Notice a Few Things.
Webpage Navigation
Go to eBay, arguably one of the most popular website for bargain hunters. Check out the navigation for the categories on the left hand side. No flashy buttons that blink and pop when you select them. There are two reasons to have text navigation on your website. One is that graphics take time for your browser to load. And the other, more important reason, is that they are search engine friendly. The text can be read by the search engines and is considered 'relevant content'.
Overall Design.
Again, looking at eBay, notice that they have a couple of eye catching graphical blocks or banners that are promotion a couple of items or categories that they are pushing this week. But they do not have a confusing amount of little boxes all over the site. Now look at MSN, I am not trying to say that MSN is not a great site, but if you are a novice computer user it is easy to see that you could stare at that site and not be able to figure out what to do or where to go if you are looking for a specific item. I am 48 and I built my first computer at 20 and I feel a little overwhelmed when I go to sites like MSN.
Pretty Pictures.
OK, now go to Amazon and check any book in there vast inventory. Here is an example -HERE- this book is about learning Dreamweaver. It is the program I used to make this website. Notice the picture of the book an notice that you can click on the picture and see pages from the book. WHAT, it is a book for gods sake, why do I need to see a picture of the inside. Well Amazon learned early on that the listings that had pictures of the book sold much better. People, even I, want to see what I am spending $40.00 on. Yes, even if it is a book and the cover has almost nothing to do with the quality of what's inside.
Do you want customers to buy your products online?
It is all in the Design.
Most people think that you need a Flashy Website to get your customers attention and get them to hit the 'Add To Cart' button. This is one of the misconceptions of website design. Many companies make allot of money overselling there services and make you website that is very slick and may win a design competition. But this also can mean that the beginner or intermediate computer user, and potential customer, will be staring at you first page trying to figure out what to do next. Or if they have a dial-up connection they may be sitting around for a long time waiting for you cool graphics and flash to load. We all know how that feels!
You want something that is visually attractive, but also something easy on the eyes and easy to navigate. The best webpage design is one that naturally shifts your attention to the content and the navigation of your site. Your customer should see the product or services you provide, specific information about those products or services, clear and accurate photographs of your products, pricing, ordering and contact information. The navigation on your site should make it easy for your visitors to find the items they are searching for.
Look at some of the most successful website's, eBay, Amazon, and the most simplistic
Google. They all have very
simple design, logo on the top and navigation on theft side or on
the top under the logo. No Flash/Animation crazy load screens, No complicated
navigation with interactive buttons. Granted these website's try to sell 100's of products
so they have allot of content on the front page. Maybe more that you will
need on your site.
Your website should have some graphical elements, pictures, animation,
flash, but not to much. Just enough to look visually interesting and highlight your products and services. But, to much 'Web Bling' can
make it difficult for your customers to find what they are searching for, distracting and confusing to look at and increase the load time of the site. And
most importantly "It Usually Costs More!"
It sounds simple and strait forward but it makes allot of difference when
you are shopping around. Most web surfers, potential customers,will click away from a site after only 4 or 5 clicks if they cannot find what they are looking for or do not like what they see. You need to realize that many web surfers are not 'computer savvy' and many are older people that can be easily confused by a complicated website.
Do some research for yourself, search for Website's
that offer the same products that you plan to offer on your website. Look at the design of your competitors
sites and how easy it is for you to find specific products or information. Use
the criteria that I mentioned and see how many site's 'break the rules' and risk confusing and frustrating
there customers. If it is to complicated to find the information that they are
looking for, your customers will go somewhere else.
The Our Website Design Team on Maui is here to help you build a beautifully designed website, practically, affordably and with aloha!
Contact us to get started. (808) 276-6340