1. Good Design Makes a Great First Impression
It takes just a twentieth of a second for a user to make a first impression regarding your website, according to research published in Behaviour and Information Technology. This first impression will set the tone for the rest of the user’s experience. Further research shows that it can take twenty or more additional meetings to erase a poor first impression! Therefore it is crucial to start off with a great impression that will imprint a positive image of your brand in the user’s mind.
There are many ways to accomplish this goal. One is having the right colour scheme for your website. This should be both eye-catching and pleasant to look upon. Anything overly vibrant, psychedelic or jumping abruptly out of the page can be a major turn-off. Unexpected sounds, images and pop-ups are certainly annoying. There’s a whole plethora of other facets that can make-or-break those first few critical moments.
2. Good Design for Effective Communication
The purpose of your website is to communicate valuable information to the user. Research shows that users who don’t find what they are looking for within 30 seconds will leave your website. Thus, it’s highly necessary to organize your site’s content in an easy-to-find layout. A search bar can be vital, but knowing where to put it is just as important. People are used to finding search bars in the top-right corner of every page. This simple consideration can make a dramatic difference in your site’s usability and effectiveness.
Design should never say, “Look at me.” It should always say, “Look at this.” ~ David Craib
3. Good Design Keeps the Reader Engaged
Statistics continue to demonstrate that attention spans are remarkably short. You want information to be presented clearly and concisely. Not only should your paragraphs be short, but the way they are aligned can play a significant role. A 2004 Lin survey found that leaving wide, white spaces between paragraphs and around margins increases reading comprehension by 20%. It has been determined that a line of text should contain approximately 12 words or 95 characters for both reducing eye strain and keeping the reader awake.
Using photos and videos is a must, particularly in our day and age. People much prefer to watch a clip or browse through pictures than focus on words. The dramatic success of YouTube illustrates this well – it has over 2 billion video views a day! But once again, it is vital to know where to place those videos and photos to maximize their effect on your audience.
4. Good Design Presents the Right Image
The design of your web page is the most obvious way that your company presents its brand. A messy and disorganized website will suggest the same about your company and drive away clients. On the other hand, a clean, friendly look will tell your audience of your company’s professionalism and modernity. Perhaps more important is your logo, for it will forever be associated with your company in the minds of your clients. A cheap-looking or childish logo designed on the back of a napkin will certainly not attract any new customers! Great design is critical in broadcasting your company’s true spirit to the world.
Design is the fundamental soul of a human-made creation that ends up expressing itself in successive outer layers of the product or service. ~ Steve Jobs
5. Good Design Means Happier Customers
A well-designed website greatly reduces user frustration. How often have you been in a difficult situation online, stuck on a page and not sure where to turn? Often, poor design gives users a hard time in the simplest of tasks! Something like filling out a form can be excruciating (on that note, keep your forms short – no one likes homework). A common mistake is typing in blue text, which users mistake for links, adding to their distress. Another tip: make sure your contact information is easy to find, for this is among the most significant pieces of information on your website. Little details like these add up to large outcomes when it comes to customer satisfaction.
6. Good Design is Long-Lasting
Durability is the mark of great design. Take for example, the world-famous logo of Coca-Cola. It was designed in 1885 and is still among the most power symbols on the planet, recognized internationally. This is true for any design, including a website. In the long run, successful design saves you both time and money as you avoid having to constantly rework your brand.
Design is intelligence made visible. ~ Alina Wheeler