Last week I talked about home page content when designing websites. This week I’m covering page layout and how to capture your users’ attention.
Pay Attention to Page Layout
The second most important part of designing a website is to pay attention to the positioning on the page. Hierarchy will help lead users to where they need to or should go. Obviously, the first impression needs to sit high on the page, so it’s the first thing the person sees. At this point, making your logo bigger, is not going to do you any justice.
Studies have shown that the eye flows in an F formation within the content of your site — “content” meaning the elements below your logo and menu. Users will read across the top, down the left side, across again mid-page and then back and down the left.
Do not focus on where the “fold” is; it’s been a misconception all along and new articles are popping up everywhere, like this one, about how it’s insignificant. If users want to read on, they’ll read on and scroll on with no hesitation.
Quickly Capture Attention
We all have a lot to say these days, and we want to explain so much in a little amount of space. But there just isn’t time for long pages of copy on the Internet these days. There are too many sites, too little time and lots of competition.
Think of your website almost like a billboard on the interstate: Your user has all of maybe six to 10 seconds to see who you are and what you’re about and to find what they need on your site.
They say “content is king,” but this king need not be an overly confident one because then he’s just plain obnoxious and who would want to bother? Keep it short, sweet and simple, yet know what you’re talking about. This is where I’d recommend hiring a copywriter — and one that specializes in writing for the Web.
Check back next week, for the last installment about the bare essentials of Web design. I’ll cover navigation and click-throughs.
Add your comment