5 Key Factors You Have Not Considered in Your Web Design Planning
So, you think you've planned everything that your website should include? Well, take a look at this article before answering that question, even before you start designing!
I know you know that when building and designing a web site, you should put the customer first and design with them in mind. But below you'll find 5 key factors that I hope you didn't overlooked. I bet you might of missed one.
Key Factor #1: Types of content
Include content that matches your brand personality, but more importantly gives your audience what they want and need. If you're designing a site for seniors, include videos and graphics, (or info-graphics), to help them browse and digest content. If your audience will be seeking technical information, include all the details and intricacies they'll want. Include social media plug-ins for a younger audience and business-related social media for a professional audience.
Key Factor #2: Page design
When you design your page, think about the user experience. How will your audience use your site, and where will they want to go when they get there? Make the navigation as easy and frictionless as possible. Understand expectations and design the pages to meet those expectations. Take a look at these two examples that both sell headphones and audio gear.
Skullcandy (www.skullcandy.com)
Bose (www.bose.com)
Each site has a style and design that fits their audience. If you were to put one product in the other site's design, the brands would seem out of place. More importantly, each brand's customer wouldn't identify with the site.
Key Factor #3: Visual hierarchy
Your design will decide what the user sees as most important. What do you want them to see, and what are they expecting? Often, the only way to emphasize one idea is to de-emphasize another. Since you've planned your page design around user experience, this is where you'll put that into practice. Make the most important content the primary item on your page; let less important items be secondary. Think about what the customer expects and how you'll deliver on that expectation.
Key Factory #4: Device and Environment
Understand the devices your audience will use and the environment where they'll access your site. Consider these three options:
Each of these environments and devices will have their own demands and possibilities. Serving a full-size site to a mobile browser is a sure path to a disappointed customer. The mobile site you built for a phone will seem sparse on a flat-screen monitor. The carefully crafted sounds and music might be perfect on a set of high-end speakers.
Knowing your audience and building with their needs in mind will ensure you give them the best experience possible. This means designing for all kinds of devices and all kinds of environments, and understanding where and on what device your customers will be visiting your site.
Key Factor #5: Technological IQ
A certain audience will know exactly what to do with a social plug-in that's only designated with a simple icon. There's also an audience that will have no idea what that means. Some processes will need explaining, and some will be completely intuitive to the user. If you're creating a sweepstakes that requires multiple steps to enter, consider a how-to video of screen captures to guide them along. If you're certain your customer knows your site and how to use it, you can shorten the explanation. It's just a matter of knowing what your customer knows, and what they don't.
When you design for your ideal customer, you're communicating with them on a level they'll expect and understand. That's the key to building a great site
I know you know that when building and designing a web site, you should put the customer first and design with them in mind. But below you'll find 5 key factors that I hope you didn't overlooked. I bet you might of missed one.
Key Factor #1: Types of content
Include content that matches your brand personality, but more importantly gives your audience what they want and need. If you're designing a site for seniors, include videos and graphics, (or info-graphics), to help them browse and digest content. If your audience will be seeking technical information, include all the details and intricacies they'll want. Include social media plug-ins for a younger audience and business-related social media for a professional audience.
Key Factor #2: Page design
When you design your page, think about the user experience. How will your audience use your site, and where will they want to go when they get there? Make the navigation as easy and frictionless as possible. Understand expectations and design the pages to meet those expectations. Take a look at these two examples that both sell headphones and audio gear.
Skullcandy (www.skullcandy.com)
- Built for a younger, hip demographic
- Site features action-oriented graphics, electric color palate, and edgy video content
- Scrolling navigation works for an audience willing to explore
Bose (www.bose.com)
- Designed for an older audience with more refined tastes
- Site features more muted color palate and clean navigation
- Focuses more on product attributes than brand image
Each site has a style and design that fits their audience. If you were to put one product in the other site's design, the brands would seem out of place. More importantly, each brand's customer wouldn't identify with the site.
Key Factor #3: Visual hierarchy
Your design will decide what the user sees as most important. What do you want them to see, and what are they expecting? Often, the only way to emphasize one idea is to de-emphasize another. Since you've planned your page design around user experience, this is where you'll put that into practice. Make the most important content the primary item on your page; let less important items be secondary. Think about what the customer expects and how you'll deliver on that expectation.
Key Factory #4: Device and Environment
Understand the devices your audience will use and the environment where they'll access your site. Consider these three options:
- An on-the-go twenty-something on his phone in a crowded subway.
- A stay-at-home mom browsing from her den on an iPad.
- A working professional in a private office with a flat-screen monitor and high-end speakers.
Each of these environments and devices will have their own demands and possibilities. Serving a full-size site to a mobile browser is a sure path to a disappointed customer. The mobile site you built for a phone will seem sparse on a flat-screen monitor. The carefully crafted sounds and music might be perfect on a set of high-end speakers.
Knowing your audience and building with their needs in mind will ensure you give them the best experience possible. This means designing for all kinds of devices and all kinds of environments, and understanding where and on what device your customers will be visiting your site.
Key Factor #5: Technological IQ
A certain audience will know exactly what to do with a social plug-in that's only designated with a simple icon. There's also an audience that will have no idea what that means. Some processes will need explaining, and some will be completely intuitive to the user. If you're creating a sweepstakes that requires multiple steps to enter, consider a how-to video of screen captures to guide them along. If you're certain your customer knows your site and how to use it, you can shorten the explanation. It's just a matter of knowing what your customer knows, and what they don't.
When you design for your ideal customer, you're communicating with them on a level they'll expect and understand. That's the key to building a great site
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