According to the latest McKinsey study, corporate professionals are comfortable making large purchases online. Many of them have even finalised million-dollar contracts on websites only. What does this mean?
Running a B2B business today means having an impressive website. It will be your biggest asset. It is good news because websites are easy to update, low-cost, astonishingly flexible, high reach, trackable and available 24/7.
But is your website visually appealing, easy to navigate, and presents excellent customer experiences? These are crucial things for a new-age B2B website design. Visitors value it the most.
We will walk you through the top 10 best practices for B2B website design that look astounding and drive results. From optimised user experience to creating persuasive content, we cover it all.
So, grab a cup of tea and let’s start with it!
Understanding B2B Website Design
You might wonder what B2B website design is. It is a way to create websites for firms that frequently conduct transactions and deal with other firms. The target audience is business professionals looking to learn or buy specific services or products through a wonderful website design. Web design can astonishingly improve website sales.
- Remember that a well-made B2B website must reflect the professionalism, user-friendliness and reliability of the respective B2B company.
- A classic B2B website should feature several product catalogues, product pages, landing pages, order management systems, payment processing tools and account handling features.
There is a parallel to B2B website design—it is B2C website design. There are many overlaps; however, you need special consideration when creating a B2B site.
Difference Between B2B And B2C Website Design Practices
When designing websites, B2B and B2C have several things in common, but they have their quirks, too! The central differences boil down to what visitors on your site want and need. Here’s a quick look at how both are different-
- When selling products online, B2B firms have a longer road from when people are aware of them to when they are interested in buying something compared to B2C firms. It is because B2B buyers want to know more and might need to talk to a company employee before making a decision.
- Also, the things B2B companies sell often cost a lot more than what you buy online as a regular person. Therefore, the buying process is not a quick click like in B2C. It often involves customising the product or service and haggling over the price.
- Unlike B2C sites, B2B sites are more about building a relationship with the buyer. B2C focus on making sales right away. Usually, B2B won’t finish the deal right on the website. Instead, it’s more about starting a conversation that could later lead to a sale.
Some examples of famous B2B sites are Asana, Zendesk, Unity, DocuSign, Blackline, Datadog, and more. These companies implement the best practices of B2B website designing.
10 Best Practices of Effective B2B Website Design
Not every B2B website gains success. There are several reasons for this. But let’s not get into the “whys” and see which of the best practices can get you an excellent B2B website design for a better business position, among others.
1. Clear and Interesting Value Proposition
A clear and short value proposition is critical to successful B2B website design.
A successful B2B website connects with visitors from the minute they come. It fosters confidence as they navigate. It begins with being clear about your identity and what you do.
To create an efficient website, you must be honest about your strengths and your target audience. Developing a value proposition is an effective B2B website design approach.
The value you offer significantly impacts your keyword tactics, navigation, sitemap, and homepage layout. Furthermore, because it is the lens through which you evaluate performance and change plans, it informs site-wide layout and copy.
2. User-Friendly Navigation
There may have been times when you have felt confused visiting a website. It is a big no when designing a B2B website. Make it easy for visitors to stay and find what they want on your site.
When making a B2B e-commerce web design, it’s vital to make it easy for people to find their way around. Don’t put them into frustration.
So, how do you do that? Clear buttons and menus make it easy for designers to accomplish. Nobody wants a website that feels like a maze.
So, keep it simple. That’s the key to keeping visitors happy and helping them find their needs.
3. Responsive B2B Websites Design
Creating a B2B website that looks good and works well on mobile phones is crucial. Many use their phones to check websites these days, even for businesses. You might lose clients if your site is challenging to use on a phone.
To ensure your website is mobile-friendly, you need “responsive web design.” That means the site changes and looks good no matter what device people use- phone, tablet, or computer.
- Flexible Layouts – Ensure the website layout can adapt to different screen sizes. To do this, designers should rearrange and resize elements like pictures and text to fit on smaller screens. It is how you get responsive website design.
- Mobile-Friendly Navigation – Keep menus and buttons big enough to tap with a finger. It should be easy for users to find everything and use it on small screens, too.
- Optimised Content – See that your content, like text and images, downloads quickly on mobile devices. Nobody enjoys waiting for a website to load on any device, especially on their phone.
- Testing – Always test your website on different devices and screen sizes to ensure it looks and works as you want it to.
4. High-Quality Visuals
Making your B2B website look gorgeous is good for the business. People might want to avoid browsing it if it’s attractive, even if it works perfectly. Did you know that almost all first impressions of a website are based on how it looks?
Here are some tips for making your B2B website visually appealing:
- Choose a Good Colour Scheme – Stick to a few colours throughout your site instead of using every colour in the rainbow. This makes the website very tacky and unpleasant. The colours should match your brand’s style.
