Tag Archives: Website Design
The tech world is always changing, and the recent introduction of tablet models (such as the iPad and the Blackberry Playbook) has forced companies to examine how their website looks on a tablet, whether it is designed effectively, and if the site will serve the needs of customers using this new form of online access. Here are a few things you should consider in order to ensure your website is tablet friendly.
Avoid Flash
Flash portal, an animated graphic that has been created by Adobe Flash technology, does not work on a tablet. Companies should be aware if their home page features flash portal; it will not work on tablets such as the iPad. Androids do support Flash, but the performance is very poor, so it is best if companies avoid Flash altogether. Options to substitute for Flash include HTML5 and JavaScript which both feature the same effects as Flash.
Avoid Drop-Down Menus
It is best to avoid drop-down menus on your website if you can. If you would like to keep your drop-down menus, ensure that there are visual cues (for example arrows) that show tablet users that the menu can be opened further and expanded. Instead of using drop-down menus, companies may want to consider creating a showcase page for the different sections of the site so that tablet users can easily navigate around the site and find all the available subpages.
Touch Interaction Versus Mouse Interaction
Due to the fact that tablet users are not clicking or scrolling a mouse, it is important that companies design buttons which are the size of a fingertip instead of cursor so that tablet users are able to travel around your website more efficiently. Users may become quickly frustrated if the links are placed too tightly together, so it is important that companies realize that the clicking and scrolling of a mouse is replaced by touching and swiping gestures on a tablet.
Colours, Textures and Typography
The format of colour and textures can have a significant impact on tablets. The use of bright background colours and patterns are effective as they will reduce the appearance of glares and smudges on an iPad or Blackberry Playbook. It is best to avoid the use of solid blacks, as it will be incredible distracting for tablet users. The font of your website must also be taken into consideration, as it cannot be too small or too big for tablet users. Finding an ideal balance of font size, line spacing, line length, background colours, and patterns will create a favourable webpage for tablet users, regardless of their chosen model.
Design Your Forms Accordingly
A lot of company websites require users to fill out some kind of form, sometimes as part of an email subscription, or when their submitting a request for more information. For this reason, it is important that companies look over their forms, and ensure that all of the fields are clearly indicated and easily accessible to tablet users. Make sure that your forms don’t have too many fields, as tablet users may get easily frustrated filing out a long form.
If after reading these tips on how to achieve a tablet-friendly website you are still unsure whether or not your website is tablet-friendly, the best way to see how your site performs is by testing it. As more and more consumers opt to join the tablet nation, it’s important to consider how your website design effects tablet navigation and usability. A few quick fixes could be all your site needs to provide a top notch user experience.
Do you have a tablet? What sort of issues do you encounter when surfing your favourite websites?
Picture this: I’m merrily working away on my laptop at the library, filling some time in between meetings, when suddenly, without any warning, my computer speakers start blaring some cheesy eighties pop. Instinctively I check to see if I’ve triggered my iTunes, but wait… I don’t have any Cindy Lauper in my music library. So where the heck is the music coming from? As the librarian shakes her head in disapproval, I scramble to punch the mute button on my Mac and regain my composure. After a few seconds of embarrassment, I realize the source of my musical time warp – it was coming from the last website I’d been viewing.
Now don’t get me wrong, I love music. It’s the soundtrack of our lives after all. But I absolutely, positively can’t stand background music on websites. I don’t care if it’s Sinatra or the Beastie Boys, it makes my ears bleed. But why you say, music adds an extra sensory experience to my website and makes it more appealing to my online visitors. Well, I hate to burst your bubble, but that hot jam that’s playing in the background is actually driving customers away from your website, and bothering librarians the world over. Don’t believe me? Here are four fantastic reasons why you should never, ever have background music playing on your website.
#1 – It Scares the Bejezus Out of People
No one expects music to start streaming when they visit a website, unless of course it’s a band’s website or a MySpace profile. So when your site starts to pump out the tunes, it can be a little disarming. The natural reaction to to make it stop. In my case, I hit the mute button, but just as many people will close the window on your website… never to return again. Scaring potential clients away is definitely a marketing no-no, so why add an element to your website that raises your bounce rate?
#2 – It’s Annoying
I tend to play my own music when I’m working, (unless of course, I’m at the library). So if ever I surf over to a website that has it’s own music, it results in a horrible mishmash of noise. And let’s be honest, if you’ve decided to play music on your website, chances are it’s terrible. It doesn’t matter whether it’s mind-numbing elevator music, futuristic techno, or pop from the 80′s, it’s bad, it’s tacky, and it’s unprofessional.
#3 – It Messes With Your Website’s Functionality
Having music playing on your website decreases the site’s performance, especially on slower machines. And let’s not forget about the annoying little glitch that happens every time you click and surf to a different page on the site. Oh yes, the music stops, and then starts again – EVERY TIME YOU CLICK! It’s enough to drive a person absolutely bat crazy.
#4 – There’s a Reason Why Your Competitors Don’t Have Music
You know what that reason is? It’s because having music on your website is a bad idea. Putting music on your site doesn’t make it revolutionary or cutting edge. It makes it dated and immature. Website designers thought background music was cool in the mid-nineties, and even then it was only for about 20 seconds.
When you visit a website with background music do you instantly surf away? It’s ok, you’re not alone. Put offenders to shame by sharing their link in the comments below…
