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A good web design is important for content marketing

Why web design ?

​Whenever you go shopping, what first attracts is the packet, its color and design. Then comes the label and finally the ingredients. Same goes true with the two concepts. Web design and Content Marketing go hand in hand.

Content Marketing involves the creation and sharing of online material that does not directly promote a product but persuade readers to develop interest in it. Web design involves planning and creation of layout, text style, structure, graphic, images etc. to attract customers read your content. For example L’Oreal’s makeup.com. The blog presents large content related to make up in the form of tips, tutorials, images and videos. This in turn inclines readers’ towards the brand.

Important points to keep in mind while web design:

  • Look and feel – It is the first impression to your customer. Minimal or no use of tacky colors, subtle background and least distractions (ads, banners, pop ups etc.) give a positive feel to the viewer to explore the contents of the webpage or site. A clean design and well defined page structure is most important to give a professional look and win the trust of readers.
  • Accessibility – Primarily, the content should be well categorized and within easy approach of the viewer. Drop down menus, understandable categories & sub categories, average density of tabs, side menu panes make navigation easy so that the visitor do not have to dig deep to find details.
  • Textual comfort – Choose a clearly readable font style to present your content. Do not keep too many variations. A single font style in body maintains the concentration of the reader. A clear differentiation between the headline, sub-headline and body can be ensured by varying the font size, but not by too much. Font color must not be similar to the background to ensure visibility. A combination of light background with bright font is most preferable. Small paragraphs, use of bullets and numbered lists, proper use of headlines makes it easier for the reader to comprehend the information.
  • Illustrations – Mere reading can be a bit boring and repetitive. You can add on your web design with videos, charts, graphs, animations, voice recordings etc. It helps memorize the visitor about your content and is more appealing than any other mode.
  • Usability – With advent of smartphones and tablets, accessibility has confined from desktops to mobiles. The web design thus used shall be compatible with all the interfaces. The page must be familiar to features like text adaptation, image compression, menu minimization etc.
  • Subscription and share – If your web design allows these two options, they must preferably be put at the end or on the right/left to avoid distraction during reading.

Marketing is not about supplying what people want to buy, rather creating the demand of what you want to sell. To create such demand, display it content friendly, taking care of the potential readers and visitors. Compel them to read what you want them to. So, keep in mind the points just discussed and enjoy designing your idea in digital world.

Mistakes to Get Rid of for Every Designer

As a designer, there are quite a lot of things to consider to ramp up the design. It is easy for the designers to turn things around in order to get an easy, simple, elegant and beautiful piece of art. But there are times when they fail to achieve the desired outcomes and the results look ruined. Not living up to the expectations is terrible but if you take these tips seriously and avoid these mistakes, you are going to get good results.

#1 Designing for every user

This is really a bad idea because today is the time when every user has different requirements. For this purpose, you as a designer cannot design something specifically for one user but have to be creative enough to design a masterpiece that everyone would love to see. Spending billion amounts of dollars is not going to work but a smart strategy is!

So don’t keep only a little segment in mind while designing but take everyone in consideration. That everyone doesn’t include advertisers, bots, and searchers etc. because they might get your website spammed with false links or fake download buttons. To actually create a nice user experience, keep the mantra “design for the user” in the mind. But not for everyone, mind it!

#2 Giving what the boss wants

Not bad to follow what the boss says but you should have the courage to put forth your suggestions. After all you are the designer, not your boss. That piece you are going to design should have a clear and understandable prototype before the final design is made. If you go against the boss and still produce something really exceptional, he is going to love you for that. Be daring enough though!

#3 Experiment

Last on the list is not experimenting with new things! As a designer, you will fail miserably if you are not a risk taker. It is easy to go along with what you are used to but creating something exceptional takes your extra energy and efforts. So inculcate the habit of playing around with different sketches to come up with an extraordinary and beautiful design!

Do Mobile Navigation Menu Design Matters to Attract People?

