Page 24 - Michigan Credit Union League: 2018 Contact Q3

DESIGNING A WEBSITE FOR
MAXIMUM IMPACT
By Diane Knudson
Website development is a continuous process. Many
organizations, financial institutions included, are warming beyond that could impact how credit unions utilize their
to the idea that instead of redesigning their websites
once every few years, the development process is one
that is ongoing and continues to improve based on best
practices. As new trends, methods and technologies crop
up, it’s only natural for organizations to want the best
for their website or mobile app — which for most is the
primary point of interaction with their customers online.
Recent concerns with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) means credit unions are now scrutinizing
their websites to determine how they can maintain an
infrastructure where new content and strategies are intro-
duced on a continual basis. As websites are redesigned
to be more accessible, credit unions are also asking
themselves how they can create a more personalized
environment that does not get in the way of usability.
24 THIRD QUARTER 2018 I CONTACT
A number of trends are on the horizon for 2018 and
websites. Here are a few:
Mobile-first design: In March 2018, Google announced
that it has started moving to a mobile-first index, which
will change how websites rank on the search engine. Previ-
ously, rankings were based primarily on desktop versions
of a website, but the mobile-first index aims to change
this by ranking websites according to their mobile versions.
This means that organizations that have poorly optimized
mobile websites will be penalized by having the rankings
for both their mobile and desktop sites reduced.
Optimizing for voice: Voice is on the rise. Like video and
mobile, voice search is trending up with the additions
of digital hubs and virtual assistants, such as Alexa,
Echo and Google Home. There are about 1 billion voice