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Professional Web DesignThe first step towards creating an online business is building a website. There are many factors to be considered while designing a site, but the rule of thumb is: keep it simple. This applies to the overall site, its graphics and the web copy.
First, make sure your site is not loaded with so many bells and whistles that your pages are excessively slow to load. Keep in mind that people are in a hurry - you only have 10 to 20 seconds to capture your potential customer's attention. The faster people can navigate around your site, the more likely they’ll be frequent visitors and buyers. To minimize your load time:
Cleanly designed pages are pleasant to look at and easy to read. It is almost impossible to make a page with a tiled background image usable - the whole thing is too distracting and confusing. It takes no great design skills to create clean pages; it just requires a little thought and adherence to the principle that when it comes to design, less usually is more.
Make sure the site is consistent in look, feel and design. Nothing is more annoying to a customer than feeling as if they have just gone to another site. Keep colors and themes constant throughout your website.
When designing your site, keep your target audience in mind. Design your pages to allow customers to easily find what they’re looking for. Users get bored and move on when they have to search through pages and pages of information to find what they need. People read a web page differently than they do a brochure or a newspaper. They scan, scroll, click, and hit the back button; they move around and like being in control, so you need to make it easy and enjoyable for them to browse your site. You have one chance to make a first impression. The layout, functionality, message and overall look and feel of your web page determine who stays – and who clicks away. Headlines are often the first thing site visitors see, and good ones will grab your visitors’ attention, compel people to read more and help establish a relationship between site visitors and your business.
We all know words matter. And on the web, they matter even more. Good web copy delights first-time visitors and encourages return visits. It also creates credibility and increases your visitors’ trust so they feel comfortable doing business with you. Your web copy should be snappy and useful, and provide information readers can’t easily find elsewhere. Try highlighting some problems your audience faces, and stress the main benefits of how your product or service can help them solve these challenges. But don’t oversell. Your copy (and this includes product pitches and customer testimonials) should inform more than it brags. Your site isn’t an ad; it’s an opportunity to initiate a conversation with your visitors. Keep the words on your site clear of overly technical terms and industry jargon. The best websites are simple, easily digestible and easy to navigate. They make customers want to contact you and do business with you. Your site design and words should help site visitors want to take that next step. An easy-to-navigate, well-organized site puts your business in its best light and makes it simple for visitors to find what they’re looking for. Keep your customers in mind at all times as you create and update your site, and you’ll be well on your way to online success. Web Design Software
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