10 Website Design Do’s & Dont’s /
Website design is an indispensable aspect of digital marketing, and your website should be consistent with your brand’s overall image and feel, while accurately reflecting the purpose of your equine business.
Your competitors may be just a click away, so if your website doesn’t meet the needs of your users, they’re likely to move on. When designing your website, try to make every decision from the customer’s point of view, and therefore making their visit as pleasant as possible!
Here are 10 important website design do’s and don’ts that’ll help leverage your equine business…
DON’T show automatic pop-ups too early
Pop-up boxes can be great for advertising a discount for new customers, or to help grow your email marketing list. However, pop-up boxes are designed to be interruptive, so displaying them immediately could be annoying for your visitors, and they may decide to close the window and not view your content at all. Instead, prevent the box from popping up until your customer’s have spent a certain amount of time on your website, or reached a certain point on your webpage.
DO optimize your site for mobile devices
A poor mobile presence can give off all the wrong impressions. In fact, 57% of users say they won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile site. Nowadays customers expect to be able to easily browse mobile websites - just making sure it looks good isn’t enough. So, make sure to test your website for how it looks and functions on a mobile device!
DON’T forget to add calls-to-action on every page
Think of a call-to action as a signpost that lets your customer know what to do next. They are a crucial part of your webpage, and you may even use multiple on each page. For example, they might give clear instructions on how your customers can find your products, or sign up to your newsletter, or they might just encourage customers to continue using your website. You can put emphasis on call-to-action buttons by using fonts or contrasting colours that really stand out.
DO make it easy to scan through your webpages
Make sure your customers don’t feel the frustration of scrolling through a website in a rush, while not being able to find what they need through all the clutter. Avoid walls of never-ending text, and instead focus on visual elements with short headings and titles, so visitors can quickly find what they’re looking for.
DON’T underestimate the power of photography
Photographs are useful for capturing the attention of visitors, but they can also help to convey a message without the need for words. Photos can also help customers feel more of a connection to your brand, but avoid using cliché, insincere imagery as this will have the opposite effect. Read our blog on ‘How to Select the Perfect Stock Photos for your Brand’ for useful tips on finding and editing stock photos.
DO direct attention with visual cues
A well-designed website should be able to guide users without the need for overwhelming instructions. This could be as simple as increasing the size of a call-to-action button, or by having a horse or person looking in the direction you want visitors to look in.
DON’T use too many colours
Colours can convey a variety of feelings, however using to many can make your site look confusing or loud. Instead, try using a colour scheme limited to just a few colours which reflect your brand image.
DO choose fonts that are easy to read
It is commonly recommended to use a maximum of three different fonts for your website. Therefore, it is important that you ensure the font you use resembles your brand’s personality, while being easy to read so users can easily find information. It’s best to use decorative fonts as headlines and titles only, otherwise it can force strain on the reader’s eye in larger bodies of text.
DON’T forget to use social proof
Social proof is a psychological phenomenon in which people copy the actions of others. Show casing social media shares, case studies, or testimonials could really play to your advantage. Read our blog ‘The Power of Testimonials and How to Ask for them’ for some more useful tips on this.
DO find a balance between a functional & unique design
Whatever you do, don’t sacrifice usability for the sake of beauty! If your website isn’t simple and straightforward to use, then unfortunately customers won’t care how pretty it looks.
EQuerry / Co have years of experience in creating equestrian websites that are both stunning to look at, and easy to navigate and function.
Get in contact with Christine if you think your equine business could do with a helping hand, or book a FREE discovery call for personalised advice and guidance.
