There are many things that factor into first impressions for a website. To name a few, your logo, load time, colors, layout, images and popups all come together to either impress or disappoint visitors. So often, these factors get tackled separately, trying to master one at a time. Sometimes even focusing on one and foregoing all the others.
Websites involve lots of moving parts, so it’s important to remember how they appear and function as a whole. First impressions are significant, so try to gain some perspective on your site ever so often.
Keep in mind that bad first impressions can leave the following imprints on visitors:
- You do the bare minimum
- You don’t pay attention to detail
- You don’t care about your audience
While positive first impressions can send a different message:
- You take pride in what you do
- You have invested in this business
- You carry yourself with professionalism
Here’s a few approaches to help put the entire picture together.
Do you have a clear identifiable logo? Seeing a professional logo builds trust and can easily set your business apart from others. Don’t miss this chance to be memorable.
Do you have a (good) primary image? Photos are now central to many styles and designs, so take the time to choose one that reflects your values and resonates with your audience. An outdated or unrelated image will cause visitors to lose interest fairly quickly.
Are your colors too average or too crazy? Most industries have particular colors commonly associated with them, so try to break away from the pack. Set yourself apart from the competition in a good way. Going too wild could feel tacky. Allow your colors to make an impact without being jarring.
Does your site have direction? The hard part is getting customers to your site, so once they’re there, make it easy for them to do what they came to do. Know your audience and give them a good call to action. If there is no clear path or direction on your site, visitors might stray. (And take your bounce rate with it.)
Is your content dated or generic? Don’t get caught with stale old standard content on your site. Make sure it’s updated regularly, reflects your brand, and benefits your customers. If content is boring or confusing, you will seem out of touch with your audience, and thus not a good fit. Make your language easy to understand so that customers feel comfortable.
Do you have digital clout? There should be blogs or testimonials visible on your site, showing that you know your industry and have satisfied customers. Seeing content clientele and reading relevant tips or insight is a huge advantage for consumers. Give your business some credibility, making it more personable and trustworthy.
By and large, design plays the largest factor in getting new visitors to stay on your site. Make sure your interface is clean, organized, and appealing. Also, consider the extra advantage that a good first impression makes visitors more likely to accept some hiccups down the line, should they happen. A compelling first impression could be the difference between inactivity and conversion.