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Brand & Identity Design UX Web Design

Web Designing While Accounting Human Errors

Web Designing
Web Designing

We often hear the phrase ‘To err is human’, and it can’t be truer in every aspect of our lives. We all make mistakes. Users on your websites are no different. Sure, you can’t stop them from making mistakes, but, can you follow some aspects of web designing while designing your website in a way that it leaves a scope of making mistakes?

Even the most careful and diligent users are bound to make mistakes at some point in time; others will make more mistakes. Therefore, it is critical to consider this fact while designing your website. The errors in web designing can be as simple as mistyping a URL, providing incorrect information in a sign-up form, adding info in wrong fields, etc. The mistakes could even be as disastrous as accidentally sending thousands of dollars to the wrong person via PayPal. So, here are a few tips that you can follow to account for human error while designing your websites. 

1. Provide Straightforward Instructions

A lot of times, we assume that the users are by default aware of the most basic instructions. Thus, we don’t feel it necessary to provide these basic instructions to them. Moreover, people often see basic directions as a bit snooty. It’s human to assume you know everything you need to know for a simple-seeming task. This causes errors.

Don’t assume they know what you mean. An imperative when delivering clear instructions is not to assume the recipient knows what you mean. This can be for anything from commonly used acronyms to simple navigation instructions.  Mixed messages, assumptions and multiple options mean that the message received might differ from what we actually meant.

2. Give Clear Warnings During

Just like the instructions, users must get a clear understanding of the consequences of actions taken on the website. And, sometimes they need to be informed and explained the implications, that too in detail. Still, there would be users who would keep ignoring your warnings, but there’s not much you can do for them in any case.

There’s also a second web designing approach which you can proceed with. A majority of people will leave your site when they face a warning message which they don’t fully understand. Else, they may look for help to understand the warning, which again may lead them to bounce off. You’ll have to decide whether you would rather deal with potential inaction from some customers, or more errors. Both approaches have their pros and cons.

3. Always Confirm Actions While

You may think that all users are completely sure of what they are doing on the website, or they may get annoyed with questions asking them to confirm their actions. A confirmation dialog may seem like an irritating and useless extra step; however, the truth of the matter is a quick “Are you sure you want to do that?” message can be invaluable. The user may be taking action for the first time, or the tenth time, it’s irrespective. A confirmation will only increase chances that the user takes the correct, intended action.

4. Validate Forms

Form validation may not be a full-proof solution, but a potent tool, and a great way to gently guide the user in the right direction. While proper form design can help keep users from simply putting the wrong text in the wrong form, form validation is excellent for double-checking information and catching typos and forgotten fields.

Improper validation of form data is one of the leading causes of security vulnerabilities. It exposes your website to attacks such as header injections, cross-site scripting, and SQL injections. It is important to note that client-side validation is beneficial, but it is not enough. If you’re going to implement client-side validation, it would be good to have some of the server-side too, just to be safe.

5. Use Appropriate Form Labels

In our last article, we listed out some essential tips for selecting the right button labels. The labels on the forms are equally important and can lead users to commit an error, if not used properly. There are tonnes of websites on the Internet with so many vaguely-labeled forms. Worse are the forms that use industry jargons on a client-facing website. In some of the sites, the labels and input fields are even misaligned. That’s just a strict NO-NO!

6. Improve Usability Through Color and Contrast

The colors and contrast are often used on a website most simplistically. People only go as far as using red and its shades to portray bad, and green and its shades to show good. But that’s not enough. It doesn’t necessarily help differently-abled users. A website should be usable by everyone, so various disabilities should be kept in mind. Disabilities can include but are not limited to, the inability to use a mouse or see the screen.

When someone has low visual acuity, specific color palettes on websites may make it difficult for that person to see and understand the website content fully. You must find a way to add contrast to your elements, in such a way, that they’re clearly and easily distinguished from each other. Pay special attention to this if two options use similar text, but do radically different things.

7. Provide ‘Undo’ Option Where Possible

We all know how handy the ‘Ctrl+Z’ option comes in every day while performing various tasks. The ability to undo an action is such a boon to everyone. We wish we had an undo button for our lives. Coming back to reality though, if you’re building a web app, you might seriously consider implementing some sort of “Undo” function for just about every action with permanent consequences.

You cannot ensure error-free browsing on your website; neither can you take a generic call on the abilities of your users. But, considering human errors while web designing, will increase the chances of good user experience and fewer errors. Speak to our experts to discuss more on it.

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Blog Brand & Identity SEO Technology UX

5 Tips To Select The Right Button Labels

Button Labels
Button Labels

Designing a website is not just about making it look visually appealing; there’s a lot more to it. One of the most critical aspects of developing a successful website is to give due importance to the copy and button labels. What your buttons say is as vital as they look. No matter how pretty and attractive your buttons look, if you choose incorrect words to describe them, it may all go wrong.

Incorrect button labels can confuse the users, making it hard for them to take the desired actions. It also reduces the speed at which the actions are performed. If you wish to simplify the process of taking actions on your app, you need to choose the right words on your button labels. So how do you do that? Here are some pro tips to get your words right.

