As a startup founder or decision maker, you know the value of a strong business strategy and the importance of making smart investments. When it comes to investing in design, many companies may be hesitant to allocate a large budget towards it, but the truth is that good user experience (UX) design can provide some of the highest returns on investment of any business expenditure.
On average, it has been found that for every $1 invested in UX design, a company can expect to bring in $100. That's a return on investment of 9,900% – one of the highest ROIs on any investment in the world (source: Forbes).
UX design refers to the way a product or service is experienced by the user. It encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with a company, its services, and its products. Good UX design helps to create positive experiences for users, which can lead to increased customer loyalty and satisfaction, as well as increased sales and revenue.
One study estimated that over $1.4 trillion was left on the table by ecommerce businesses due to poor UX design (source: Study). On the other hand, a good UX design can boost conversion rates by up to 200% (source: Forbes). In fact, according to a study by Capgemini, 8 out of 10 customers are willing to pay more for better UX (source: Capgemini). And a study by Salesforce found that 88% of customers believe that their overall experience with a company is just as important as the products and services it offers (source: Salesforce).
But the benefits of good UX design go beyond just increased sales and customer satisfaction. A study by Spiralytics found that 72% of customers will tell at least six other people about a good user experience (source: Superoffice). This means that good UX design can help to win new customers through positive word-of-mouth marketing.
Good UX design can also lead to reduced development costs and time, as well as increased employee satisfaction and lower turnover rates. It can even reduce the cost of customer support by reducing the number of support calls.
One way to measure the value of UX design to a business is by calculating the return on investment for every dollar spent. A study published by McKinsey tracked 300 companies over a period of five years and found that the companies that performed the best placed a premium on design excellence. These companies, which rated highly on the McKinsey Design Index (MDI), outperformed their competitors regardless of industry (source: https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-design/our-insights/the-business-value-of-design). This demonstrates the importance of good design in setting a company apart from its competitors, whether they are selling digital or physical products.
One example is Slack, a SaaS company that offers a popular team communication and collaboration platform. Slack's clean and intuitive design has played a key role in its success and rapid adoption by businesses around the world.
Another example is Web3 company CryptoKitties, which utilizes blockchain technology to allow users to buy, sell, and breed unique digital cats. The company's cute and engaging design has helped it to become one of the first mainstream use cases for blockchain technology, with millions of dollars in sales.
But what if your startup has already launched with poor UX design? It's not too late to make improvements. In fact, it's better to address UX issues as soon as possible, as it can be exponentially costly to fix an issue after a product has already gone to market.
In addition to the benefits of good UX design that have already been mentioned, such as increased sales, customer loyalty and satisfaction, and reduced development costs and time, there are several other ways that good UX design can help SaaS and web3 companies to succeed.
First, good UX design can help to build trust with users. When a product or service is easy to use and provides a seamless experience, it helps to establish confidence in the company and its offerings. This is especially important for SaaS and web3 companies, as users may be hesitant to trust an unfamiliar technology or new service. By providing a user-friendly and intuitive design, companies can help to alleviate any fears or doubts users may have and build trust in their brand.
Good UX design can also help to increase user engagement and user base. When users have a positive experience with a product or service, they are more likely to continue using it and recommend it to others. This can help to increase the user base and keep users engaged with the company's offerings.
In addition, good UX design can make users more likely to promote a product or service to others. As mentioned previously, a study by Spiralytics found that 72% of customers will tell at least six other people about a good user experience. This means that good UX design can lead to organic marketing and word-of-mouth promotion, which can be highly effective in helping to grow a startup's user base
Investing in a UX redesign can seem like a daunting and expensive undertaking, but the long-term benefits for your startup's success make it well worth the investment. By prioritizing the needs and wants of your users, and taking a user-centered approach to design, you can create a product or service that delivers value to your customers and sets your startup apart from the competition. Don't underestimate the power of good UX design – it could be the key to the success of your startup.