LATEST News - What makes a Good Website

If I had to try and explain what makes a good website it would come down to a number of different things. Of course it matters what your audience is, but mostly the experience the user has when they find you.

You get something silly like seven seconds to communicate your message before the user goes elsewhere, this doesn't seem like a lot but compared to print media this is about three times longer.

So the first thing that your site needs to do is stand out.

Looking good is only the start, you need to make sure your visitor can find their way around without getting lost, keeping the navigation clear and in the same place on every page will ,make your user feel comfortable to explore your site.

So far we have standing out and clear navigation.

The old saying is content is king, this is so true, people can easily determine if your website is fur coat with no knickers!

Keeping the content layout clear, using relevant images and simple to understand bullet points (unless it's a news article) so information is snappy and easy to understand.

So we have look, feel and message.

Keeping it simple and offering your user a reason to come back, whether it's a fantastic product or price or even information they can't find anywhere else.

Integrating your site with social networking creating a community where your user can experience your company up close and personal, but beware of the pitfalls (look out for the article on the perils of social media and blogs next month).

A website is more than an online brochure these days, it's a two way communication between you and your customer so it's important to get it right.

< BACK TO THE NEWS HOME PAGE