WHAT MAKES A GREAT WEBSITE
Nov 16, 2012
This is the golden question when it comes to your online presence. Anyone who has thought about creating a website for their business knows that it needs to be eye-catching, engaging and user-friendly, but what exactly does this look like? Let’s try and answer that question now.
An analogy we like to use at The Creation Lab is thinking about the internet as a shopping mall. With lots of shops competing in one place, their main aim is to make sure their shop looks the best. It’s the same when designing a website – you need to keep your competition in mind, and try to make your website as unique as possible. Think of your website as your business’ “shop window” and you’ll soon have an idea of what a great website looks like.
Eye Catching
Your website’s appearance is going to determine how long people will stay on your site. Before they read anything or navigate through the pages, you need something that catches their attention. To see what we mean by this, have a look at the homepage for Manor House Nursery. A prominent banner displaying images of the nursery, the leafy border fitting in with the trees in the background and the contrast of the white foreground against the green background all make this an eye-catching homepage. Notice also the walk-on presenter and the video, which are both proven to attract a user’s attention.
Original Content
Although a great design is important, it needs to be focussed to your target audience. Original content is the key to attracting the right people to your website, while improving your position on Google and increasing your credibility. Write content people will want to read and share with their friends, rather than business jargon that will put them off.
Up-To-Date
Don’t think you can design your website, write your content and guarantee traffic for years to come. You need to revisit your content regularly, firstly to check it’s up-to-date, and secondly to attract more users. Testimonials that are more than a few years old, for example, are not going to sell your product to your potential customers, and if the latest news is from Christmas last year, it is no longer latest news! Also, if there are new developments in your field or you have a new product to showcase, the first thing you should do is update your website to have the edge against your competition.
Easy to Navigate
Short, easy to read pages that are simple to navigate will ensure your users stay on your website and get all the information they need. Keep your navigation consistent throughout your site, including both text and image buttons and always linking your logo back to the homepage.
If you need any more tips for a great website don’t hesitate to contact us at The Creation Lab!