Websites are integral to the success of brands and businesses in the digital age. In a world where people depend on the Internet for almost every bit of information they need; your website serves as the online face of your brand – the location where potential customers can learn everything that they need to know about you and what you do. Done right, a new website with a modern web design can act as a very effective lead-generation machine, resulting in higher web traffic and better conversion rates.

Web design accounts for roughly 94 percent of a visitor's first impression of your company. Thus, it's safe to argue good web design is an indispensable ingredient to an effective business website.

But what is good website design, exactly?

The truth is, website design is constantly evolving. It must change to meet the needs of an increasingly sophisticated and demanding audience. This means that what you learned about web design last year could be obsolete now.

While certain elements of good web design, such as the need for relevant and compelling content, remain constant, new web design trends emerge every now and then to help create more advanced, more efficient, and more user-friendly websites.

Applying these elements in your website design or redesign not only creates visual appeal but also benefits SEO optimization, helping your site rank higher on Google searches. With the help of an experienced website designer and developer, you'll be able to build a website that serves not just the end user but also search engines, potentially driving a constant flow of relevant traffic to your website.

Whether you are a web designer or a seasoned developer, or simply someone who wants to establish an online presence with not much experience, the modern web design process will go much smoother with a little planning and foresight.

The infographic below covers the most important factors to consider when designing a modern website.