Suggestions on good website design practice.
Irrespective of whether you have a static ‘brochure type’ website or an interactive e-commerce website, the overall look and feel will play an important role in usability.
Try to be different …
Did you know that around 50% of visitors to a typical website will leave within 8 seconds! It is important that visitors to your site can quickly and easily access the information they are looking for.
A successful business website should present the content in an intuitive manner, making effective use of colour, layout and site navigation.
Planning a successful website …
Before approaching a web designer (or building your own website) it is essential from the outset that you clearly identify what the purpose of your site should be. Typical reasons how businesses benefit from websites include…
- Increased brand awareness
- Selling products online
- Save money
- Providing improved customer service and support
Do give careful consideration to what you want your website to accomplish and try to remember that whilst you may be concerned with the visual aspects of the site, your visitors probably care more about how quickly they can find what they are looking for!
Relevant content …
One of the simplest (but often overlooked) factors of a successful business website is to have content relevant to what people are actually searching for…
Establish the type of content you will need to support your objectives of the site and think carefully how this should be presented. It might be a good idea to look for some examples on the internet that will enable you to present the content in a more appropriate way.
Visual aspects …
Create a common theme of colours, fonts, graphics and page layout. Remember that simplicity and elegance can be more effective than spectacular graphics.
Don’t be afraid to use white space or blank areas on your website – good use of white space can help define areas on your page and can be used to structure and separate content.
Credibility and branding …
The brand and image of your business should be reinforced by your website, consistent use of your company logo or marketing slogan throughout the site should be viewed as an element of your overall marketing strategy.
All companies in the UK must clearly state the company registration number, place of registration and registered address of the company. A common place to add this information would be in the ‘about us’ section of your site – it does not have to appear on every page.
Remember, a well-designed website which offer functionality, neatness and a professional appearance will help improve the visibility, credibility and profitability of your business.
