Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home IT Management
    • IT Management

    First Impressions Count Even More on the Web

    By
    Jim Rapoza
    -
    January 30, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Youre the greatest! Well, maybe youre not the greatest, but, in my book, youre pretty OK just for regularly reading my columns and reviews.

      Now I have to come clean about that opening statement—its simply a shameless attempt on my part to get people to really like my columns.

      Why would I do this? Because a recent study on Web site design claims that visitors to a Web site decide if they like or dislike the site in a split second, as the site loads.

      Using that logic, I figured that starting off with flattery would work for a column.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifWas 2005 the best Web year ever? Click here to read more.

      But is what the study suggests really true? Do content, trust and quality mean nothing if visitors dont like the look of the site?

      Unfortunately, especially for organizations whose sites are poorly designed, this study is on to something. After all, weve all had that immediate “blech” reaction when loading an unattractive site.

      This study also follows along with the theory discussed in a popular book from last year, Malcolm Gladwells “Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking,” which essentially posits that people make most major decisions in a split second.

      During the course of the study, which was conducted at Carleton University in Ontario and published in the journal “Behaviour & Information Technology,” researchers asked subjects to view Web pages for 50 to 500 milliseconds.

      The researchers found that subjects formed an opinion about a site in as little as 50 ms and that this initial split-second decision carried over into subsequent opinions about the site.

      So, I guess mom was right about the importance of making a good first impression. Now, all you Web site designers: Get out there and make a Web site that people will love instantly. But just how do you do that? Well, thats the problem—one persons great Web site is another persons annoying sinkhole.

      In an article at WebSiteOptimization.com, the studys lead researcher shared some of the worst- and best-scoring Web sites from the study. The worst were clearly bad, with one being the Web equivalent of a loud, brightly colored plaid leisure suit.

      But some of the high scorers dont provide much guidance, either. Some looked pretty good, but a couple were the type that I find annoying and that many readers have told me they dislike—sites that have lots of moving Flash graphics and distracting menus.

      So, creating a well-designed site isnt as easy as copying what these high-scoring sites have done. But that doesnt mean Web site designers should simply give up.

      First, make sure you arent a “dont” example when it comes to your Web site. Avoid the most common mistakes, such as overcluttering the page, using ads or animations that cover content, and incorporating unintuitive navigation elements.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to find out what Web 2.0 means to you.

      If competing sites are eating your lunch trafficwise, check them out. Good design probably has a lot to do with it. So far, no one has patented good Web design principles, so feel free to learn from what your competitors are doing right and emulate that in your own site design.

      I might humbly add that an article I wrote last year, Good Web Design Pays Dividends, provides some more useful information about how to go about improving your site design.

      To me, the most important thing about this study isnt that people make a split-second decision about a Web site based on its design; its that, no matter how long it takes to realize it, the site design matters a whole lot.

      Companies should pay close attention to that. There are too many Web sites out there that arent very good. A study such as this one should remind businesses that their site is the face of their company for most customers. You dont want customers to dislike the way you look.

      Hey, you got all the way to the bottom of this column. That must mean that my little “youre the greatest” gimmick worked. Or, maybe you like me, you really like me.

      Nah, must have been the gimmick.

      Labs Director Jim Rapoza can be reached at [email protected].

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news, reviews and analysis on image editing and Web publishing tools.

      Jim Rapoza
      Jim Rapoza, Chief Technology Analyst, eWEEK.For nearly fifteen years, Jim Rapoza has evaluated products and technologies in almost every technology category for eWEEK. Mr Rapoza's current technology focus is on all categories of emerging information technology though he continues to focus on core technology areas that include: content management systems, portal applications, Web publishing tools and security. Mr. Rapoza has coordinated several evaluations at enterprise organizations, including USA Today and The Prudential, to measure the capability of products and services under real-world conditions and against real-world criteria. Jim Rapoza's award-winning weekly column, Tech Directions, delves into all areas of technologies and the challenges of managing and deploying technology today.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×