Simplicity Matters: Easy Website Fixes

Crowded places tend to be loud, confusing and chaotic—often causing people to scurry to a more orderly area. Websites are no different. If a site is overflowing with images, colors and giant blocks of unnecessary text, it obstructs customers' views of whatever it is you really want them to pay attention to, and they end up lost in the frenzy. This creates uneasiness and stifles the desire to be there at all.

Bad design is bad functionality, and that equals lost customers. Websites should be uncluttered, easy to navigate and have a clear call to action. (Yes, less can really be more.) Good design is a well-balanced combination of images, copy and whitespace. Concise content and some breathing room between images and text create a welcoming online experience that invites action (a purchase, an email sign-up, etc.).

With just mere seconds to grab their attention, be thoughtful about your approach and make it count.

1. Limit the color scheme.
2. Use few fonts.
3. Stay away from flashing graphics.
4. Embrace whitespace.

Even if you feel your site is in decent shape, have friends or family (or even customers) take a look with a fresh lens. Is it functional? Is it intuitive? Review similar sites in your industry and take note of trends. This will inevitably reveal shortcomings and inspire tweaks, and that's okay. Whether it's a couple of changes or the catalyst for further investigation about the value of a more robust overhaul, your business will benefit. (Manta.com)

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