6 Elements of a Standout Website

I started my Graphic Design degree in 2011 at Full Sail University, and although I am no expert, I find myself looking at and analyzing websites. Lately there have been numerous websites that I find distracting because they are lacking some of the bare minimums that make a website stand out. This list is not organized in any manner of importance, but in an order of my thought process, the way I organize when creating the designs of a page or layout. 

1. Have a purpose behind everything

When I arrive at a website, the first thing that I notice is the organization of the information and elements. Websites should not be haphazardly thrown together; they should have some sort of rhythm or purpose. The elements placed on any given page should have a reason behind the placement. A website lacking this organization or spacing will stand out in a negative way, while a website that can properly create organization and spacing will burst out from the crowd and scream, “Look at me, I am awesome!”

2. Get creative with how you display data

More and more, websites are starting to share numerical data and information to help get their message across. If you are going to go this route, I encourage you to explore displaying data via an infographic. Infographics are modern and informative – in one easy visual I’m able to see how much you have to offer over a competitor and understand what value you might bring to my life or company.

3. Use bold fonts to catch a visitor’s attention

I love the proper use of font. Large, bold, in-your-face typography is very popular right now. If you can incorporate over-sized font into your design and draw attention to a product or service, why wouldn’t you? This simple change to a webpage can draw in a prospect and encourage them to look harder at what you have to offer them. 

4. Select colors that will connect with people

Color, or shall I say COLOR. In my classes, we’ve been learning about color theory - knowing what colors invite what emotions and thoughts will help you to know how to pull in your prospective customers. Today, website design is more and more about the emotion that you get when you look at the website. Color theory, while not new, is a tool that a lot of people miss.

5. Utilize images – they’re still important

While video is slowly becoming the new way to display emotion and products, images are still nice to see. I feel that simple images with high impact emotion are the best. When I visit a page for a farm and see a picture of a son hugging a father, I see a powerful image that helps the viewer connect with both the farm and the feeling of family. Images can be a very powerful tool.

6. Ensure that your buttons are user-friendly

Make call-to-action buttons big and bold. Too often I visit a site and the buttons are so small and hard to click on. Go back to the organization of the page and make room for a large bold or contrasting color button! Make a viewer click the button, tempt them with the boldness!

The goal of a website is to turn visitors into prospects and prospects into customers. Use  the above elements to help encourage contact with and confidence in your company. Make your company stand out from the competition – be bold and different!

For another blog post by Ashley, check out:
8 Fool-Proof Ingredients for Your Landing Page

Image credit: Color-Theory-Infographic by Michele Smorgon via Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0