5 tips for self-built websites
When budgets can’t stretch to hiring a web designer, business owners can find themselves in the hot seat trying to Google their way through website creation.
If this sounds familiar, read on for a few pro tips to improve your website and make sure you aren’t putting your visitors off…
1. Clear navigation
Aim for no more than 7 links in the main navigation (ideally 3-5), this helps the audience avoid choice paralysis. The example above shows a clear, yet complicated navigation. Apply folders to the navigation for sub menus, or link less important items in the footer to simplify decision making.
2. Make it scannable
An excellent example of scannable (and not-so-scannable content) thanks to Jamlin & Slack
On average, a visitor to your website will read 20% of the content, for one reason - they are scanning. You may have the most interesting copy on your website but people aren’t there to read it like a book or newspaper (blogs can be an exception to this).
People are on the internet to solve a problem so they scan a page for a specific piece of information that will help them solve the problem.
How to write for scanners:
Create bulleted lists.
Use icons and images to break up text.
Use plenty of descriptive subheadings.
Write in short paragraphs.
Give each point or idea its own paragraph.
Create plenty of white space.
Highlight key points in bold.
Put important information near the beginning of sentences and paragraphs.
3. Call to actions (CTA)
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Make a button look like a button! If you want people to do something on your website then you need to ask them and make it clear how they do it. Whether you want them to purchase a product, book a call with you or explore your services/locations then they will need clear direction to do so.
I recommend having multiple CTAs on your website, even multiple CTAs on your homepage, including one in the first section visitors see.
4. Be careful writing text over images
We all love a background image - it can look fantastic on desktop. But the trap lots of people fall into is how it looks on mobile. Always test across devices and make sure you have the right contrast so that people can read what you write! Don’t be afraid to use background image opacity to increase the contrast.
5. Consider eye fatigue
Studies have shown that we are less likely to interact with websites that makes us work hard to read the content (not surprising really). But what does surprise people is the little things that could be subconsciously making your viewer work hard. Here are a two key points:
1. Minimise centralised text
Left aligned text is easier to read than centered text for paragraphs’. This is because when you center text, the starting place of each line changes.
This forces your users to work harder to find where each line begins to continue reading.
Without a straight left edge, there is no consistent place where users can move their eyes to when they complete each line.
So can you use centered text? Absolutely (even I do), BUT only for 1-2 sentences.
2. Avoid full width text
Reading across a mobile phone is easy, reading across a huge desktop screen is less so. Try to keep text to a width of 700 px so that people don’t have to move their heads while reading!
If this all sounds great but you’re still a little lost, take a look at the strategy and support services I offer. Book a power hour and get a website health check from a web and UX designer.
