and cost less than a quarter of what it currently does? This does not have to be just some crazy dream; in the next ten years, self-driving construction equipment could be working day and night to set up and take down construction barrels, reroute traffic, tear up old road, and pave the new. Just the self-driving capability of construction equipment alone would save $50,000 per year in labor and would also be able to more than double the speed of the actual road work meaning less traffic jams and delays, less injured construction workers, and much less road work.   Along with self-driving capabilities, there have been many advancements in the realm of artificial intelligence in the last decade, all of which could be applied to the construction industry. Take for example the surveying of a road and the ground on which it lays. For an actual person to survey a road, it could take days and be inaccurate whereas by using AI with the help of certain sensors, we would be able to design an exact model of the current road and use the terrain and topographical maps to plan out what the most efficient way to level the road will be and how to prevent cracks and crevasses from forming. Having roads lasting longer, and people riding smoother, the price of doing road work would decrease significantly making it just as profitable as today: it would just be much more cost effective for our great states. With AI helping build, our highways, interstates, county, and residential streets would be much more straight, flat, and more durable than they had ever been before. This is just a small sampling of technologies that could make an immense, lasting impact on the construction industry, and it is obvious that construction will be greatly impacted by technology in the next ten years.   Anita Whittner, Nassau Community College I believe technological advancements will have an impact on every aspect of our lives, and I expect the greatest impact will be in the food service/concessions/hospitality industry. In the next ten years, the hospitality industry will begin to modernize. There will no longer be keys at hotel rooms, and they will begin to use touch ID. At check-in, each member of the room will register a fingerprint, and to get into their room, they put that finger onto the scanner. This will eliminate the risk of stolen, lost, and missing keys, and the hassle of trying to fix them. Of course, a key will still be able to open the door, maids will need to enter and exit, and will be offered to anyone who is uncomfortable with the policy. Another way the hospitality industry will be able to accommodate its guests is through apps on mobile devices that will allow you to check in, check out, and even order room service without having to wait on lines or call anyone. Just like hotels will use apps on smartphones for check-in, out, and room service, the concessions industry will use similar technology to promote online ordering. McDonald’s, Starbucks, and many other chain foods currently have their own apps to order from. With growing technology, McDonald’s has decided to utilize self-order kiosks. These kiosks will take over most cashiers. According to businessinsider.com, McDonald’s has decided to put 1000 in their stores every quarter until 2020. In the next 10 years, I see this growing substantially, spreading outside of fast food to stadiums and arenas. In stadiums and arenas, they have even more ways to deliver meals. At certain venues, you can order food through an app, and the food is run to you, called “in-seat” ordering. This allows guests to order while in their seats and the food be brought to them, making their experience more enjoyable. Another way that the concessions industry will change in 10 years from now is due to facial recognition technology. Large companies are trying to take advantage of this technology, especially stadiums and concert arenas. The facial recognition technology work as so: when you give the venue your credit card information once, you will never have to use it in the venue again. You will simply look at the back of the register where there will be a scanner and it will link your face to your card, making purchases faster and simpler. This would eliminate time spent giving change, and waiting for the chip to process on credit and debit cards.   I see the concessions/hospitality industry changing the most in the next 10 years, as it has the most room for improvement. At my job, I see the company constantly changing. As we reduce the need for cashiers, we have implemented a stand called the “grab-n-go”, where concertgoers can just walk into a small area filled with refrigerators, take whatever they like out, pay, and leave, eliminating the need for cooks, food runners, and cashiers. This type of innovation is what leads me to believe in the next 10 years, this industry will modernize, and begin to take advantage of many future technological advances.      What Are Your Thoughts? Do you agree that technology will have a huge impact in the areas of mental health, construction, and food service & hospitality? If you were answering the essay, what industry do you see technology making the largest impact in the next 10 years? Drop your answer in the comments below!   Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Best WordPress Themes for Blogging

Posted on September 19, 2018 by Hosting

