While having an impressive website design can enhance a business's user experience and credibility, it is not always a crucial factor in achieving success. Many companies have thrived with below-average website designs, such as Craigslist, Reddit, and The Pirate Bay. The reason behind their success is not their website design, but rather their ability to provide unique and valuable services that attract and retain visitors.
For instance, Craigslist has a simple and outdated website design, yet it remains one of the most popular online marketplaces in the world. This is because the website offers a valuable service of connecting buyers and sellers for free. Similarly, Reddit, with its basic design, continues to attract millions of visitors due to its user-generated content, niche communities, and discussions.
Another example is The Pirate Bay, which has a functional design but is not visually appealing. Despite this, the website continues to draw millions of users looking to download torrents. The reason for this is a unique service that The Pirate Bay offers, which is access to a vast range of digital content that is not available through traditional channels.
Let’s Take a look at certain big businesses with a website that could be improved but are still making billions:
Berkshire Hathaway
Revenue: $302 billion
Goldman Sachs
Revenue: $59 B
A website that is very basic and does not offer a lot of information or resources for visitors. However, the company has a revenue of $59 billion, driven by its expertise in investment banking, asset management, and securities trading.
Oracle
Revenue: $48 B
The website is complex and difficult to navigate, with a lot of information crammed onto each page. Nevertheless, the company has a revenue of $48 billion, thanks to its suite of software products and services that cater to businesses of all sizes.
Coca-Cola
Revenue: $43 B
The website is visually appealing, but it does not offer a lot of functionality or resources for visitors. However, the company still manages to generate a revenue of $43 billion, thanks to its strong brand recognition and global distribution network.
McDonald's
Revenue: $23 B
The website is simple and straightforward, but it could benefit from more user-friendly features and better organization. Despite this, the company has a revenue of $23 billion, thanks to its well-known fast food offerings and widespread international presence.
Lesson
The lesson to be learned from the success of companies with below-average website designs is that product/market fit is the key driver of business success. A company that offers a unique and valuable product or service can thrive even if its website design is subpar. These successful companies have built their business models around meeting the needs of their customers and providing a valuable service that cannot be easily replicated by competitors.
Conversely, even the most visually stunning and user-friendly website design cannot rescue a company with a flawed core business. A great UI/UX can certainly enhance the user experience, but it cannot compensate for a lack of product/market fit. In fact, a focus on superficial aesthetics and design can distract from the fundamental needs of customers, leading to missed opportunities and ultimately, business failure.