1. Use Action Verbs Instead Of Simple Words

The one thing that you want your buttons to do is encouraging users to take actions. Thus, button labels should be inspiring, and action words are the best for the same. An action verb on a button makes users aware of the action which will be performed upon clicking on it. There’s no need for additional text along with an action verb to guide the user.

Let’s take an example of generic “yes/no” button labels, which are often used on confirmation screens. Users have to read the dialogue before they can take action. They can’t take action without reading the message, and there’s every possibility that they press the wrong button. If the button label is replaced by an action verb like ‘save’ instead of ‘yes’, the user clearly gets the action message without any supporting information. It saves time and allows them to make quick, correct actions.

2. Use Clear Verbiage in Button Labels

Each action verb you use has a specific connotation. If your verbiage is unclear or isn’t precise, you may confuse users about the real action attached to the button. For example, the words ‘delete’ and ‘remove’ are very close in their meanings, but different in their intentions. ‘Delete’ implies the item will be erased completely from the system or the memory. On the other hand, ‘remove’ means that the button will separate the item from a particular group. Using these words in the wrong context can make the users press the button to initiate an action they don’t want.

Another example could be of a playlist of songs, using ‘delete’ instead of ‘remove’ is incorrect. The ‘delete’ label makes the users think that the song will be erased completely, from the system memory as well, whereas that’s not the case. The song will be removed from a particular group of songs. That’s why ‘remove’ is the more apt and correct label.

Read More About Designing The CTA Buttons: Tips To Design Buttons on a Site

3. Language Must Be Task-specific

Button labels must be clear, precise and specific. A vague and generic button label causes uncertainty and users feel unsure of the actions that they are about to take. They don’t have a clear idea about what the button will do, because the words used on the label are not specific. Using a task-specific language ensures that the users are aware of the results of their actions.

For example, the word “submit” and the word “publish” may seem to perform the same action. However, ‘submit’ is a commonly used, generic, technical term. But if you wish to make the button more specific, you should use a word about the actual result of the action.

Like ‘publish’ is a specific button label with regards to online publishing. ‘Submit’ can also work very well here, but ‘publish’ informs the user explicitly that the item will not only be submitted but would be broadcasted too. This button label is more precise and gives users certainty to act.

4. Use Active Imperative Form

You should aim to use as fewer words on a button label as you can. More words make users read more, which slows down the action process. Use of imperative form in an active voice minimizes the number of words, and the button label becomes more natural to scan.

The active imperative form turns verb phrases into commands. The subject and unnecessary articles can be dropped off using the active imperative form, to get a concise button label. All you need to include on your button label is a verb with an adverb or direct object.

Users trust and understand commands on button labels. It gives them certainty and clarity about the intended action, which aids their decision-making. Let’s take an example of “click here for more details” in a button label. The label is too wordy, and it’s also redundant for the user. Instead, use verbs that are unique, describe the action and provoke users to click. ‘Read details’ is a suitable replacement for the label mentioned above. 

5. Button Labels Should Be In Sentence-case

The capitalization style of your button label expresses your tone to users. It’s more about how you’re saying it, rather than what you’re saying. The tone of your message and interaction with users creates an emotional reaction in users. This reaction will either repel them or motivate them to engage with you actively.

The perks of a sentence-style capitalization are many. It conveys a friendly tone, comforts the users, and invites them to press the button. Most of the reading done by humans is in sentence case. They are familiar with it, so when they read it on your buttons, they feel like someone is really speaking to them, in a natural voice. 

Title case breaks the natural reading flow and distracts users from the underlying message. Additionally, unnecessary capitalization is considered rude in some cultures, hence giving you more reasons to avoid it. 

The call to action buttons is imperative for the success of your website. Words on your button labels play a crucial role in determining the effectiveness of the CTAs. If you choose the wrong words on your button labels, the call to action won’t matter. Want to get more action on your buttons? Talk to our design champs now!

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Brand & Identity Design Technology UX Web Design

Benefits Of A Copy-First Approach In Designing

Copy-First Approach

It has been a little over six years now that I have been writing for websites, and every now and then I find myself participating in the never-ending debate between Designers, Product Managers, and Writers – Copy-first approach or Design first approach? Many writers feel that the designers should get the ball rolling and based on the design, the words should be tailored. However, I stand on the opposite side of this belief. For me, a copy-first approach to any kind of design project is the best way to go about it. 

Read More: Content Or Design First

The very first step of a design project, of any nature, or size, is to construct and shape the thought behind it. Thoughts are also content; words in our mind form the base of the very-first content, which needs to be articulated through the copy. Jeffrey Zeldman, the famous entrepreneur, and web design expert, once said “Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design; it’s decoration.” This may sound a bit harsh, especially to my designer friends. However, one thing is clear to me, be it a stand-alone page, a new website, or a website re-design, the copy-first approach can make your project more efficient. Let’s discuss some key benefits of a copy-first approach to website designing.

Better Timeline Setting and Deadline Planning

The initial content doesn’t need to be written by the Content Writer or the Content Strategist. It can come straight from the client or any other team member, which can be further validated and polished by the Content Writer. If the copy and a content plan are ready, right at the beginning of the project, it allows you to think on realistic timelines. You can set accurate deadlines based on it.

