The online world is ever-changing and if you want to stay on top and ahead of the curve, it’s important to adapt. With this in mind, we take a closer look at what is new in web development for dental websites and how adopting these latest trends can help. So, let’s get started…
Progressive web applications (PWA’s)
One of the biggest web development trends is something known as progressive web applications – or PWA’s for short. In essence, PWA’s make the whole website browsing experience closer to that of browsing a mobile application. They provide functionality for a desktop browser that is similar or close to the experience of browsing on a mobile device using applications such as push notifications, hardware access and offline accessibility.
So why is this important?
Research dictates that mobile devices dominate website viewing over desktops or tablets and there is a serious gap between mobile apps and desktop browsers. In fact, 80% of visitors to a new dental website do so via their mobile devices.
Progressive web applications allow web developers to bridge the gap by utilising many of the web technologies that we know and love such as HTML, JavaScript and CSS to build app-like programs that come with the feel and functionality of an actual native app. The result is the creation of an app-like user experience on a dental website. PWA’s evolve from pages in browser tabs to immersive apps to provide a unique first-class experience for the user where speed and reliability are key.
Accelerated Mobile Pages
Talking of speed, another key web development trend moving forwards is something known as Accelerated Mobile Pages or (AMP’s). I’m sure you know yourself how frustrating it is to land on a dental website or any website for that matter, only for the pages to take an age to load. Inevitably, it’s highly likely that after just a few seconds of waiting, you click off. To any business that could be a lost sale or potential new patient.
AMP’s are created to encourage websites to build pages that load almost instantly and work smoothly to give you a mobile device experience across all browsing devices. AMP’s give the web developer the ability to create fully loaded pages in around 2 seconds as opposed to 22 seconds for non-AMP-style pages.
What does this inevitably mean for business owners?
Google rewards websites that load fast and as a result, when AMP’s are incorporated into website development, they contribute towards a higher position in the search engine rankings. So this technology not only enhances the user experience (UX) but it’s also great for Search Engine Optimisation (SEO).
So, What Else Is New In Web Development?
Voice Search Optimisation
The next web development trend we’re going to cover and one that is set to be huge is Voice Search Optimisation (VSO)…
With the global rise in smart speakers, more and more people are now using voice commands to carry out an online search. In fact, back in 2017 Gartner – a leading research and advisory company – predicted that by 2021 30% of all website browsing activity would be done without a screen and this figure shows no sign of slowing down with roughly 1 in 6 homes now owning a smart speaker in Australia alone.
For these reasons, the latest web speech Application Programme Interface (API) technology allows developers to incorporate voice data into web-based applications making voice-only browsing a reality.
So how might this work for a dental clinic or medical practice?
A dental website or medical practice with VSO capability allows a potential patient to find information quickly and easily using simple voice commands while giving them the opportunity to book a consultation or appointment online. As far as web development trends go, this one is very exciting.
AI-Powered Chatbots
Web development trends in recent years have indeed shifted towards instant automated client support. Chatbots powered by AI machine learning is one of the web development trends that are way more than just a ‘flash in the pan’. AI is developing at an outstanding rate and even in these relatively early times, Chatbots can answer frequently asked questions, connect you with a human assistant or take an appointment booking or consultation.
Ultimately for dentists, when you incorporate AI technology into your website development, less of your team’s time is spent dealing with customer queries or questions and more time is spent focusing on your patients.
Responsive Websites
Okay, so this isn’t so much about ‘what is new in web development’ but rather, ‘what is necessary’.
You see, while having a responsive website was seen as a ‘nice to have’ feature just a few years back, it’s now deemed an absolute necessity. According to Statista, for example, during the first quarter of 2021, more than half the billions of worldwide website views – some 54.8% came from mobile devices. Moreover, this figure is only likely to increase. So if you haven’t yet got yourself a responsive website, you really should be talking to your website development team about how they can make it happen.
Push Notifications
One of the web development trends that has been around for several years but is growing in nature is push notifications. They are an increasingly powerful tool for enhancing the user experience and can assist in the marketing efforts of a busy medical/dental practice.
They can be used to deliver information to an end-user – say the latest blog post – without the need for a visitor to sign up and give away their credentials like email addresses. This, in turn, builds an element of trust with the visitor while creating additional channels for dental and medical practices to personally interact with their target audience.
What Is New In Website Development? A Recap
As you can see, there are several web development trends, some that you’ll already be familiar with and some you won’t. So if you are planning a website overhaul or are looking to incorporate modern web development trends into a new website then the above trends are well-worth considering if you want to stand out from the competition.
Here at Mediboost, we’re a dental and medical focused marketing agency and like to keep our finger firmly on the pulse when it comes to the latest trends and technologies. We use these and our vast experience to develop quality websites that are fully optimised towards increasing patient leads.
Want to find out more about the latest web development trends and how they can be incorporated into your business?
Book a free consultation today. Call us now on 1300 163 058
