Launching or maintaining a business these days demands balancing needs that range from the interpersonal to the legal and even the technical. For example, your business could get away with not having a website 15 years ago. Now, every business needs one.
Yet, creating a business website also means going head to head with the approximately 200 million active websites out there. You may not compete with them directly for customers, but you will compete for attention.
This competition makes website design and website layout crucial considerations for your site. If you want a website that helps you keep customer attention, keep reading for five website layout tips.
1. Navigation Bars
One of the reasons why website layout matters is because it directly influences user experience. In essence, user experience refers to the way that visitors to a website feel about their interactions with the website.
One common complaint about website layouts is poor navigation. People who can’t find what they need or want typically dislike the website. This makes clear and simple navigation bars essential.
2. White Space
Far too many website layouts try to cram as much as possible onto every single page. That kind of information density is counterproductive. It’s often hard on the eyes and makes processing what you see difficult.
Look for ways that you can build white space into your website pages. White space is the unoccupied space that you see between parts of the page.
For example, it’s why bloggers often use short paragraphs. That extra space makes reading and understanding easier.
3. Spread Out Calls to Action
Every business website needs some calls to action. Yet, many layouts cram those calls to action “above the fold.” That means that visitors see a call to action or more than one in the area of the page they can see immediately after the page loads.
While calls to action above the fold can prove useful, consider sprinkling them below the fold as well.
4. Frontload What Customers Want
For business websites, you must always consider what the customer actually wants.
Minimally, you should have obvious links to core information, such as services or products, on the home page.
5. Get Help
The reality is that good DIY website design, including layout, is increasingly difficult to pull off. If you aren’t seeing the kind of results you want, get outside help from a professional website design service.
A professional service can often solve problems you don’t even know about as part of their basic process.
Website Layout and You
While website layout isn’t necessarily the most exciting element of website design, it’s still crucial to creating an effective website design. Good website layout plays a crucial role in how and even if your potential customers find the information they want.
With such intense competition in the online space, though, seeking professional design assistance is often the road to the best results.
Enfuse offers website development and design services for SMBs in the LA, Orange, and Riverside areas. For more information about our design or website redesign services, contact Enfuse today.