Common Sense Isn’t Very Common When It Comes to Web Design August 20 2013 / Posted By: Melissa Priest
It seems that when it comes to website design, common sense isn’t very common. I’m not saying ALWAYS, but far too often for my liking!!
Almost every day in my online journey, researching and surfing (do we still call it surfing??) the web, I come across a site that leaves me baffled as to what the owners / designers / anyone involved in creating the site, was thinking, when they decided to a) leave off critical information b) design the site in such a way that I am confused when using it, or c) create something of barely any use to anyone……..
I recently came across a relatively new bar / restaurant’s website that I was thinking of visiting. I was keen to find out as much as I could about their offering when trying to decide on a venue for an upcoming catch up. Was very disappointed to find that this modern, trendy, quite impressive establishment, had a website with no menu! Not happy. Not only did they not offer a food menu, but also no beverage menu (claiming to be a bar?). Maybe their menu changes every day? Maybe not? If that is the case then why not give us a ‘taste’ (pun intended), of what we can expect, such as a sample menu? Or else find a way to update your site or social media profiles with your daily menu?
Another thing not included was a map. Considering how easy it is to include a Google map with your exact location into a website, I find it quite unbelievable that a company relying on you finding their location would not include a map.
When it comes to planning your website, the first thing you should do is put yourself in your user’s (customer, potential customer, visitor, whatever you want to call them) shoes. Have a good long think about what they might need to know about your business and times it by ten.
You need to provide as much information about your products and services as possible. People use the web to gather information and make informed choices. If you aren’t providing that information needed to make a decision, you are at risk of not being considered in those choices.
If you’re a restaurant, nine times out of ten people want to know where you’re located. So this means your address, but also a map, driving directions, parking information. They want to know what type of food you serve (a full and up to date menu preferably). Whether you cater to vegetarians, gluten-free or other dietary requirements. Prices, a wine list. Whether you’re restaurant is child-friendly, do you have high-chairs? What is the accessibility like for disabled or elderly patrons?
Put your thinking cap on and consider your customer. Take into consideration any question you have ever been asked by a customer? Is there repitition to the types of questions you are being asked? If so…sounds like information that needs to be on your website.
Having a website with hardly any information, yet having your staff answering 50 phone calls mostly answering the same questions, is a major waste of time and money.
Get planning and build your site for your customer, afterall they are the ones that are going to be using it!