How to Create a Website User Experience

In the digital era of business, you have to have a website and with that website, you need to know how to create a website user experience. Whoa! Gibberish? I know, let me explain. You know the sensations you get when you walk into your favorite store? The fragrance, the ambiance, the layout, the lighting, the colors…all of THAT, you need to put into your website experience for your clients. Granted, you might not be able to make fragrance happen over the internet waves, but you can offer a gorgeous, inviting experience that converts visitors into customers. 

TAKE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE

The hardest thing to do when you’re creating a website user experience is to not think from your own perspective. Often times we assume that people live and know our own industries but oftentimes your website is their first experience. It’s a great exercise to find a friend or family member who isn’t in your industry and walk through what type of information they would need from a website like yours. Web Designer Depot has a great article on specific things you should consider when designing the user experience for your website.

For example, if you run a photography business for families and newborns, what type of information would parents need to know in order to book you? Information like starting prices, service area, what it’s like to work with you, what’s included in the purchase price etc. Try to think from your client’s perspective of what they are hunting for when they start looking for you.

SIMPLICITY IS QUEEN

Now is not the time to reinvent the wheel. When it comes to creating a website user experience, keeping the flow, page structure and delivery of information simple will yield the best results. Your website template doesn’t need to have a ton of bells and whistles, but solid information displayed in an aesthetically pleasing way. Easy to read fonts, simple colors, easy flow of information. The team over at Feeling Peaky has a fantastic list of 9 Design Principles you should consider when designing the layout to your site.

BE USEFUL AND USABLE

There is nothing worse than going to Pinterest and wanting a simple recipe and having to read through 6-10 unuseful paragraphs on that recipe. Ugh. Not fun. When designing your website, ensure that the information you’re posting and sharing is useful and usable to your clients. This applies to all things from the home page, your about page, to your services page etc. Your customers do not need your life’s story to drone on for 12 paragraphs. Short, simple, and sweet will do just fine. 

An example of something I provide for my wedding clients is an engagement style guide. This guide walks through how to pick your outfits, what to consider for different seasons of the year, and where to buy your clothes. Simple, straightforward, useful, and usable. Not to mention, clients love it! Clients are coming to you for YOUR expertise, so give it to them. 

THE WRAP-UP

Creating a website user experience for your first website can be really tricky to plan, but using these three tips I’ve given you should give you a good head start. My own website has and will go through many iterations. There are plenty of methods to the madness but at the end of the day, the website you create should work for you and serve your clients well! Good luck and if you have any specific questions, drop me a line!

BONUS: Here is a link to two of my favorite ShowIt Template Creators. They use some of the best design and UX elements to generate real sales for their clients. Enjoy!

Tonic Templates

Krista & Davey

If you loved this article, don’t forget to check out my 3 Ways to Save on Your Business Start Up Costs! Hint: you could even save on your website!