The aesthetics and functionality of your website play a significant role in retaining customers and making new ones. If a user has a bad experience trying to perform an action on your website, they will get frustrated; that way, you’ll lose a chunk of potential customers. It’s also bad for SEO.
The customer’s first impression of your website matters a lot. For instance, if a gamer searches online for news on slots without GamStop and the first few websites take too long to load, are overloaded with ads, or don’t display correctly on their device, they might be discouraged from searching even further.
To avoid this problem, it’s advisable to choose wisely when selecting a template for your site. However, not all templates you find online are ideal for your website and the services you offer. Here are some key factors to consider when selecting a template for your website.
Header Design
The header, as the name implies, is the first thing you stare at when you look at a website. Its goal is to ensure the audience gets a warm reception when they first land on your site. The header should make them want to take a tour of the website. Many websites use their brand logo and images as their header with some text that tells the viewer what the brand is all about and usually includes a call to action.
Depending on your brand, you may or may not be b able to use se images to gr the message across to your viewers. Amazing visuals can work well for spas, hotels, the food and beauty industry. If pictures don’t do justice to the header, you can use simple images with some form of text in the background. To choose the best, it’s advisable to browse several templates just to get an idea of how the header should appear on your site.
Navigation Design
This is super important, especially when you’re considering user experience. In physical stores, signboards and employees usually show you where to go if you want something specific. Imagine walking into a store and going through all the items on the shelf just to get what you want. You’d probably not want to visit anymore because doing it all alone is time-consuming. This concept is the same for online sites.
The menu bar helps with easy navigation and can guide customers to find what they want quickly. The key is simplicity- your menu bar shouldn’t be overly crowded and should have simple colors and legible font.
You can also lay out sections on the page based on hierarchy. For example, you can color code sections or add the blog section to the left. The key is for the pages to be organized and easy to navigate. You can take it up a notch higher by adding a live chat option to aid potential customers in their search.
Functionality
Aesthetics matter, but what’s the use of having a cool-looking site that’s not responsive or functional? Colors can draw in customers, but they need to be able to perform various actions on your site successfully. An unresponsive site will increase your site’s bounce rates, reduce customer satisfaction, and can be bad for SEO.
Start by stating what you want customers to achieve on your site for the best functionality. Do you want them to sign up for your newsletter, shop your products or contact you for more information? Clear answers to this will help you select the suitable web template for your site. Also, before you launch your site, test run it with your friends, family, and associates to get feedback on hats not working and improve on it before the final launch.
Content Display Area
Your content is your message to your customers. It can be in texts, images, videos, or a combo of all three. These provide information about what services you’re rendering or products you are offering. It’s best to have content for each stage of your buyer’s persona journey, i.e., the awareness, consideration, and decision stages.
Prioritize simplicity over complex designs and organization over clutter. The goal is to help the customer navigate your content with ease and without any form of stress. Your content area can be a photo gallery if you’re into photography or a blog if your offer services or products, and it should include a direct call to action. If you’re using a blog, use white spaces to not overwhelm the user with so much info at once. Providing bite-sized information and using simple language is ideal for maximizing customer experience.
Conclusion
Your website is the bridge between your brand and your customers. It’s their first impression of your brand online, and it should effectively represent your brand and what it stands for.
Shabby-looking, cluttered, and overly colorful web pages are a no-no for customer experience. Your website should look simple, easy to navigate, highly functional, and accessible through multiple devices. It would be best to look out for all these when choosing a website template.