Making Headlines

Americans are complex in many aspects of their lives.

Perhaps more than any other culture on Earth, we feel we need the latest electronic gadgets, the most advanced technology in our cars, the hot new digital camera, etc.

Most of the time, this trend is well and good. But when it comes to the visitors to your website, it may actually make your site less efficient.

While we love complexity in our gadgetry, the online consumer also has a short attention span. We want to find the information we're looking for online in the least amount of time possible.

What does not mean for web design companies?

More specifically, why do some supposedly knowledgeable Fort Lauderdale web design companies still propose complex web design solutions to their clients, when it's far more prudent to simplify?

There are so many web pages out there, and all told, the average web surfer spends less than 10 seconds on a site. If a site's design is the least bit complicated or counterintuitive, kiss that customer goodbye.

If 10 seconds is all you have to impress your online customer, what sort of impression do you want your Ft. Lauderdale computer service to make if you are hiring one to make the biggest impact?

The most flashy? Think again.

Try simplicity and familiarity.

To impress busy people short on patience and time, it's advisable to start with the simplest, most user-friendly web design you can put together.

It is not surprising that Google is one of the most successful web designs in the world. A good web designer knows that the simplest solutions work. Period.

This does not mean that the back end of the web site need to be simple, of course. You can have the most complex content management system; the most comprehensive feature set in your web design. But at the front end, the interface should be made as simple and intuitive as you can.

Of course, simple can mean different things to different web designers and Broward County network support providers alike. After all, where does one even start when putting together a simple and effective design?

For one, try a Google heat map guide on where to place where Adsense can go on a web page. This is a starting point for positioning the most relevant and poignant information on your web page.

Next, try a simple navigation: vertical/left or horizontal/top.

We all talk of change and innovation, and recognize its benefits, but in the end, we are creatures of habit and would rather go along the known, easy path rather than hunt for a new way of getting somewhere.

This principle certainly applies to web design.

Online visitors are used to navigating in a certain way. Change the path on your design and you could make it too hard for your potential clients.