When you want to find out something, what’s usually the first place you go to look for it?
Nine times out of ten, the answer is search engines – and through them, we can access the relevant websites that produce services, products or relevant information. On the go with a mobile device, when traveling or during a coffee break with a tablet device, or at work or at home on a PC, most people visit several different websites on a daily basis.
How does your website compare? Is it giving your visitors the best impression of your products/services?
Here are 7 aspects to consider when designing or renewing your website:
1. User friendliness and ease of use
No matter what your choice of design may be, your website should always be clear and easy to use. An average visitor spends only 3 seconds on the webpage before deciding to read more or leave, so it has become increasingly important to remember: who does your website serve?
Your potential customers? Your existing customers? Or your own employees? Or perhaps all three?
A website that’s primary user base consists of potential customers has different requirements than a website that needs to serve all three user groups.
So first, identify your website users and what’s important for them, then start analyzing what they are looking from your website. Use that information as the foundation for what should be included on the front page, how much content you are going to have, and what sort of navigation will best serve your target group’s needs.
Remember, the very basics of a user-friendly website are clear navigation, easy to read content and the site’s responsiveness, no matter what you are using: pc, mobile, or tablet.
2. The importance of link paths
Linking the content of the webpages together enhances the user experience as well as providing better conversion. From the front page to the service offering and contact details, your website’s subpages / sections should be linked together to provide useful information, keep your visitors engaged with your website and increase your visitor retention rate.
If your website is geared towards potential customers, your link paths could be like this:
STEP 1: FRONT PAGE
STEP 2: SERVICE OFFERING
STEP 3: OTHER INFO
STEP 4: CONTACT FORM