Whether or not your company has offices or stores, our consumers meet us in the digital world of the internet. Nowadays, websites are our new storefront.
The simple truth is that a first impression matters when it comes to business. You don’t want to shop in a messy store, where the aisles don’t match the merchandise. And the same goes for your website. Part of being a business owner means keeping up with the latest technology and implementing it in everything you do. Of course, with so many choices on how to design your website, it gets confusing to decide on your next move.
Always remember: your primary goal is to provide your customers with the information they need as efficiently and effectively as possible.
Don’t worry! You still get to show off your brand. As the matter of fact, the better you design your website, the better you retain visitors.
Make a great first impression with these 3 Helpful Web Design Tips:
- Less is More.
- Most of us have fond memories of searching for clues, eggs full of candy, and finishing riddles before everyone else did. Scavenger hunts are great fun, but not when it comes to your website. Save the games for later, your visitors will appreciate it.
- Every new page on your website should be designed to make a good first impression, just like a first date. Your website
should read like conversation with your visitors, not a lecture. - Sure, you’ve got an interesting product or service to sell! Introduce yourself, show your confidence about what you have to offer, and stand out by all means!
- At the same time, assume that this is a first date. Do not overwhelm the reader with too much content all at once. The goal is to get a second date, which means to make your visitors feel at ease with a natural flow of information.
- If they have more questions, they’ll look at your other tabs to find what they want to know. That’s how you create an organic dialogue with your content, and it’s also good for your Organic SEO. Your web pages should always have some eye-catching details for your call to actions, but motivate the reader to take that choice.
- Your website needs to be in its best suit, look professional, and highlight its best asset.
- Think like a real estate agent.
Think about the last time you hired a real estate agent to find a new home.
Have you ever notice how easily they guide you through the house? They smile, as they gently unlock the front door. They spin, and explain something about how the door is made out of a very rare Oak tree from the jungles of Peru, and you’ve never been so interested in doors before in your life.
Their subtle body language guides you from the entrance to the kitchen, and it’s so graceful, it’s almost a dance. Was that a plie I just saw?
Even though you specifically said you wanted wood furniture in your kitchen, they point out the marble counter top and the detail on the trimming of the cabinets.
“Oh wow, I never realized how beautiful a marble counter top is, but I can definitely see myself cooking on it.”
A good real estate agent will make you want to buy the new house. A great real estate agent will make you feel like you already live there.
- When a visitor is on your website, you can guide them to the information you want them to read by creating a visual pathway for their eyes to follow. When designing your website remember that you need layers.
- Display the most important information at the top of each web page. For example, this should be where you place your logo, slogan, and specified tabs to navigate to other pages. Add some relevant pictures that represent your company well, and then introduce the content.
And that’s not all!
- Point out important details in your content with hyperlinks, emphasizing text, and adding graphics throughout your web pages. Be careful not to go overboard and cover the page with too much all together. Instead, make sure everything is laid-out in a well-organized fashion.
A website that is easy on the eyes attracts more visitors!
- Design Your Web like a Spider.
You may or may not like spiders, but you have to admit: they spin some pretty cool webs. As terribly uncomfortable as it feels when you walk into one, they are masters of design.
Every spider web is as unique as a thumbprint, and every spider weaves its web the same every time. I know, crazy right?
- For your company web page, it’s okay if your layout is similar to others because a strong brand will stand out. However, what we can learn from a spider is how consistent it is with its patterns.
- Keep the same colors, fonts, and voice throughout each page on your website. Keep consistency. An established brand has no issue promoting itself on every page on their site; it is no different for you.
If you are still discovering your brand, we have more information on how to create a strong brand in these blogs:
- Think about it this way: your visitors are expecting the same behavior you showed them on the first page they visited. If you decide every tab is a chance to use a different theme, people will become confused.
- Try to use the same web page layout throughout each page on your website, but always make sure that your brand is the speaking for you. If different information calls for a different layout, such as your contact page or your FAQs, that’s fine. Just don’t make it a party.
Consistency throughout your web pages creates comfort. With these tips in mind, you can create a website that keeps visitors coming back!
