7C’s of Website Design: Tips for Businesses with Examples

As the Internet becomes accessible from almost anywhere, more and more people prefer shopping online. This makes having an attractive website incredibly important. Let me share some statistics to highlight its importance.

According to TIDIO

• There are over 2.14 billion online shoppers worldwide, with a 4.4% increase between 2020 and 2021
• The United States has more than 268 million online shoppers
• The average US online spend per capita is $3428 per year
• Online sales are estimated to reach $7 trillion by the year 2024
• There are more than 12 million online stores across the globe

The statistics make it clear that a business website is essential for growing your business.

To succeed, you need to create a website that reaches a larger audience, appeals to your target market, and turns them into customers. It may not be as easy as it sounds, but it is definitely achievable. 

By implementing effective website design methods like the 7C approach, you can make it work for you. 

7C’s of website Design : 

C’s	Refers to
1. Context	Layout and visual design
2. Content	Text, picture, sound and video
3. Commerce	Checkout process, pricing information, and payment options
4. Customization	Ability to change the font size or color, or to add and remove widgets
5. Community	Creating a blog, forum, or social media pages
6. Connection	Backlinking, social media sharing buttons, or embedded content from other sites
7.Communication	Clear and concise navigation menus, Calls to action

Now, we will discuss in depth about how those 7C’s can be a game changer for your website design.

Key Takeaways

• Importance of business websites
• What are the 7 C’s of Website Design
• The 7C’s of website design framework with examples

The 7C’s of Website Design

In this section, I will dive into each approach of the 7 C’s, providing a detailed explanation. Also discuss their effectiveness and practical implementation for your website design.

1. Context   

In website design, context means understanding the overall environment and specific situations where people will use the website. It’s really important to know who the website is for (the target audience), what they like, what they need, and the website’s purpose. All of this information greatly influences how the website is designed.

To explain this better, Imagine you’re creating a website for a toy store that sells toys for young kids and their parents. The context of this case is important for shaping how the website looks and works.

You need to think about:

– The people who will visit the website (Ex. young kids and parents).

– What they like and prefer (Ex. fun and colorful things).

– What is their intention for visiting the website (Ex. browse and buy toys).

By understanding this context, you can design a website that is playful, colorful, and easy for kids and parents to use. It will help them find and buy toys more easily, making their experience enjoyable and happy.

Implement Context on Your Website Design 

1. Research: Conduct thorough research to understand your target audience and their preferences. Gather insights through surveys, user interviews, and competitor analysis.

2. Tailor Design: Customize the design elements, color schemes, typography, and layout to match the preferences and expectations of your target audience.

3. User Testing: Regularly conduct website testing with real users to collect feedback and implement improvements based on their experiences.

4. Stay Updated: Keep track of industry trends and best practices to keep your website design fresh and relevant.

By implementing context effectively, your website will be better equipped to engage visitors, meet their needs, and achieve its intended goals.

2. Content

Content refers to all the information, text, images, videos, and other elements that are displayed on a website. It’s the material that conveys the message, provides value, and engages visitors when they interact with the site.

Content has a huge impact on website design because it shapes how the website looks and functions.

Suppose you’re creating a website for a pet shop that sells various pet products and offers pet care tips. Here’s how content can impact the website design:

1. Visual Appeal: The images of cute pets and colorful pet products will make the website visually attractive and appealing to pet lovers.

2. Organization: The content will determine how the information is organized on the website. For example, a clear menu with sections for different pet categories and care tips will help users find what they need easily.

3. Engagement: Engaging and informative content, such as articles about pet health or pet training videos, will keep visitors interested and encourage them to spend more time on the website.

4. Branding: Well-crafted content that aligns with the shop’s brand voice and values will help create a strong and consistent brand identity.

Implement Proper Content Strategy on Your Website Design 

1. Know Your Audience: Understand your target audience and determine the content that will deeply connect with them. Tailor the content to their preferences and needs.

2. Quality Over Quantity: Focus on providing high-quality content that is relevant and valuable to your visitors. Avoid confusing them with excessive or irrelevant information.

3. Visual Elements: Use appealing images and videos that complement the content and enhance the website’s overall look.

4. Readability: Ensure that the text is easy to read with a clear font, proper spacing, and organized paragraphs.

5. Consistency: Ensure consistency in the style, tone, and formatting of the content throughout the website.

6. Regular Updates: Keep the content fresh and up to date to encourage visitors to return to your website.

3. Commerce

Commerce refers to the online process of purchasing and selling goods or services. It involves setting up an online store where customers can browse products, add them to their cart, and make payments electronically. In simpler terms, it’s like a virtual shop on the internet where people can shop with comfort.

How to Implement Commerce for Your Website

1. Choose an E-commerce Platform: Select an e-commerce platform that suits your needs. Well-known platforms such as Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce simplify the process of setting up and managing your online store.

However, there are few E-commerce common mistakes that e-commerce businesses should avoid while building an online store.

2. Design a User-Friendly Website: Create a website that is easy to navigate and visually appealing. Use clear categories and labels for products so that customers can find what they are looking for quickly.

3. High-Quality Product Images and Descriptions: Provide clear and attractive images of your products, along with detailed descriptions.

4. Secure Payment Gateway: Establish a secure payment gateway to guarantee that customers can make transactions with confidence and safety. Offer multiple payment options, such as credit cards, PayPal, or other online payment methods.

5. Mobile-Friendly Design: Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, as many people shop using their smartphones or tablets.

6. Shopping Cart and Checkout Process: Implement a smooth shopping cart and checkout process. Allow customers to review their selected items, enter shipping details, and complete the purchase with ease.

7. Customer Support: Provide excellent customer support, with clear contact information and a responsive system to address any queries or issues.

