Entanglements: Good Web Design
Let's talk Webs! With the advent of do-it-yourself website builders, just about anyone can build a website. While creating your own site might help you save on the big bucks, it's easy to get entangled in a bad design that works against your main goal - collect leads and convert them! Let's see what spiders can teach us about casting a great web presence.
Arachnophobia is known to be one of the top 10 worst phobias in the world; to be accurate, it is the third worst phobia that people around the world suffer from. Over 30.5% of the entire population of the United States suffers from this intense fear.
Psychologist believe that one main reason people fear spiders is because of an instilled fear from others (parents, friends, other influences) or, secondarily, a negative experience with them personally. For me, it was both. I grew up watching movies like Arachnophobia and Tarantula on replay and had a first hand seat watching my sister’s horrible experience after being bitten by a brown recluse; all this despite the fact that they have a very specific and pragmatic purpose on earth.
This fear has never subsided, and truth be told, if ever encountered, they send me racing to the cupboard to find ALL of the bug sprays and eucalyptus I can find. I’m sure some of you can attest to this on some level. Raise your hand if you are in that infamous number!
As a child, my mother would always remind me to never allow my fears to overtake me and to always seek to create a positive spin on everything. insert "big-eyed emoji." This was easier said than done when it comes to nature's greatest pest regulator. And there it is. Despite the bad wrap these little critters get, spiders capture and rid our lives of those other nasty bugs that we abhor just as much.
So there. There’s the silver-lining which didn’t come to light for me until well into adulthood.
Why in the world are we talking about spiders; isn't this article about web design?
Well, yes, but although you might be cringing while reading this article on your computer screen, there are quite a few nuggets we can take from spiders when it comes to creating an online presence that captures your audience (see what I did there?) not just in the art form of your site, but in its full design. Let's take a look at three simple ways spiders can help kickstart the building of a more gripping site.
Build the Anchor. Spiders are incredibly strategic in how they build their web. When a spider begins a web, it releases a silk thread. It anchors the thread to some object — a branch, a corner of a room, a door frame — wherever it builds its web. When you build your website there should be four anchors that you build from. Notice that none have anything to do with visual appeal.
A Strong Message. This is your brand's "memorable" message to your audience conveying the value and promise of your brand.
Strong Representation of your Brand: Do the content and design support the brand message and image? It should.
Collaboration and Engagement: How does your website allow you to engage with your customer? How does your site convert visitors?
Ease of Use and Navigation: Your site should be built for the customer. Don't over complicate it. Don't over design it.
Become Relatable through a Well-Woven story. Contrary to popular belief the key to selling is to stop trying to sell. It may sound counter-intuitive, but businesses that do well master the art of storytelling, not selling products. According to research by Headstream, if people love a brand story, 55% are more likely to buy the product in future, 44% will share the story, and 15% will buy the product immediately. While your website should clearly define the product or service you provide, it should be inundated with your brand story and images and messaging that inspires buyers to feel the necessary emotions to buy from you.
Refresh your Web Daily. On average, it takes 30 to 60 minutes for a spider to weave a web. Even though spider webs are extremely strong, they don’t always last very long. They are constantly getting damaged by Mother Nature. Some spiders build new webs every day. Other spiders repair their damaged webs. Most spiders aren’t big on wasting their silk material. They often eat the damaged webs so they can recycle it into new webs later on.
