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Simple Web Design Tips
by Nelly Berova, Web Design and Online Marketing
As a visual medium, one of the most important parts of a website's creation is undoubtedly a simple web design. Unlike a newspaper - which can convey information with very little creative input dedicated to the design - a web site must compel its visitors to explore further into a site; increasing your 'time on site' data rather than your bounce rate figures.
Simple web design should focus on usability and navigation, putting high quality content at the centre of the entire site's design and encourage users to stay within the site for longer - increasing your 'time on site' data.
Here are some website design tips to bear in mind:
Content is Key.
Generally, the aim of a website is to convey information. Making the focus of your website obvious through simple web design, should be your primary objective. Visitors need to know what your website contains, so ensure that any content displays clearly on each page, with special attention being paid to the front page. When a user visits your site for the first time they don't know what to expect so use your front page to make explicit exactly what your site offers.
A website's front page acts as a company's introduction to potential customers, so remember how important a first impression is. Any unnecessary pop-up windows will be off putting to a visitor. In order to ensure that your site is not at all frustrating to use, you should limit any unnecessary frills.
Colour choice is also extremely important when considering user experience. Make sure that all text / background colours are complimentary.
Simple Navigation is a Must
Usability web design will ensure that visitors of your website enjoy a good user experience. By nature, website users have a low attention span whilst surfing the net, and rarely read every piece of text across a site. Rather, they search for the information that they are looking for. It's your website's job, through simple web design, to guide your users where they want to go, quickly. Many web designers still think that burying information under layers of other content will suffice. The truth is that if a visitor can't find what they are looking for almost immediately, they will go somewhere else - absorbing nothing from your site.
A menu bar is a navigational essential. Drop down menus will also make displaying extra navigational options to your user easier. If your site is vast, then navigation can become more complicated. In this case, you must make some decisions about which sections it is most important that your users visit - from their point of view, not yours.
Never assume that your usability web design is obvious to new visitors. Remember that you actually know your site very well. Arrange a beta-testing period to gain an objective feedback.
Lastly, take a look at your page loading time. Most users will only wait 7 seconds for a site to load, so limit the amount of high res images, flash pages and graphics that you include.
Learn more about web design London. Stop by Art Division's site where you can find out all about this great web design agency and what the team can do for you.
« Back to News | Published: 01/08/11