Improve your wellness website: Proven UX tips to increase retention and build trust

Create guided user journeys for peaceful exploration

Avoid overwhelming visitors with too many options; instead, guide them with clear, reassuring pathways. A thoughtful home page journey can guide users to what they need, offering suggestions based on common wellness goals.

Tip: Use journey options such as 'Find relaxation', 'Improve physical health' or 'Discover our history'. Interactive features can encourage exploration without stress.

Resource: Learn more about guided user journeys here.

Example: A mental health website might use a gentle 'Explore Our Services' pathway on the homepage, guiding users through options such as 'Mindfulness Resources' or 'Therapist Directory'.

Add micro-experiences for instant calm

Small 'micro-experiences' provide grounding moments that connect users to your brand. Features such as breathing exercises, short meditations or an optional soothing soundscape can be perfect additions to a wellness-focused website.

Tip: Try adding a simple breathing pattern or wave sounds in the background to bring your site to life.

Resource: Explore micro-interactions in UX here.

Tools to use: Consider apps such as Soundraw for customisable soundscapes or Calm Widget for breathing exercises that you can embed on your website.

Show your "wellness impact" to build trust

Wellness consumers value brands that are committed to community and sustainability. A Wellness Impact section can showcase how your brand is making a positive difference.

Tip: Include real stories, quotes or photos to humanise this section.

Resource: Find out more about building trust through storytelling here.

Template idea: Add a simple three-part structure: 1) Our mission, 2) How we're making a difference and 3) Testimonials to share real impact stories with your visitors.

Create "Wellness Journeys" for customer testimonials

Traditional testimonials are great, but Wellness Journeys showcase customers' progress and results with your brand, adding credibility and helping new customers visualise potential benefits.

Tip: Structure each story with a beginning, a challenge and an ending.

Example: Show how a client's yoga journey evolved with regular classes, perhaps ending with quotes or visuals to illustrate the transformation.

Add in-the-moment support

Provide a "Wellness Support" button with quick, calming resources such as guided meditations or contact details to make customers feel supported and valued.

Tip: Try a "Need a break" button at the top of every page for instant relaxation.

Resource: Read more about real-time support in UX here.

Example of real-time support: A "Relax Now" button that opens a mini-meditation guide, providing instant relief to stressed users browsing your site.

Build a Mobile-Centered Resource Library

Many wellness clients browse on mobile, so design your resource library for ease across devices. Include mobile-friendly articles, audio guides, and videos organized by topics like “Mindfulness” or “Physical Health.”

Tip: Add a “Download and Take with You” option so users can save helpful content.

Resource: Find out more about mobile-centered design here.

Mobile optimisation tools: Use Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to check how well your library performs on mobile devices, and consider adding bookmarking or save for later features.

Integrate progress feedback for a sense of "wellness journey"

Little touches like a "progress circle" or tracking bar show users their progress through an article or exercise, encouraging engagement.

Tip: A progress bar at the bottom of guides or interactive features increases engagement.

Resource: Find out more about progress feedback in UX here.

Example: For a wellness programme, showing progress - such as "Day 3 of 7 in your meditation challenge" - can give users a sense of achievement and motivation to continue.

Use adaptive forms for personalised recommendations

Adaptive forms give users instant, personalised feedback. A "wellness quiz" that suggests services based on user goals can create a more personalised experience.

Tip: Design a quick quiz to recommend specific resources based on answers.

Tool to use: Try Typeform to create an adaptive, visually appealing wellness quiz that can direct users to services tailored to their needs.

Avoid overwhelming users with pop-ups

Wellness customers value a quiet browsing experience, so avoid excessive pop-ups that can interrupt their journey. Consider subtle, non-intrusive prompts only when necessary.

Tip: Replace pop-ups with subtle banners or embedded calls to action.

Resource: Find out more about best practices for non-intrusive UX here.

For example: Instead of a pop-up new form, use a footer signup that users can access without interrupting their experience.

Additional resources for wellness businesses

To make these UX strategies easy to implement, here are some additional resources and ideas:

• Visual examples: Consider using sites like Awwwards or Behance to find examples of beautifully designed wellness websites.
• Step-by-step guide downloads: Use checklists and templates for content ideas, guided journeys and wellness impact sections to save time.
• Budget-friendly tips: Many of these features can be achieved on a budget; free tools such as Canva for graphics or Unsplash for soothing images can enhance your website without breaking the bank.
• Analytics for wellness: Implement tools like Hotjar or Google Analytics to track user engagement on your wellness website and adjust accordingly based on real data.

Conclusion

Creating a user-centred wellness website builds trust and connection with your customers. By incorporating calming elements, real-time support and thoughtful storytelling, your site becomes a powerful extension of your wellness brand. Each touchpoint enhances the user experience and encourages customers to return.