Everybody will have their own ideas and theories about a good website design. Since design and its aesthetics may change from person to person, there is nothing that is right or wrong while designing a website. What may be good web design to one person may not appeal to someone else. Most of the times a website that appeals to the client is considered to have a good web design. However, this does not have to be the case always. A designer has to think whether it is his/her duty to give the client a design that he/she likes or create a design which will be liked by the real customers.
The real customers of a web design company are not its clients who pay for the domain registration, hosting and designing of the site. The real customers of the company are the people who will be visiting the client's site. The design company should make sure that the design will appeal to these customers. If these customers are not happy with the design, they will not come back to the site and ultimately the client will lose business.
There are many tools and techniques that web design companies can use to make websites that are customer centric. Some of these tools are: Surveys and Focus Groups
Many companies will test the website when it is still under construction with a small group of people. This will help the companies to understand what their customers want and how they can modify their design to suit their customers. A/B and Multivariate Testing
It is important to test the design and functionality of the site even after it is taken live. This can be done with A/B and multivariate testing which will tell the companies what exactly is liked by the customers and what is not. The website owners can then make changes to the site so that it fulfills all of their customers' needs and requirements. Web Analytics
It is not possible for all the companies to hire a group of people to conduct tests and surveys. In such times, companies can use web analytics to get insights and information about how the users are reacting to their site. Engagement Tracking
One can use various tools to see which part of the site is visited the most and which page is clicked the most by the users. One can see if the reaction of the users to the site is the same as the company expected or if there is a better or worse response. How can customer centric websites be designed?
There will be many hurdles that a professional web design company will have to cross in order to construct a good customer centric website. Most of the times, the aesthetic elements of the site will be least important and the content will be of utmost importance. Given below are some of the things that one must keep in mind while building a customer centric website:
• Speak the language that the customer will understand.
• Remember that the site is targeted at the customers. Hence, it should be about them and not about the company owner.
• Give the customers what they need and not what you want them to see.
• Try and build credibility over a period of time
• Understand that all of your customers will not be the same. The needs and requirements of every customer will be different
• Try and make the site interactive and give your customers a chance to engage.
When building your site, you should remember that your customer is more than just making an inquiry or buying a product. You should realize that if you try and get your customer involved, get feedback and suggestions and interact with him/her, it will have a greater impact. It is important for you to keep your customers above all other things when you design your website as it is these customers that will decide the fate of your website and business online
Tanya Jones is a staff writer for Flying Cow Design, a company that provides web development and web design services. Visit our New York web design metro page if you are looking for web design and development services in New York.