There are a lot of tools available which can be used to manage tasks and their progress. High-level tasks must be clearly outlined in order of operations to move the project smoothly, and not jumping from idea to idea. No matter which software you use, the entire team should be able to see the task list, to be on the same page.

A rough draft at the beginning is good to kick-off the project. The final and complete copy takes some time, depending upon the size of the project. Moreover, it isn’t required to create all the content assets in one go. A simple indication of where you want to use a photo, or mentioning when the photo shoot may take place in the project timeline is enough to start with.

Proper Site Planning

This majorly benefits larger projects, like new websites or full-blown corporate website redesigns. Preparing the copy and content plan upfront helps the team to plan the project and lets you focus on the overall strategy. It allows you to estimate the scope of the project; it lets you understand how extensive the website and its different pages are. 

On the other hand, in case of a small project, like a single page, looking at the copy and the content plan shows how extensive the page could be. Here, you can check the user flow and analyze how well it fits into the scheme of the existing website.

With copy written upfront, we know exactly what the header, footer, and other sections will look like. We know what kind of images we need to source or create, where the CTAs will be placed, and what they were going to say. In short, we have an excellent plan for the page right from the start.

Having a site map early in the project is very fruitful; irrespective of the way it is documented, the important thing is that everyone involved must have access to it. A sitemap is the best way to keep content organized, linked, and accessible. It presents a better picture to you of what’s missing, what needs immediate attention, and what’s ready to move on to the next stage.

Offering Concise Content

Deciding what amount of copy is a good amount of copy is a very tricky and challenging task. Besides, there are specific sections on a webpage or website which needs to have more copy as compared to other sections and vice versa. Steve Krug, the author of the famous UX book ‘Don’t make me think’ once said: “Get rid of half the words on each page, then get rid of half of what’s left”. That’s a powerful statement; however, studies have suggested that too much text on web pages isn’t suitable for any of the following – user experience, usability, readability or site metrics.

That said, we still come across websites that are stuffed with the copy. Trimming the copy by more than 50 percent is a strategic move and results in some serious decluttering. Decluttering improves user flow, site map, sales funnel, and navigation. If the path to purchase is improved and becomes more accessible, removing a whole page or a whole section is worth it.

Constant Comparison Against Set Goals

As the project is moving along, you should also be always able to check the content against your set goals; both user goals and business goals. On a large scale, you’d be checking content alignment with the intended user and business goals; and if each page aligns to the goals? Similarly, on a smaller level, check if individual sections and sentences also align.

If you find deviations in the planned copy and content, from those goals, it’s best that you re-write them. Even if the content deviation is minor, this allows you to start optimizing it. Re-wording the copy and adjusting content assets to be more direct is a great way to strategize. It leads to higher conversion rates and lower bounce rates.

Clearly Defined Visual Design

A copy-first approach helps to define and set up the visual design. It helps with a variety of design aspects, especially layout. The copy-first approach is a highly collaborative process. The designers, copywriters and marketers, all need to work together while deciding the content. Even developers actively participate in the process. The plus point is that these conversations start at the early stage of the project. This leads to better collaboration and results. The copy-first approach lets the visual designing process kick off from the very first step.

Because of the collaborative and planning nature, the copy-first approach helps to eliminate revisions and strengthens the UX. By the time the visual and UI design stages come, all the pages and sections are already agreed upon, by everybody involved in the project. It’s a great way to lead design projects most effectively. Talk to our design experts to discuss more on the same.

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Brand & Identity Design Mobile Apps Web Design

Designing For Kids: A Different Ball Game All Together

Designing For Kids
Designing For Kids

If you think that kids are not exploring the web, you are probably living in a different world. Technology advancements and exposure to the internet with changing times has created a rapidly increasing, new category of the audience – kids. Designing For Kids is a whole new ballgame as compared to designing a website for adults. Unlike adults, children aren’t looking for information on a website. They’re looking for some fun and happiness. A website for kids needs to focus on engagement, entertainment, and education. It can be in forms of games, videos, puzzles, or stories. Here are a few tips and tricks to follow when designing for kids.

Design for various age groups

Targeting the specific age group of children is crucial. According to some researches, children are very aware of age differences and do not enjoy engaging with something they feel is for the ones younger or older to them. Therefore, it is very important to offer tailored content. 

Ages 3-5 will be enticed by bright colors and sounds, along with cute characters, and themes around nature. Jump to ages between six to eight and things start getting tricky. Kids in this category seek recognition that they are above younger children. Bright colors still work, but with added depth. Graphics and images become denser, and the characters are more human-like.

Children aged 9-12 are much proficient with the internet and are generally attracted with websites which look more or less the same as any other website for grown-ups. The typography stays simple and color-saturated, palettes become more complex, and word structure should be more traditional.

Be bold and bright

It’s no rocket science that kids love anything and everything which has bright colors in it. Colors excite them and make them inquisitive about things. Spread your colorful, creative wings while designing a website for the kids. Use lots of vivid and vibrant colors to grab attention. Red, blue, yellow, green, purple and orange are all happy colors and must be used as primary and secondary colors. 

When designing for the kids, think like kids. Have fun with bright colors, and break the rules and monotonous approach. It’s all about grabbing those little eyeballs and making them stick to your website for as long as possible.

