If you are having a website designed in the near future, you will want it to look current and up to date. Even if you are hoping for a timeless feel to your site you likely do not want it looking outdated or stale right from the start. Here are a few trends that you are likely to see in many of the websites designed in 2011. Only you and your design and development company will be able to tell which trends are right for you.

Websites that look like Apps

With the popularity of iPods, iPhones, iPads and other similar devices, is it any wonder that many companies are looking for websites that look like applications? This not only affects how they function, it will also influence their appearance as well. You may want to make sure that your website can be used with a touch screen device. Your site should, ideally, be ready for use on a mobile device. Live streaming functionality is also likely to be an important addition to websites in 2011. Some websites may also include games or other entertainment aspects in order to keep prospective customers there long enough to make an impression

Simple color and text schemes

Websites are now using simplistic, punchy text and color schemes. They have a lot of visual appeal and are designed to grab a user’s attention as quickly as possible. As an increasing number of websites go live, you will be dealing with an audience that may be torn in several directions at once. Good web development practices will result in a site that gets your attention and holds it right from the beginning.

Use of CSS3 and HTML5

These two languages will be used increasingly frequently in order to design websites. In the past, flash was more popular for website development but this is slowly changing. This may be due, in part to the popularity of Mac devices which do not support Flash sites. It is also good news for designers as HTML5 and CSS3 are moving towards more human languages than what was being used in the past.

Incorporation of Social Networking Technology

In the past, it was rare to see a website that included social networking input such as Twitter or Facebook. Now, a larger number of sites are beginning to gather the different aspects of online promotion together into one central site. You may see sites with Twitter or SMS feeds, others that incorporate live streaming, and others that are connected to a company’s Facebook page or blog. All of these are becoming more common methods for a company to promote itself so it is no wonder that they are beginning to appear on regular websites as well.

Merging of Web Design and Web Development

In the past, website designers often worked separately from website developers. The visual aspects of the site were established and then the project was turned over to the developers for coding. This has changed. Now both positions are working more closely together in order to develop sites that have strong design capabilities in a much shorter period of time.