Making Content Count In Website Design
You've heard it said over and over: content in king. It matters more than you may realize, particularly in these days where users have plenty of access to eye-popping mobile apps and graphics programs that meet their needs for the "wow factor." Visitors to typical websites are not coming there to be entertained, but to get the information they need about your products or services. Give them what they are looking for in the content you provide and they will thank you for doing so. Read here about some ways to keep your website relevant and informative while also engaging visitors in the process.
The first thing that will turn people off when they click onto your web pages is poor grammar and spelling. It doesn't matter how valuable your content actually is if they start to doubt your credibility due to poorly constructed sentences. Spell checking programs help, but they cannot do the job alone. Enlist help from friends, family or professionals if needed, but make sure that you are writing clear, concise and highly readable content.
It is easy to pick up valuable facts and figures from other sources online, and there is nothing wrong with doing this as long as your sources are credible and you do not practice plagiarism on any level. If you must use other people's idea rather than your own, then in the very least write the ideas in your own words. Stealing content from others will leave you vulnerable to lawsuits and will decrease your credibility with potential clients.
Check all content to make sure that you are not interjecting personal preferences or prejudices into your writing. Keep away from all politics; this is not the place for idealism or personal choices. Avoid any language that could be interpreted as racist or sexist. Honor all visitors by respecting personal differences and keeping things on a professional level. Stay away from humor if it has indications of preconceived notions about people or society.
Even if you are an expert on a particular subject, avoid lengthy explanations and in-depth looks at a product or process. The attention span of a typical online visitor is very short these days, so keep things short and sweet. Make every word count and get your point across in a natural and understandable manner. You can always include links to extra pages for those who want more details, but do not assume that visitors want this. They usually do not.
Though a visually appealing website is important, this does not mean that it is your prime concern. By all means, include photographs or illustrations, but make them relative to the content and make sure they support it rather than overwhelm it. Keep graphics in a low resolution in order to avoid long loading times. Include video if appropriate, but let readers choose whether to open it. Never have video or audio start on its own, leaving site visitors no choice in the matter. They will likely click out of your site if you do this.
You have valuable things to say and to offer to those who care enough to enter your site. Keep this as your foremost priority and use the ideas here to help your visitors navigate easily through the the website that you have worked so hard to create.
