If you’re creating a website for business or promotion purposes, the goal is to get people to visit your site and stay for a while. You also want visitors to understand what it is you’re offering, whether products or services. To increase web traffic, follow the essential hints below.
1. Use a clear, professional looking logo, which links to the main page
The logo is an essential way for people to remember your brand, so it must be easy to spot throughout your site. Use a clear, crisp image and place it in the upper left corner of each web page. You will also want to link the logo to the home page, so visitors can more easily navigate to it.
The main navigation bar is usually situated at the top of the page. By providing an additional navigation option such as a sidebar, visitors will be more likely to browse through other pages on your site.
Intuitive navigation is important because you want to avoid confusing site visitors and they should be able to get the most critical information easily, or the landing pages. Less critical pages can be included in links at the page footer, where they are less likely to get in the way of the more important links.
3. Remove clutter
It can be easy to add too many images or too much information on every web page. But, when faced with too much at one time, visitors may become overwhelmed.
To ensure visitors remain on your site, make sure the call to action isn’t confusing which happens when there are too many images or animations on a page. To refine landing pages and further eliminate clutter, provide a limited number of links in the header and footer.
You will also want to limit text. One paragraph with five or six lines is usually sufficient unless your site includes articles or other information for users to read. In such instances, providing links to outside text is better.
4. Use space for visual appeal
You will want to give visitors enough space between paragraphs of text and images so that the message can be more easily understood. You don’t want visitors to turn away, due to too much text which is especially critical if you want visitors to consider the products or services you’re offering.
Consider how to balance white space with content. Limiting text and balancing white space makes the pages more visually appealing. You will also be better able to compete with your website, with pages that are neither too cluttered or have too much white space.
5. Thoughtful use of color
Use of extreme or bold colors throughout a website should be avoided. Instead, choose a neutral color scheme and use small amounts of bold color, for key information or headers.
The color palette should be consistent with other marketing materials and should enhance the logo or make it more noticeable.
6. Use a professional photographer for images and graphics, when needed.
Visitors know if they’re looking at an image created by amateurs right away and will not be impressed with your site or your business. Professional images tell your visitors you’re serious about what you do.
Good, clear images are highly recommended, through the use of a professional photographer or by purchasing attractive stock images. Clear, crisp images draw the attention of users and can help them make a connection to your business and brand. Poor image quality can turn away visitors faster than not having any images on your web pages.
Extra image hint: To draw users to the content or a specific action, including an image of a person looking at the content or link button. People are often attracted to faces of other humans. Our curiosity is piqued when we see another human looking at something.
7. Choose easy to read fonts
Text and header fonts are essential features of every web page. They should be easy to read across a variety of devices, including mobile devices. Some large fonts will look good on a web page from a laptop, but not from a smaller device.
Choose a font that is easy to read without resizing. When using web fonts, make sure the type is clear and easy to read on all devices. Try not to use more than two different font types, as this will make it more difficult for users to read and follow the overall message on the site.
A good rule of thumb for fixed width page design is to choose a font size that allows for roughly 15 to 20 words per line, with up to 1,000 in pixel width.
8. Create each page as a landing page
Most websites are designed with the home page as the main page users will navigate to. However, most visitors will end up on a page other than the homepage. So, the site should be designed so visitors can find vital information when they navigate to your site.
9. Respect tradition in design
When web designers were interviewed, they nearly always mentioned putting the call to action and contact information in the upper portion of web pages. With home pages, it is highly recommended to avoid using full width sliding images, by reducing them to two-thirds of the page with and by providing contact information above the page fold.
Visitors will usually only view what they can easily see. If they have to scroll or slide one direction or another too much, they will quickly turn away. The key information should be easy to see from the moment the visitor lands on the page.
10. Use intuitive design
Using intuitive design means considering design features that consider how users will view the site. It is a good idea to adapt the design for a variety of browsers, rather than creating a website for each device used. Better user experiences generate more interest, and likely more sales if you offer products or services.
11. Avoid using Flash
Due to a disagreement between Apple and Adobe, Flash is no longer the standard for websites. Other choices are user-friendly and can enhance your web pages. HTML5, for instance, is gaining popularity and is more search engine friendly. It’s also more compatible with a variety of devices, including mobile devices.
12. Don’t overlook buttons
The “submit” and “send” buttons can be the least appealing part of web pages. Try to design form submissions, so they encourage users to click. Designing buttons, so they change color when visitors hover over them is also vital. Users want to know their submissions will work.
13. Don’t forget to test
Any functional website should be tested for impact which is especially important if your site contains a call to action. Try different testing shades of a color and optimizing the site for the internet. Take notice of any changes in the number of visitors or length of stay. Sites have been known to generate substantial increases in income, by merely testing different shades of a popular color. If you find a color combination or palette that seems to create more interest, stick with it.
Conclusion
If you are looking to improve your business website, we can help. Find out more about Coronation Internet Marketing’s services for web design by clicking here.
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