Yes, it does! The mobile navigation menu is there for a purpose which acts as a bridge between the user and the website. Since the user explores the website through navigation or categories, it is important to guide him in a right direction. A messed up and cluttered navigation menu with broken links is a big NO to the web design.

Although there are various types of navigation menu bars available, yet you have to make your pick to enhance the overall appeal of the website. A good navigation design provides an enriching experience to the users, let’s discuss the functioning now:

Function of the Navigation Menu

Provides better structure

Navigation menu acts like a sitemap which has all the necessary information about the website. A navigation menu displays the content in an orderly manner in front of users and also the structured arrangement looks visually attractive to the eyes.

Display the Important Functions

With a good navigation menu design, you can catch the immediate attention of the viewers. For example, you deal in baby dresses and to highlight the core thing, put various types of dresses in the navigation menu. Just putting the baby dresses will not work rather highlighting all the dresses would work. The proportion should be in a controlled way to avoid the viewers’ distraction because too heavy navigation menu would go opposite your set strategy.

Simplified Browsing

A good navigation menu allows simplified browsing of the website and also provides a smooth path. Hopping on to the navigation directly seems much easy instead of scrolling it through to find the product. Want to buy a particular product? Simply follow the category>sub category and filter down the search to locate that product. With an easy navigation menu, the conversion rate of the product will increase.

5 of the Best Wordpress Mobile Web Designs to Inspire You

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Creating an e-commerce web design takes so much of the time when you are yet to focus on other important things, isn’t it? But why to do it all manual when there is an outstanding option for using content management system? As you may know, Wordpress is highly sophisticated and easy to use platform with nice features, customized templates or themes, and premade plugins.

Here I bring you the 5 inspiring mobile web design list that looks stunning, check out:

Zanerobe

Zanerobe is a responsive e-commerce mobile web design that takes user experience to the next level. To turn the tables down for the competitors, this website has added the product preview on the menu itself. No wonder, people usually prefer desktop websites but this one has an outstanding traffic even on the mobile device.

Jardan

Next is Jardan, this one is my favorite too. This website looks minimalistic yet elegant with its clear call to action for each and every item in the store. Scroll through the website and you will feel connected to its user-friendly menu and product categories that are sure to give you an easy-to-navigate experience.

Vu

Yet another one in the list is Vu which undoubtedly justifies the modern web design. The most exceptional thing here is the simple yet attractive fonts that soothe your eyes. This website is surely going to leave an everlasting mark on your minds if you are thinking of creating your own e-commerce website. Their desktop version is good but the mobile version looks just awesome.

Prigipo

Colors, nice effects, and user-friendly experience are all that Prigipo offers to the users. While scrolling, you get to see the tempting effects and the major focus on user-friendliness is what makes your browsing experience a quality one.

Sodashi

The last one on my list is Sodashi! This web design is specifically for e-commerce portal and the uniqueness of this design is the product information that is beautifully displayed on the homepage. The content-rich feature makes the website look natural yet simple.

​That’s all about Wordpress web design!

How Adobe’s Sensei is Powering its New Web Design Software

adobe sensei

Adobe is looking to better its software and user experience in the area of web design through the inclusion of deep machine learning and artificial intelligence. The software company has made a name for itself through its design products such as Photoshop. Now, they hope to enhance their Creative cloud, marketing cloud and document cloud through innovations in AI.

Adobe’s Sensei

The project is currently untitled, though its message is clear. Adobe is aiming to better web and graphic design through innovation in machine learning. Adobe’s machine learning software, Sensei will be the driving force behind this new software. Adobe boasts Sensei as a deep learning program whos applications are far reaching. Sensei powers a number of Adobe’s Cloud products such as the Creative Cloud, Marketing Cloud and Document Cloud. The software has also been integrated into Adobe’s Experience Manager CMS. It has been recently showcased as able to redesign large company websites but is expected to have smaller, more personal applications.

