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Design UI Design Web Design

All You Need To Know About Website Header Designs

Website Header Designs

The landing page of your website is where the users first interact with you. It is your chance to create a solid first impression by creating impressive Website Header Designs. Undoubtedly, some areas of the webpage or mobile screen are particularly important and effective as compared to others; the header is one such area. 

In this article, we will discuss the functions of a header and different types of website header designs. 

What is a website header?

The header is the top part of the webpage. It is the area that users see for the first seconds of their introduction to the website before they scroll down or jump onto a particular section. The header should provide the core information about your business and offerings so that users could scan it in seconds. Headers are called “Site Menus” and are positioned as a key element of navigation in the website layout.

What can a website header design include?

Headers can include many layout elements  – 

  • Brand identity elements like logo, brand name, slogan, mascot, etc.
  • Search box
  • Core categories and sections of the website
  • Copy block around the theme of the product
  • Contact information
  • Language selector, in case of multi-lingual interface
  • links to the most important social networks

And many more.

That said, It’s not necessary to include all the above-mentioned elements in one web page header. You don’t want to stuff and overload your header with too much information. Too many elements and objects distract the user’s attention. Strategically pick the important elements, list them out, and choose the focused ones.

Why is the Website Header important?

There are several reasons why the header is a critical element of any website. Firstly, let’s consider the eye-scanning models which show how users interact with a webpage in the first few seconds of their interaction. When people visit the website, especially for the first time, they do not explore everything on the page. They scan it to look for attention-catching elements that convince them to spend some time on the website. 

The Nielsen Norman Group has researched extensively on determining the most common patterns in which users generally scan a webpage. Experiments on user eye-tracking showed that there are certain models along which visitors usually scan the website. Out of these, the most common patterns were the Z-Pattern, Zig-Zag pattern and F-Pattern. 

The similarity in all the three patterns is that users start the scanning process at the top horizontal area of the webpage. Displaying the core information and branding on the header helps readers quickly scan the key data. It also allows retaining users if the information is displayed properly.

Readability And Visual Hierarchy

The aspect of readability plays a huge role in the header. Therefore, a lot of thinking must go into deciding the typefaces for headers and the background color. The user must be able to scan and notice this basic information as fast as possible without any stress or distractions.

Also, remember that there are various ways for a header to transform while scrolling the page down. Some websites use a fixed header, which always stays and shows up at any point of interaction with the website; others hide the header during the process of scrolling. Some websites do not fully hide or fix the header but shrink it in size in the process of scrolling. All the secondary information is hidden and only the core elements of the layout are left active at all times.

Types of Website Headers

Hamburger Menu

Hamburger menus have gained a lot of popularity over the last few years. It is a great design solution that hides the basic links of data categories behind the hamburger button. The horizontal lines of the icon look like a typical hamburger, and that’s why the name.

This button is mostly placed in the header and is a typical element of user interaction. Today, most of the users are familiar with the Hamburger menu and expect the core categories of data under it. So, there’s no need for additional explanations and prompts. Hamburger menu leaves a lot of free space to place other important layout elements, and also provides a minimalistic design feel. This design technique benefits the responsive and adaptive design as it hides the navigation elements so that the interface looks the same on different devices.

Although hamburger menus are widely used as header elements, they are still a debatable issue of modern web and app design. A lot of design experts argue that a hamburger menu can be confusing for people who do not use websites regularly. So the decision of using a hamburger menu should be based on extensive research on users and target audience’s needs.

Fixed Header

Fixed headers is another header design trend that boosts usability if applied effectively. There are a lot of websites nowadays that use a fixed header. Take an example of Facebook. When you’ve logged into Facebook and scroll down you still see the header with the search bar and some other core functions at the top. 

The benefit of a fixed header is that if the user needs to use a function they can easily jump to the header without the need to scroll up, as would be required for a non-fixed header. However, if there is more content then users might lose some space because the header occupies some permanent screen real-estate. It enables to provide users with navigation area available at any point of interactions, which can be helpful in terms of content-heavy pages with long scrolling.