Use visuals more than text

Visuals have a deeper impact on humans as compared to text, be it grown-ups or kids. The impact of visuals is more on kids as compared to adults; it offers a great opportunity for designers to be at their creative best. Kids recognize symbols before the text. A six-year-old is virtually on the verge of learning to read, but older kids recognize text and visuals both. They are more inclined to visuals then grown-ups. 

Visual cues are more effective than text at some parts on the website like icons, tabs and other areas where they can, or are required to take action. Use large buttons and graphics instead of text; make them obvious and oversimplified in order to clearly stand out.

Go easy on the language

They are kids, communicate with them in a language they easily understand. There is no need to use words they are not familiar with, even if these are the most commonly used words for a particular section, tab or activity. 

One of the most commonly used words on a website is ‘submit’, which is used to capture information. However, when it comes to kids, we can replace it with another simple word, like ‘done’, which makes more sense to them, and they can easily relate to it. Similarly, ‘sign up’ is way too hard for them to comprehend and understand the purpose. A simple ‘go’ button is enough for them to understand the purpose and result of the action.

Read More about how to design CTA buttons

Avoid making them type

Which kid would like to keep tapping keys on a keyboard? Be aware of the motoric skills of your target audience. A keyboard and a mouse is very basic for adults, but that’s advanced and a cumbersome task for a kid. Young children are more comfortable with touch sensors to take actions rather than typing. Replace elements which require typing with elements that support touch or slide. 

For example, if you are trying to capture the age of the user, instead of an input field, use a slider. Kids would love sliding forward and backward rather than typing their age in the input field. It’s fun sliding, and you can cash on that.

Create a happy and vibrant mood

Children always look forward to a happy experience while they are browsing a website. We discussed earlier how bright colors make kids happy; try to create an overall happy environment on the website. Use smiling faces, cheerful characters, energetic gestures, and positive words to provide an amazing experience packed with fun and friendliness.

Almost every kid is familiar with Disney and Peppa Pig characters. Every single character wears a smile almost every time. Use these characters on the website to offer a sense of friendliness and welcome. The Disney characters are always smiling, looking directly at you, which is a very jovial feeling. Similarly, Peppa Pig characters are always doing some kind of activity, like reading, playing, dancing, etc. 

These characters are charged with energy, they are always smiling, create an engagement with the audience, and are a perfect role model for kids.

Kids are a niche audience, but they are increasing in number as fast as they can. Children centric businesses are on the rise and are expected to grow faster than ever. Understand your audience, put yourself into their shoes, think like them, and most importantly break the shackles of commonly used practices. Kids are different, and they need a tailored website. For more information, talk to our design ninjas now!

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Blog Design UX Virtual Reality Web Design

Understanding The Psychology Of Shapes To Design Better

Psychology Of Shapes
Psychology Of Shapes

Perception plays a critical role in the success of any visual component. How people perceive a thing, makes a lot of difference. Many factors are influencing human perception, and one of the most critical factors in psychology. It is paramount for designers to understand users, and apply psychological principles in design for creating a successful design. in this article, we will understand how the ‘psychology of shapes’ help designers to be more creative and create a fantastic user experience.

Understanding The Psychology of Shapes

It is possible to perceive and analyze every visual element in terms of shape. If you wish to design a house icon, the instant thought is a rectangle with a triangle on the top. That’s the most basic way of how it is perceived. Figures and shapes have a significant impact on our awareness and conduct. ‘Psychology of shapes’ is the science studying the influence of shapes on people.

‘Psychology of shape’ suggests that every shape has a meaning attached to it, which influences our mind and reactions differently. There are many theories based on psychological tests which define the personality or mental state through shapes. A person’s liking towards a particular shape or figure can reveal their personality and character traits. Similarly, quick response to shapes can tell what’s on the mind.

Research and tests conducted over the years have helped professionals to establish meanings of each shape and how it can influence human perception.

Meaning of Shapes

Shapes usually refer to geometric figures like squares, circles, rectangles, etc.

Squares and Rectangles

These two shapes are the most widely used shapes. We see them numerous times a day. Majority of the common things that we use every day, like our smartphones, walls, furniture, books, monitors, etc. are square or rectangular in shape. The straight lines and 90° angles of these two shapes offer a sense of reliability and security. People strongly associate squares and rectangles with buildings, as they bring a sense of trust and authority.

Common meanings: discipline strength courage security reliability

Circles, Ovals, and Ellipses

These shapes best portray the sense of eternity as they have no beginning or end. Majority of the cosmic objects, including the sun, the moon, and the earth, relate to a circle. Similarly, the ellipse is similar to the whole universe. That’s why round shapes provide the feeling of magic, mystery, and secrecy. Unlike other shapes, circles don’t have angles, so it makes them softer and milder.

Common meanings: eternity female universe magic mystery.

Triangles

Triangle is a dynamic, energetic, active and powerful shape which that associates with motion and direction. The placement of lines automatically moves the eyes to the top of a triangle or in the direction of its placement. Although, triangles can have different meanings basis its placement and position. An upright triangle brings the feelings of stability and balance, while the reversed one evokes feelings of risk, instability, and uncertainty.

Common meanings: excitement risk danger balance stability.

