Key Web Design Industry Statistics & Trends in 2024

The Web Design Industry in 2024: Key Stats and Trends

The web design industry has seen immense growth over the past decade. As of 2023, there are over 1.8 billion websites active on the internet. With so many sites competing for attention, having a well-designed, easy to use, and fast loading website is more important than ever.

In this post, we‘ll overview 17 of the most important web design industry statistics and trends to be aware of in 2024. Understanding these key figures will help you make smart decisions for your website and stand out from the competition.

Key Web Design Statistics for 2024

• 43.2% of websites use WordPress
• 50% of consumers see website design as an essential part of a brand
• Visitors decide if they like a site in just 0.05 seconds
• 38.5% of visitors will leave a site with poor design
• 58.99% of internet traffic comes from mobile devices
• 32% of businesses have a mobile app
• 46% of people prefer blue color schemes on websites
• The main image on a site gets viewed for 5.94 seconds on average
• 70% of small businesses lack CTAs on their websites
• Good UI can increase conversion rates by 200%
• 66% of all businesses have an online presence
• Slow sites cause up to $2.6 billion in lost revenue every year
• 88% of customers won‘t return after one bad experience
• 54% of visitors want personalized website experiences
• 88% spend more time on pages with video
• In 2024, over 205,000 web designers work in the US
• 24% of businesses without sites don‘t know how to build one

1. 43.2% Of Websites Use WordPress

WordPress completely dominates the content management system (CMS) landscape. As of 2023, WordPress powers over 43% of all websites, both large and small. No other CMS even comes close in terms of market share or features.

The reasons behind WordPress‘ popularity are easy to understand. The platform is 100% free to use, open source, continually updated, offers thousands of themes/plugins, and has outstanding documentation/support. For both beginners and experts alike, WordPress makes creating professional websites simple.

Given WordPress‘ dominant market share, using it as the foundation of your site sets you up for long term compatibility and support. You‘ll also benefit from new features as soon as they are added to the core software.

2. 50% See Website Design As Part of A Brand

Consumers don‘t just judge brands by their products anymore. Your website‘s design, content, images and overall user experience all factor into branding as well.

In fact, studies show 50% of consumers see website design and content as an essential part of what makes up a brand. 61% also form positive opinions of companies with mobile-friendly sites.

When done properly, web design acts an extension of your physical business. It conveys professionalism, attention to detail and dedication to customers. Great design ultimately builds trust and loyalty.

3. Visitors Decide If They Like A Site in 0.05 Seconds

Humans are exceptionally good at making snap judgements. When first landing on a webpage, visitors will decide if they like the design in just 0.05 seconds on average. That‘s 50 milliseconds to make a strong first impression!

While 0.05 seconds isn‘t enough time read any text or fully understand content, it is enough to get the gist of color schemes, layouts, imagery and ease of navigation. If the initial aesthetics please the user, they are far more likely explore further.

Crafting designs that instantly appeal visitors takes skill. Balancing visual intrigue and simplicity is key. You want interesting sites that don‘t overwhelm.

4. 38.5% Will Leave Sites With Poor Design

On the flip side, poorly designed websites actively repel visitors. If a site looks low quality, dated or is outright broken on certain devices, most people won‘t stick around.

Per a recent survey of designers, 38.5% state disappointment with visual design itself is enough to make visitors leave websites for competitors. Difficult navigation, clunky layouts and excessive ads also ranked highly as turn offs.

Maintaining clean, responsive and uniform web design across devices prevents loses. Testing for weak points and getting input from objective third parties helps uncover issues.

5. 58.99% Of Traffic Comes From Mobile

As of 2023, mobile devices account for 58.99% percent of global internet traffic. Phones and tablets have surpassed desktop usage, making mobile-first design mandatory.

Optimizing for mobile isn‘t just about making sites look nice on small screens either. Page speeds also need to be lightning fast, tap targets spaced properly and forms simple to fill out.

Utilizing AMP and streamlined web development frameworks like Bootstrap helps you check all the mobile-friendly boxes. Failing to adapt leads loses.

6. 32% Of Businesses Have A Mobile App

Beyond mobile-friendly websites, 32% of small businesses also have custom mobile apps. An additional 42% plan to release apps soon.

Apps offer benefits like push notifications, offline use and location tracking. For users, they provide quicker access and often feel more responsive than mobile sites.

That said, a stunning 26% of businesses have no plans for mobile apps at all. They feel current mobile sites suffice. This thinking seems shortsighted given 57% of users say they wouldn‘t recommend brands without apps though.

7. 46% Of People Prefer Blue Color Schemes

Picking the right colors is critical for web design. Straying too far from user expectations with odd palettes hurts conversions. But sticking to just black and white looks boring.

When it comes to balancing professionalism with originality, the overall best background color is blue. A full 46% of users say blue color schemes appeal most to them. It evokes feelings of trust and security.

Other popular accent colors pair nicely with blue as well. Gray, white, black and additional cooler tones tend to look clean and modern. Avoid overloading pages with rainbow brights. Stick to two or three total colors.

8. Main Images Viewed For 5.94 Seconds

On average, visitors spend 5.94 seconds looking at the main hero image on a webpage. That‘s ample time to pique interest and convey core brand messaging through pictures alone.

