Your website is arguably the cheapest piece of real estate for your business, but it packs a serious punch when it comes to ROI. Unlike a physical storefront, your website can be as expansive, creative, and unique to you as you want it to be. No city regulators or HOA telling you, 'Change that color; this is a historic district,' or 'Your footer is too long!'

All silliness aside - Your website can be as funky, fresh, and interactive as you want. It’s your opportunity to create an experience that attracts and engages your audience. I personally spent too many years with a basic site that didn’t really stand out. When I invested time and energy into building it into something unique to my brand, I started seeing growth.

Want to make your brand stand out? Here are some creative additions you can incorporate to make your site POP:

Interactive Maps

If you’ve got multiple locations or service areas, interactive maps can allow your users to explore and find the nearest location or see where your services are available. You can dress them up with photos and pop ups, you can have them lead to different links or sections on your site for more info, and you can style them to fit your branding.

Embedded Videos

The internet LOVES video content. Showcase customer testimonials, product demonstrations, or behind-the-scenes looks at your business. Videos can help build a connection with your audience and increase the time they spend on your site.

Dynamic Content

If you feel like getting freaky, create a personalized experience for your visitors with dynamic content that changes based on user behavior or preferences. Think customized recommendations, tailored offers, or even region-specific welcomes.

Online Bookings

It’s all about the CTA, that is Call-To-Action. If you’re offering a service, make it easy for your clients to book appointments or services directly from your site. An integrated booking system can streamline your operations, provide convenience to your customers, and drum up more business for you!

Quizzes or Interactive Tools

Embed custom online tools to help your audience better understand your offerings (or) you better understand their needs! Engage your visitors with fun and informative quizzes, calculators, or interactive tools that add value and keep them coming back.

Virtual Tours or 3D Showcases

Now we’re getting fancy. These are ideal for real estate, event venues, or retail, a virtual tour can allow potential clients to explore your space from the comfort of their own home.

Live Chat

Incorporate a live chat feature to provide instant support and build customer trust. Answer questions in real time and improve your overall customer service experience. If you’re a one person show, they have AI chat support that you can customize to guide customers through common needs… could be something to explore!

Let’s Get Weird.

Remember, you can make your website as unique to your brand as you want… but you should always keep your customers needs, your brand foundation, and user experience in mind.

That being said, let’s dive into some funkier additions that can make a site POP:

Custom Illustrations or Animations

Incorporate unique illustrations or animations that align with your brand personality. They can be used as visual storytelling tools or to guide your users through your site on a fun and engaging journey.

Parallax Flow and Scroll Triggers

Add parallax flow and scroll triggers to create an engaging, layered browsing experience, guiding users through your website with dynamic, interactive visuals that move as they scroll.

Gamification Elements

Add fun, game-like features such as quizzes, badges, or points that users can collect by engaging with your content. This can keep your users interacting and coming back for more.

Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences

For product-based brands, allow users to visualize how your products will look in their environment (like furniture in their living room) through AR features.

Custom Cursor Effects

Replace the standard cursor with something unique to your brand, or create hover effects that make the browsing experience more engaging.

Interactive Product Demos

Instead of static images, use interactive 3D models or videos where users can explore your product’s features in detail.

Progress Bars or Loaders with Fun Facts

Make waiting for a page to load more enjoyable by displaying fun facts, tips, or animations that reflect your brand's tone.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Surprises

Create fun, hidden elements that users can discover as they navigate through your site, making it more interactive and memorable.

Evolve and Adapt Over Time

Another fun thing about this type of real estate - your website is not a static entity. It is meant to grow and evolve alongside your business. Regular updates not only improve your SEO but also keep your audience engaged with fresh content and features. Make sure you revisit your website frequently and consider what new elements and functions can enhance your brand presence.

& If you made it all the way down here and think, ‘man, that all sounds cool but I just don’t have the time’… Here are three things you could do today to help your website be more YOU -

1. Change your button text from the standard “Learn More” and “Contact Us” to something more unique to your brand personality

2. Start a blog and schedule out time to share your unique expertise and insights with your audience

3. Rewrite your About Page to be less of what’s expected and more aligned with your unique personality, purpose, and experience.

Cheers friend,

Katie Mont