The way your website works will change in 2012, as ways of accessing and using information keep changing.
Here are some of the top Web Trends predicted for the year:
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More and more people will access the Web from their mobile phones:
According to Search Engine Land, more than 1/5 of all searches will be conducted on mobile devices in 2012. For this reason, it is extremely important that all company websites can be easily navigated as well as read on the small cell phone screen. Companies are going to have to improve their websites for mobile search convenience and keep this in mind when advertising |
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No more Flash – think CSS3 and HTML5:
Flash was once extremely popular amongst web designers, but it has slowly lost momentum. In 2012, smartphones may not be installing Flash for consumers. It simply does not work well with mobile devices, and CSS3 and HTML5 offer many benefits (interactivity for users, faster loading, etc). This will force companies to rethink their websites and rework solutions. |
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No more boring fonts:
More browsers now support different types of font, which means more and more websites will start to utilize more creative ways to use lettering. While in the past typography was tangled up in copyright issues, CSS3 will allow designers to use free and/or subscription-based typography services. This will help get you away from those boring Arial and Times New Roman fonts you’re so tired of seeing. Also, 3D graphics are expected to grow in popularity – use shadows and textures to help create dimension, but remember not to go overboard! |
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QR Codes will get more popular
Last year was about consumers understanding Quick Response (QR) Codes and trying them out for fun. This year, many companies are hopeful that QR Codes will make a big difference. They are completely free to create, and many more people understand how they work. |
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Facebook may lose some popularity
Google+ could very well take users away from Facebook. According to Search Engine Roundtable, Facebook lost 6 million users in the US in 2011. This number will likely continue to rise because people are in search of newer social networking sites. Facebook has also had several problems with privacy, forcing many young graduates to monitor their Facebook pages. |
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Real time analytics will be used more often
With the recent addition of real time analytics to Google Analytics, more companies will realize just how valuable these can be to a company. Although this has been offered in the past, Google sets the standards for many smaller businesses. Now that Google Analytics offers real time data, more and more companies will be using this feature to measure success. |
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| Part of creating a well-designed website is creating something unique that will stand out; not something that follows the trends of other websites. However, these trends that you will see in 2012 will allow creativity while also ensuring that your website is accessible to more people where they want it and when they want it. Good luck with your new website! |
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