Sensei and Web Design

Senei, which again, will power the new software, collects and draws upon all of the data that Adobe has collected through its far reaching design programs to make its decisions and suggestions. Adobe has presented the software as one that will be able to aid a designer in a number of ways. For example, the software will be able to register the preferences of the user, compare those preferences against all the data it has previously absorbed and then present the user will recommendations on layouts, graphics, photos and composition.  
Designers need not to worry about the future of their profession. Adobe’s new software is mostly a major help with the tedious and time consuming design work. For example, it excels in aspects such as cropping; for now, all the artwork will be left in the hands of its human counterparts.  

Best Web Design Tools For 2017

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computer, web design tools

Creating and managing a website could be a daunting and at times overwhelming task. Luckily, there are tools scattered around the web that can make this process easier. Here are some of our favorite web design tools for the new year.

Avocode — Photoshop and Sketch Friendly

Avocode is one of the most popular plugins for web design on the market and for good reason. This tool makes it easy to exchange ideas and designs created within Photoshop and Sketch. The entire process takes place in a shared, central location which ensures that nothing is loss when transferring the design. Avocade keeps all of the layers and individual pieces of your design in place as it moves from designer to developer.  

Animaker — For DIY Design

You may be looking to create original videos for your site, if so, Animaker will guide you through the process. Animaker is shaping up to have an exciting 2017 as a number of DIY designers are turning towards the tool. Animaker prides itself on its high end graphics that bring life to any aspect of your website you desire.

Frontify — Good for Teamwork

The Frontify Style Guide software will keep your entire design team on the same page. This tool will allow you to create a guide for each project you embark on, ensuring continuity across the project which proves especially useful when working with a large team.

Visme — Presentation Perfection

Visme is one of the best pieces of presentation software you can find. This free software boasts a collection of a 1,000 plus stock images and templates. The program also gives you the option to start a presentation from scratch and will guide you through that process.

Whether you are just beginning to build your website, or are looking for a productivity boost for your already established site, these design tools will make your life easier and designing your site stress free.

Making the Most of Whitespace

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In web design, whitespace is in reference to the empty or negative space on your website. You may see whitespace around an image or text and between buttons. You can push your designs, logos and text further into the forefront when this negative space is harmonious with them. Try applying this decades old technique to these areas of your web design.

Enhancing Your Design

You can choose any color you wish to fill the spaces that envelope your design. The color that you choose, does not have to be white, it just has to be the most effective in emphasizing your design. Flat.io, is a website that helps create sheet music and whose homepage includes sign in options surrounded by a gradient blue background. They are able to not distract us with unnecessary content and have us focus on what is most important, which is their sign up options. Google’s use of this design for example, is incredibly effective through its simplicity and accentuation of the logo. They used whitespace to create an instantly recognizable homepage that is balanced, elegant and focused. Google ensured that our eyes are only drawn to the logo and the search bar below. 

Accentuating Advertisements

Many websites will increase the size of the call to action button, or present them on top of the page. This approach only becomes an eyesore and a nuisance to your users. Your call to action buttons will be more effective and less intrusive if surrounded by negative space.  Any advertisement on your page, for that matter, will be more noticeable without being overwhelming, if surrounded by negative space.

Utilizing whitespace on your website will help navigate your users through your page, and draw their attention to what you deem is most important. All the while helping your website feel contemporary and sophisticated through its minimalism.

How to Drive Up Your Conversion Rates

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increase conversion rates through web design

 

As a web developer, seeing your site not produce in the way you anticipated is disappointing. There could be many issues that drive away traffic from your website and the user experience (UX) design may be the culprit. By following these design tips, you could rework your site to drive up your site’s conversion rates.

