Your Website Design Is NOT Just About “Appearance”

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If you are genuinely interested in attempting to try and achieve something special with your website, you MUST focus on more than just the image of your site. Admittedly, companies do usually go for clean looking sites that are attractive and appealing to the eye. Appearance does go a long way, but it isn’t everything, especially in a time where almost anybody can play the role of web designer.

Visitors and users will have some sort of goal in mind whenever they use a site, or input keywords into a search engine. Whether it’s a compare and contrast search, a visitor searching for more information or sending a request form, users are always looking for something specific out of the website experience. Being aesthetically pleasing is an important aspect, BUT it’s your responsibility to ensure your site is easily accessible to what people are visitors are looking for. To put it simply, what’s the use in having an attractive website if users aren’t sure how to navigate their needs? If someone quickly scans your site and can’t find what they’re looking for, they will most likely 9 times out of ten hit return or even close the tab extremely quickly. Within seconds a potential client could be lost.

Clients must easily be able to find your rates, membership, location if required and images of how your workspace looks. All of this must be offered in a friendly manner. This is called in the tech and design world as UX: User Experience Design. So, there are many factors needed to be considered when making an exceptional website, but the main three are ensuring it is visually appealing, easily navigated and responds smoothly. But if you want to 100% completely optimise your website, make sure all the following steps are ticked off….

• A fantastic website must be simple
• A fantastic website must have a visual hierarchy
• A fantastic website must be easy to navigate
• A fantastic website must be consistent
• A fantastic website must be easily accessible
• A fantastic website must have conventional elements
• A fantastic website must be credible
• A fantastic website must be user-centric