Designing a website can prove to be a challenge, especially if you are unsure what to include on your website. These days, customers are looking for more usability and less decoration – simple is better. Use the following tips to help design a website that will attract users and function well.
When designing a website, it is important to make a note of the aspects of the website that you want to shine through. If you are selling goods, you want to have a good layout for customers to access your products. Make sure you size your pictures small, but large enough to be easily seen. Because large pictures take longer to download, size make your pictures only as large as needed to effectively showcase your products.
Avoid clutter. Too much information on one page will only serve to confuse your customers. If your customers cannot navigate the website with ease, it is unlikely that they will purchase your products or service. It is also unlikely that they will ever return or recommend your website.
Flash is not necessary. While attractive, it can take a long time to download and if your customers are accessing the internet via dial-up, it could take several minutes, and many users will lose patience and move onto the next website in their list. If you like the look of Flash, offer it only as an entrance to your website, but also offer the option to skip the intro for those users who have slow connections.
Your content matters. If you sell products, emphasize why the products are so great. Draw your users in with catchy phrases and really sell the products to them. Avoid making your entire website sound like a sales pitch. Rather, leave the descriptions to the products, and offer useful information on the rest of the website – such as articles, tips and recommendations.
Include color but do not overdo it. Colors really help a website to pop, but too many colors or obnoxiously bright colors can be a turn-off. You can have the best products in the world, but if your customers cannot stand to look at the website, you will not sell much. The same is true for services websites. If your website is distracting your users from the information, it will not be in your company’s best interest. It is okay to use color, but tone it down.
There are many tips out there to help you design an attractive website that will appease your customers. Keep it simple, yet attractive enough to draw viewers in. If you find that you are not happy with your results, it may be time to bring in a professional – make sure you hire one who enforces your ideas.
