There are a few basic but essential pieces of information that your consumers need to see as soon as they log on to your web site. Do you know what they are? Let’s take a test. Log on to your company’s site. No really, do it.
Now, can you easily find what products your company offers? Are the prices of those products visible? Would you know how to contact your company if needed? If you didn’t answer yes to all of these questions, you may want to reevaluate your web design and simplify your site.
Flashing advertisements, busy backgrounds, and distracting music can be a huge turnoff to current and potential customers. Even people who love your product will eventually move on if they can’t easily find what they are looking for. People are busy. They don’t want to spend a lot of time sorting through meaningless ads and multiple pages to get to what they want.
Keeping your website simple and easy to navigate is key to ensuring return visits and return business. Keep these tips in mind when deciding if you need to simplify.
Fewer Is Better. Check your page count. Are there pages you can fuse together into one? Sticking with 3 or 4 basic pages makes your site easier to navigate.
Think About a Newspaper. Ever heard the term, above the fold? Like a folded newspaper, the information above the fold is what your consumer will see first. Make sure all essential information is above the fold. Business name, contact information, and page titles should all be visible without scrolling down.
Graphics. Visuals make a statement. Make sure your graphics are relevant and not overpowering. Too many graphics will distract your customers from the content. And content is what they really need to see.
Speaking of Content. You don’t have to use thousands of words when a couple hundred will get your message across. Like we said before, people are busy. Focus on content that emphasizes quality over quantity.
Sources:
http://webdesign.about.com/od/webdesigntutorials/a/aa070504.htm
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/5-tips-to-simplify-your-web-design/