These tips might be helpful for you for designing headers

Double menu

The double menu in the header can present two layers of navigation. We have shown the example of such a trick in one of the recent case studies for a bakery website.

The bottom line is that the header is a vital zone of interaction for any website and needs careful design consideration. Each website header designs requires its own approach which fits for a specific target audience. User research is the key, based on which the decision can be made, whether to follow the traditional forms of header design or they need a new perspective. Want to know more? Ask our design experts.

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Brand & Identity Design Technology Web Design

When And How To Redesign Your Website?

Redesign Your Website

Design trends change at a fast pace, and you need to keep yourself abreast of the changing trends. A timely analysis of your website design will help you in taking the call if you need to redesign your website or not. If your design looks straight out of the ’90s, with functionality from the stone age, its time to redesign.

But the big question is – how to get started and from where? Therefore, we created a website redesign checklist to help you through the redesigning process.

First things first, put your website under a design microscope and analyze if it’s time for a change. When was the last time you changed your web design? With the internet evolving all the time, it’s challenging to keep your website modern without updating it regularly. If you can’t easily remember the last time your website had a makeover, it’s time to take a look at our website redesign checklist.

Is your website mobile-friendly?

Mobile-friendly websites mean offering a consistent experience for visitors across all devices and screen resolutions; whether they access your site via desktops, tablets, or mobile devices.

Everyone has a mobile these days, even the kids. Mobile searches are higher than ever. A study revealed that in 2018, 52 percent of website traffic came from mobile phones. It means that more visitors come to your website via a mobile device, rather than on a desktop. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, you’re missing out on a substantial amount of leads and revenue.

Not to forget, in November 2016, Google rolled out its mobile-first index, which changed the Google ranking system altogether. Google now primarily looks at the mobile version of a website for indexing and ranking. 

Read More About Mobile Indexing Here

Is your website not driving revenue?

The core objective of a business is to generate revenue. Your website should be a lead-driving, and revenue-increasing machine. If that’s not happening, you likely need a website redesign. Well, one may argue that low revenue can be because of many reasons, but lack of website traffic and leads is a significant cause. And, even if your website design isn’t the main cause of your low leads and traffic, it won’t hurt upgrading the design.

Has Your business changed?

Your website should be an accurate representation of your business. If you have changed your business or modified some part of it, then redesigning is a good option. If you offer new products, or you’ve changed locations, or changed your branding, your website should reflect that.

Read More About Startup Business Branding Here

Now, if you decide to redesign your website, you need to follow the below-mentioned process:

1. List down what’s wrong with your site

It is the foundation of the redesigning process. You’ll want to make a list of everything that you feel is wrong with the current version of your website. The list should be comprehensive, covering everything from the design to the verbiage, and everything else. This step will not only help you in uncovering all the design shortcomings, but it can also help you discover other site performance issues. 

For example, you may find that your page upload speed is sluggish. This may not be a design issue, but it’s a problem nonetheless, which could repel visitors from your website.

2. Create a plan

Once you have made a list of all the aesthetic design issues, you need to come up with a game plan. Brainstorm some aesthetic elements that you’d like to implement instead of the present ones. Like, if you have listed that the color of your text doesn’t stand out against the background, write a suggestion against it of how you might want to fix it.

Or maybe you’ve decided that your navigation bar is overcrowded with too many components. You could make a note suggesting streamlining the navigation.

3. Take services of a web design agency

Not everyone is proficient in web designing, or has web designers on board. If you have experience with web designing, nothing like it; however, if you don’t have the resources and knowledge, it’s best to take the professional services of a reputable design agency. 

Not only will they create a stunning website for you, but they can elevate the user experience of your website to the next level. Not only they will do a great job, but they will also do it much more quickly than a fairly new and inexperienced team.