- Be Consistent – Set a colour pattern that is the same for all your website pages. You don’t want things to look different from one page to the next.
- Leave Some Breathing Room – Don’t cram everything on your pages. A cumbersome page is a big no. Leave some empty or white space so it doesn’t feel too crowded. It helps people’s eyes relax while they browse your site.
You can ensure visitors stick around and stay engaged in your website content by paying attention to how your B2B website looks and feels.
5. Content Strategy
Having a great-looking website is superb, but if nothing is interesting to read or learn on a website, people will leave the website soon. That is where having a solid content strategy comes in.
Here’s why content is imperative for your B2B website:
- Informative Content – How often have you scrolled a website and found nothing useful about the business? It’s a big turnoff. Your site’s written content should provide helpful information about the industry and what your business does.This could be through blog posts, product descriptions, or service pages. Have clear and concise content on the website. Put yourself in the visitors’ shoes and think about what you might want from a website.
- Blog Posts – You must have come across company websites with a “blogs ” section. It might be at the top or bottom of most web pages. Writing blog posts is the best way to share useful tips and insights with your audience.Choose topics related to your business and have an informative blog for visitors. It also helps establish your company as an authority in your industry.
- Product and Service Pages – People want to know what you sell and how it looks. The website is the only way to do this. Therefore, ensure you have unambiguous and comprehensive pages about the products or services you offer. This helps potential customers understand what you can do for them.
- Keywords for SEO – Search engine optimisation is imperative for every business. Isn’t google the first thing you open when you want to search for something? And we use just random phrases or words to search for specific things.For example, “lip gloss Maybelline” or “JBL noise-cancellation headphones” are keywords that help you find what you want. It filters your search. You need to include relevant keywords to ensure people can see your content when they search on Google. It helps your content rank higher in search results.
6. Optimised Contact Forms
Businesses need an effective website to have an impressive market image. It should convert visitors into customers, leads, or opportunities. Optimized contact forms are a particular and proven way to improve website conversion rates.
In your online store, you want people to come in, browse through and buy something. On a website, you can persuade them by making it easy for visitors to turn into potential customers.
One way to do it is by having “optimised contact forms.” It’s a step in making it simple for someone to contact you or ask queries. Usually, websites have a particular page just for contacting the business. However, they do not work for several reasons. They may be too unclear or because clicking on another page annoys visitors.
A smart move is to insert contact points throughout your website. Instead of one bold “contact us” page, insert buttons like “get a quote,” “ask a question,” or “try it free” spread around. Isn’t it much clearer?
Now, where you put these buttons is imperative. Place them where visitors are most likely to see them. And they should be different—some might be for those just browsing, while others might be for those who are likely to purchase.
7. Social Proof and Trust Signals
The next best practice is all about safety and trust. It’s imperative. Let us discuss a website’s credibility: trust signals and social proof. Think of the times you want to explore a new eatery. Don’t you believe it more when your friends think it’s great? That is social proof. The same concept applies to a business-to-business website.
Social proof is about showing prospective clients that other businesses have had beneficial interactions with your firm. It might contain client testimonials or logos from organisations you have dealt with.
Trust signals on a site make visitors feel safe. For instance, an encrypted payment emblem or certificate might reveal that your website is secure. It is one of the best principles of B2B web design.
Therefore, when creating a perfect B2B site, consider this one of the best B2B web design tips. It’s a great idea that helps develop credibility with visitors, making them more willing to do business with you.
8. Conversion-Focused B2B Web Design
Conversion-focused design aims to persuade people to buy your product or service. On a B2B website, it should be easy for visitors to take action, like signing up for a demo or contacting you. Here’s how it works: First, you need clear calls-to-action (CTAs) that tell visitors what to do next, like “Request a Quote” or “Sign Up Now.” These buttons should stand out. They should find it easily.
Second, keep things clutter-free for an impressive conversion in B2B website UX design. Too many things on your website can annoy and confuse visitors. It leads to an exit soon, making it hard for them to find what they need.
Lastly, ensure your site works well on many devices. If a website is hard to use on a phone, people will leave in a second! If you focus on conversions, visitors will turn into customers, which is what every business wants.
9. SEO-Friendly Structure
Having an SEO-friendly design for your business-to-business site is like putting up signage to direct customers to your business. SEO stands for “search engine optimisation,” which refers to making your website simple for search engines like Google to comprehend and display individuals looking for your offer.
To make the website SEO-friendly, you must structure it logically. It entails creating intuitive menus and employing informative headers and headings. You should also include keywords – words that visitors input into search engines – in your website content.
Another vital step is ensuring the site loads swiftly and functions correctly on all platforms, such as phones and PCs. Search engines such as Google should be quick and straightforward to use.
Following these enterprise website design principles, you can help your web page rank higher in search results, letting individuals find your company online.
