The tried and tested saying that the first impression is the most important is true for web design. People are pickier than ever, and if they see a website that fails to meet their expectations in terms of design or can’t hook them in, they’re more than likely to head to another platform.
The first thing people see is the website’s header. Modern website header design is more intricate compared to designs of the past. Your website’s header generates leads and makes the site more accessible while marketing your website in one glance. Here’s how you can make sure yours is reaching its potential with custom web design:
Make Your Logo Be Seen
Your logo should be at the forefront of your website. Instead of plastering it in a large size on the main page, it should be neatly presented in the banner. As the English language is read from left to right, it’s common to place the logo on the top left of the webpage. Many brands go with their unique takes, placing them in the center. Regardless, you’re letting people know that it’s your site, and it will help with recollection over time.
Your logo shouldn’t end up displacing the rest of the elements. If you don’t have a captivating or good logo in general, it’s recommended that you update it, as many people judge businesses based on their logo.
Easing The Navigation Process with Links
The goal of the header, apart from giving information about the company, is to help people get around the site. Imagine if there were no central page to access different parts of the site, instead relying on random links across paragraphs to find the relevant page. You can add links to the pages that you think most users should and would want to see. If they’re not available up front, people are more likely to leave the page right away, increasing the bounce rate of your website.
Your designers will play an important role in helping you decide what kind of navigation system you should opt for. Considering you have limited real estate, it’s important to use it smartly, which professional web designers emphasize.
Give Your CTA (Call to Action) Visibility
While the CTA doesn’t necessarily have to be in the header, it’s a great option if you do add it there. If you don’t have one, you might potentially lose out on leads that fail to contact you. It’s a great way of adding the information up front for people to reach out to your business, and people could likely message or call for additional information.
It’s a common approach to add the CTA on the right of the header, as people can find all the relevant information scanning from the left and eventually get to where they can become a lead.
Make The Hunt Easier with a Search Bar
People are on your website to look for something, so why not make it easier with a search bar? Instead of people having to look around using any system tools, there should be a search bar available that they can access to find content on the site. It’s always a great tool to make your website more accessible, and the simplest tool to help with it is the search bar.
Designers are getting more creative with their search bars. From adding an icon that pops up the actual search bar to the basic white space with some text, there are various ways to go about it, and it all depends on your theme.
eCommerce Elements
Whether you’re running an eCommerce store or selling any particular product or service, it helps if you add various eCommerce elements. They’re recommended for generating leads, making the shopping process more accessible, and getting various things done in fewer clicks. These are some of the most common options:
- Log in/Sign in — An icon or pill that you click on for either.
- Account — It appears when the user logs in to the site replacing the login element.
- Sign up — An easy-to-find icon for registering on the site.
- Wishlist — The heart or star icon allows users to mark their favorite items.
- Cart — It enables users to view what they’ve added to the cart.
Social Icons
Businesses are using all forms of social media to connect with potential customers. Different platforms are effective in their ways of sharing products and ideas. For example, a lifestyle brand might have an active Instagram page which could be more appealing to their customers than their webpage’s inspiration option.
Similarly, a tech website could have links to some of their products and services demo on another platform that might be a better option. It’s also a great way of bringing your customers to your other social media platforms and getting them to subscribe to your pages.
Conclusion
The website header is a small space, but it can be extremely effective in generating leads and making the platform fairly accessible. Working with a professional graphics design service can help make the best use of this area while making it fairly appealing.