Professional web design has become critical during the past couple of years. A number of years back, it was estimated that a visitor to a web site took about 8 seconds to determine to stay on such web site or click the „Back“ button. That was then, this really is now: Your web site has just about 4 seconds to make an impression on the visitor. That isn’t much time in any way! Nowadays, people want immediate results. Few people even wait to observe the whole web design prior to making their choice. In case your web design will not capture their attention instantly, they will not stick around. And in case your website doesn’t provide something of advantage, few people will not bookmark it and they will not come back (more on that later).
Thus, with that in your mind, let us discuss some practical methods to capture the interest of web site visitors. Afterward, in a future post, we’ll discuss a bit about keeping their focus with great website content. Remember, folks spend most of their time online reading. Few people read search results, news items, how to posts and newsgroups. A professional web design firm will take this into account. But that’s for after. First, we must keep visitors focus (recall the four second rule).
Get to the Stage.
We live in a fast paced society and we’re used to immediate results: Microwave meals in 5 minutes, lose 5 pounds in 5 days, 30 minute oil changes, see results from fitness equipment in 20 minutes per day, as well as on and on.
The net is no different and it really may be less forgiving of web sites that do not produce results fast.
The 4 second rule that we spoke of before doesn’t mean your whole web page must load in 4 seconds. Instead, it means that a visitor to your web site has to at least see something interesting within that 4 second window. Thus, to analyze your website, while it’s loading, ask yourself:
How much time passes before I see anything?
What’s the very first thing I see on the web page?
How much time passes before I can read some text?
How long would it take a visitor to find out what the web site is all about?
Try this idea yourself and then try to request the aid of some of your buddies. The more people you’ve got to analyze your website, the more comprehensive your results will be.
Ideally, the website should load top to bottom and left to right. Nevertheless, your design should conform to the reading habits of your market. Some states read from right to left thus, be sure to understand your audience. In addition, the most eye catching components should load first. Once these load, they are going to capture the visitor’s focus. Afterward, the remainder of the webpage can complete loading.
What Images Format Should I Use?
This really is most likely among the much overlooked aspects of website design. How often have you seen a website and cringed at the slow loading graphics. I will bet you didn’t stick around to see everything load.
John Dick
Springtide Associates Limited
Springtide House,
9 Kennet Drive
Congleton,
Cheshire
Congleton Office: 01260 633 333
Company Registration number 7135149
info@springtide-associates.com
http://www.springtide-associates.com/