Going Online: How Design Is Affecting Business Sites Now that laptops, tablets, smart phones, and other mobile devices are within reach, it’s important to connect with a bigger audience online. Developing a site isn’t enough, however. As the competition gets tough, it needs to have a user-friendly design that isn’t heavy for users on the go.
Site Speed Many people rely on the Internet for information, so they want everything to load as fast as possible. A case study published by E-consultancy revealed that site speed is the key to improving a business’s conversation rate. About 40% of users said that they would leave a site if it will take more than three seconds to load. Regardless of the content and popularity, loading time on both desktop and mobile can make or break a business.
Responsiveness About 62% of businesses that designed their site for mobile increased sales significantly, according to the same E-consultancy study. As mobile devices are continuously dominating the market, it makes sense for businesses to start worrying about the responsiveness of their site. In fact, from 97 unique screen resolutions in 2010, it increased to 232 as of 2013. If navigation is difficult, users won’t settle for less and browse through other websites.
Above Fold According to Nielsen Norman Group, users spend 80% of their time on content and graphics above the fold and only 20% below the fold. This is due to people’s shortening attention span and visit impression. Homepages and landing pages can define the interest of a visitor, encouraging them to scroll down for more. If these displayed the right content, then site owners can successfully grab a potential client. Web design is an important feature that site owners should start focusing more on. As users own different types of mobile devices, holding their attention becomes more challenging.
Sources: http://www.instantshift.com/2013/09/02/importance-of-effective-websitedesign-infographic/ http://www.business2community.com/integrated-marketing/responsiveweb-design-stats-know-0946290#!bORSo1 http://www.voodoocreative.com.au/web-design