Spirals

These shapes exist in nature, like in shells and some flowers. Spirals often co-relate with the circle of life and depict a journey or growth. In some cultures, spirals represent knowledge or information. In today’s world, spirals depict creativity and a fresh mind.

Common meanings: growth creativity calmness intelligence.

Abstract shapes

The simplified versions of natural shapes and complex ideas are abstract shapes. As abstract shapes are generally stylized, they are difficult to recognize, and only small details give a hint to what it is. They mostly have more than one meaning – direct and figurative. Designers use abstract shapes to design logos and icons. These shapes quickly and powerfully convey the message, without text.

Common meanings: the duality of meaning uniqueness elaborate.

Natural shapes

Everything created by mother nature has a unique shape. Leaves, flowers, animals, trees, etc. become the source of inspiration for artists and designers. Natural shapes have an apparent meaning for plants and animals which they symbolize. There’s a feeling of refreshment and unity attached with the natural shapes. In addition, different animals and plants have their own personalities and features. A rose is a flower associated with love and passion, while a lion is a symbol of pride and bravery.

Common meanings: originality organic balance refreshment.

Shapes are quintessential elements in all kinds of designs. To make a sophisticated, intuitive and pleasing design, experts need to consider the meaning of shapes and the impact which they have on users’ mind. Discuss more with our team of expert designers to get a better understanding.

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Design Mobile Apps UX

5 Key Uses of Animation in Mobile App UI

Mobile App UI

The advancement of technology has led to several new improvements and trends in web and mobile designing. Animation was once a visual luxury but has now become a functional requirement. Users expect to face animations at some stage while browsing a website or an app. Animation infuses life into interfaces and makes them more rousing and visually appealing.  The proper use of animations accentuates the responsiveness of an app. In this article, we will discuss five critical applications of animation within a mobile app UI design.

Animation infuses life into interfaces and makes them more rousing and visually appealing.  The proper use of animations accentuates the responsiveness of an app. In this article, we will discuss five critical applications of animation within a mobile UI design.

1. System Status

There are plenty of tasks and processes like downloading and uploading data, calculations etc. that continuously run in the backdrop while the app is running. While these processes run in the background, users often feel that the app is frozen, as there is no activity at the front end. You must always indicate the status of all the ongoing processes through visual signs of progress. It provides a sense of control over the app to the users.

Page loading time is unavoidable, however, it is a very stressful time for users. Using animations can’t shorten the loading time, but can provide comfort to the users while they wait. Creative progress indicators can reduce a user’s perception of time. If users can watch something visually pleasing, while they wait, they are more likely to divert their mind on the animation, rather than the wait time.

Similarly, “pull down to refresh” is also a well-known system status indicator that reloads the page. Pull-to-refresh animations should match the design outline of the app. Movement and visually pleasing items naturally draw attention and create interest. Animating your notifications is a pleasant way to notify users about things, without hampering their experience.

2. Visual Feedback in Mobile App UI

Visual feedback is critically important for any user interface. It helps users to know and understand their current context in the system at any given time. User interface elements like buttons and controls should appear to be tangible, as they interact with them in the real world.

But, bridging the gap between the physical world and on the web is challenging. Visual and motion cues must immediately recognize the input and animate in ways that appear to be direct guidance. Animations enhance various points of interaction and reinforce the actions taken by a user.

3. Structuring Information

Animation allows proper structuring of information across the app. An animation draws users and shows what content to look for and where can it be found. The menu bar is one of the most common places where this can be implemented. 

There are many elements on the main screen of the app. When we activate one of them, the app should change the picture and display a whole new app section based on the selection. Animation helps users to know that it is the same element but with different form and scale.

4. Navigation & Transitions in Mobile App UI

Usually, users take the help of menu bar to navigate inside an app. A lot of apps have a complicated structure to show the list of app sections or features, which is confusing for users. Animation works as a visual navigator. 

A user should notice a changing picture on the screen while selecting or changing app sections. This lets them know that they are navigating to a different section or using a feature. Animation is a great way to transport users reasonably between navigational contexts. 

Read more about Mobile App Navigation

5. In-app Guide

Some apps have a more complex structure compared to others. If you don’t want to scare-off or irritate your app subscribers, you should clearly explain to them how an app works at the very beginning. Animation comes in handy here. A user gets brief instructions about the app in very less time via animations. Usually, an animated guide opens up when the app runs. However, users should have access to the guide whenever they need.

Animations are really pretty, but as mentioned earlier there role is no longer confined to adding beauty to an app. So make animations with purpose and use it in the app UI design to simplify user interaction with the user interface.

Let us know if you are looking for designing your new or existing mobile app. Our UI and UX team will be happy to assist. Contact Us today

Categories
Design SEO UX Web Design

Tips For International Expansion Of Your Website

international website

The growth of the internet has led to a world without borders. Businesses are no longer confined to specific regions. E commerce has provided an opportunity for sellers to explore new markets and attract customers from all over the globe. If you wish to grow your business to the next level, going international might be the best bet. How do you do it though? With proper homework and following the below-mentioned pro tips. These tips can significantly simplify the process of expanding your website to international markets. 

READ MORE: Infuse International Flavors to your Website

Multilingual Content

It’s very convenient for users to get the content in their native language. The first and the foremost step of global expansion is to create different versions of the website in languages, that are most commonly used in the target geographies. A global site needs to effectively communicate with the worldwide audience in the most understandable manner. An identifiable language can create the connection customers need to feel comfortable and trust your business.

