Life in the User-Friendly Fast Lane
The information super-highway (as it is no longer called by anyone) is a constant fast-lane. People move quickly on the internet; when they need to look something up, they need it right now! If you want your website to be successful and user-friendly, you need to account for that. If you don’t convey the information they want quickly and clearly, your website will do your business more harm than good.
3 Things a User-Friendly Website Needs to Tell Visitors
1. Who Are You?
Can they tell just by looking?
If your webpage doesn’t immediately tell your user who you are, then it’s a strike against you. Even if the visitor knows who you are before they come in, a lack of clear identity looks unprofessional and people will judge you over it. The easiest way to do this is to make sure your logo is clearly visible. Most websites have the logo serve as a part of the navigation. Clicking it takes you to the home page. That’s really all you need to get the point across. If your home page features a slide show, it’s a good idea to put your logo and name in the first slide to reinforce it, but be careful you don’t go overboard! If your company name pops up too much, it gets exhausting for viewers.
2. What Do You Do?
This is the most important part! I can’t tell you the number of websites I come across that have the description of the business and its services shoved off onto some side page! Visitors to your website need to know what it is you do and they need to know it as soon as they hit your page. The more they have to search for it, the more likely they are to go somewhere else.
A visitor may be in a hurry when they come to your website, so you need to make your description concise and clear. Describe your business’s core services in a single sentence. Be sure to mention what you do that makes you stand out in this description. This will help them decide if you’re the business they’re looking for and will encourage them to read more.
3. Why Should They Care?
Now that you’ve clearly communicated who you are and what you do, you’ve got them hooked; it’s time to reel them in! Give them a few sentences about the specific services you provide. You want to be descriptive and clear here, but again you should be brief. These descriptions should get to the heart of the matter without mincing words. You want the visitor to make a decision to buy from you, or hire you, not explain how everything works.
That doesn’t mean there’s no place for details, though! If a visitor has gotten this far, they may be interested enough to know more. You should have a few separate pages with more detailed information on your services and direct them to it. But how do you do that? Well, I’m glad you asked!
Call to Action
Once you’ve given them the information they need to make a decision, you need to direct them to take action. If they intend to buy, they’ll most likely want to do it right away. This is where you give them a quick way to do so. In the web design business, we call this the “Call to Action.” All you need to do is put some buttons on the page that go where you want them to go. If they want to learn more, there should be a button that says, “Learn More” and takes them to a page where they can. If they want to get in touch with you, there should be a button that says, “Contact Us” and goes to a working contact form. If your site is a store, then a “Shop” button should take them to your site’s store.
Now that they’ve scrolled down through your homepage and you’ve got their attention, you direct their attention and suggest a course of action. The buttons are essential! It makes it just that much easier to take the next step. Even something as simple as having to scroll back to the top of the page might be enough time for them to change their mind. If the button is right there, then it takes no effort at all for them to click it. Once a visitor has invested that much time and effort into a website, the chances that they’ll buy from you go up by a surprising amount!
Mobile Compatible Design
A part of being User Friendly these days is also being mobile compatible. Most people look up business websites from their phone now. If they’re sitting at a computer to use the internet, they’re probably searching for entertainment. If they’re investigating your business, they’re likely doing it from their phone because they’ve just heard of you while they’re out and about and want to know more.
On top of that, so many devices that have web access are mobile devices now: iPhones, iPads, etc. There are people who don’t even have proper computers anymore! They do everything through a smart mobile device! Therefore, if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it’s not user-friendly.
Let HostHuski Help You Out
The basics of user-friendly design are pretty simple, but sometimes it can be difficult to find the right thing to say. With its strategically focused digital design and production methods, we at HostHuski can help you put together the perfect website to get your visitor’s attention and keep them reading. If you’d like to know more, feel free to get in touch with us today. You’ll be glad you did!