Many businesses are opening a second location on the world wide web, and in the magical land of www, the culture is a little different. Here’s some tips to keep within cultural expectations.
Above the Fold
In newspaper strategy, they place the most important headlines above the newspaper’s fold so the readers can see the best information and buy a paper. The strategy has worked so well that the web is using it as well. At best, you want to keep most of your important information above where the user would have to start scrolling. Some websites are able to keep all information above that fold.
Top Corners
Your best information should be in the top corners of a website, such as a call to action like shop or subscribe or your company logo. Web users tend to first look in the upper right hand corner of a website, and then move to the upper left hand corner to start reading left to right.
Speed
Everything is high speed on the internet including how long people spend on a website and how long people will wait for a website to load. Design with those thoughts in mind. Content should be short and to the point. Information should be pleasing to the eye, quick to find, and require the least amount of clicks to get there. Headlines and graphics should be engaging and inviting. You don’t need too many graphics or flash content. In fact some of the best websites require the simplest codes and features. Keep in mind too all information should be compatible in other browsers including phones.
Interactive
People do not go online just to sit alone behind the computer screen. They interact with other people, make friends, play games, use applications, and solve their problems. Your website should provide research, interaction (like a contact us page, poll, place for comments, and/or a user forum), and fun in addition to meeting business objectives.
