We all know people whose personality we love and other people who we strive to avoid because their personality just rubs us the wrong way.
Well, it’s a similar situation with websites. Almost as soon as we land on a certain website, we get a sense of its own ‘personality’ – whether it’s a serious or fun site, as well as whether it is simple or complicated.
Different websites have a different ‘vibe’, and it’s one of the first things that you will need to talk about when you get in touch with a web design company.
But what’s ‘attractive’ in a website anyway?
To answer that question, it helps to consider what personality traits we tend to like in fellow human beings. According to past research on that very subject, we tend to be drawn to people who are kind and understand us, as well as that are intelligent and have a sense of humour.
Now, just think about how the world’s most popular websites get people interested in them. They’re websites that are kind to us and seem to understand us. They also give us what we want, when we want it and in the way we want it. Basically, they are designed to satisfy our every need and whim.
These websites are also intelligent, but they don’t show it off. They are sophisticated, but their complex functions are designed in such a way that they are simple to use. They are also authoritative about their industry, clearly demonstrating that they know what they’re talking about.
How to give your website ‘personality’
If you want to create a website with a personality to which people are drawn, you need to first ensure that you have a good understanding of your audience. You need to determine exactly what the customer wants and then deliver it, in a manner that is entirely focused on their needs.
Once you’ve cracked the above to give your site a sense of being ‘nice’ and ‘understanding’, you should begin to flaunt your site’s intelligence. There’s no need for fancy software – just create content that shows how knowledgeable you are about your sector, in a way that benefits the person reading. Such content should also naturally lead the reader to place more trust in your company’s related products and services.
Then, it’s time to consider your site’s sense of fun. Who actually wants to read a stereotypically dull and corporate business website? Wouldn’t it be so much nicer to browse a site that has vibrant and intriguing infographics, stunning photos (not tired stock photos!) and a certain all-round ‘pizzazz’?
There’s one more thing to consider
Is outward appearance important? Well, again, we can gain insight from looking at studies relating to human beings. They suggest that what someone looks like isn’t as important as what’s on the inside, and it’s a similar story with websites.
As long as the important features are there and your site does what your site visitors need it to do, you might find that the outward look of your site makes a rather smaller impact than expected.
Nonetheless, all of these factors, when taken together, do count. They’re certainly all things that you will need to think about and discuss with your chosen web design company – whether or not that turns out to be PENNInk Productions.
Edward Solomon has over 30 years’ experience in project management, technical education, computer networking, web design and development and is a Digital Business Consultant for PENNInk Productions Ltd.
