Since there are millions of websites, having one that stands out from the crowd with an elegant, professional design, high usability and functionality is very important.
Statistics show that visitors spend only 3-4 seconds deciding whether they like a website or not. If it does not fall into taste at first glance, they just browse on. They judge not only whether it is appealing in those seconds, but also whether what they see is relevant to what they are seeking.
Being clear in the design is therefore very important. My job is to create a relationship between you and your customer right from the first seconds they land on your website.
That's why I tailor most of the website I create.
Tailoring can be anything from a single page template used by all the pages of your website, to each page being tailored to bring out the message you want to give, both in design, images and content. As a rule, there is something in between.
You've probably ended up on pages that are packed with ads or that have popups.
Popups are very popular to use from everything to ads, newsletters, offers, etc. But, is it really so wise to use them?
Personally, I get annoyed if I have to close 2-3 popups before I can see what the page contains. And if the website is also packed full of ads around, above, under and inside the text of the page, I find it stressful and I am looking for a calmer, more clear and user-friendly website.
Statistics show that websites with lots of disruptive elements score worse on SEO (search engine optimization), so these should be used wisely.
It can be tempting to have ads on your website, after all, you earn a little every time someone clicks on the ads on your website, but all in moderation. Ads can be a good source of income if they are used on the right kind of pages.
Using ads on a blog, for example, is probably better than if you use them on the website that repents your business where you should focus on what YOU can offer the customer.
Also consider having a section at the bottom of all your pages where the customer can sign up for newsletters, instead of having a popup. First, you leave the choice to the customer himself, and you avoid irritation. You can direct the customer down to the section by using buttons elsewhere on the website. Then the customer chooses for themselves whether they want to click on the button or not.
Images are a big part of a website's design. Good related images sell. If you have small and blurry photos or images that are sandwiched or stretched, it is perceived as unprofessional and will cost you customers. It's better not to use pictures, than to use bad photos.
Fortunately, there are many opportunities to buy photos online, which ensures both copyright, license and qualification of the images you use. And if you don't have your own photos, it's a good idea.
If you have an online store, and the product images are so small that you can hardly see what it is, or that they are blurred, can cause the customer to choose not to buy.
If you run a website or online store, it can be profitable to use a image editor to adjust image sizes, lighten or darken so that everyone is the same, and also one where you can scale images proportionally so they don't get pinched or stretched.
It might be ffint to have a video going iswest on the front page of the website, but there are some things to think about there as well. First of all: Never use sound!
Since the video is located at the top and is the first thing you see, it is not common to have the start button visible there. It looks better if it plays continuously. But without sound.
If the sound starts when you load the page, it can be quite disturbing and stressful when it goes on continuous repeat.
If you have a video further down a page, it is more common to have the control buttons visible,. Then the customer can choose whether they want to watch it or not and also adjust the sound themselves.
Having a website where the colors are matched one after the other and where on the page they are used gives a whole to the website and a pleasant appearance. If the colors are also included in the logo, it's even better.
But colors can also be an annoyance or give the customer a negative experience.
Since web pages are designed to be displayed on screen and not in print, colors vary from screen to screen. Too strong/saturated colors can be perceived as uncomfortable and leave a negative impression on some screens, and should therefore be used only for things you want to attract attention such as buttons.
Dark web pages may look trendy and cool, but can be difficult to read if you are elderly or visually impaired. So dark websites should be used wisely and only if you want to attract a special audience.
The color of text should be legible no matter what background color they are placed on, so very saturated colors on a dark background can be difficult to read for some.
There are colors that go well together and there are colors that do not go well together online, so always keep your audience in mind when choosing colors in your design. Test whether the colors you choose are compatible.
All colors have a HEX code. eg. is the HEX code for white #ffffff. There are several websites where you can test the contrast between the colors you choose. I often use Coolor's contrast checker.
Colors also give different expression. If you run a nail salon, think of delicate, soft colors that give a pleasant mood. Using bright yellow as the main color would not give the feeling of luxury and well-being in the same way as peach, pink and beige.
A website for e.g. gocarts on the other hand should give a tough, strong impression, so colors like yellow, red and black would fit better there than beige, pink and peach.