Webpage design tools like WordPress have come a long way in opening the development process to the masses. What used to require an in-depth understanding of HTML code and clunky software can now be accomplished by newcomers, and this level of accessibility is a hugely positive change. It can also cause problems when some website developers jump in without learning some key design practices.
This can still lead to fantastic and helpful pages, but these pages will never be quite as useful as they could be with a little more understanding of the greater user experience. That’s what we want to explore here today, by looking at some of the core components of webpage design we often see overlooked. These aren’t especially difficult to implement either, so once you learn how they work, you can apply them to your pages and seriously improve your digital offerings.
Section Overviews
The first issue we see comes from how eager webpage developers are to spread their offerings out to demonstrate the breadth of features. This makes sense, as you want to cater to as many users as possible, while also demonstrating the broad expertise of your website. Such an approach can be great for longtime visitors or people already knowledgeable about your industry, but it can also leave newcomers or beginners lost and confused.
Addressing this issue can be as simple as building section overviews that can help explore what’s on offer and break down the key features available within. The iGaming industry manages to achieve this goal, as demonstrated by this slots online section overview. This page explores the best Megaways casino slots, how they work, and what special features set them apart. From here, users can be far more confident about both the games and the Megaways feature, and this approach can be similarly adopted into the offering of your page.
Relevant Sorting Tools
Next up are issues we see relating to poor searching and sorting tools. Without a way for users to quickly and effectively search and sort your content, they can become frustrated, leaving to find websites where they don’t have to rely on long manual page searches and navigation. The best way to do this is first to offer a clearly visible search box and offer sorting features in sections full of related information.
Another good example here is similarly demonstrated in the iGaming landscape with how betting sites operate. This linked page leads users to the sports section, where they’re instantly provided a list of current matches in horse races and sports like tennis, basketball, and American football. Each of these activities offers tabs that quickly sort the different sports, while a drop-down box with a search further streamlines the navigation process. Such a wide suite of options simplifies what could otherwise be a confusing and frustrating experience, endearing the service to users and, therefore, improving retention rates.
Arbitrary Resolutions and Aspect Ratio Support
The final aspect we often see overlooked is the adaptability of websites to arbitrary resolutions and aspect ratios. What this means is that sites often don’t support screen sizes and shapes outside normal computer, tablet, and smartphone displays. Widescreen and slate-style browsers are usually catered to, but anything outside these standards can be left behind.
This is an issue because odd resolutions and aspect ratios are becoming increasingly common. If a website fails to cater to these displays, then users can be left without a means of access, turning them away. One common example here is demonstrated in the growing market of folding phones, which can still find poor support despite now entering the 6th generation.
Adapting to these challenges can be quite simple, it just requires testing your website at multiple resolutions at as many sizes as possible. If you notice some elements breaking at a certain aspect ratio, you can then reorganize or repair the website until it works with the new layout. A website that can adapt like this will have fewer problems helping niche users, while also being better prepared for whatever form of access might become popular in the future.
Whether you’re building a new website or adapting an existing one, it’s better to get ahead of the curve of design instead of waiting until you’re forced to make a change. Being proactive will help aid your current user-base, and might be the deciding factor in whether new visitors choose to stay. The earlier you begin, the more familiar you’ll be with the tools and practices, and the more comfortable you can be in facing the internet of tomorrow.
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