When you’re looking for a website agency to redesign your website, find one that has been in the business for a decent amount of time. Review their portfolio and list of clients to get an idea about their work. A couple of meetings can set the right expectations, and will help the design house to offer a custom quotation to you, based on the requirements.

4. Communicate your brand, goals, and taste to the design team

If you don’t communicate your brand, your thinking and what you wish to achieve, you will never reach your dream design. Sit down and talk to your website designer about the lists you’ve made and let them know how you’d like to go ahead with the changes to better fit your style.

Web designers have tons of ideas floating in their head; keep an open mind and explore all possible options, tailored for you. After all, they are experts. Ensure that you share your current style guides with them. This will help them to implement your existing color scheme, fonts, and styles in the new design.

5. Provide feedback to the designer

Your website designer will likely start with a wireframe or a watered-down version of your website. This is the best time to be open with them about what you like and what you don’t like about their design. It will help them to come up with a perfect design in the least number of iterations.

6. Conduct user testing

After users have had a chance to use your website, it’s time to do some user testing. This can help you understand user behavior on your site so that you can determine what users’ perception of your website. 

Conduct click analysis to understand which buttons are getting the maximum number of clicks, and which are the ones hardly getting any traction. The color or verbiage on the button can be the problem. User testing can help you determine the small details that can make or break your design in the eyes of your audience.

7. Ready, set and go

After the user testing is completed, you’re all set to fly high with your revamped design. Continue the analytics for the initial phase to determine the success of your redesigning exercises. Minor adjustments can be made based on these observations.

Need help redesigning your website? Talk to us.

Categories
Web Design

How Can You Effectively Simplify Your Website Design?

We all want that our website must create a stunning impression on every user right from the word GO. We try all the tricks in our bag to create a website that’s unique and stands out from the crowd. However, often while doing so we forget the fact that simplicity has its own appeal. The design interface must be simple to understand and use. Unwanted elements overpopulate the design and act as a roadblock in a user’s journey towards the desired action. Here are a few essential tips on how you can simplify your existing website design or build your new simple website based on these tips.

1. Placement Of Call To Action Buttons

Your website must have an end goal and as soon as the user lands on your website, he must be able to identify it. Thus, the Call To Action buttons must be placed at the most focused spots on your webpage. These buttons must be large enough for users to clearly cite them and should also be placed in various positions to ensure that users click on them.

Placement Of Call To Action Buttons

2. Less Color Is More Color

In an effort to make a visually stunning website, designers often try and experiment with a lot of colors. This may look charming but as per user experience, fewer colors have a greater impact. Stick to a color palette with only 2 or 3 colors. A monotone color palette is even better. You can use different tones and tints of the same color. A large number of colors cause mental stress for users and must be avoided. A website looks neat and well organized under a monotone for fewer colors.

3. Consolidate Your Content Into Manageable Portions

If your website has a lot of content to offer, it is quintessential to streamline it into manageable parts. Don’t offer the entire content in one go to the users. Arrange all the related content under one section to enhance readability.

stripe

4. Use The UI Elements With A Purpose

A designer will have a lot of UI elements like icons, elements, images etc. in his bag. But, that doesn’t mean that all of them must be used without any reason. Make sure that when a user clicks on any of the icons he reaches to a page that he is expecting to go to. Plan the UI elements in advance and use them only if they serve any purpose in the overall design.

5. The Visuals And The Copy Must Go Hand In Hand

While the font style, type, and size are some of the important elements of a web design, what actually is written is of greater importance. Your copy must compliment the visuals on your website so that there is a synergy between all the design elements. Keep editing the copy and try to eliminate the unwanted text. Your aim is to connect to the users through the copy in a clear and concise manner. Also, create a proper tone with the design elements and use of connected words.

6. Never Forget The 80-20 Rule

It is one of the most important rules to follow while designing a website. There are 2 important factors under this rule.

I. Always remember that 20 percent of the elements on your website will result in 80 percent of the desired user actions. Which means, a few calls to actions, buttons, and other user interface elements will generate the majority of user interaction.

