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Question - Why does web design matter?

Guest post by: Jonathan

Article Overview: There are many things to consider when designing a new website. Functionality, hosting, aesthetics, structure, SEO. Web design isn't rocket science, but it could launch your business.

Question - Why does web design matter?

Answer - because your competition is busting a gut to win your business. They're doing everything in their power to attract your customers to their website and to take your online business. A great looking website, one that is compelling, persuasive and functions like a dream, adds value. It enriches your customers' lives and they appreciate it. Strong website design also helps with your SEO and with over 90% of searches clicked through from page one of the search returns, anything that assists SEO has got to be good. So it's best to make sure it's you leading the way and not the competition. One of the most important aspects of any website other than appealing to the eye and containing killer content is its structure. Without a proper structure and clear navigation your visitors will quickly become frustrated and bounce (leave your site). You have to make their experience as simple and as intuitive as possible and make it easy for them to find their way to the information they want.

The name of the game is to put as few clicks between your visitor and the information they have come to retrieve as possible. Make your home page a sales landing page. In fact make every page a sales landing page in one form or other - offer useful, meaningful calls to action straight from the off. Don't make unnecessary demands and expect visitors to have to hunt through the site to discover what they want. Chances are that they'll simply click away.

If visitors do start to wander through your site beguiled by all the wonderfully entertaining and engaging content you're sharing, then also make sure that they have a clear path back to your home page or a site map. Don't take them down blind alleys or leave them lost and confused. Even better - include a menu on every page. Include too links to some of the other less commonly accessed pages - About - Contact - Jobs - Site Map for example at the bottom on the page. Also, don't make people have to scroll too far to get to where they want to go.

Site structure is all about ease, convenience and giving your visitor the simplest most pleasant navigation as possible through the information that you share. Site navigation is a customer service issue, perhaps your first opportunity to display the quality of your customer service to a prospective customer. Use a professional web design company to make sure that you get it right first time.

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Article Tags: search engine optimisation, seo, web design, website design



Related Forum Posts
Re: 7 Top Blog Design Tips - I only mentioned that the design of a site should be just as important because I personally won't stay at a site very long if the design looks like "crap." I'm not very picky by any means, but it's easy to tell if a site is just thrown together or whether the person took even a small amount of time to make it somewhat appealing. If the site looks horrible, it doesn't matter how good the content is, I'll leave. That's my own personal preference, so when creating my own sites, if I don't like how something looks, I'll change it until I like it. There's a good chance that there's someone else out there that will think close to the same as me. Meaning, if I think it looks appealing, then others out there will too. Hopefully, anyway. Also keep in mind you only have so many seconds to grab their attention, and chances are that they're looking at the overall design of the site before the awesome content.
Survey...survey... - Ultimate0, How is this project coming along? I hope you weren't discouraged to move forward with this idea. You don't have to be 100% ready to start an idea. Do something and then fill in the gaps as necessary. If you believe this idea requires investment and that's stopping you then I'd suggest going around the neighborhood armed with a 5-7 Question survey to ask what people's real needs are for their home networking and Computer needs are. then design something like that and approach those same people that gave you feedback on the survey saying "I offer the service you were looking for - how can I help?"
Re: 7 Top Blog Design Tips - You can get away with poor design if you have killer content. There's no doubt about it. But, I think at some point you should focus on the design aspect as well. As I said earlier, it can only enhance your blog. I feel there should be a good balance between the content and design.
Re: 7 Top Blog Design Tips - [quote="TannyL":2l8p7aqt][quote="Alan Mater":2l8p7aqt]I only mentioned that the design of a site should be just as important because I personally won't stay at a site very long if the design looks like "crap." I'm not very picky by any means, but it's easy to tell if a site is just thrown together or whether the person took even a small amount of time to make it somewhat appealing. If the site looks horrible, it doesn't matter how good the content is, I'll leave. That's my own personal preference, so when creating my own sites, if I don't like how something looks, I'll change it until I like it. There's a good chance that there's someone else out there that will think close to the same as me. Meaning, if I think it looks appealing, then others out there will too. Hopefully, anyway. Also keep in mind you only have so many seconds to grab their attention, and chances are that they're looking at the overall design of the site before the awesome content.[/quote:2l8p7aqt] Hi Alan, I completely agree with you. I will leave a massy website, or even if the color is too bright. Like you I will take the time to work on my site until I am happy. It took me a long time to get my site to its look today, and guess what, now I am working on changing the entire layout.[/quote:2l8p7aqt] I know the feeling. I have changed the design and layout of my site three times now. I'm finally happy, for now, with how it looks. Conversions seem to be decent as well.
Re: 7 Top Blog Design Tips - [quote="Alan Mater":2hz27pyq]I only mentioned that the design of a site should be just as important because I personally won't stay at a site very long if the design looks like "crap." I'm not very picky by any means, but it's easy to tell if a site is just thrown together or whether the person took even a small amount of time to make it somewhat appealing. If the site looks horrible, it doesn't matter how good the content is, I'll leave. That's my own personal preference, so when creating my own sites, if I don't like how something looks, I'll change it until I like it. There's a good chance that there's someone else out there that will think close to the same as me. Meaning, if I think it looks appealing, then others out there will too. Hopefully, anyway. Also keep in mind you only have so many seconds to grab their attention, and chances are that they're looking at the overall design of the site before the awesome content.[/quote:2hz27pyq] Hi Alan, I completely agree with you. I will leave a massy website, or even if the color is too bright. Like you I will take the time to work on my site until I am happy. It took me a long time to get my site to its look today, and guess what, now I am working on changing the entire layout.


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