Thursday, February 21, 2013

Using Web Design To Make More Sales

By Steven Harrison


Nowadays, businesses large and small put up websites to represent their activities to the larger online world. These range from the extremely sophisticated to the very simple. Both can be effective, depending on the size of the business and its activities online and offline. However, web design is often overlooked, which can result in lost revenues and clicks.

No two Internet users are alike. However, one thing is certain: a confusing website that is hard to navigate will drive people away. People tend to briefly read the top of a web page and then quickly try to identify the part of the site relevant to them. This only takes a few seconds. If the titles and headers on a site do not clearly communicate what the site provides and how to use it, less people will stay on to possibly make a purchase.

Designers have experience with the best ways to present information on a page to maximize the amount of time it takes for people to find what they want. Of course, colleagues and potential customers can run through the site and give feedback about their experiences, which can be useful, too. Ideally, a website can make clear what it's purpose is and direct people to their destination as smoothly and seamlessly as possible.

A key way to let people identify where they need to go is to include a banner that is informative coupled with a menu that breaks down the different features on the website. Companies should do this with the customer's perspective in mind. Not all customers have the same needs. This could range from checking on a previous order or just looking up general information about the company or organization.

Anyone who has pulled up a site only to be bombarded with advertisements unrelated to their search will know how annoying that can be. This is where experienced web designers come in. They can help businesses evaluate how and where to place ads, if applicable. Successful websites make ads visible, but not intrusive.

Photographs and color schemes are two other decisions faced by designers. Some sites might opt to include no photos on the home page of a website. Other businesses, on the other hand, need photos as an immediate visual explanation of their products or services. Again, it is all about a balance between catching someone's eye and written content. Similarly, loud, garish or hard-to-read text can also result in viewer frustration.

Each business ultimately has to make its own decision when it comes to how to set up a site. Some companies have in-house teams with the ability to create attractive pages that reach visitors and inform them. Others may find that web design is simply too important and choose outside help. In the end, though, the goal is to direct eyes to the right places to increase revenue and improve customers' experiences.




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