Successful website design is judged by the customers of the site rather than the site owners. There are a lot of things which affect the efficacy of a site, it can range from how great the site looks in addition to how simple the navigation is to use.
Sites which aren’t well designed are inclined to do poorly and have sub-optimal Google Analytics metrics (e.g. high bounce rates, shallow time on site, low pages each trip and reduced conversions). So, what makes good web design? Here we explore the best ten web design fundamentals which will make your site visually pleasing, simple to use, engaging, and effective.
1. Purpose
Useful websites put the user first. Are your internet visitors searching for information, entertainment, a few kinds of discussion, or to transact with your small business? Every page of your site should have an obvious goal, and to meet a requirement for your site users in the best way possible.
2. Communication
Folks on the internet tend to want information fast. Therefore it’s essential to communicate clearly, and make your data simple to read and digest. Some powerful tactics to have in your website design include: Collecting info using headlines and sub-headlines, using bullet points rather than lengthy linking sentences, and cutting the unnecessary words.
3. Fonts
Generally, stick to your necessary Sans Serif fonts that are simple to read and look clean and professional. 16px is probably the go-to font size, and be mindful of sticking to three or fewer fonts to avoid confusion as the page can look too busy.
4. Colours
A nicely thought out colour palette may go ways to improve the user experience. Complementary colours create harmony and equilibrium. Using contrasting colours for the background and text will make reading more comfortable on the eye. Vibrant colours create emotion and must be used sparingly (e.g. for switches and call to action ). Finally, white distance / negative distance is quite capable of giving your site a contemporary and uncluttered appearance. Try to use colours that are cohesive with your business brand and logo and sensitive to the industry you are in.
5. Images
A picture can say a lot and deciding on the ideal graphics for your site can assist with brand placement and connecting with your target audience. If you do not have high-quality professional photographs on hand, then look at buying stock photos to lift the appearance of your site. Infographics and videos are also great engaging methods of delivering content. If you are an e-commerce website such as a health equipment sales business, ensure your product images are clear and accurate. It is even a good idea to include a video demonstration of how the bed sensor and other products work to inform customers.
6. Navigation
Navigation concerns how visitors interact and find pages on your site. Some strategies for successful navigation comprise a logical page hierarchy, using bread crumbs, designing clickable buttons, and observing the ‘three click rule’ so users will have the ability to locate the info that they want in three clicks. As an Australian business coaching provider, ensure your navigation is simple, and your services are categorised for example a page for corporate leadership coaching and a separate page for mindset coaching.
7. Grid Layouts
Putting content randomly onto your webpage may get a random appearance that’s cluttered. Grid-based designs arrange material into segments, boxes and columns which line-up and texture balanced, which contributes to a better-looking site layout.
8. “F” Pattern Design
Eye tracking studies have identified that people scan pc screens in a” design. Most of the things people see are at the upper and left of this display, and the ideal side of this screen is seldom seen. As opposed to attempting to induce the viewer’s visual stream, expertly designed sites will operate with a reader’s natural behaviour and exhibit data in order of significance (left to right, and top to bottom).
9. Load Time
Everybody hates a site which takes ages to load. Suggestions to make page load times more powerful comprise rearranging picture sizes (dimensions and scale), mixing code into a basic CSS or JavaScript document (this reduces HTTP requests) and minimise HTML, CSS, JavaScript.
10: Mobile Optimisation
Today, consumers are using their mobile phones, and if your website is not mobile-friendly, you may be missing out on potential customers and traffic. Ensure your site is dynamic and looks great on devices of all sizes including mobile phones and tablets.
It is not hard to come up with a great looking site that works well and serves a purpose. You may need to make minor changes such as uploading new images or changing font size.