Designing Your Web Site for First Impressions

First impression lasts’ is very much true for online business. Website content (texts, graphics and animations) must create a 3D picture of product/service in the mind of the consumers, and entice them to buy it. Content can make customers click to learn more or click away to another website. Which click would you prefer?

A website is like your online shop, your virtual interactive portfolio. For web design it is important to determine your target audience and then design for speed, quality, and impact to engage that target audience.

Speed
Keep the graphics to the minimum. Remember graphics don’t entice customers to pay up, the content does. The rule of graphics is use only where necessary.

Quality
Customers cannot see you or touch your product or service. They can only see what is presented to them visually on the website. Your product or service has to make an impact to make them purchase. A high quality website matters a lot. Nothing but the best is the rule when it comes to quality.

Impact
The rule of website usability is that your website has just 20 seconds. You either make an impact on your customer or you don’t in these 20 seconds. To make an impact on your customer you need to get the right mix of graphics, colors, content and layout.

Impact of Content
Content is king, it is said. It either converts a visitor into your customer or it doesn’t. Content can make or break a website. The power of the written word has been witnessed many a time. Products have become success stories, resumes transformed into high profile jobs, a 10-cent brochure into millions of dollars just because of the right word. Content should always be professionally managed by people who understand how it will impact your customers.

Impact of Colors
Pink is so feminine, ouch! Cute and light.
Blue defines power and professionalism. It’s also for space and networking.
Red is associated with love, passion, warning, excitement and action.
Green is for money, nature, animals, health, healing, life and harmony.
Gray is associated with neutrality. A sense of being reserved.

Design is important, but content is king. When publish your web site, you want your message to get across. Customers will read what you have to say if you make a good first impression. If they like what they hear, they'll come back again and again…