The post Best WordPress Themes for Blogging appeared first on HostGator Blog . If you want your WordPress blog to succeed you’re going to need a great theme. Of course, choosing a solid theme is important, but you also need a place to host it, too. For the ultimate WordPress hosting experience, we recommend WordPress managed hosting . Even if you write incredibly captivating content, and spend hours perfectly crafting and formatting each post, your readers won’t stick around if your site is designed poorly. The look and feel of your site have a greater influence than you think. If your site is distracting, crowded, or uses a low-quality font your users won’t stick around to actually read what you’ve written. This is where your WordPress theme comes in. 10 Best WordPress Themes for Blogging Your WordPress theme should flawlessly highlight your words in a way that makes readers want to spend hours on your site. Luckily, you don’t have to spend time looking for the  best WordPress theme  for your new blog . Below you’ll find 12 of the best WordPress themes for blogging.   1. Smart Passive Income Pro Theme If you’ve been blogging for any time at all, then you’re probably familiar with Pat Flynn of Smart Passive Income .  Well, this blog theme is modeled after his website. It’s designed to provide an easy reading experience while offering you plenty of ways to monetize your website. The homepage is equipped with three different preset layouts and templates , along with eight different a reas for widgets . If you’re a blogger who’s looking to monetize your content or sell products and services then this theme is a great choice. Plus, it’s built on top of the trusted Genesis framework and is fully responsive for all desktops and mobile devices.   2. Typology Typology is an incredible minimalist design theme for bloggers. It features rich and eye-catching colors, contrasted with white space and clear typography. The obvious focus of this theme is stunning typography. It also offers some cool features like showing the time it’ll take to read each post, along with stunning quotes, and various typeset theme options. You’ll also find five different homepage customization options, which include the ability to add background images, highlight your most recent blog posts in slider format, or include the popular parallax scrolling effect.   3. Divi Divi from Elegant Themes  is one of those rare themes that can basically do anything. It’s equipped with nearly endless possibilities. The built-in drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create your own layouts, pages, and templates. It’s equipped with over 46 different content models that you can plugin into different pages or even blog posts. For example, you’ll be able to add things like a portfolio element, pricing table, email forms, audio players, and a lot more. Plus, it has a cool duplicator feature that enables you to set up an element and push that out across every page on your site. Talk about a time-saving feature!  If you want ultimate freedom when building out your site, then Divi might be the blog theme for you.   4. Magnus Photoblog Theme If you’re a blogger who relies on photography to help get your message across then Magnus is the perfect theme for you. The theme is heavily image-focused, which means you better have some high-quality photography to back up your words. The home page acts as a portfolio page for your images and headlines. Plus, it’s equipped with a cool hover effect to make your site seem cutting-edge. Once you click through to one of your blog posts the image will be highlighted at the top of the page, full-screen, with your text appearing underneath in a stunning and readable font. If you’re looking for a blog theme that places a focus on your images, as well as text, then Magnus is worth a test drive.   5. Hemingway If you don’t want to spend any money on your theme just yet, then Hemingway can be a great choice. This free theme for WordPress is simple and offers plenty of whitespace. Since it’s a free theme you won’t find a ton of customization options or features, but it will be incredibly easy to get your blog online. It’s equipped with a 2-column layout, a large custom header image, and even the fancy parallax scrolling feature. When creating blog posts using this theme you’ll also be able to choose between 4 different blog post formats. For bloggers on a budget, this simple design is one of the best free responsive WordPress themes to check out.   6. Authority Authority is a theme that’s modeled after Matthew Woodward’s six-figure blog. It’s a clean theme that highlights your blogroll on the homepage, along with a sidebar where you can showcase an opt-in box, welcome message, most popular posts, and more. If you’re a blogger who’s looking to monetize their site, then this theme will make it easy. It’s built to help make creating affiliate content and review content easier. Plus, it’s Google AdSense ready, so you don’t have to deal with adding any custom code to your site. This theme for WordPress is feature packed and perfect for site owners who want to turn their blogs into an online brand .   7. Hero Theme Hero is a minimalist and responsive theme that’s focused on design. One thing is for sure, this theme looks good. The home page has a parallax banner that you use to tell visitors what your blog is about. Beyond that, you’ll be able to highlight your recent projects or blog posts. The blog page is quite simple but provides a clean and easy reading experience. This theme is simple, but if you want a theme without all the frills, that lets you get down to writing, then check out this theme.   