You know the old proverb “don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well whomever coined that saying never had the pleasure of visiting a terrible website. Your website is all about the first impression. Visitors judge your website within seconds, and if it isn’t memorable and intriguing, expect your bounce rate to skyrocket. So where do you start? How do you make it meaningful? What is best for the industry?  Take a look at these tips on how to create a killer digital first impression.

Navigation: You Shouldn’t Need a Map

Have you ever been to a website with a “click here for more info” and a “read more here” button? If so, you probably went straight for the ‘X’ in the corner.

Keep it simple and stick to easy navigation.  Have one toolbar with an organized dropdown feature to reduce clutter, among centralized information so traffic is not searching and searching for the information they are looking for.

Let’s Get Visual

Color. Does your website feel too routine? Or is it so out-of-the-park that it is confusing what kind of company you are?

Use a scheme, set up, and color palate that will solve this confusion. Put the psychology of color to use: blue is soothing, white is a neutral, and red is associated with anger and urgency.

Mobile. Almost 1 billion people use their phone as their primary Internet browsing tool. Don’t miss the opportunity to capture those eyes with a website that doesn’t turn into a mobile version. Don’t just think mobile friendly.

Photography: Not Just Important to Paparazzi

Remember the last time you clicked on a website’s “contact us” or “about us” page? Was there a picture of a generic looking customer service agent with a headset on?

More than 40,000 websites currently utilize those nonspecific agent photos. Reap the benefits of actually showcasing photos of employees and managers. Earn extra brownie points by including a small biography. The genuine connection a visitor will make with the snapshot and paragraph may turn them into a customer.

Typography

You could have the greatest website content around, but if it’s not readable, your website traffic will directly go for the exit route.

Shoot for font size no smaller than 14 to 16px.

Keep in mind that font style conveys emotion; choose a font that will match with the quality and feel of your brand. Sans Serif fonts provide a clean, minimalistic look. While Serif fonts are more stylish and lively.

Respect the Fold: Above & Below

Humans are visual, and thanks to our fast paced lifestyle, we are NOW creatures.  What a company displays above the fold is the front cover of your book.  Getting that traffic to scroll down is that much more challenging due to the immediacy we expect when visiting a website.

In a study conducted by Nielsen, users spend 80% of their time on webpages above the fold, compared to 19% below the fold.

Keep your important information at the top of your webpage since according to Nielsen’s discoveries, a majority of visitors won’t find it if they have to scroll.

Get Social

No website is complete without social media buttons.  Remember what we said about having critical content above the fold? Put those links at the very top right of the website.

When it comes to web design, the user is the Queen (or King!).  Design with your audience in mind, but keep to the fundamentals. What do you want your readers to think about your brand? Answer this question and the perfect website awaits.