How to build a sustainable website

Fortunately, platforms are getting better at supporting you in your everyday life. For example, did you know that you can use AI to summarise a webpage directly in Sitevision? Or that you can review both the accessibility and minimise the CO2 footprint of the page before publishing? What's more, today's platforms are more user-friendly and offer ready-made packages, so you can quickly launch a first test version. What used to take months – or even years – can now be done in a fraction of the time.

However, the risks have increased as we increasingly need to launch quickly. Sometimes we rely too much on system support and forget to think strategically ourselves, which can result in a website that is barely used or does not even meet legal requirements. That's why we need to build websites more sustainably, on several levels.

What do we mean by a sustainable website?

Building sustainably is not just about code and servers. A sustainable website is:

• Useful – it creates value for the user.
• Socially and technically sustainable – it is accessible and energy efficient.
• Secure – it protects both data and users.

Let's dive deeper into these three areas.

1. User-friendly – the most important success factor of your website

No matter how technically advanced your website is, it doesn't matter if no one uses it. To create a great experience, you need to understand your target audience and build a solution that meets their needs.

Tips for better usability:

• Do user testing, what works and what doesn't?
• Dare to experiment with proof-of-concept solutions to test your way to the best solution.
• Keep improving after launch. A website is never "finished", it can always be further optimised.

2. Social and technical sustainability – accessibility and environmental impact

Create a web for everyone

Accessibility is not just about meeting legal requirements – it's about including everyone, regardless of age, background or disability. An inclusive website strengthens your brand and creates a better user experience for everyone.

Optimise for a greener web

Optimising a site to reduce CO2 emissions by 0.2 grams may seem like a drop in the ocean. But if Sweden's top 10 websites did the same, we'd save almost a ton of CO2 – every week!

A faster, more efficient website is also better for the environment and SEO. Sitevision gives you instant feedback on your site's accessibility and tips on how to make your site smarter and greener, so you can optimise it before publishing. These features are there to help you as an editor, but keep in mind that these are just tools. To make sure you get the most out of your solution, Sitevision offers training in the platform – and we at Knowit also hold training in the specific solution we have built for you. In our experience, when you understand both why it's important and how it all fits together, your work is not only easier – it's better.

3. Security – more than just technology

Today's web platforms are secure – but only if they are used properly. Sure, you can build solutions with braces, belts, shelters and dual backup systems. But for us ordinary people with realistic budgets, it's usually about finding a balance between security, functionality and cost.

With a web in Sitevision Cloud and a well-balanced application support from an experienced partner, you will go a long way. Sitevision Cloud runs in Swedish server halls, which can feel extra safe in times like these. But security is about more than just where the servers are located. That's why at Knowit, we integrate security into every step of our development process, just like we do with availability.

Need deeper analysis? We conduct security audits that cover everything from threats and risks to technical vulnerabilities. In addition, we conduct regular security audits to ensure that your solution is always protected.

A sustainable web is a smart web

Sure, building a website is easier than ever – but building a truly great and sustainable website requires thought. This is not a complete guide to a sustainable website, but hopefully it has inspired you to think long-term.