When it comes to your website’s user experience (UX), less can definitely mean more. Adding banners, ads, and big blocks of text may seem like a great idea at the start, but it may not fetch the perfect first impression you were aiming for with your clients and customers.
If you’re wanting increased traffic with high functionality and appeal, here are 30 ways to create an engaging site that pleases your intended audience and improves their user experience.
1 .Have a Plan
Take the time to write down what exactly it is you want to present to your client or customer. Make it simple and straight to the point. For a solid UX strategy, having a plan from the starting point to the desired end result will ensure you add beneficial content to your site and reduce fillers and fluff.
2. Have a High-Speed Loading Rate
If a potential customer tries to access your page but spends minutes waiting for it to load, chances are you’ll lose that customer to a competitor. It’s easier for a customer to go back to the search results and choose a similar company than to wait around for your page to load. Time is precious and in an age of instant gratification, no one wants to wait around.
3. Color Appeal
When looking for a professional service, an appealing complimentary color palette does wonders in construing a reputable and proficient UX website and business. Know your audience and cater your visual appeal to it.
4. Write a Bold Headline
Your visitor appreciates clear, concise, to-the-point headlines. They are visiting your site for a specific reason and want to find exactly what they are looking for. If your headline is jumbled and rambling, the visitor may be confused as to what is actually being presented.
5. Smart Logo Placement
A logo helps customers and clients easily identify a business. Let your customers know they found the right place by placing your logo in a prominent, easy-to-find location on your homepage.
6. Use Real Photography and Videos
Using stock photos can create a generic look for your website. Having quality, unique images focused solely on your company and brand allows your user to find a visual or emotional connection, helping to create a long-term relationship.
7. Find Your Purpose
What are you all about? What do you hope to accomplish? Who are you trying to reach? It is extremely important to know your brand. It allows you to cater specifically to your intended audience and provide a clearly defined service or product.
8. Less is More
Rarely will you find a user who has the time or attention span to read through an overly wordy welcoming message or description. Eliminate unnecessary filler and focus on the main ideas you would like to present. This can usually be done in under three sentences.
9. Add More White Space
When too many elements are present, your site can look sloppy and frantic and can affect UX. Ample amounts of white space allow the user to focus solely on what’s most important and pertinent.
10. Skip the Fancy Fonts
With so many different fonts available, using a certain font can be useful in adding to the feeling or atmosphere you are trying to construe. However, customers prefer reading easily legible text than spending extra time deciphering curly-cues and comic book print.
11. Choose Functionality Over Visual Appeal
Creating a visually pleasing site can sometimes override the practicality of having one that’s user-friendly and highly functional. However, more than likely your page was sought out for its information or services offered. Spend time creating a functional, proficient UX site before adding in visual enhancements.
12. Eliminate the Unnecessary
Clutter is distracting, in the real world and online. If it’s not pertinent to the specific message or idea, then remove the unnecessary information so your customer or client can zero in on what’s important.
13. Include a Search Field
If a visitor can’t find what they are looking for on your homepage, provide an easy way for them to search. No one wants to click through page after page hoping to find what they’re looking for, and chances are nobody will waste their time doing so. Add a search field to your homepage menu bar to provide instant results and direction.
14. Use Straight-to-the-Point Menu Items
Specific wording on your menu allows easy maneuverability throughout your site. Eliminate the guesswork by using simple, exact terms.
15. Social Media Icon Placement
You want to show your website visitors that you have a presence on the social media scene, but don’t let it detract from the message you are presenting on your site. Keep social media icons off to the side to allow your website content to really shine.
16. Avoid Testimonial Overkill
Getting positive feedback is a wonderful achievement for any new service or business. However, scanning through dozens of testimonials could cause your audience to question the authenticity of the claims, especially if they are overly positive. Keep it simple by displaying a concise, well-written testimonial to give potential customers a subtle push toward using your service or product.
17. Provide Contact Information
Many visitors want to directly communicate with you or a customer service representative of your brand. Providing a specific section to easily find an e-mail address or telephone number for your brand eliminates hassle and frustration.
18. Create an Engaging Onboarding UX
Many websites include multiple features that may seem overwhelming to a new visitor. Creating an onboarding overlay helps to provide information on how each feature works, enabling your visitor to experience a smooth first encounter.
19. Don’t Greet Visitors with Immediate Pop-Ups
If the first thing that greets your visitor upon entering your site is a pop-up asking for your e-mail address to join a mailing list, chances are you have already created a less-than-ideal first impression. Allow your visitor to freely peruse your site before offering the option of joining a mailing list.
20. Have a Searchable FAQ or Wiki
It is quite possible that in reaching more customers, the same questions will be asked over and over. Create an easily usable FAQ or Wiki section that enables your customers to find the answers they are looking for, and lessens the load of repeated inquiries you receive.
21. Identify Broken Links
Broken links are an unfortunate occurrence that keeps your visitors from accessing valuable content. Always ensure your site’s links are functional and in working order.
22. Add a Call-to-Action Button
Make your queries stand out by adding a call-to-action button to draw attention to an important question or information field.
23. Keep Forms Simple
Narrow down the information you require to keep your customer from becoming annoyed with an overly complicated form. You could even simplify the process further by asking only for an e-mail address and providing follow-up through that channel.
24. Use Scroll Cues
When entering a site, especially on a mobile device, it is not always apparent that the page continues past the framed content. Use scroll cues, such as arrows or signs, to indicate to the user that additional content is below.
25. Link Your Posts
Ensure that your content reaches a larger audience by inserting links to similar content you have created in posts and articles. This allows the user to spend more time on your site and utilize more areas and features.
26. Make Your Website Accessible Across Platforms
If you visit a site on your computer at home and then try to access it from your smartphone while at work, you expect the same website layout and function on both platforms. When a web page isn’t formatted for mobile use, it creates a very difficult problem in usability and the potential for lost customers or clients.
27. Add a Chat Feature
Once again, instant gratification guides many online users when searching for services or products. They want questions answered quickly because they want to buy now. Adding a chat feature with an attendant on standby ensures your site will cater to the most impatient of visitors.
28. Avoid E-mail Bombardment
If you have been able to gather a significant amount of email addresses for your mailing list, don’t make the mistake of sending out a newsletter or announcement too frequently. Timing is everything. You risk being marked as spam and lose a valuable marketing tool.
29. Use Negative Feedback to Your Advantage
Never write off the negative feedback you may receive from your website’s users. It is a valuable tool in helping you fine-tune areas that may need an edit or redo. Always strive to create a better site that can serve every visitor.
30. Review Analytics
It is very important to track the data generated by your website. Keep track of visitor traffic and what pages are getting views and which aren’t. This is a great tool for adjusting your site to better suit the wants and needs of your audience.
All of these strategies for creating a better UX generally focus on one main component: great customer service. Your site needs to provide elements that cater to your customer to ensure he gains an enjoyable experience from using your site. A positive outcome is achievable if your focus doesn’t waiver from providing excellent service to your audience.
