Benefits:

1. User Engagement: A well-designed website captures users' attention and keeps them engaged. It encourages visitors to explore your content and spend more time on your site.
2. Increased Conversions: Effective website design can lead to higher conversion rates, whether your goal is to sell products, generate leads, or get users to take a specific action.
3. Brand Identity: A great design reinforces your brand identity, making it memorable and recognizable to your audience.
4. Improved SEO: Search engines often reward websites with good design and user experience. Properly structured content, fast loading times, and mobile responsiveness all contribute to better search engine rankings.
5. Better User Experience: A user-friendly design ensures that visitors can easily navigate your site, find information, and accomplish tasks without frustration. This leads to more satisfied users.
6. Mobile Responsiveness: With the increasing use of mobile devices, a responsive design is crucial. It ensures that your site looks and functions well on various screen sizes, improving accessibility and reach.
7. Faster Loading Times: A fast-loading website is critical for retaining users. Slow websites can drive visitors away, impacting bounce rates and conversion rates.
8. Competitive Advantage: A well-designed website can set you apart from competitors and establish you as a leader in your industry.

Characteristics:

1. Clear Navigation: The navigation menu should be easy to find, intuitive, and logically organized, making it simple for users to find what they're looking for.
2. Consistency: Consistent design elements, such as colors, fonts, and layouts, create a cohesive and professional look across the site.
3. Readable Typography: Use readable fonts and appropriate font sizes to ensure that content is easy to read on all devices.
4. High-Quality Visuals: Incorporate high-quality images, videos, and graphics that enhance your content and engage users.
5. Whitespace: Proper use of whitespace (empty space) helps with content readability and creates a clean, uncluttered appearance.
6. Mobile-Friendly Design: Ensure that your site is responsive, adapting to different screen sizes and orientations.
7. Fast Loading: Optimize images and code to minimize loading times, providing a smooth user experience.
8. Accessibility: Make your website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, by following accessibility standards and guidelines.
9. Call-to-Action (CTA) Buttons: Clearly define CTA buttons that guide users towards desired actions, such as "Buy Now," "Sign Up," or "Contact Us."
10. Security: Implement security measures to protect user data and build trust with your audience.
11. Content Quality: High-quality, relevant content is crucial for providing value to users and boosting SEO.
12. Feedback Mechanisms: Include forms, surveys, or contact information for users to provide feedback, ask questions, or report issues.
13. Social Integration: Make it easy for users to share your content on social media and connect with your brand.
14. Analytics and Testing: Regularly analyze user behavior and conduct A/B testing to identify areas for improvement and optimization.
15. Loading Speed: Ensure that your website loads quickly to prevent user frustration and improve search engine rankings.

Remember that great website design should align with your specific goals and target audience, and it should be adaptable to changing trends and technologies to remain effective over time.

Interested in DIY? Check out this beginner’s design guide for steps and considerations required to build and maintain your site.