Visual And Functional Components Of Website Development

Website development can be broken down into two categories: visual components and functional components. Your website needs both to succeed in the modern economy. Visual components are the elements that grab the user’s attention like layout, color scheme and design. The functional components including the navigation, browser optimization and e-commerce, allow the website to operate efficiently. Getting all of these components to operate in concert is a complicated task, especially if your website is heavily trafficked.

Visual components of a website

Eye-catching layout and design

Most users will assess a website in a few seconds. If it looks dated or complicated, many people will click “back” and return to the search listings. An attractive layout that emphasizes both your company’s mission and how it can help the customer is critical to keeping their attention. The design of your website draws in the user so that they explore your content.

The design should balance colors, text, logos, banners and layout to pull in the user’s attention. You can use columns, blocks or flash to express content in a memorable and fun way. Use empty space, images and colors to draw in the user’s attention.

A mixture of some interactive elements to turn passive visitors into active users is also a good way to draw them into your content. However, don’t forget to balance the eye-catching elements with ease of navigation.

Compelling content

The design and color scheme may catch your customer’s initial attention, but it is your content that will compel them to stay and remember your company. Don’t use dated tricks like differing font or text color to keep attention. These methods make your content difficult to read and frustrate customers. Instead, follow a common font-type and color scheme to create easy-to-read content.

The standard Internet user spends no more than a few seconds perusing content. For this reason, you must catch this person’s attention in one or two sentences. Avoid unorganized paragraphs and complicated sentences. Keep everything brief and to the point.

Functional components of a website

Easy navigation

Your content, while compelling, must also be easy to access. Embedded hyperlinks to relevant content are a simple way to draw visitors deeper into your website. Customers need to be able to find information relevant to their problem as quickly as possible. Navigation is the glue that brings together design and content.

Navigation, like content, must be regularly checked and updated. Dead hyperlinks are a great way to lose customers, just like outdated content. Regularly go over your navigation to ensure that all your links are operational.

How your website should navigate depends upon the services you offer and the content you publish. Some companies use “tabs” and organize their content around them. Whereas e-commerce sites need to allow customers to flip back and forth between products, which requires more complex navigation tools.

Are the visual and functional components on your website working together?

By making some changes to your website, you can increase traffic across every platform (mobile, desktop, tablet) as well as keep users updated with fresh content. UCI Digital is ready to help you make your website appealing and interactive with a responsive design. We invite you to call us today at (806) 553-5332 or Contact Us by email for more information. You can also visit us in person at 1000 S. Adams St. in Amarillo, Texas. Be sure to check out the other various services we offer to help push your business to the top!