By As we enter 2018, we should all take a moment to reflect on the technological leaps we've made in the brief decades we've had the Internet.
The first websites you likely navigated to were functional, but admittedly a little crude. These days, web design is truly an art form. And if your business utilizes an online presence, you might benefit from studying the newest trends in that art form.
That's our goal today. Let's take a sneak peek into some of the biggest web design trends we'll see in 2018!
eCommerce Everywhere
You know the big companies that have massive online blowout sales on days like Cyber Monday. But did you ever think that your company could get in on the eCommerce trend?
2018 is the year for the big eCommerce boom. Small businesses everywhere have begun implementing online sales to attract more customers than they ever could with simple brick and mortar operations. To take advantage of the sales potential of your website, it's time you considered overhauling your website and making it your online store.
Video, Video, Video
The past few years have been dominated by video in web design, and it's not going anywhere in 2018. In fact, with Internet speeds and hardware developing faster and faster, videos will load more quickly and look better than ever before.
However, not just any video somewhat relevant to your business will be useful for increasing views and converting leads. You need quality video from a professional company that employs a range of techniques like drone photography to really stand out in your industry.
Creativity in Layout Design
The majority of small business website design looks pretty similar. But the cookie-cutter template layout design of the past is definitely done for in 2018.
This year is all about out of the box design -- moving away from the boring norms of traditional print design. This means asymmetrical layouts, lots of text, video, and images occupying the same space, experimentation with bold color schemes, and more.
Web design companies like GroupM7 take a firm stance against template design. Our layouts are always built from the ground up, just like your business.
Subtlety in Animation
When a designer tells you to consider animation in your website design, you might think: I don't know any animators. That sounds expensive!
While you can absolutely fill your website with brilliant, expensive, mind-blowing animation, that's not really necessary. By incorporating simplistic, subtle animations -- slight movement tricks, buttons that come to life, playing around with the laws of physics in your design elements, clever hover states and cinemagraphs -- you can seriously impress your website visitors in 2018.
Mobile First
Before 2018, mobile browsing had already grown considerably far past the numbers for desktop browsing. But now as we enter the New Year, businesses should tailor their web design specifically to mobile devices.
Responsive design has greatly matured over the years for certain. At first, you may have had to abandon aspects of your desktop design to allow your mobile site to respond correctly, but not anymore. Now, interface issues are much simpler to deal with and your website can appear beautifully complete across all devices.
Conclusion
It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to say the biggest trend of 2018 may be websites undergoing full redesigns. By the end of the year, most of the major online brands will very likely have radical new looks.
So don't let your business fall behind. You know it's time you caught up with the online trends of the future, so contact GroupM7 today. We can't wait to walk you through all your options for a brand new website built to impress in 2018.
Aaron Dunn
Aaron is a writer by trade with several years of professional experience under his belt. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Before joining the Group, he worked as a freelancer and tech reviewer in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Aaron currently lives in Pittsburg, TX. 
