Website building has never been easier with Content Management Systems like WordPress. The work becomes even easier when there are plenty of free and paid themes giving the appearance to your website matching your niche.
No matter how easy it is, there are certain elements of a website that can’t be gained with a CMS and theme. Without these elements, getting a stable position for your website in the search rank or growing your online business won’t be possible. So, these components should be taken into account.
In this article, we will break down the essential components of a website along with additional ones to keep up with the current generation.
The Essential Components of a Website –
The first and foremost thing is getting the absolute components, without which a website won’t be complete. Some of these elements may cost you a little while some elements are free of cost.
C’mon, you are building a website, don’t expect everything for free.
1) Domain and Web Hosting
The very first thing you need for your website is an IP address that allows people to find your website on the internet. However, it is not easy to remember an IP address as it is basically a string of numbers like 172.16.254.1 or something.
Don’t you think it is easier to remember words than digits?
That’s where a domain name comes from. A domain name covers the IP address, matching a suitable name for your website so that it becomes easier for people to remember. It is also known as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
In order to get a suitable domain name or URL, you have to contact a reliable domain registrar. It is like getting a license for your car from the Vehicle and Road Transport Corporation.
2) A content management system (CMS)
The next thing you need for your website is a Content Management System or CMS. When you don’t want a pure custom-built website hiring developers, you will definitely need a CMS. We guess you don’t need a highly customized website when most of the things can be done with a CMS.
A CMS keeps all the parts of a website organized. You can configure everything from here including installing new plugins, giving users access, enabling or disabling features, and so on. Aside from that, it makes it easier for your audience to navigate your website.
There are numerous CMS like WordPress, Wix, Drupal, Joomla, Squarespace, Magento, and many more. But WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the world. So, that’s a pretty good option when you are building a website for the first time as there is no scarcity of resources when you will need assistance.
3) Navigation
The third important part of a website is navigation as it gives an idea to the search engine about the structure of the website. Visitors won’t find your website unless the navigation is properly configured. As a result, it will result in less traffic and more bounce rates.
Maintaining the hierarchy for a web page is crucial for proper navigation. This means having all the main categories and pages in the right order. If you are using a drop-down menu, then make sure the sub-categories are inside the right categories. This will appear on every page and post of a website. So, give utmost care while you are building the navigation bar.
4) Home Page
The home page is more exceptional than other web pages. Sometimes, this page can be considered as the landing page, where customers get to see an ad run by Google, Facebook, or other sources.
Fiverr is considered to have one of the best homepages
Remember! Your homepage is the starting point where the customer starts to haul around figuring what your website is all about. Therefore, Call-To-Actions (CTAs), your brand logo, and other important elements should be present on this page.
Here are some tips for building an effective homepage –
• The homepage should bear the core message. So, a proper and effective heading is crucial (we have discussed more later in this article).
• Having optimized content matching your niche.
• Give importance to visual hierarchy.
• Your homepage must ensure easy navigation with other pages.
• Ensure your website’s homepage is mobile-friendly.
• Try to keep it minimalistic so that customers won’t get distracted.
This page links the rest of the web pages. So, you should be very careful while building this page. Consider a great design including the necessary elements (the elements for running your business) that you want to keep on the home page. Additionally, the homepage logo should have the option to reset the website when your visitor clicks on it.
5) Header
The header is one of the most important factors for designing the website’s homepage. Why? Because the top part of the website is directly related to the navigation and it also contains the site’s logo. The most important part that should be taken into consideration is that this zone remains constant and visible all the time, no matter on which page your visitors are.
While designing the header, try to follow the trend. Once, graphics, banners, or any kind of visual work was used in the header. This was like a cover photo on social media pages. But, that time is over now. Today’s websites have a more streamlined header including your brand logo and a categorized navigation menu.
These are the common elements in the header bar that today’s websites have –
Element Priority
Brand logo or slogan High
Navigation menu with important links High
Search field High
Login field Medium
Call-To-Action Medium (only if necessary)
Contact information Low
Social media icons Low
Language filter option Low (depends on the purpose)
6) Footer
Another important part of a web page is the footer area. The header and footer are the two parts of a website that remain constant on every page. The difference is the footer remains at the bottom of the website rather than on the top.
Unlike the header, there is no restriction on putting elements. That being said, the footer only supports widgets, social media icons, search bar, text, and lightweight elements. You can’t insert a post section or major function in the footer. And won’t be appropriate from a normal sense.
Nowadays, websites are having a large footer section with multiple columns and sections. They provide a short intro of their website, including important links, social media icons, terms and condition page, privacy policy page, links to their apps (if applicable), and many more. This is an example of a modern-day website –
7) About Us Page
There is a tendency among people to focus on the home page and other related pages, a very few give attention to the About page. Study shows –
The About page is one of the most visited pages of a website.
Still, no one spends time creating a perfect About page with proper information. Please don’t be like them. The About is the place where people get to know you and your business better. Therefore, it deserves an appealing look along with having all the relevant points related to your site or business.
