The casino industry is known for being ruthlessly competitive. Casino owners keep trying new ways to attract visitors and turn them into regular players. If you are a Las Vegas-based casino, you probably know this already. Designer 1 Media states that behind every big brand lies great web design.
That’s no surprise.
According to statistics, 76% of people look at an establishment’s online profile before they decide to visit and engage with it in real life. It has been proven time and time again that visually appealing websites can boost brand image and, ultimately, increase conversions.
In this article, we will explore three essential website design elements that Las Vegas casinos should pay careful attention to. This information will come in handy when you are either hiring website designers in Las Vegas or designing a website by yourself.
1. Use Captivating Visuals
For a casino website, captivating visuals and imagery are paramount. Your website’s design should reflect the excitement, glamour, and luxury associated with the classic Las Vegas experience. Here are some ideas.
Use High-Quality Images
Hire good photographers and use high-resolution images that showcase your casino’s ambiance and other attractions. For instance, look at the website of the famous Bellagio casino. You will notice that they feature visuals of its iconic fountains and elegant interiors.
The images on your website are often the first things visitors notice when they land on your site. Visually appealing images that are well-composed tend to create an immediate positive impression. They are impactful and go a long way in conveying your casino’s style and standards.
Incorporate Virtual Tours Into Your Website
Virtual tours allow potential visitors to explore your casino and its amenities from home. They allow you to demonstrate why your casino is worth visiting over other Las Vegas casinos.
Having your visitors be able to virtually walk around your gaming floor is a fantastic hook. Your visitors would be eager to see what it would feel like to actually visit your casino in real life after experiencing it virtually.
While many casinos provide basic information and static images, offering an immersive experience gives you a competitive edge. Remember, the longer visitors stay on your website, the more opportunities you have to showcase your offerings and convert them into actual patrons.
2. Deliver an Intuitive User Experience (UX)
A seamless and intuitive user experience is vital for keeping visitors engaged. It also helps encourage them to learn more about your casino. With that in mind, here are some UX factors to remember:
Make Navigation Easy
Navigating through your website has to be a breeze. Ultimately, players want to enjoy themselves. A confusing layout or, worse, broken links are terrible for your website. You want to ensure that visitors can quickly and intuitively find the information they are looking for.
This can be achieved in several ways. A well-organized navigation menu with a clear hierarchy and structure is a good start. You also don’t want them to be clicking multiple times through various pages. Instead, try to have all important information reachable within a maximum of two or three clicks from your homepage.
If there is extra information you need to share, use clever techniques such as expandable sections or drop-down menus. Once you feel satisfied, test the navigation experience on different devices and browsers. This is imperative as 92.3% of people access the internet with their phones.
Simplicity is Key
People tend to have a flawed perception that the more complex something is, the better. This cannot be more untrue when it comes to website design. Our previous point covered easy navigation, which can be considered a form of simplicity. However, it goes far beyond that.
You want to remove all clutter and bloat from your website. Pay attention to your metrics. If you notice that a certain page or section barely gets any views, it is likely that the information on it isn’t a priority for your visitors.
You’ll be surprised at how little information you actually need to run a good website. In the old days of the internet, before fancy animations and embedded multimedia were a thing, simple websites were king. The fewer elements on your site, the less likely you need to deal with errors and issues. It also makes updating and modifying web pages much easier.
3. Include Effective Calls-To-Action (CTA)
CTA placement is one of the most critical aspects of website design, particularly so in the context of casinos. It urges the reader to make the conscious decision to play at your casino. Here’s how you can achieve that:
Pay Close Attention to the Language Used
Essentially, you want to find a balance between being enticing and persuasive. You want your language to match the sense of adventure that your visitors have. Think about what your visitors are truly looking for, and turn it around on them with compelling language.
For instance, CTAs like “Join our community” emphasizes the idea of being part of a community or like-minded group where players can meet new people. It subtly indicates that you gain more than just the advertised service of gambling.
Similarly, a CTA like “Get started in minutes” implies that someone deciding to play at your casino will have a simple, easy, and stress-free experience.
Casinos tend to take differing approaches to achieve the same results. Some go with the tried and tested ‘warm and friendly’ tone. Others focus on creating a sense of urgency, highlighting limited offers and the need for immediate action.
Regardless of the approach you take, try to keep things dignified. People are very good at sensing desperation and will walk away quickly if they feel your casino is begging them to visit. You want to establish that it is a privilege for them to visit your casino.
Make CTAs Elements Visually Prominent
Another handy tip to keep in mind is to use ‘clicky’ buttons that urge users to take specific actions. For instance, buttons for “Book Now,” “Join Now,” or “Claim Offer” cannot be underestimated.
Sure, they may look overused on websites, but there’s a reason they are still used. Place these buttons on relevant pages, such as gaming sections, event pages, and accommodation sections. You’ll be surprised at how effective they can be!
Conclusion
For casino owners in Las Vegas, a well-designed website is an essential tool. It showcases the allure and excitement of the Las Vegas experience and invites players from all parts of the world to visit you.
Once you have things up and running, the cost of good website design pays for itself several times over. Your website is one area that you don’t want to cheap out on. Even if the cost may seem a bit much, remember that it acts as the public face of your establishment and warrants extra attention.