8. Modern Studio Pro Theme Modern Studio Pro is an elegantly designed theme built on top of the Genesis framework. You can opt for a classic blog layout with the sidebar on the right, or have your posts take up the entire screen. The focus of this theme is soft and readable typography, along with plenty of whitespace. If you’re tired of cluttered websites, then this theme might be perfect for you. You can easily customize this theme through the built-in theme customizer, and get your blog up and running very quickly. There aren’t a ton of additional features for this theme, but it truly does shine in its simplicity.   9. Eleven40 Pro Theme This theme is a StudioPress classic. It’s been around for quite some time, but its fully responsive design has withstood the test of time. The core focus of this theme is on highlighting your words. You can choose between multiple different sidebar arrangements, along with a customizable field that’s directly below the header. Since this theme is so simple it looks good on any screen size and always manages to place the readers focus on your content. If you want a simple, yet flexible theme, the give eleven40 Pro a try.   10. Candor Theme Candor is designed for bloggers who intend to build a business around their writing. The homepage is clean and elegant, and you have the option of integrating an email sign up box above the fold. It doesn’t have a ton of different customization options, but it does offer you four different layouts to choose from that will give your site a unique feel. Overall, this responsive design theme is easy to use on both computers and mobile devices and offers your visitors a solid reading experience, while still giving off some creative flair.   Which WordPress Blogging Theme Will You Choose? Having the right WordPress theme for your blog is extremely important and will set the standard for what users can expect to see on your site . The best theme for your blog is completely personal but remember, this is how users will recognize your brand and interact with your site. Hopefully, the themes above will point you in the right direction and you’re getting help you get closer to finding the perfect WordPress theme for your blog. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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5 Best WordPress Security Plugins

Posted on September 17, 2018 by Hosting

The post 5 Best WordPress Security Plugins appeared first on HostGator Blog . If you’re wondering, “Do I need a WordPress security plugin?” The answer is yes. WordPress is the most popular CMS in the world. That popularity also makes it a popular choice for hackers. Now, WordPress has regular updates to patch any new and existing security holes. But, security as a whole is a reactive process. Patches are only issued once a security vulnerability is known. At its core, WordPress is incredibly secure. But the massive ecosystem of plugins and WordPress themes makes it more vulnerable to security holes. To protect your WordPress website against these security risks, it’s always a good idea to use a WordPress security plugin. Below we look at five of the best WordPress security plugins and highlight both free and paid options. Why You Need a WordPress Security Plugin WordPress has some pretty solid security measures in place, but if you’re looking to take that security even further you’ll want to utilize a security plugin . By using a WordPress security plugin, you’ll get access to additional features that WordPress doesn’t have right out of the box, including: Site, file, and malware scanning Protection from brute force attacks Regular security scans, monitoring, notifications Site firewalls Overall security hardening Sure, you can get by without having these in place, but why would you risk it? Sadly, a lot of site owners don’t think about security for their WordPress website until it’s too late. Once your WordPres site has been compromised, there’s not a lot you can do besides notify your visitors and try to clean up the mess. If only there was something you could’ve done to prevent this. Good news: there is. It’s using a WordPress security plugin.   The Best WordPress Security Plugins For anything related to WordPress you’ll find dozens of popular plugins to install. Going through every plugin yourself can be tedious, which is why we created this list. Below you’ll find five of the top WordPress security plugins that are both free and paid that help to protect your site against security vulnerabilities .   1. All In One WP Security & Firewall All In One WP Security & Firewall is one of the most popular WordPress security plugins. It’s very easy to use and you can configure this plugin pretty easily, even if you don’t have any tech skills. It’s equipped with a unique grading system, so you can see which areas of your WordPress site are protected, and what you need to improve upon. Since it’s visually based it’s easy to see and correct any areas of your site that might be weak. The main ways this plugin will improve your security are by protecting against blue force login attempts, securing your user accounts, creating a website firewall, protecting your WordPress databases, and even allowing you to blacklist certain sites or IP addresses. Plus, it has a built-in security scanner so you’ll know that your site is always protected against hackers. All In One WP Security & Firewall is a completely free plugin that you can download here . You also won’t run into any annoying upsells, or having to upgrade to unlock more features.   