8. Shipping and Delivery: Clearly mention shipping options, delivery times, and any associated costs to avoid surprises for customers.

9. Security and Privacy: Make sure that your website has proper security measures to safeguard customer data and privacy.

10. Marketing and Promotion: Implement marketing strategies like social media campaigns, email newsletters, and discounts to attract customers to your online store.

4. Customization

Customization refers to the ability for every users to make changes to certain aspects of the website according to their preferences. These changes can include altering the font size, changing colors on the website. This is very important and recommended by W3c Accessibility guideline.

The impact of customization on a website can be significant as it allows users to personalize their browsing experience. Let’s look at an example to understand it better:

Imagine you visit a news website that offers customization options like:

1. Change the Font Size: If user find the default font too small to read comfortably, they can increase the font size for better readability.

2. Change Colors: The website may provide options to switch between light and dark themes, allowing you to choose the one that suits your preference or is easier on your eyes.

5. Community

Community refers to spaces like blogs, forums, or social media pages where people with shared interests can come together, interact, and engage with each other. It’s about building a sense of being a part of a group and helping people form connections with each other.

A community on your website can have several positive impacts. Let’s take an easy example to understand this better:

Imagine you run a website dedicated to healthy recipes and fitness tips. By adding a Forum section to your website, you create a community space where people interested in leading a healthy lifestyle can connect. Users can share their own recipes, exchange workout routines, and offer support and encouragement to one another.

This sense of community can lead to several benefits:

1. Increased Engagement: With a forum, users spend more time on your website, discussing and sharing valuable information. This boosts engagement and keeps them coming back.

2. User Interaction: People get a chance to interact with others who have similar interests, share their own experiences, and learn from what others have experienced. This makes the place feel welcoming and supportive.

3. User-Generated Content: The community generates valuable content through discussions, which adds more depth and variety to your website.

4. Loyalty and Trust: Community members feel connected to your website and its purpose, which builds loyalty and trust in your brand.

5. Feedback and Improvement: Users can provide feedback, suggestions, and ideas for your website’s improvement.

How to Build a Community for Your Website

To implement the community approach effectively, follow these steps:

1. Choose the Right Platform: Decide on the type of community you want to create (forum, blog comments, social media), and choose a platform that suits your website and audience.

2. Clear Guidelines: Set clear guidelines for community behavior to maintain a positive and respectful environment.

3. Encourage Participation: Encourage users to join the community, engage in discussions, and share their thoughts and ideas.

4. Be Responsive: Engage with the community regularly, respond to comments, and participate in conversations.

5. Moderation: Implement moderation to ensure that discussions remain constructive and free from spam or inappropriate content.
6. Reward Engagement: Consider rewarding active community members with badges, points, or other incentives to keep them motivated.

Keep in mind, a strong community can make your website even better, build trust with users, and create a friendly and helpful space for everyone who takes part.

6. Connection

Connection refers to the various ways a website can link and interact with other websites or platforms. This includes features like backlinking, social media sharing buttons, and embedded content from other sites. 

Here’s how each aspect of connection can impact your website:

1. Backlinking: Backlinks are links on your website that take people to other websites. When you have good and helpful backlinks, it makes your website look more trustworthy and important to search engines. For instance, if you’re writing about healthy recipes, you can add a link to a trusted nutrition website to give readers more useful information.

2. Social Media Sharing Buttons: Sharing options on your website that allow users to easily share your content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. 

3. Embedded Content: This involves integrating content from other websites directly into your own, such as videos, maps, or social media posts. 

For example, if you’re running a travel blog and want to show a YouTube video of a beautiful destination, you can embed that video on your blog post. It enriches your content and provides a better user experience.

Implementation

1. Backlink process: When you create content, look for reputable and relevant sources to link to. Make sure the links add value to your content and direct users to useful information.

2. Social Media Share: Choose social media platforms that align with your target audience. Add social media sharing buttons so that visitors can easily share your content with their followers.
3. Embedded Content: Seek out content from reliable sources that complements your own. Many platforms, like YouTube or Google Maps, provide easy-to-use embedding codes that you can insert into your website’s code.

7. Communication

Communication in website design means sharing information with visitors in a clear and simple way. This includes using easy-to-understand menus and call to action buttons that encourage users to take specific actions.

The impact of effective communication on your website can be significant. Imagine you’re designing a website for a fitness center.

1. Clear and Concise Navigation Menus: When visitors come to your fitness center’s website, they should easily find what they’re looking for. Using clear and straightforward navigation menus, like “Home,” “About Us,” “fitness Classes,” “Pricing,” and “Contact,” helps users quickly understand the website’s structure. It allows them to explore different sections without feeling lost or confused.

2. Calls to Action (CTAs): Strategically placed CTAs help to get visitors to do specific things like signing up for a trial class or subscribing to a newsletter. For example, a big “Sign Up for a Free Trial” button on the homepage or a “Get Started” CTA on the classes page can prompt users to engage with your fitness center.

How to Implement Communication Approach 

1. Organize Navigation: Make the navigation menu easy to use. Use clear labels for each item so people understand what each section is about. Group similar pages together under the right headings to keep things organized.

2. Limit Options: Don’t give visitors too many options to choose from in the navigation. Keep it simple by focusing on the important pages that cover the main things your website offers.

3. Use Clear CTAs: Make buttons that attract attention. Use words that tell people to take action, like “Join Now,” “Get Started,” or “Book a Class.”

4. Place CTAs Strategically: Position CTAs where users are likely to see them, such as on the homepage, near important information, or at the end of relevant content.

5. Test and Refine: Regularly monitor user behavior on your website, gather feedback, and analyze user interactions. Use this data to make improvements and optimize your communication strategy.

In conclusion, the 7C’s of website design offer valuable steps, guideline to create a high converting website.