Website users want to access information fast. When considering the design of your website, don't try to re-invent the wheel. Instead, make sure you locate and present key elements according to 'the expected norm', along with a navigational structure that is clear and easy to follow.
Our top tips
- Consistency is King
The overall look and feel of your website should be consistent throughout. This applies to the navigation, use of colour, typefaces used, general layout and tone of voice. All these work together to provide a great user experience. - Make Navigation Easy
Clear navigation is essential for ensuring you get your visitors to the right place as quickly as possible. Here are our top tips on how to achieve this:
1) Reserve top level navigation for essential navigation options only and create clearly categorised sub-navigation.
2) Use plain english and familiar words for menu options.
3) Stick to the 3-Click Rule. Design your navigation so that your users get to the information they are looking for with the least number of clicks.
4) Make use of your Footer. Your website footer is also where users expect to find navigation options and contact information.
- Make content short and snappy
Visitors to your site will almost certainly scan the page, rather that read through all the words. Create a visual hierarchy and arrange content so the important stuff is what gets noticed first. Here are our top tips on how to achieve this:
1) Avoid walls of text. Present your text in bitesize chunks to make it easier to digest. Break it up using bullet points and headings.
2) Make important elements stand out visually. Make Call to Action buttons and other focal points stand out by using differently sized text and blocks of colour.
3) Stick to a grid layout - this will allow you to organise information in a way that makes it easier for your visitors to read and understand. - Regularly check your website for errors
1) Make sure all your links are not only working, but that they link through to the correct page. Website users will be come easily frustrated if they receive a 404 error, or end up in the wrong place.
2) Check for typos.
3) Ensure all images and videos load as they should.
- Encourage scrolling
Placing engaging, high quality content at the top of the page is key to encouraging your users to scroll down and invest more time in your website.
- Label Call to Action buttons effectively
Make it clear to your audience that they know what they are going to get from clicking a CTA whether you are asking them to sign up, subscribe, try for free, join something, or just learn more. Feel free to get creative with words to entice visitors to click through .... just avoid being vague. - If it looks clickable ... make sure it is clickable!
Visual elements that appear to look like clickable buttons or links, but don't behave like clickable buttons or links can easily confuse users and cause frustration.
