How to Choose the Best Layout for Your Website
You’ve got yourself a domain and a concept, now you need to figure out how you want your site to look. The layout is one of the cornerstones of website design, whether you are having a custom website made specifically for your business or are only planning to choose a simple website template that provides just the basics. Studies have been done using eye-tracking to determine how website design affects the user experience. The layout is the first thing potential customers see when they go to your site and making sure it is both functional and visually appealing is key.
The first thing to consider is the extent of the site. Will you have just a single page with a couple of links, or a complex web of pages all interconnected to provide the most immersive visitor experience possible? The answer to this question will give you a starting point.
Next up, pay attention to the theme of your site. For example, for a small business website, make sure your layout is geared toward your target client base. If your product is of a serious nature, make sure your layout is clear but simple. If the product is more about fun and games, then you should make sure the layout reflects the mood of that. If the site itself is the end goal, perhaps for entertainment or informational purposes, you want to make it enjoyable to look at. In all cases it should be easy to understand and navigate.
These days there are many reasons for every business to have a website. But in all cases the goal is to provide information. The layout you choose will determine how that information is relayed to visitors to your site. There are a number of initial factors to consider:
Content Width
This can be boxed or full. In simple terms, boxed will allow more link and widget possibilities, while full-width will allow you to maximize the information visible on the page itself.
Header Type
Every header should convey your overall concept accurately and concisely. For some sites, this can be done with a simple logo, while other sites may require something more complex including text, images, and video.
Logo Placement
Though it may seem mainly cosmetic, there are many theories regarding logo placement. The decisions you make regarding size and location will ultimately affect the amount of other information you can provide at first glance.
Menu Design
There are a wide range of options, but typically your first decision will be whether you want the entire menu to be visible at all times, or only available through a drop-down window. Then you need to decide on positioning – top, bottom, side, or maybe integrated into the content.
Navigation Design
This is where your layout starts to overlap with the more technical aspects of your website development. You want to set up the menus and links to make your custom website easy to navigate while directing people to the areas you want them to focus.
As you can see, choosing a layout isn’t quite as simple as it may initially seem. Even if you already have a website you want to replicate, it is a good idea to enlist the services of a professional web design service. Because a great website is the key to any successful online venture.