When users find your site useful and interesting, they like to know more about it. And the About page is the source of this information that creates a personal touch that helps develop long-term relationships with your customers.
8) Contact Page
Perhaps, this is another web page that has been neglected by many people. A Contact page is very important when your business is serious. In that case, it needs to be more organized than usual. Whether you are into blogging or serious business, this page is a must-have element of your site.
The Contact page should contain the location of your workplace, a contact number (or numbers), contact emails, and other information. And make sure all of the contact information is accurate so that customers can find assistance when they are desperate.
Aside from that, having a signup form or a CTA for subscription is another innovative idea for analytics and tracking the origin of conversions. Remember, the registration form should contain significance, evidence, and promises so that your customers know what they are signing up for.
It’s better to have a small number of visitors who promise better engagement instead of a large group of people who don’t show much interest.
9) Blog and Website Content
You should definitely have a blog page for articles and informative posts. These posts can work as tutorials and the whole blog page can act as a knowledgebase for your clients. This is particularly important when you are selling unique products online and people will frequently look for answers to know how to use them.
Don’t forget to add a comment section, a related articles section, social media share icons, author bio on the blog page. There is a slight difference between a website and a blog.
When you publish something on a blog site, it is called a post or blog. On the contrary, a web page is created when something is published on a website. Web pages are more formal containing information about the product or service, while blogs are there to keep the reader engaged in conversations with a casual tone.
However, this concept isn’t validated anymore. Nowadays, websites are hybrid, having both web pages and blog sections.
10) User Experience
An outstanding User Experience (UI) depends on how accessible, feasible, and efficient your website is. A great user experience can be achieved through experimenting with images, visuals, typography, colors, and templates.
Still, you can’t ignore these must-have elements in order to create the best user experience –
• Apply Beautiful Call To Actions –
Color, psychology, and purpose are three major facts to design effective and attractive Call-to-Action buttons. The CTA should deliver a clear message for its purpose. Then, comes the psychology that grows confidence, curiosity, and cravings in the customer’s mind. And do know –
Different feelings are evoked by seeing different colors.
That’s why you need to be picky when considering an appropriate color for the CTA. Perhaps, the following can be a great example of this –
People are also triggered psychologically by seeing the message or word in the button. Be very particular with your action words. Customers won’t dare to take action if they are not emotionally attached. So, use bold, time-sensitive, and action-oriented action words inside the CTAs. It should never act like clickbait.
• Ensure Mobile-friendliness –
Your website needs to appear properly on any device regardless of the screen size. So, choose a template that is optimized for smartphones, tablets, desktops, and other devices. Google tends to like websites that are mobile-friendly.
Try to avoid small fonts and images that are needed to zoom in for proper view. And make sure the user experiences a fluid view of your site, no matter what device they are using.
• Use Card Design or Grid-Based Design –
Inspired by famous websites like Pinterest, card design is the new trend. This is basically a grid block that organizes your content visually. Card design is easy to read, they make your site more appealing and mobile-friendly.
Grid-based designs or card designs can be used as a post section, image gallery, feature list, testimonial, or even a sales page. You just need to be a little creative to make the most of limitless customization.
• Optimized Web Pages –
Customers don’t have time to wait for your website to load. According to a survey –
1 second delay in page loading = 7% ↓ conversions = 11% ↓ page view = 16% ↓ customer satisfaction
While users haul around thousands of websites, it is only natural that they will look for other fast-loading sites when yours is taking too much time to load. Eventually, you will be frustrated when you notice a rise in bounce rate due to slow page loading speed. And there’s more you need to know about –
A better solution for increasing the loading speed of your web page is to insert compressed images in your website. Large images or media files have major roles in decreasing page loading speed. You can also use cache management tools for this.
Additional Tools to Make a Successful Website –
1) SEO Basics
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is a vast and complex topic. In a nutshell, it is a process of getting traffic for your website and getting a better position in the Search Engine Result Pages (SERP).
While there are millions of websites on the internet, getting a top spot in the search engine by beating the competition can be a challenge. That’s why you need to obey the best practices of search engine optimization. If you want to secure a better position in the organic search engine listings, you can produce content that is –
• Searched by people
• Rich in quality and information
• Shareable and people want to link
• Organized and formatted on your web page
Aside from outstanding content, you need to look for specific keywords that people are searching for. These keywords should match your website’s niche and the more local, the better. It is easier to rank locally than internationally. And getting a better rank in the local search should be your target if you serve people of a particular region.
2) Analytical Tools
Nowadays, ranking in the top position in Search Engine Result Pages depends on many factors. Only optimizing the website is not enough, you need to monitor the performance of your site. That’s why an analytical tool like Google Analytics can help.
An analytics tool can help you know where your customers are coming from, how long they are spending time on your website, which content on your website has the most views and more. Google Analytics is currently the most popular tool for analytics. And, Google allows this tool to be used for free.