Remember, more than the language, the quality of content is imperative. Poor website content presented in native languages is of no use. Never compromise on the quality of content. It’s sporadic to have a translator in the team, so consider taking services of a professional translation company. Their experience will come in handy.

Optimized Content

Ranking in Google searches is essential for businesses to grow and achieve success. It all begins with finding the right keywords through in-depth research. Different keywords may be popular in different countries. An international SEO strategy is essential for a global website. It will drive more traffic to generate leads. More visibility, more leads, better conversion ratio.

Global websites must use multilingual SEO meta tags, so that Google picks up the language of the site. In an ideal world, there should be a separate website for every country, but different languages are good enough for starters. SEO is tricky and requires constant modification in the approach; however, it’s very rewarding.

Faster Page Load Time Across Platforms

People on the internet are impatient. High-speed internet access and plenty of options have spoiled them. If your web-page doesn’t load with a blink of an eye, they will go to the next best option available. Speed is a crucial factor to consider when going global.

Moreover, your website will be accessed from many geographies and through various devices. So, it becomes crucial to optimize the site, to offer consistent performance and experience across all channels and devices like tablets and mobile.

According to a study, when a site doesn’t load in three seconds, 53% of mobile users leave the site. Losing so many potential customers is lethal for the business. It gives a wrong impression of your brand too. Users assume that you are not a serious brand and even doubt your credibility.

No Text in Images

You got to be smart while designing global websites. Translation can take care of the content in terms of text, but images can be troublesome. Avoid using text in images as much as possible. This can protect your brand image in the long-run. A website that uses too much text in its pictures can be problematic.

Design elements play a vital role in online purchasing decisions of consumers; undermining its potential is a big mistake. An appealing website is a mix of excellent content and attractive visuals.

Handling International Currency 

You don’t want your users to sit with a calculator trying to convert the dollars into pounds. A website that doesn’t display prices in local currency ends up confusing the customers. When expanding the site on a global scale, online businesses need to accommodate customers. Showing the prices in their own currency is necessary.  It creates a seamless experience for the customers and rewards your business with increased revenue. A suitable API tool can be useful for currency conversions. 

Suitable Payment Options

The payment process and options must be more accessible to a global audience. The standard payment is mostly convenient, but in some cases, they might not be suitable. For example, German consumers prefer ELV bank transfers, while African consumers prefer using phone credit. Based on the region, the website must tailor the payment process.

The checkout process is a crucial point in the customer’s journey. Ensure that all the additional charges, if any, that a customer may incur, are clearly mentioned. Making the checkout process simpler will drive more sales for your global website.

Local Laws and Regulations

Rules and regulations differ from country to country, and they all need to be abide. The formalities must be completed in full, when conducting business in different countries. Do your homework, conduct thorough research and find out the laws and regulations that might affect your business in other nations. 

A website that caters to international clients must be aware of all the legal requirements and charges, taxation, shipping, freight charges, fees etc. The more you know about these details, the better it is for your business.

The global expansion of your website will need understanding the requirements of the worldwide audience, analyzing the challenges, and tailoring the site based on it. Looking for global expansion? Talk to our experts.

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Design Technology UX Web Design

Pro Tips To Offer An Amazing User Experience in 2019

User Experience

We are in the middle of 2019. In the past six months, we have witnessed a few new User Experience trends blooming, while some of the anticipated trends did not live up to the expectations. Amidst all the latest growing practices and the fading out ones, some User Experience tactics and methods stand firm to amplify user experience at every level. Here are some of the best, tried and tested tips to design a ‘WOW’ user experience.

1. Design A Responsive & Mobile-friendly site

With Google enabling mobile-first indexing by default for all new websites starting 1 July, designing a responsive and mobile friendly site becomes paramount. Smartphones are driving massive traffic for several websites, making it essential for sites to be a responsive one. To cater to mobile internet users and ensure better visibility, a mobile-friendly website is a must. But, don’t compromise at the quality front while including the responsive elements. Many responsive design testing tools help check the responsiveness of websites, so use one of them and analyse your website.

2. Provide Engaging content

Content is the king; it is indeed the key ingredient to a pleasant website user experience. Browsing a website is more than a transaction; it has become an experience. Expectations of users have increased multiple folds, which makes it essential for web designers to consider these expectations while designing UX.

An effective way to accomplish this is by choosing an engaging content strategy. Effective content strategies focus on telling a brand’s story to build a relationship between a business and its client.

Content can be offered through blog posts, pictures, vlog or a separate website altogether. Using content to establish a brand identity helps to ensure that potential clients get acquainted with your brand. Tailor-made content, based on the audience, will increase users’ trust in your business.

3. Use Enticing CTA

CTA is the key element on your website, which will drive all the business. They must be strategically placed on the site, to ensure that visitors take the intended step. CTAs should be easily accessible on every page across the website. It will not only improve the conversion ratio but will also enhance the user experience.

Make sure you place the CTA above the fold. At this placement, users can easily view the button and respond. Your conversions are bound to increase if you provide an easy chance for the visitors to find and react to your Call-To-Action. Moreover, users are delighted to experience the ease of access and clarity on how and when to take actions.