2. iThemes Security iThemes security is a feature-packed WordPress security plugin. It’s available as both a free and paid plugin for WordPress sites. The paid version will unlock more detailed security measures. The free version has some decent features, but if you really want to protect your site, you’ll want to consider the pro version. It will not only unlock some stellar security features but it’s also affordable, at only $80 per year. The Pro version does a lot to enhance security, like providing strong password protection, backing up and securing your databases, protecting against brute force attacks, moving your login page, adding two-factor authentication, and a lot more. Plus, you’ll get regular website monitoring and dedicated professional support. You can download and give the free version of the plugin a test drive , or upgrade to the pro version here .   3. Wordfence Security WordFence Security is one of the top free WordPress security plugins on the market. It excels in protecting your site from brute force attacks, real-time security monitoring, login page protection, and IP blacklisting. Plus, it adds a firewall to your site. WordFence also has an extensive database of offending websites and IP addresses, which are atomically blocked from accessing your site. The premium version of the plugin is equipped with additional features to take your security to new heights. That includes real-time threat protection, an improved firewall, two-factor authentication, geographic protection, dedicated support, improved spam protection, and more. You can download the free version of Wordfence here , or you can opt to purchase the premium version .     4. Sucuri Security The Sucuri Security plugin is created by a team of WordPress security experts. This plugin is entirely free and will help both will regular site monitoring, and strengthen your existing levels of security. Once you install the plugin it will automatically scan your site to look for any infected files or known sources of security weakness. You can then restore or repair your site to ensure it’s in good working condition. Beyond this initial scan and clean up this plugin will provide you with regular website monitoring and malware scanning. Plus, it will strengthen your existing security protocols to ensure that your site is protected against the biggest threats and vulnerabilities lurking online. You can install this plugin for free here . There’s also an option to opt for a premium version of this plugin , which will add a website firewall and more security features to your site.   5. SecuPress SecuPress is a relatively new addition to the WordPress security space. However, it’s seen very rapid growth. There are both free and premium versions of this plugin available. One of the strongest features of SecuPress is its intuitive UI, which makes it incredibly easy to setup and use. Not only that it’s equipped with a built-in security scanner, which will scan your site for six main points of vulnerability. If any points of weakness are revealed during this scan, then the plugin will actually fix them at the click of a button. Overall, this is a very solid and easy to use security plugin. The premium version of the plugin will give you additional features like anti-spam protection, automated website backups in case a restore is needed, and automated website scans. You can download the free version of the plugin here , or pick up the Pro version for $59 .   Closing Thoughts Website security is complex. It’s continually evolving, and what kept your site secure a year ago probably won’t do the trick today. Instead of trying to understand all the security threats out there, the better course of action is taking the necessary steps to protect your site, and letting the experts handle and understand the risks they’re protecting you from. All of the plugins above are great choices when it comes to protecting your website. If you have a smaller site and don’t get a ton of traffic, then you can probably get away with a free WordPress security plugin.  But, as your site grows it’s probably a good idea to upgrade to one of the paid options above and look into implementing a website security checker . Improve the security of your site without having to lift a finger. Upgrade to managed WordPress hosting now, and our WordPress experts monitor your site for threats and take care of security for you, so you never have to worry.  Improve the security of your site without having to lift a finger. Upgrade to managed WordPress hosting now , and our WordPress experts monitor your site for threats and take care of security for you, so you never have to worry. With your site’s security taken care of you can focus on the important things, running your online business, and growing your traffic. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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Top 15 Web Design Trends 2018

Posted on September 12, 2018 by Hosting

The post Top 15 Web Design Trends 2018 appeared first on HostGator Blog . Your average internet user may not notice it day by day, but web design trends are always changing. We can all agree that what looked good to visitors in the 90’s certainly wouldn’t play well today, but noticing the more subtle changes in design that happen each year is harder. The shifts in web design norms are slow, but they’re worth paying attention to. Even if you’re not a great web designer and your skills begin and end with what you can do in a website builder , you can avoid waking up one day to realize your website is hopelessly outdated by reading up on the web design trends of 2018. 