3) SSL
Security is the main concern for many people. Some people run websites containing information that is confidential. Some are running large businesses online that should be protected at all costs. While there can be a lot of security measurements, getting the SSL encryption is one of the vital ones. And it is easy to get one. Many hosting providers even offer free SSL at the time when you get a hosting plan from them.
In 2015, former CEO and chairman of IBM Ginni Rometty said –
“Cybercrime is the greatest threat to every company in the world.”
-by Ginni Rometty
Each day, thousands of websites are being hacked for poor security infrastructure. Even if your website is just a new one and doesn’t contain anything valuable that is a matter of concern, you can still get SSL (HTTPS) encryption for your website. It won’t matter if HTTPS encryption is paid or free, get it for your website even if you have to spend a little.
HTTP => HyperText Transfer Protocol
HTTPS => HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure
The websites with HTTPS encryptions have a little padlock beside the address bars of their web browsers. A non-secure website is marked with ‘http’, while a secure website is marked with ‘https’.
You should also know in October 2017; Google lowered the quality of support to HTTP websites as it did before. On top of that, a “Not secure” badge will be shown beside the address bars of the HTTP websites.
4) Website Builder Tools
A website builder tool is a blessing for website owners, especially if you are not that tech-savvy. The website builder tool lets you create beautiful web pages. These tools include drag-and-drop page building options to create almost anything on a web page i.e. banners, custom search bars, images, sliders, CTAs, icons, image carousels, image galleries, and more.
Although there are many web page builder tools available, Elementor is one of the leading ones right now. The free version of this tool is more than enough to build a magnificent web page. But you can go for premium plans for building more advanced pages –
Here’s what the elements look like in the Elementor web page builder –
Please Note –
Although you don’t have to write a single line of code for using a website builder tool, having a basic understanding of CSS and HTML will always come in handy. Because you can’t expect to design a web page exactly how you wanted with a website builder plugin. Sorry, if we have rain on the parade.
5) Email Service Provider (ESP)
The subscribers who registered your newsletter with their email addresses can stay up-to-date with an Email Management Service aka EMS. An email service provider helps you to maintain constant communication with your audience by sending email notifications.
MailChimp might be the most widely used email service provider in the world, but there are other great alternatives like MailShake, Constant Contact, Aweber, etc. You may need an EMS for the following reasons –
• Automate the Email Process – You don’t have the time to send emails manually to thousands of subscribers. You need to automate the process for sending emails to them so that they are aware when there is an update.
• Follow CAN-SPAM 101 Regulations – Stay compliant with CAN-SPAM 101 (Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing) to avoid penalties that can charge you up to $16,000 for each email.
• Confirmation of Delivery – Just because most email service providers are whitelisted, you rest assured dozens of emails are sent to the corresponding receivers even when you send them rapidly.
• Report & Tracking – You can also track how many users have opened the emails, how many have clicked on the links that were inserted in the emails, and which email has performed the best with a detailed report.
• Scalable Service – The ESPs helps to expand your business. With a click of a mouse, you are sending thousands of emails to your subscribers no matter where they are.
6) Social Medias and Their Proper Integration
Social media can play a great role in increasing traffic, domain authority, conversion rate, and more. You don’t have to use all the platforms, only the popular ones will do. Make sure proper social media widgets are integrated into your website.
But why is it important?
Share your post and valuable content on social media platforms from time to time. Some of the content may attract users that will lead them directly to your website. As a result, the number of page views will be increased along with the traffic. Therefore, it is important to have those social media icons integrated into your website.
The impact of social media on people’s lives is greater than ever. Social media like Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest has become a part of their lives. So, why not have your own social media pages for your website? This can give your website a boost to grow in this age of competition.
As of July 2020, here is the impact of social media all around the world –
Source: Hootsuit
7) Payment Methods and Shopping Cart
Last but not least, payment gateways and shopping carts can be added to your website if it is related to online shopping. This is not mandatory for all websites, it’s completely optional. Actually, it depends on the purpose of your website.
If your website introduces your business, where transactions will occur frequently; then you need to make sure reliable and easy-to-use payment gateways like Paypal, Square, Bkash, Amarpay, 2Checkout (popular in Bangladesh) are included.
Also, create attractive shopping carts if your website sells various products or services online. Get help from a suitable page builder tool to create beautiful and effective shopping carts for your website.
Bottom Line
We hope this short crash course on the main components of a website was very helpful to you. You might have understood what components you need most if you are planning to build a website very soon. Still, we would suggest you keep as many elements as possible. If necessary, consult with a reliable website developer in Bangladesh like ARN Tech.
Dr. Christopher Dayagdag said –
“We don’t just sell websites, we create websites that SELL.”
• by Dr. Christopher Dayagdag
Remember! Your website represents your brand and personality. It needs to be decorated in the most appropriate way. We will be updating this handy dandy article for website components from time to time. Let us know if we have missed something that is inclusive.
