With an increasing amount of platforms available online, it is getting easier to set up and create your own website. However, just because it is easy to get started does not mean that it is easy to create a good website. There are some rules that make a website a lot better than if you were to just wing it! I’ll share a few of these to guide you on your way to a perfect website.
- Make sure the text on your site is easy to read. There are millions of fonts out there, but they really have to be chosen wisely, especially when more than one is used on the same page. Some fonts are hard to read which will deter site visitors from further exploring your site. You’ll also want to make sure that the colour of the text doesn’t make things hard to read, so you’ll have to use appropriate colour contrast such as black on white.
- Use visual hierarchy. Think about what the main goals of your website are, and what you want to catch your reader’s attention. For example, the title of an article is going to be bigger and bolder than the rest of the text because it is the most important thing on the page. If you want subscribers, you’ll want to make the subscribe button a bright colour that catches people’s attention.
- Have a Call to Action at the top of the page. The first thing site visitors should see when they arrive on your landing page is a call to action. This can be asking for subscribers, followers, or asking people to buy one of your products. It could even be to get people to download a freebie you have available on your website. Whatever it is, it should be obvious and clear to the visitors on your website.
Hopefully these three rules for good web design have you helped you feel more confident about creating the best possible website for you. Web design is hard-work which is why I recommend contacting Web Design Swansea to take the stress off your shoulders, and guarantee that your website will look as professional as possible.
Five features every business website needs
Beyond the basic rules, there are a handful of elements that make a business website stand out and leave a good impression. The first is good quality content that is relevant and gives visitors the information they need. Getting the amount right matters too: huge walls of text put people off, while too little leaves them unable to find answers.
Presentation comes next. Colours, images and fonts should all tie in with the business’s branding and logo so the site looks consistent and professional. Calls to action belong where they are genuinely useful, because scattering too many across every page makes them easy to ignore.
The final two are structural. A well thought out site structure makes the site easy to move around, so visitors can reach any page without getting lost. Search engine optimisation then helps people find the site in the first place when they search for a relevant product or service.
Making photography work in your web design
Good images grab attention faster than text, but they work best when they are part of the design rather than a beautiful photo dropped onto a dull layout. The photographs you use should tell a story and support what the site is trying to achieve, so decide on your goals first. Attracting new clients calls for different images than showcasing your best work.
You do not need strong photography skills to build an impressive site. Stock photos are fine for some images, and working with your designer to filter, layer, crop or add stylised text over them will stop them looking generic.
Icons are another useful visual tool. Simple, familiar symbols such as a house for the home page or a magnifying glass for search act as prompts to expand content or move around the site. Used sparingly, they add visual consistency and reduce the amount of text a page needs.
Design choices that encourage clicks
A good-looking, fast site still needs visitors to click through it, so design should guide them towards taking action. Start with a single, clear call to action. If there are several competing requests, people can become confused and do nothing. Place it somewhere obvious, such as near the top of the page, so it is easy to find.
Make clickable elements look clickable. Buttons with shading or a subtle shadow, and smart use of colour, help them stand out and make the page feel more interactive. A clear visual hierarchy also helps people move around naturally. Size and position text and images according to their importance, so key messages are prominent and small print, such as terms and conditions, stays in the background.
Finally, think about wording. Inviting phrases encourage people to continue, while commands can put them off. A button that says “get started” usually feels friendlier than one that says “sign up”.