As time passes more and more Cypriot businesses consider having a presence in the online world. As Blue Corona stated, in a 2019 online study, “Between 70-80% of people research a company online BEFORE visiting the small business or making a purchase with them.” This implies that part of the online success of any business depends on how ‘good’ their online operations are. Do the customers find what they are looking for? Is the website helping them navigate towards their end objective? Is the website confusing to use? There is nothing more frustrating than landing on a website that is hard to navigate. Websites should contain intuitive graphics, a less complicated layout, and well-arranged content. Any visitor who lands on a cumbersome site is most likely frustrated and never comes back again. It is therefore important to have a user friendly website in Cyprus so that visitors can not only decide to stay and explore but also revisit another time. Here are some helpful tips that will assist you in designing a user friendly website:
1) Ensure that your navigation is simple and easy for use.
Anytime you decide to design a site for your business, your main objective should be to keep it as simple and intuitive as possible. Each page should contain a clear and well-named title, with clearly written sub-titles and pieces of content (text, images, videos etc). It is important to include a utility navigation for larger sites by including a small navigation bar at the top right. This helps reduce clutter and overcrowding the main navigation bar.
2) Keep your logo at the top and to the left.
A logo is a clear indication to the visitor that they are at your site. Place the logo at the top left corner of your site for easy identification. NN Group indicated that “Getting back to the homepage is about 6 times harder when the logo is placed in the center of a page compared to when it’s in the top left corner.” The logo is also a direct link to the Homepage, therefore if the visitor wants to navigate back to the Homepage, a single click on the logo would help. Another main factor that contributes to the logo been placed on the left side is stated by NN Group “Traditionally, websites display a logo in the top left corner of every page (for sites that use left-to-right languages)”.
3) Place your navigation at the top or left side of your user friendly website.
It is important that you present visitors with a clear view of the option available to navigate through the site. Placing the main navigation bar at the top (for desktop) or top-left corner (for mobile/tablet) of the page offers the visitor a quick way to run through the site and get what he/she wants. Furthermore, the navigation functionality should be above the fold at all times, no matter what device is being used.
4) Make sure that visitors always know where they are and where they need to go.
The navigation should be highlighted to indicate the page the customer is currently viewing. This enabled them to know if they ought to move forward or backward to visit an individual page. Cookie crumbs where linked headings are used and links to other pages provided to guide the visitor. Call-to-action links guide the visitor through specific pathways and present a user friendly website. These instructions dictate to the users the pages they are viewing and what action they ought to take next. Some examples of these call-to-action instructions include, “Download Now”, “Click here to Order” or “Contact Us”.
5) Use content that is simple, concise, and (relatively) jargon-free.
It is understandable that most people want to use a language that will establish them as professionals. However, don’t forget that most readers are common people and any complications in understanding your content will keep them off. Ensure therefore that you use jargon-free content which contains keywords that keep your readers at ease and make them enjoy going through the content.
6) Include contact information and make sure it is easy to find.
The main aim of a site is to ensure that you receive communication from your customers. It should be a 2-way communication channel where you provide content and services to your customers, and in return, they give you their opinions and feedback. So, make it easy for them to reach you.
Place your contact details; (email and phone number) at the top right corner or in the footer making it visible on every page. A contact form is also necessary so that potential customers can leave their contact information too. You can read more information in regards to the factors you need to avoid when optimizing WordPress speed.
You can view more related information about web design in Cyprus.
