Berkeley Web Design Communication, Usability and Conversions
Great Berkeley web design is more than great looking content! Professional web design involves clear communication with web visitors, displaying obvious interactive elements, explaining the use of interactive elements with clarity, and finally prioritizing information delivery to encourage desired user behaviors. Balancing all of the above with a great looking design requires a diverse skill-set and professional experience.
Clear Communication
Effective Berkeley web design starts with clear communication. In its simplest form a website is a tool for communicating with visitors and this is often overlooked by many designers. Clear and concise copy should always be used, remembering that your visitors time and attention comes at a premium.
Interactive Elements
Most all websites implement interactive elements to allow users to navigate from page to page and access the information they are looking for. Certain conventions apply when designing navigational elements like making a horizontal or vertical ‘main menu’. Additionally interactive elements should be catch a users attention and give some visual indication that they are interactive. Interactive items often perform some animation when they are hovered or clicked; i.e. underlining links or changing colors/pointer.
For an example of confusing interactive navigational elements one needs only to look at one of the many Flash powered websites which are notorious for breaking best-practice usability rules (cool animations, non-conventional designs, but often hard to use).
Explanation of Interactive Elements
With your information clearly delivered and your interactive elements identified through look-and-feel conventions and animations, labeling your interactive elements so that there is no confusion is the next step. Offering ambiguous descriptions of interactive elements, most notably in menu items, is guaranteed to frustrate site visitors so they leave your content. When labeling interactive elements, clear communication is a must.
Encouraging User Interactivity
The preceding topics of Berkeley web design encourage clear site communication, and easy to identify and understand interactive elements. With these adequately addressed the next step is to encourage users to interact with your site through instructions or calls to action. If you want users to learn about your organization on your about page then register for an email newsletter: tell them to sign up! There is no better way to increase conversation rates than to use calls to action. Whether conscious or not, calls to action motivate site visitors to perform actions you want them to and their importance should not be underestimated.
Mortimer Smythe Designs Will Make your Content Work
Great web design as detailed above is only the basis for a successful Berkeley web presence. Design, development and search engine optimization all working together will help you achieve your online goals and Mortimer Smythe Designs is here to skillfully implement all three. Contact us today to learn how easy it is to work with us and let’s get started on your web project!