1. Responsive Design Responsive websites are not a new web design trend in 2018, but they’re an important enough one to still include here. As mobile usage only seems to keep going up – it first surpassed desktop a couple of years ago – making sure your website works at least as well on mobile devices as it does on bigger screens is crucial. Visitors quite simply won’t stick around if your website provides a disappointing mobile experience, and it’s bad for SEO on top of everything else. While you could create a separate version of your website that works well on mobile devices from the one people see on desktop, for most businesses the better option is to make one website that’s responsive. On a responsive website, each page has all the same copy, images, and elements no matter what device you view it on, but they’re arranged differently based on the size of the screen. An image that shows up next to the text on your desktop may show up below it on a smaller screen, for instance. Making your website responsive ensures that your mobile users get all the same information and value from your website, while still having a user friendly experience. As an added tip, if creating a responsive website sounds intimidating, consider a website builder that offers responsive templates. Most of the work will already be done for you. 2. Chatbots You’ve probably noticed in your own internet surfing that a lot of business websites now have a little window pop up at the bottom right side of the screen when you land on the website, giving you the chance to chat with a representative. Adding a chat window like this to your website means any visitor with a question can have it answered immediately. But for many websites, having someone available to answer those questions in real time is too much of a challenge. One possible solution:  utilizing a  chatbot . You can program a chatbot to answer the most common questions your customers have so that most visitors still get their answer right away. For questions the chatbot doesn’t know, you can at least program it to provide details on how best to get in touch with a live representative so your visitor still knows what to do next. Chatbots don’t make sense for every type of website , but if you have a business website and you frequently hear a few main questions from your visitors, they can save your staff time while still providing your visitors with a good experience.   3. Animation Autoplay videos are very much out, but that doesn’t mean your website has to be completely static. You can add some movement to your web design with some simple animations. A growing number of websites are working animations into the background or images of web pages. A good animation will draw the eye and capture a visitor’s interest, without distracting from the main information you want them to see on the page. It’s a web design trend that makes your website a little more engaging and adds some personality. 4. Microinteractions Microinteractions take animation one step further in terms of user engagement. These are animations that respond to what the user does on the page. If you notice a website changing when you mouse over a particular spot, or an animation that’s triggered by scrolling down – those are microinteractions. These create a positive user experience because they hand visitors power over what they see as they interact with the site. Knowing your actions shape the design in front of you is a good feeling, even if it’s only in minor ways. Microinteractions are becoming more common around the web, making them a good web design trend to have on your radar in 2018.   5. Original Illustrations Stock photography’s easy, but it doesn’t add any personality to your website. That’s why many website owners are now turning to original illustrations for the images on their pages. Custom illustrations do come at a cost – artists must be paid – but they can transform the style of your website and create an entirely unique experience. Custom illustrations often feel playful, while still doing the work of communicating something about your brand. You get to choose the colors you want to include and can craft imagery that might be hard to stage in a photo. If you can find a good artist for your website, they’re a good way to inject some extra personality into the website experience.   6. Including Social Proof So far, most of these website design trends come with a fairly hefty price tag that may be out of reach for small businesses or websites devoted to passions rather than profit. This one is much more affordable. Social proof is a way to convince new visitors that you’re awesome by showing evidence of your success with other visitors. For a business, it could be logos of companies you work with or testimonials from other customers. For a blog, it could be publishing the number of email subscribers you have. You can (and should) tell other people how awesome your website is in your copy, but your words aren’t going to mean as much to visitors as proof that other people like them think you’re awesome. Find a way to work social proof into the design of your website to better highlight your value to new visitors. 7. Hamburger Menus This is a controversial web design trend that’s commonly used on apps and mobile websites because it’s an easy way to provide a menu that takes up very little space. The hamburger icon itself is very small, and it opens up your main menu when you click on it.  As it’s become more familiar to internet users with the growth of mobile, its use has started to spill over into the design of desktop websites as well. A hamburger menu removes the list of pages in your main menu from all the pages of your website and puts them behind the hamburger icon. If you want a website that has a very clean design, it allows you to include fewer elements on each page while still providing the navigation items your visitors need. As mentioned though, it is a controversial web design trend. It may not be right for your audience. This is a trend you should be very intentional about considering – only use it if you have a good reason.   