Usability Vs. Aesthetics — What Should Be Your Web Design Approach?

In the world of digital marketing and general search engine optimization (SEO) for a business looking to make waves online, there is the organic and paid approach. Both are highly effective if the seller knows how to make the best use of such a system, but most businesses typically choose one or the other as the foundation for their marketing campaign. Business owners will find a similar duality when it comes to many other factors, with the idea of sacrificing one aspect for the sake of the other being a common risk. That said, with the use of a web design company, would aesthetics trump usability, or is it the other way around?

It can be an interesting question to ask, as it is not as simple as choosing one or the other. While both methods have conflicting viewpoints, a New York City Web Design Company will let their clients know that the use of both is necessary to achieve success in any industry. While some business owners might still choose one over the other, it would be a good idea to think about what exactly the business intends to accomplish, and how they can use either usability or aesthetics to get the job done, as both have their pros and cons when everything is put on the table.

Web design in general is an excellent means of providing a foundation for any marketing strategy, especially those who intend to use search engine marketing (SEM) for most of their ideas. As a startup owner, the choice becomes a little less clear, which is why the question still stands: what should be the seller’s web design approach when considering usability and aesthetics?

The art of pulling in a crowd with a web design company

One of the biggest advantages that online stores will have in the coming holiday season is that the number of online shoppers expected to make use of browser or mobile platforms to shop is likely to reach unprecedented levels. With the current pandemic causing trouble and forcing people to stay in their homes, it is no wonder why many online stores are bracing themselves for the upcoming shopping spree.

One of the best ways to help draw in a crowd would be with the help of keywords and general optimization. In such cases web design might not be as important as getting the right citations and keywords going in an attempt to get visitors to click.

The true challenge begins once the shoppers are inside the site

It is common knowledge that the attention span of most shoppers will only allow them up to ten seconds in a site before they quickly figure out whether or not it is worth their time or money. Ten seconds is often more than enough for shoppers to get a handle on a site, which means the idea is to convince people within those ten seconds. In such citations, both aesthetics and usability will matter as a website needs to be aesthetically pleasing, but practical enough to get to the point when it matters.

A skilled web design company would want the seller to make use of a quality header that can tell online shoppers exactly what they want, based on the products and services they can avail within the site. It would also be a good idea to have quality images in the website, but not with such high resolutions that it has a detrimental effect on loading times. Long load times will often convince online shoppers to leave even if they might have something they want from the site. It is the reason why web design is all about form and function at the same time.

Getting repeat visitors with the help of unique content and a simple interface

Most online shoppers do not have the time to keep searching in a website they are unsure of, as making use of discounts involve striking while the iron is hot. It means that many shoppers will appreciate a website that respects their time. A simple interface that allows them to get what they need as soon as possible is crucial, and it would be wise not to get carried away when it comes to any extra website accessories such as widgets and apps. As much as possible, keep things simple, as it can help attract more shoppers overall.

Aside from getting them to buy something, the next step would be getting them to visit the site again another time. Even if the product purchased might not necessarily need a repeat purchase, having unique content uploaded to the site in the form of relevant blogs and articles could provide enough content to convince repeat visits.

For mobile platforms, loading times matter more than ever

While browser versions of online stores might have plenty of different site accessories, there is not as much as to work with when it comes to making use of a mobile platform. As far as web design foes, aesthetics matter quite a bit in a mobile platform, but it needs to be presented in such a way that it does not hinder overall loading times. While shoppers might have some measure of patience for loading on a browser, the use of a mobile store will likely have them immediately search for another store if the mobile platform takes too long to load. By putting themselves in the shoes of the shopper, the seller can figure out how best to move forward when it comes to dealing with a mobile store. While many business owners might argue that one takes precedence over the other when it comes to usability or aesthetics, it is common for the most successful websites to have both in equal measure. With the use of a New York City Web Design Company, it is more than possible to adopt a well-balanced approach to ensure that online shoppers are wowed by aesthetics, while having an easy time searching through the online store and finding what they want.