Let’s talk web design!
You are either designing or supporting a website that will house an IdeaRoom 3D configurator.
Put simply, IdeaRoom can be the highest converting form of lead capture in your arsenal. Leads that submit a building design in IdeaRoom are 2X more likely to convert to a sale than other methods of lead capture such as forms on your website.
Therefore, we advise our clients to utilize IdeaRoom as the primary Call to Action (CTA) on their website. Here are some practicals to note:
IdeaRoom is a standalone web application. We handle all of the hosting on the 3D designer and will simply deliver you a link with instructions for configuring DNS settings.
As a result, there is no complex integration required. Simply place the link into a button or menu. When a visitor clicks on the link, the web application will open.
Each 3D designer is branded to the look and feel of the client's website to produce a seamless experience for the customer.
Let's take a look at two IdeaRoom clients who do this very well, and adhere to some basic, repeatable principles of web design and get a five star rating for being on top of their game
The first is R&B Solutions. The second is Dakota Storage.
Product websites should serve one primary purpose: getting visitors to take the next step. Whether it's submitting contact information or making a purchase, you want the people who land on your page to be moving forward in the sales process as quickly as possible.
In general, you have roughly 90 seconds before a visitor has made up his/her mind about your company and products. For better or for worse, your website is your main source of credibility, and what visitors will use as the primary point of comparison between you and your competitors. Here are some bullets on what Dakota Storage & R&B Solutions are doing very well:
Clearly articulating their value propositions. As soon as their websites load, visitors have a clear, immediate understanding of what it is that sets these businesses apart. They use clear fonts against a contrasting background banner to prioritize the value they aim to deliver to customers. Both have a very bold, easy to understand tagline, followed by a smaller, more descriptive value proposition. You know exactly what you're getting within 90 seconds.
Making it easy to take the next step with a high-converting CTA. Your primary CTA should be placed it at the forefront of your website, above the fold. Anything that requires a scroll to reach will not be seen by the majority of visitors who land on your website. These lead capture opportunities can also be lost if they are buried within a dropdown menu. Dakota and R&B Solutions do an awesome job of prioritizing opportunities for next steps with large, interactive buttons right there on the home banner.
Enabling self-service. At a minimum, consumers will use your online presence to research your products or services. This process should be self-service, requiring minimal interaction with a physical salesperson in order to understand what you offer, what it costs and how it can be purchased. Interacting with your business online must also be pleasant and easy to navigate. If a website visitor cannot easily design and tailor a product that is advertised as customizable, you risk confusing (and losing) a potential customer.
Building Trust. Testimonials are the social proof of your ability to deliver quality products in a professional manner. Highlighting the reviews of happy customers is the perfect way to boost confidence in new visitors, encouraging them to take the next step. Your testimonials shouldn't block or detract from your CTAs, but they should be featured on your home page. It is always a good idea to include an image of the individual you are quoting, as this makes the reader certain that the review is coming from a real, relatable person. Finally, choose testimonials that are well-written and to the point. Try to avoid snippets that are hyper-specific to a particular customer, and may be difficult for a broader audience to find relevant.
To quickly summarize, these sites are fantastic because they are clean and simple. The bold fonts and contrasting colors give them an attractive "pop" that is pleasing to the eye. Their product offerings and specific value propositions are readily understandable upon opening the sites, and they have readily available CTAs on the home banner image. They also use our configurator to capture high quality leads that are more likely to convert to sales at higher average prices. Each of these companies is generating an unbelievable number of saved designs and quotes each month.