 

Easy Navigation

High traffic means nothing if your visitors are not making their way through your website. The road you want your audience to follow has to be clear, concise and easy to follow. If your checkout procedure is full of unnecessary requirements, the likelihood of the user completing the forms or returning is slim. Also, poor web design will make your users hesitant about including their personal information. So be sure to put the time into a design that is both professional and trustworthy.

 

Clear CTAs

CTA stands for call to action. This refers to your promotional pop ups that offer subscriptions, deals or services to your viewers. Whichever form you decide to introduce your CTAs in is unique to every website but, they must be noticeable. If the call-to-action is too subtle they might be ignored. Remember that your user should not have to scan around your webpage to, for example, subscribe to your newsletter.

 

Simplicity is Key

If you have a web design that is complicated, it will create a difficult user experience. This means that most users will not want to return. However, the simplicity of your website goes beyond the visual aspect. By keeping the copy simple, creating direct headlines and producing a data capture that is straightforward, you will create a great UX and drive up your conversion rates.

 

Keeping all of these tips in mind will not only prevent issues in the future, but will help you create a website that is both high in traffic and conversion rates from the start.

 

Designing Your Online Web Form

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Example of a clear web form

The efficiency and presentation of a website’s forms remain critical to its success. Many of your users will turn away if your website requires them to fill out a complicated web form. So whether it be signing up for an email list, completing an order or posting on social media, the design of your form is crucial to a positive user experience.

Keep the User in Mind

When designing forms for your website, always keep the user in mind, just like you would with other design decisions. Create a web form that is simple, short and quick to fill out. That way, customers will be more likely to complete it, and return to your site again. You are asking a lot if you expect a customer to complete a web form that lacks auto fill, presents multiple columns and does not show mistakes as they are made. Auto fill is becoming commonplace on the Internet; many people now expect it on each form they complete. Aside from customer expectations, auto fill helps push the customer to complete it. It requires far less reading which is beneficial when most people tend to skim web forms.

Be Clear

Also, immediately informing a user when they make a mistake on the web form will create an easier experience. Showing the mistakes after the user has pressed submit will frustrate and drive away potential returning customers. In addition, correctly labeling each field will help guide your customers’ eyes through the page. Try to avoid labeling each field within the field itself. You should be labeling around the field, as the opposite may confuse the user about what they should fill in.

By using these tips as a guideline, you can create an online web form that is accessible to your users. All the while, encouraging them to return to make another purchase.

How to Design an Effective Call-to-Action

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call-to-action button

Call-to-Action buttons, or CTAs, are used by companies to entice viewers into performing a specific act. This could be an action as simple as “Buy Now” or “Click for a Free Trial”. These calls can appear as a banner or a pop up that aims to drive sales through your website. Your website’s productivity could be enhanced through the creation of effective CTAs. Here are some tips to utilizing call-to-action buttons within your web design space.

Create a Sense of Urgency

CTAs are intended to illicit an immediate response from your website traffic. You can create this feeling of urgency through carefully crafting the wording held within your call-to-action space. Using phrases such as “Order Now” or “Subscribe Today” will drive customers to make an immediate decision regarding your product or service. In addition, offering sales or discounts that will disappear with the closing of the CTA will deepen this sense of urgency.

Include Personalization

You can catch the eye of your visitors by personalizing the call-to-action to them. By including the name, location or interests of the individual, you are more likely to attract and hold their attention. Also, showing related products to your customer will further create a feeling of intimacy and differentiate your CTA from generic pop-ups.

Work on Appearance

Creating a design that is equally attractive as it is un-intrusive is vital to the success of your CTA. You have to choose where your call-to-action will be most effective on your page. For example, you will have to decide if it will take up the entire page or just a section. Wherever you land, the call-to-action display should be easily identifiable, appear quickly and be scalable to mobile devices.

Following these tips will help improve the productivity of your call-to-action prompts. CTAs can so often clutter or intrude on a website that they wind up only driving traffic away. You will see that keeping the interests of your customers in mind and putting time into the design is the only sure way to creating an effective CTA.

 

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