Images communicate ideas much quicker than text given our brains process visual data 60,000 times faster. Websites that fail to take advantage of this fact miss out on valuable interaction time during those vital first seconds.

Crafting compelling, emotive photographs forces you to distill what makes your brand and offerings unique. Finding your visual voice strengthens branding across the board too.

9. 70% Of Sites Lack CTAs

Every page on your website should contain multiple clear calls to action (CTAs). These buttons and links explicitly tell visitors what you want them to do next.

Without CTAs, people feel unsure how to engage. Even if they love your content or products, failing to guide them hinders conversions.

Shockingly though, studies show 70% of small business websites have no CTAs at all! That leaves money on the table.

Buttons like "Buy Now" or "Contact For Quote" speak volumes. CTAs remove doubt and anxiety. They turn interested visitors into leads and customers with a single click.

10. Good UI Increases Conversions By 200%

Web design encompasses both aesthetics and function. Making sites visually stunning yet difficult to navigate hurts overall usability.

Many forget the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) elements of web design influence conversions too. These factors determine how easily customers can find information and complete desired actions like purchases.

Studies show well planned UI/UX can increase conversion rates by 200% or more. Simultaneously, positive user experiences create 400% higher conversion gains.

Good UI/UX also provides outstanding return on investment. For every $1 spent, companies see about $100 back thanks to higher customer lifetime values.

11. 66% Of Businesses Are Online

The importance of establishing an online presence continues to increase yearly. As of 2023, a solid 66% majority of businesses now have websites. More niche brands see even higher percentages thanks to greater reliance on digital transactions among their clientele.

Still, a surprising 34% of businesses remain offline entirely. A few niche companies can still survive this way by catering to loyal local crowds. But for most, failing to get online squanders growth opportunities.

12. Slow Sites Cost $2.6 Billion In Lost Revenue

Page load times remain one of the strongest indicators of web success. Research shows 75% of users expect pages to load in under 2 seconds. Beyond that threshold, people start abandoning sites.

53% will leave entirely if forced to wait over 3 seconds. That adds up to huge losses over time. According to Forbes, slow loading web pages cost companies over $2 billion annually!

Trimming page weight through compression, CDNs and efficient coding all help speed things up. Optimized sites also boost SEO rankings which magnifies revenues further.

13. 88% Won‘t Return After One Bad Experience

In the rare case poorly designed websites do manage to convert sales, lackluster user experiences often limit repeat business.

Studies show a staggering 88% of customers won‘t return to websites after just one negative experience. It might be slow load times, confusing menus or pixelated images on certain devices.

Whatever the case, customers have high expectations and short patience. Delivering seamless user experiences across sites and apps prevents churn.

14. 54% Want Personalized Website Experiences

Generic, one-size-fits-all websites no longer cut it. Increasingly, visitors want tailored experiences that reflect past browsing habits and purchase data.

Per a 2022 survey, over half of respondents said they prefer personalized encounters on the web. Recommendations for new items based on past buys helps them discover relevant products faster.

The good news is personalized on-site experiences provide solid returns. 73% of shoppers say personalized engagement makes them more likely to buy. Conversion rates also see around a 20% bump on average if supported properly.

15. 88% Will Stay Longer on Pages With Video

Text and images do the heavy lifting for most websites, but video content helps bolster engagement. Visitors spend 88% more time on pages with video compared to just copy.

Short videos bring products and services to life in ways static media struggles with. Demonstrations build trust and anticipation while testimonials establish credibility.

With TikTok driving video consumption, creative visual content is expected more. Adding just a few quality clips keeps people watching and interacting longer.

16. In 2024 Over 205,000 Web Designers Are In the US

Demand for skilled web designers continues rising across the globe. As more businesses adopt an online presence, the need for web developers grows in parallel.

In the US alone, official stats report over 205,000 people currently work full time as web designers. That number should expand by 8% over the next decade as well.

With over $77,000 in median pay according to recent salary surveys, opportunities in the web design sector remain plentiful and lucrative. Specializing in areas like UI/UX and mobile site creation give new designers an advantage.

17. 24% Don‘t Have Sites Because They Don‘t Know How to Build

Despite the importance of establishing online stores and sites, 24% of offline brands don‘t make the leap due to lack of technical skill. Building modern, responsive sites requires learning dozens of languages and frameworks.

Thankfully, solutions like WordPress and Wix make getting online easier than ever before. What once took custom code and infrastructure to launch now happens with little more than the click of a button.

For many brands, partnering with agencies also proves more affordable than hiring full-time, in-house development teams. With over 200,000 web pros to choose from in the US alone, finding qualified help simply takes some searching.

The Web Isn‘t Going Anywhere: Take Advantage Now

If recent pandemic lockdowns and supply chain snarls taught businesses anything, maintaining reliable digital infrastructure enables resilience when traditional channels falter.

For the vast majority of companies, establishing well-designed online destinations boosts reach exponentially while cutting costs dramatically. Billions of eyeballs congregate online daily. Capturing even minute fractions of that attention opens new doors.

Conversely, failing to adapt online squanders opportunities and leaves money on the table. successful brands differentiate themselves on the web instead. They carefully track stats and trends to perfect digital craft.

Of course, keeping pace with the breakneck speed of technological change feels overwhelming at times. But turning data into actionable strategy helps websites convert and companies thrive. Use the above web design statistics for 2024 to make smarter decisions this coming year!