Building a website isn’t an easy matter; just ask anyone who has tried it and failed to get the exposure they need. A good website should have good metrics, and this includes having a low bounce rate, a high conversion rate, and a high time on-site. But aside from these technical aspects, what makes for an effective website? If you’re planning on designing a new website or would like to make your existing site more relevant, here are the top factors that will affect your website’s success.
- The purpose
You have to decide on your website’s purpose. An effective website should adhere to the needs of its visitors. So what is your website for? Is it for imparting information? Is it for entertainment purposes, to establish a better and more robust bond with your audience? Is it to encourage customers to make a transaction? Every page should have a clear raison d’etre, and it should fulfill your visitors’ precise needs in order to be a success.
- The importance of the right typeface
Another factor which will affect the effectiveness of your website is the typeface. In most cases, Verdana, Arial, and other Sans Serif-style fonts are more aesthetically-pleasing and easier to read. This is because Sans Serif has a more straightforward look, devoid of extensive decorative embellishments. Also, remember that there is an ideal size for your font: if you want your visitors to be able to easily understand and read your website text, keep your fonts at 16px. For a more organised and streamlined look, choose only 2 to 3 typefaces. Don’t be tempted to go for more – it will just result in a confusing, disorganised, and asymmetric-looking website.
- Choosing images
Experts in web design in Oxford and the surrounding areas such as Xist2 know that images also play a vital role. A picture paints a thousand words, as they say, and you should maximise their impact. You should therefore make sure that your images are of the highest quality; stock photos can be a good choice, even if you have to pay for them (the investment pays for itself, anyway). You should also consider the use of videos and infographics to give your website a more updated and modern look and to communicate a clearer message to your audience.
- Which colours?
Colour will definitely play a role in the success of your website, so choose them well. Use colours which complement each other in order to create harmony and balance, and use colours which contrast to highlight text. Although bold and bright colours attract attention, use them strategically (for call to action purposes, for instance, or for icons/buttons). If you want to have a less cluttered-looking website, don’t be afraid to leave white space as well. White space can make your website look more modern and contemporary. Happy designing!
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