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As we head into spring, businesses and creators alike must stay ahead of the curve by maintaining websites that are both visually appealing and functionally sound.

As these digital experiences evolve, so do user expectations – both from current clients and potential clients. Websites that are outdated or difficult to navigate can hurt engagement and damage a brand’s reputation. While this isn’t new information, the good news is that the solutions are easier than ever to implement. Here are three key areas to focus on this year:

1. Minimalism

Minimalism remains one of the biggest trends to follow. Keep your website clean and easy to navigate. Focus on simplifying the design and making important information, such as how to contact you, easy to find. More users are gravitating toward video content, so incorporating video is essential. Don’t rely solely on static images or content, no matter how great it may be.

2. Mobile-ready design

In the past, websites were designed with desktop users in mind, but today, mobile users should be your primary focus. More than half of web traffic now comes from mobile devices, and this number will only continue to rise. Prioritizing mobile-first design is key to ensuring your website is optimized for smartphones and tablets.

What does mobile-first design mean? It means designing the mobile version of your site first and scaling up to accommodate larger screens. This approach improves usability on smaller devices, boosts site performance, and enhances load times — critical factors in keeping visitors engaged.

To get started, evaluate your current website through a mobile lens. Is the navigation intuitive on smaller screens? Are buttons large enough to click on without zooming? Is the content easy to consume on mobile? If your site doesn’t meet these standards, a redesign with responsive design is in order.

3. Speed and accessibility

Website speed is one of the most important factors affecting user satisfaction and SEO rankings. If your site takes too long to load, visitors are likely to leave before they see what you offer. To optimize your site’s speed, start by compressing large images and minimizing heavy scripts that can slow load times. Tools such as Google’s PageSpeed Insights or Lighthouse can help identify areas of improvement. You can also implement lazy loading, where images or other elements load only when visible to the user, improving initial load time.

In addition to speed, accessibility is crucial. Ensuring your site is accessible to people with disabilities not only improves the user experience but also helps you comply with legal regulations. Add features such as text-to-speech capabilities, alt text for images, and make sure all interactive elements are keyboard-navigable. Accessibility checkers such as WAVE or Axe can help you identify areas for improvement.

By focusing on mobile-first design, embracing minimalism, and optimizing for speed and accessibility, you can ensure your website remains relevant and competitive in a fast-evolving digital landscape. Whether you're a small business or a large corporation, these three strategies are simple yet effective ways to refresh your website and stay ahead of the curve in 2025.

Leah Stoudenmire Lawson is the founder and CEO of The Rock It! Co., the one-stop shop for companies and nonprofit organizations looking to take their brands and stories to the next level. The company has offices in Charleston and Greenville. Go to therockitco.com for more info.