Today, the internet is the prime source of information for consumers looking for a product or a service. A business’ target market will naturally use the search engines to find what they want, and from the results produced, browse prospective websites before they finally decide to buy, or sign up for a newsletter by trusting the website with their contact information. In order to reach that point, the website must appeal to them by being easy to navigate through intuitive web design. When consumers enjoy a positive experience on a website, they are more likely to respond to the website’s call to action.
It follows from this that a business, besides offering great content to engage its market, must also focus on its website design and come across in such a way that the visitor is motivated to look forward to connecting with the business via the website.
What is intuitive web design?
A website’s design is considered intuitive when its content is presented in a manner that makes it easy to access from all types of devices, such as the personal computer, smartphone, laptop and netbook. The website selects the most suitable template for the device and displays the content, loading quickly, enhancing the user’s browsing experience.
It is well known that users do not have the time to sift through content to find what they want especially on smaller screens. They would rather move on to a different site where the information they need is easily accessible. This means determining what the user needs to see to ensure their browsing experience is positive and results in action.
The importance of intuitive web design
A website is a business’ online presence, through which it reaches a wide audience, conveying its message and positioning itself as a trustworthy brand to attract its target audience. When visitors find it hard to navigate the website, it results in lost business and defeats the goals of the business. The information offered must be useful so that it can be leveraged to take the business forward.
Since Google has made it very clear that content will continue to rule, businesses must essentially use content to connect with customers and this must be supported by web design that adapts itself to all devices. Once a content strategy is in place, the next step is to make it easy for visitors to access the content through responsive web design.
Some tips to make web design intuitive are:
- Understand your target visitor’s needs
- Incorporate a prominent navigation bar that shows the visitor where to go
- Add calls to action appropriate to the goals of your website
- Link to related content within your website
- Design specific and focused landing pages so that they convert visitors into customers
- Include social media sharing buttons
When people like a website, they return as repeat visitors, increasing the chances for the business to convert them into buyers.
The main benefits of intuitive web design, besides increased targeted traffic and sales, are better engagement with visitors and higher search rankings. It also means increased usability, higher conversions, better competitive edge and ultimately, maximised marketing ROI.