We can all agree that displaying easily readable text on your website is paramount. But not everyone understands this is about more than just sizing and legibility. The fonts you apply to your text could be aiding or impeding your communication. Successful fonts will express both your brand look & feel and the tone of the story you wish to tell. Head, subhead, body There needs to be a hierarchy in your fonts for your communication to work. The messages of your story depend on

Filling up every inch of every page on your website is tempting. However, the unused areas of the page layout are actually just as important as the areas filled with content. Designers call the unused area white space or negative space. Giving attention to space will improve your design, making your website cleaner and easier for your audience to consume. More doesn't mean better While it's wise to place your most important content in the first screen view, your audience can

The content you think is most important on your website may not be most important to your audience. Many businesses think their customers care about the same things they do, but often that's not the case. Your goal is to keep them engaged and coming back for more. If you aren't sure your site does this, there are many ways to find out. Where's Waldo? The book originally titled Where's Wally asks readers to scour detailed illustrations to locate the lost traveler. Hunting for

Most people are naturally drawn to beauty and delight. If your website doesn't look great or the experience feels awkward, your visitors will know it, and may be turned off. Of course, keeping your text current and engaging is important. But, the cliche "a picture is worth a thousand words" is true. So paying close attention to your logo, your colors, photos, illustrations, icons, infographics, and other visual elements is vital. The brand identity or logo Your brand (what pe

In case you didn't already know, your website is all about your customer, not about you. When a potential customer visits your site, they should immediately understand why they are there, and how they will benefit. You have their attention for about six seconds — to communicate your value — before they decide whether to stay or whether to leave. Walk a mile in their shoes. It's best to apply the WIFM principle (what's in it for me) when communicating with your customers. If y

We've experienced big changes in the way we work and live. So, more and more of us are using our phones instead of our desktop computers to view websites. That's why it's so important to make sure your site layout looks great and functions well when viewed this way. Mobile-first designing is a smart solution. Eat a frog first thing in the morning. In following Mark Twain's advice, it's often recommended you address the most challenging thing first. When designing your layout,

I understand how challenging the pandemic has been — especially for us small businesses. These last few months have also highlighted the importance of a great website. Now that the economy is opening up, have you thought about the way your website looks and behaves? Is it easy for your customers to use, and does it accurately represent your business? Here's why you should make changes: 1. The layout doesn't fit well on the phone. More people are viewing your website on a phon