II. Focus on the top 20 percent of your content to make 80 percent of changes when changing a design. This 20 percent includes elements that generate the most clicks – CTAs, traffic funnels, and images.

It’s not necessary that we implement complex design elements in a website to make it more appealing or user-friendly. Often a simplistic web design strikes perfectly and enhances User Experience. Follow these tips in order to simplify your web design and achieve great results. You can also reach out to our design experts to discuss your website designing requirements.

Categories
Web Design

5 Indications Shouting “You Must Redesign Your Website”

Website Redesign

Things change with a drop of a hat and the only thing that remains constant is change itself. Tune back your mind 10 years ago and try to compare today’s digital world and the Digi world back then. You would probably be smiling, noticing the changes and developments in the world of technology over the last decade. The world of technology changes at a much swift pace as compared to any other thing across the planet. With every morning marking the dawn of a new technological advancement, it becomes essential for businesses to mold their business strategies. This process might require a change in the marketing techniques, brand makeover or even a website revamp. Now, the question arises, how would you now that it’s time to redesign your website? Here are a few common indications that you should look for and decide whether your website needs a revamp or not.

1. Your Website Takes Ages To Load

Every user on the web is super impatient; to a level as if he is sitting on a hot pan. If your web page takes ages to load, you are calling for trouble. The user is not going to wait for ages and within a few seconds will look for other available options. The margin of error in this situation is extremely low. Also, Google doesn’t particularly like web pages who take an eternity to load. Page loading time is an important criterion while deciding a page’s ranking.

So, if your web page takes a lot of time to load, you are bound to lose potential clients and also will slide down the Google ranking list. It’s best you revamp your website by analyzing the factors squeezing the time and eliminating them.

2. Your Website Still Has a 90’s Structure

Believe me, there are tons of websites that still look like they are time stuck in 90’s. Back in the 90’s, web pages were a lot more static and they just displayed information about services and contact details. There was no option to administer the web site to change text and images. Those days are well gone by. The world today is so dynamic that the content on your web pages may require a constant change. Inability to change the content is a serious threat to your website today and thus you must revamp your website by implementing latest tools and techniques.

3. You Don’t Have A Responsive Web Design

A responsive web design enables the web page to be displayed with consistency across all screen sizes on various devices. Websites were designed originally with a vision that they will be viewed only on desktops or laptops. However, times have changed and the majority of people access your website through other devices like tablets, mobiles etc. Therefore, it is pivotal that your web design must be responsive so the user doesn’t face any problem while viewing it on any kind of a device.

4. Your Website Has A Low Conversion Ratio

What is the ultimate goal of a website? To attract users and convert them. A conversion is the ultimate goal of the business. A conversion can be shopping, downloading a file, watching a video, sharing content, leaving a comment, contacting the company etc. If there is no conversion or a very low conversion rate for a website, it’s no good to the business.

If you notice that the conversion ratio of your website is very low, it’s certainly the right time for you to redesign your website. Analyse the causes for the low conversion ratio through web page analytics and work on the new design.

5. Your Website Has A Negative User Experience

User Experience (UX) is the key factor in deciding the success of your business and high conversion ratio. If a user doesn’t find your website user-friendly and gets bugged while using your website, it seriously creates a bad impression. You’re bound to get a blow on your brand’s reputation as well as sales. No matter how catchy the content of your website may be, it’s important for a user to find a proper way to follow and complete the ultimate task (the goal of your business). At no point in time, he should feel lost and must be clearly guided by the web design and structure at all places.

Analyse the flow and structure of your web site. Identify the flow challenges, ambiguous directions, roadblocks etc. and revise your web design overcoming these challenges to create a smooth and delightful user experience.

To conclude, every business owner must understand the ultimate fact that change is constant and they must swim with the tide. Sticking to an old web design can seriously hamper your business and brand in the long run. So keep yourself abreast with the latest trends in the web design world and be proactive to ride on the changes. Talk to our experts and analyze whether your website needs a revamp or not?