4. Use Hamburger menu

Hamburger menus have gained popularity over the last few years. Hamburger is a typical icon which upon clicking opens a side menu. It indicates that there is something hidden for users. It leaves them curious to find out more about the features and functionalities of the website. It is a very effective way to keep the audience engaged on the site.

Users are not bombarded by all the information in one go, so they feel comfortable. They will reach out to the Hamburger menu if they seek more information. They can navigate their way precisely to the information they seek. It is a boost to the overall user experience of visitors.

5. Provide Concise Information In An Effective Manner

The primary objective of visitors to go to any website is to seek information. There’s something that they are looking for, and they feel they can get it on your website. Designers should design the website keeping this fact in mind. Always provide information in a structured and straightforward way.

Designers are slowly drifting towards simpler designs. Presenting information in a concise format is the best way to deliver your message. Bullet points are one of the ways to convey information and get good results. Clearly providing information is also profitable to the businesses as it helps to draw attention to relevant elements.

6. Track User Activity

One of the effective ways to improve UX design is to understand what users do on your websites. A tool like Crazy Egg can be used to track and analyse user activities. It provides visual heat maps and scroll maps that show you where users click and what they do. Basis of this study, you can add elements that improve a user’s experience.

7. Use Customer Surveys

As stated earlier, customers these days are looking for an experience and not just transaction interactions. Therefore, it’s essential to provide high-quality customer service and ensure that a proper communication channel is built between the business and its users.

Users must be able to reach your customer support team and the technical team, depending upon the nature of your business, during all hours. Immediate action on problems must be taken, and the website processes must be regularly scanned to make it better for customers.

The importance of UX has been recognized across the world of web. Designers must understand that a business’ success fairly depends on understanding and fulfilling users’ expectations and offering them an amazing user experience. Get in touch with our experts and learn more about best UX practices.

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Design Technology Web Design

5 Best Practices To Design Single-Page Websites

Single Page Websites

Single-page websites were once not a real favorite of web designers. However, things have changed over the past decade, and single-page sites have gained popularity owing to its ease of creation, simplicity and potential to deliver a rich user experience. That said, which one is better – multi-page or single-page website, is a never-ending debate. A single-page website is faster and easier to develop, but it still requires a lot of creative thinking and thorough planning.

Single-page website

No prizes for guessing, a single-page website is a website that contains a single HTML page. The entire content of the site is placed on one page. When users click on a navigation link, they are directed to an HTML anchor on the very page.

Single-page websites are responsive and provide better mobile UX. It offers a lot of freedom to web designers in terms of layouts and visual effects. They do have a few drawbacks as well, like it is not SEO friendly. You cannot index several web pages with various keywords and meta descriptions, which will negatively affect organic traffic performance. The key is to understand the target audience, their expectations, and the company’s long-term goals.

A single-page website is best suited for personal websites, portfolios, landing pages, brochure websites, single-product websites, resume pages, one-time events etc.

Single-page websites: Best practices

Break Down The Content

A single-page website is a right choice for you if you don’t have much text to display. Though less text doesn’t mean less information. Therefore, you need a clear and easy-to-follow visual structure. Create a story and break the content into small chunks and sections using different header styles, background colors, overlays etc. Well-written content along with appealing visual effects will ensure that users don’t stop scrolling on your website.

As you only have one page, try not to feed too much information to users. Use multiple sections and keep the messaging clear and concise. More importantly, ensure that you maintain a continuous and sequential flow of content. Another way to keep users following your point is to tell a story using both visual and textual content. Storytelling is a powerful way of delivering content.

Create A Visual Hierarchy

Visual hierarchy tools used for web design include size, color, contrast, proximity, and repetition. A common belief states that people read in the F-pattern when they are served a large amount of textual content, while the Z-pattern suits pages that have less text. But, it is suggested to use both of these patterns for different sections, as a single-page website contains numerous sections, and it’s essential to diversify the site structure.

The single-page visual hierarchy should be concise yet encouraging. Before selecting a particular page structure, identify your needs and keep in mind that you only have one page to scroll.

Add Alternative Navigation

Single-page websites are all about scrolling and sometimes about endless scrolling. At times, this can leave the users clueless and stranded, with no idea where to go. If your site has a complex structure and with a lot of blocks, you should think of alternative navigation.

Use a sticky navigation bar that stays on top of the page, no matter how deep you scroll. This will allow users to move to the section they are looking for quickly. Also, use anchor links and a back-to-top button to keep the UX pleasant and intuitive. Always keep the users on track. Try to combine scrolling with a traditional navigation system. Don’t forget to put a “back to the top” button if you have a long single-page website.

Add A Compelling Call-to-Action Button

A call to action button is the most influential factor in a conversion. A well-designed CTA influences users to take the desired actions; be it a mobile app download, order placement, demo request, email signup or as simple as a contact form submission. The exceptional quality of a call to action increases the chances of conversion.

Single-page websites are perfect for a CTA. Because of their structure, single-page sites are more focused as compared to multiple-page sites. The design and placement of the CTA must be around the specific purpose of your website.