8. Rounder Edges For a while buttons, windows, and containers on websites tended to have sharp corners. Recently more web designers are starting to shift their website designs toward softer, rounder edges. This is a web design trend you can see in buttons and chat windows around the web. Plenty of websites still maintain their sharp edges, and some use a mix of both. This isn’t a trend that’s outright replaced the former way of doing things. But if you want to keep the shapes on your website a little softer, you’ll be in line with one of the web design trends of 2018.   9. Tactile Design Another common trend of the past was keeping web design flat. Many websites are now starting to buck the old trend by adding more shadowing and depth to the images on their pages. Tactile design can bring the images on your website more to life for your visitors. In addition, it provides a way to add emphasis to your images. The difference is often subtle, but it changes the user experience of your website and adds a little more realism.   10. Unique Fonts Choosing a unique font is an easy way to add some personality to your website and make it stand out a bit more. Fonts are part of a website that many visitors don’t really notice, but you can use your font choice to add some additional style to your website and draw more attention to important words. Make sure that any font you choose is easy for your visitors to read. Style shouldn’t trump clarity here. But as long as you keep the text on your website legible for all your visitors, you can use your font choice as a way to add some extra personality to your site.   11. Asymmetry A bold choice that’s showing up on some websites now is asymmetric design. Using asymmetry in your web design provides a unique experience for your visitors, especially as it’s still not a particularly common design choice at this stage. This web design option definitely isn’t for everybody. Because it’s uncommon and unexpected, it might be less intuitive for some visitors. And it can complicate a website’s ability to remain responsive. But if you want to provide a website experience that’s outside of the box, going asymmetrical can do that.   12. Accessible Design If you don’t have any disabilities yourself, you’ve probably approached web design in the past without thinking about how people with disabilities will experience your website. That’s unfortunately normal – many web designers just haven’t had accessibility top of mind in the past. But that’s beginning to change. One of the web design trends of 2018 is working to make websites more accessible for everyone. Design magazines and blogs have started to provide tips for more accessible web design. Designing an accessible website requires broadening your perspective and doing a little work, but when you commit to it, you open up your site to an audience that was left out before.   13. Data Visualization “Big data” has been a buzzword for a few years now and businesses in all industries have seen the growing influence of data on the tools and latest trends that shape how we do business. Perhaps it was only a matter of time until the influence of data made its way to web design as well. Many websites are now incorporating data visualization into their design. In some cases it becomes a part of the main website, in others they launch a separate site to highlight valuable data they’ve created. In either case, data visualization becomes a part of the story the brand tells and the visual identity they have on the web.   14. Bold Colors A lot of the web design trends for 2018 are about standing out and this is no exception. Many websites are employing color schemes that are bright and bold. Bright colors provide a distinctive experience that make your website more memorable. You can use your color choices strategically to draw attention to parts of the website you most want people to see. This is another website design trend that isn’t for everyone. Some brands will be better served with more subtle colors, but if you’re looking for a way to make your website stand out and really get attention, making bold color choices could do the trick.   15. Floating Navigation Most of the websites you visit have their navigation in the same place: across the top of the website. Some websites are experimenting with different options though. We already talked about the hamburger menu option, but another possibility is floating navigation.   Floating navigation stays visible even as you scroll down the page. It provides a unique experience, but also offers the practical benefit of keeping all the navigation options present and visible no matter where your visitor is on the page. You can see an example of what that looks like on the Anchor and Orbit website . As yet, it’s not a particularly common web design trend. But for any website owner looking for another way to stand out, it makes your website a little more distinctive.   Staying on Trend in 2018 As in any year, in 2018 make sure that everything about your website design puts the user first. Trying out something new that you think looks cool or interesting is fine, but only if you’re confident your target audience will respond to it as well. Following website design trends can often be worth it, but paying attention to your visitors is always more important. Find the post on the HostGator Blog Continue reading →

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