10. Integration with CRM and Marketing Automation
Combining B2B sites with CRM and marketing automation solutions is a fantastic concept in industrial website design. It helps track clients and know their activities with your business.
How would that work? The CRM system automatically receives the data when a user fills out a form online or engages with the website content. That would mean you have proof of every conversation. This process helps catch up on leads quicker and provides better client care.
Marketing automation lets you send custom-made messages and information to diverse groups of individuals based on their behaviours and interests. For instance, you send emails to targeted clients who browsed your website or downloaded particular files. Such an integration allows everything to be computerised (your marketing and sales operations). It saves time and improves your client experience.Now you know how to improve your B2B website design. If implemented correctly, these ten ways can change the outline of your business. Take professional help, as they know B2B website design strategies very well. They can design a high-converting website for you.
How To Select A B2B Website Design Agency?
When looking for a B2B website design service, you must be sure you’re making the proper choice. Let’s consider what you should think about and inquire about it throughout your choosing. So, first, let’s talk about what factors you should keep in mind:
- Know Your Requirements – The first step to choosing a commercial website design agency is to know your goals. If you don’t have clarity there, nothing should move forward. For instance, a blog website may need people to engage in blogs. An e-commerce website needs to entice visitors to return an old customer or purchase an item. Based on the needs, the design takes place. So be clear in this arena and then make plans.
- Experience – Experience counts a lot when choosing a B2B web design agency. Look for agencies that have experience, especially with B2B websites. They should know the exclusive needs and challenges of businesses selling to other companies. If agencies have limited to no experience, you may still give them a chance (maybe they work well), but only at your own risk.
- Portfolio – A renowned agency should have a portfolio. If there aren’t any, look for other agencies. Check out their previous work. Do their designs align with what you are looking for? Do they have expertise in your industry? What skills do they bring to the table? Do they focus on specific platforms or technologies? Ensure they have the know-how to handle your project. Seek answers and decide.
- Communication – How would a project happen without proper communication? Proper communication is vital in any partnership. Ensure you can get in touch readily with them and that they are prompt to your needs. Proper communication is essential for transparency at work and managing other work simultaneously. Proper communication leaves less room for errors.
- Timeline and Method – Inquire about their timeline for completing the project and their process for development. You should be firm in your project needs so that they give a clear timeline. It will guarantee timely delivery and continuous updates.
- The Design Approach – Design is about attractiveness, but it’s also about functionality. Visitors should feel good when they look at and “use” it. When choosing an agency, know about their process and understand their design approach. It should involve usability and creativity that enhance your brand’s ethos. Talk about the design’s resonance with the audience. It is suitable for both of you.
- Finances – Of course, budgeting is always a point of deliberation. Nothing is possible without funds. So, ensure the pricing aligns with what you want to spend. Be cautious that there are no hidden fees. A tip: If you invest more in a reputable company, you will get better long-term results.
What questions should you ask prospective agencies?
When selecting an agency, there are some questions you should ask to gain a better understanding of their work and mindset. Here are a few of them-
- Can you tell us about the process for designing a B2B website?
- What is so different about your agency for a B2B website plan?
- Do you have the skills and experience to work in our industry?
- Can you give examples of your past B2B website designs?
- How do you execute communications with clients for projects?
- What do you think about SEO for B2B websites?
- Do you provide support and maintenance after the launch of the website?
- Can you offer a thorough breakdown of the price structure? Are there any extra costs we should know of?
- How will you create a user-friendly and responsive website for our B2B customers?
- What are your guidelines on changes and revisions throughout the design procedure?
In short, it is vital to look for a design firm with the skills and proficiency you need. The firm should also align with the idea for your B2B website. Ask plenty of questions, take your time, and be confident when choosing one.
Gain A Powerful B2B Web Design Today
We gave you the ultimate guide to successful B2B website design. Today, it’s crucial to have a killer website to earn money. It’s where people check products or services, learn about offers, and decide whether they want to do business with other businesses. So, while “web design” might sound like a fancy term, it has immense benefits.
Should you hire a professional web design company? Invest in professional designers if you want to grow and expand your company. It can be a significant change. They know all the tricks to make your website look eye-catching and valuable.
A well-made website creates a smooth ride for customers, increasing engagement. You gain conversions and, eventually, higher revenue and sales. Professionals can make a contrasting difference for you.
At Webskitters Ltd., we understand it all. We know every brand is more than just a logo – your creation from scratch- your pride. That’s why we carefully understand your brand’s goals and values and then work our magic to bring them to life online.
With years of experience, we have tackled various web design challenges. From responsive and modern designs to user-friendly layouts, we make everything possible for your B2B business. So why wait? Let us take your brand to the next level and see it grow well. Get in touch with us today and watch your brand’s power soar.