Keep It As Simple As You Can

Take a look at any of the traditional, multiple-page websites and you will notice that they are created based on a particular design theme. A few templates of inner pages are added to this basic design theme to complete the overall design. However, it is much more challenging to design a single-page website.

With the recent developments in CSS3, HTML5 and Javascript, the opportunities to create a simple and engaging website are as vast as you can stretch your imagination. Adding little details, like animations and smooth transitions, also contribute to enhancing the user experience.

Don’t make It Heavy

A lot of times the goods about a single-page website are washed out by its slow load speed.
Since there is only one page to deliver the content, all information is stuffed onto one page, making it really heavy and takes ages to load. Be selective, don’t stuff the website with unnecessary information and heavy animations. Saving a user’s time should be paramount. Slow loading will also hurt your website’s SEO.

Analyse the pros and cons of a single-page website, and then make an informed choice. In case you would like to know more about it, talk to our experts now.

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Blog Brand & Identity SEO Web Design

5 Annoying Things To Avoid In A Web Design

Web Design

Competition over the Web Design internet is fierce. Today, there are a large number of individuals and businesses who spend money and time on digital marketing and SEO to rank higher on Google searches. It has become tough to differentiate from rivals and get users to visit a particular website over others.

Since acquiring new visitors is very difficult, providing a delightful user experience gains importance and is pivotal to retain each hard-earned customer. If a website offers an unpleasant experience to its users, forget about winning repeat visits, they might never come back on the website. Here are some of the most common things in a web design which leaves users in frustration and thus must always be avoided.

Slow Website Speed

With the boom in technology, everything has become super quick. Everyone has a smartphone these days, and access to the internet is just a tap away. Even half-baked questions or half-remembered trivia get instant answers from Google. People can contact each other, sitting halfway across the globe in a matter of seconds. Today, the speed and responsiveness of our hyper-connected world have spoiled us all. Therefore, when we click on a search result, and the page keeps loading even for only three to four seconds, it is equivalent to eternity for users.

Remember, you’re not the only one providing an answer to a query or serving what a user is looking for. If your page doesn’t load within a blink of an eye, they will click on other best available options. Get rid of all the unwanted elements which are dragging down the speed of your website. Ensuring a good page load speed is critical to create new visitors and retain them.

Too Many Popups

It’s a shared experience, wherein we click on a link in our Google search results, and we are directed to a webpage which is full of popups. So much as so that we are not even able to read the actual content available on the page. Moreover, they keep popping up, even after you close them.

Combined with a browser alert that “this website would like to send you notifications”, the overall effect is one of being barraged with irrelevant information. It ultimately kills the actual content you were trying to reach.

Some advocate the fact that popups significantly improve conversion rate, while others get put-off by their potential of pestering the users. No matter which side we stand, one thing is for sure that popups are badly planned, throwing information and content which is not relevant for users. Therefore it is better to stay away from them.

Not Mobile-friendly

According to Statistic, 52.2 percent of internet traffic was generated through mobile phones in 2018. That’s a considerable ratio, and thus it’s pivotal that the website is responsive and mobile friendly. We are in 2019, yet we come across many mobile sites where items aren’t aligned properly, overlapping, strangely formatted or subject to some additional oversight from the designer. It creates a negative impression on users. They might feel that your company doesn’t take the time to go over little details.

Coupled with the recent change in Google’s algorithm to prioritize mobile-first indexing, there is now no reason at all to ignore the mobile experience of your website. A low-quality mobile site can negatively affect your SEO performance as well as the experience of your users, so it’s essential to get it right.

Animation Overdose

We like animations. Yes, they do look good and enhance the aesthetic value of a website. A few smooth transitions, transforms, appearances, and well-deployed animation can infuse vital life into an otherwise static and dry layout.

However, animation should be used sparingly, as and when required. Overdoing it can distract the audience. The key role of animations is to draw user attention to key content and call-to-action buttons. Users should not feel confused to read the actual text.

Animated introductory screens, too, are great attention-grabbers when users first reach on to your website, but avoid making them sit through the same animation every time they want to return to the homepage. Their beautiful presentation shouldn’t dictate the function of website elements.

Users shouldn’t be waiting for an element to appear or to become interactive. Using a lot of moving parts or content that flashes can pose problems for users. Some users may have an attention deficit disorder, making it very difficult for them to concentrate on the content.

Video Autoplay

Videos are an essential aspect of your online marketing efforts. They are a good source of explaining your products, brand message and other aspects, better than text can. Designers are often tempted to put the video on autoplay when they place them on the website. There are ways to do it tastefully, but it’s so often misused and creates a negative user experience.

Many sites place a video next to the body text. Usually this is entirely irrelevant to the content of the page. Even if you close it before navigating to another page, it quickly reappears. That’s really annoying.

Even worse, many sites preface these videos with automated advertisements which, given that the videos themselves are generally advertisements in one form or another. Some web users also hate auto-play as it can ruin their user experience and would rather prefer reading the information on the page without a distraction. It is more polite and effective to let the video be turned off until the audience chooses to play it.

To wrap up

Everything which we have mentioned above is basically issues of a bad UX design. It is important to consider every element and its effect on the overall user experience. If something hinders the user in finding what they’re looking for or detract them from the actual content of the page, it should be avoided. Speak to our design experts to know more about it.