Web design tips
Give them information
We are an Information Society... From the moment they enter your web site, your customers should always be able to find the information they need. If you make information readily available and easy to find, it will increase your customers' confidence in your site and keep them coming back. When customers enter your site, they are usually there to purchase an item or two. What you have to remember is that even though we are becoming more accustomed to shopping on the Internet, there is still a bit of trepidation because we can't see or touch the item we are purchasing. You can help alleviate this anxiety by providing as much information about your products as possible. The first step is to always have clear photos of every product. Most people will not buy something sight-unseen. In fact, it's even better if you include photos from different angles and close-up shots of important details. For example, if you are selling dolls, show a close-up of the face or other intricate details. If you are selling televisions, show a close-up of the remote and control panel. Other things to include are the technical specifications and measurements. Since your customers can't actually see the item, they need to know how big it is. In addition to measurements, think of including something in the photo to give them a sense of reference. One popular clothing site puts a lipstick next to each handbag they sell so that people have an idea of the size just by looking at the photo.
Another bit of information your customers should always be able to access is their shopping cart. It is helpful to have a link to the shopping cart on every page so that your customers can easily find out what items they currently have in the cart. Using JustAddCommerce, it is simple to place a "View Shopping Cart" button on any page you choose. You can even use a custom graphic so that it fits with the design of your site. Finally, your contact information should always be readily available. While this should be a link available from every page, JAC also allows you to include this information on your checkout form so that your customers will have it when they complete their order. Remember — an informed customer is a happy customer, and a happy customer often becomes a repeat customer!
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Keep it simple
A little consistency and simplicity goes a long way. Or, as the scientists would say, KISS — Keep it Simple, Stupid. With all the choices available to us, it's sometimes hard to say no. We've got a mind-blowing 16 million colors to work with, not to mention all the animations, movies, sounds and other gizmos that we can throw onto our web pages. The problem is, who is it really for? Do your viewers really need to see an animated gif every few inches or a different rainbow button on every page? Is it absolutely necessary to play "Jingle Bells" each time a viewer returns to your home page?
A few basic guildlines can help your viewers quickly find what they want and, more importantly, keep them coming back. The first rule of thumb is consistency. Keep your links and buttons in the same place on every page so that the navigation is always easy to find. Using JustAddCommerce, you can design custom purchase and view shopping cart buttons that fit with the design of your site and match the buttons you use for your links. Another thing to keep consistent is the colors you use. It is not necessary to use all 16 million colors — why not choose two or three that represent the feeling of your site? JustAddCommerce allows you to customize the colors on your shopping cart and checkout form to fit with the scheme you choose. Second, keep it simple. The web can often be a jarring arena of sensory overload. When considering multimedia and special effects, remember this: If it's only there for fun then it's only in the way. Plus, the more you add, the longer your pages take to load. We are an impatient bunch and yours is probably not the only site on the web selling a specific product. If your site is confusing and overloaded with unnecessary images, animated gifs, and sounds, you can be sure your viewers will go looking elsewhere and take their money with them. Make it an easy and enjoyable experience, however, and they are sure to return time and time again.
Holiday Design
It's always a good idea to occasionally make design changes to your site. It will let your customers know when you have new items and keeps your site looking fresh. The holiday season is an especially good time to make some quick changes that will give your site some holiday spirit without taking away too much of your turkey time. Something as simple as a holiday banner or some seasonal clipart on your home page lets your customers know that your site is dynamic and constantly updated. It's also a quick and easy way to tell your customers you appreciate them and wish them a happy holiday season. Another quick idea is to change the graphics for your purchase and shopping cart buttons. Using JustAddCommerce, it is easy to make changes. If you use the same graphic for all of your buttons, simply save a copy of it and then add some holiday touches to the original, like a snowflake, bell, or holly leaf. If you upload it to your site using the same file name, all of your buttons will be changed to reflect your new seasonal design. Once the holidays are over, replace your holiday button with the copy you saved, rename it back to the original file name, and your buttons will be back to normal. You can make several different variations on your buttons and use them throughout the year. Remember, with just a small amount of time and effort, you can give your site a bit of holiday spirit.
Consistency in design
Consistency builds familiarity, and while that may breed contempt elsewhere in the world, on the Internet it is a good thing. Remember that while you know your web site backwards and forwards, for your visitors it may be the first time they've seen it. And if they are there to shop for something, your main goal should be to make it as easy as possible for them. Make your site easy to understand and navigate and they'll be more likely to return. Confuse and overwhelm them and they'll exit your site as quickly as they entered it.
For example, keep your navigation simple and consistent on all pages. Users should always be able to return easily to your home page and to other main navigation points in your site. The main links should be in consistent locations on every page. It's fun to design cool buttons and animations, but if the design changes on every page or is too busy to understand, your visitors may get frustrated and look elsewhere. Clear, consistent links, layout and design schemes give the user confidence that they can find what they are looking for without wasting time.
Another good feature is to list all of the main links at the bottom of every page as text links. This way your visitors don't have to scroll all the way back to the top if they want to jump to another section. This is also helpful if you are using flash buttons or even graphics for your main section links - if for some reason the graphics don't load or the user doesn't have the required plug-in, at least they will still be able to navigate your site. In addition, as more people begin to use their cell phones for web browsing, simple text links will allow your site to be viewed on many different platforms.
Remember, keep it simple and your visitors will keep returning.
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