Don’t Diss Design – It Matters!
Okay, so take a guess: how much time do you think it takes the average person to form a first impression after landing on your webpage? A study by researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2012 discovered that it takes all of two-tenths of a second to produce that impression. This makes your design ever so much more vital, as your visitors certainly have choices, and if they are not bowled over by your design elements, you can be sure they are going to seek more attractive pastures. This is also a big trust factor with your visitors: a poor design will frequently lead to the inevitable feeling that there might be other parts of your business which are just as shoddy.
How can we promote good design?
The first place to start is with some thought. Finding out how you intend to present your brand and products is largely influenced in the planning stage. That same study revealed that your logo gets the lion’s share of a visitor’s attention, with images and social interaction following closely on its heels. In other words, the visual elements matter! Now that you have the data, you truly have no excuse. I mean you really don’t, because expense is no viable excuse for inaction. Crowdsourcing sites like 99Designs, CrowdSpring and others have made what was past a very high-priced undertaking, into a very achievable endeavor.
How are the benefits?
The benefits of good design are more plentiful and quite often less obvious than you may think at first. While a killer look for your website and graphics is a no-brainer, other elements like product packaging, advertising, and even infographics are being shared, Pinned and ReTweeted from your pages. This can have a significant effect on your site’s reach, and customer base. Furthermore, the good feelings that an excellent design impart may be intangible, but not when you watch your site’s traffic increase because of it! Have a cold hard look at your design elements today!