As web development in Sri Lanka continues to skyrocket in demand among local and international businesses alike, the outsourcing island nation has long since been a destination of choice for a variety of technology and digital services. Delivering exceptional talent and professionalism at a fraction of the price, it is not surprising for web and application development from Sri Lankan technology companies to be a popular option for international businesses that are looking for scalable bespoke services at a nominal cost.
What began as web development services have now expanded into custom enterprise applications that are complete with on-demand virtualized resources, and even AI. However, every web and software development company (Sri Lankan or otherwise) will be wise to keep the basics always in mind. This is especially the case for web design, as convenience and familiarity are two key pillars that encourage users to engage with a website or mobile app.
As a result, the industry of web design in Sri Lanka is deeply focused on maintaining this very level of convenience and familiarity to keep users engaged – but to also prevent any frustrations which stem from any unpleasant experiences that will never make them want to return. Albeit being common occurrences, user frustration and abandonment are grim prospects, especially in a fierce business landscape that is highly saturated with competing brands.
Web designers and web developers in Sri Lanka, therefore, work in lockstep with one another to ensure interfaces that are intuitive as they are user-friendly, even during the initial MVP (Minimum Viable Product) version. By aligning the software development lifecycle to include constant streams of feedback from both product and engineering teams, businesses shall be well established to build a website or mobile app that is user-centric from the get-go.
As a web and software development company, EFutures understands why a user-friendly website goes beyond basic optics. Being one of the primary touchpoints for prospective customers across the digital front, you have one chance to make a worthy impression – else lose your audiences to your competition. Below, we’ve compiled some evergreen yet highly effective UI/UX tips to ensure a user-friendly website or mobile app, so your business can align its end goals with the overall satisfaction of your customers.
Let’s face it: if your customers aren’t happy with the overall look and feel of your website or mobile app, they’re going to fold. While this isn’t breaking news, understanding what truly works and what doesn’t on the UI/UX front is something many businesses struggle with today – even those that are more seasoned and have been functioning online for a while. While eventually knowing what works will consume much trial-and-error on your part, it is eventually going to be the Aha! The moment which determines the future success of your business online. A pleasant user experience will translate to a positive one, and combined with excellent customer service, your online brand will be positioned to contribute to your business’s KPIs via steady revenue generation.
A user-friendly website isn’t just easy on the eye, it’s also a hit with search engines. Lower bounce rates are one out of many statistics that can signal to search engines that users find the website valuable, in turn ranking it higher on search engines when relevant keywords are typed. Of course, the right keywords and their densities also play a vital role in overall search rankings. However, great user interfaces and insightful content can be a powerful combination that attracts attention from prospective markets – while ranking impressively across search engines.
Ultimately, your business aims to get in front of your customers to sell its products and services. Be it online or offline, the end goal is always the same. Likewise, a user-friendly website and mobile app contribute to this outcome as happy customers shop for goods that keep them returning for more. Although being a puzzling endeavour in the beginning, building a web and mobile presence that is truly user-centric can reap massive rewards for your business, thereby maximising ROI in the long run.
For those that have a creative streak, it may be tempting to stray away from the norm and introduce something that’s completely out of the ordinary. While creativity is always encouraged in the world of design, resist the temptation to go overboard when it specifically comes to UI/UX design! Adhering to common elements such as the X button on the top right corner of a screen, or the Return key to begin a new line can maintain a positive experience for users both new and returning – simply because they have a long-standing legacy of being familiar.
Minimalism isn’t only a trend for physical spaces; it can also be a clutter-free gateway for establishing your business on the digital front, both web and mobile. Through simplistic, monotone backgrounds with text that’s succinct yet intriguing, businesses can make a more profound impression on users than multiple elements and messages that are crowded within a confined screen space. White space can also offer your users some respite from having to read excessive lines of text before understanding what your business is about, what’s in it for them, and what they need to do next in order to complete an action.
Long gone are the days of web-only interfaces; with most users now accessing the web from their smart devices, building a mobile web presence (or better yet, a fully-fledged mobile app) is an absolute essential if one is to survive in the highly competitive business environment of today. High levels of responsiveness will also help your website rank higher in search engines, as it provides algorithms with another positive indicator that your website is easy to navigate across multiple screen dimensions.
Your business may have multiple KPIs, but your users need to know only one CTA that will enable them to get themselves acquainted with your product/service in the quickest and most pain-free manner. Anything even a little more complicated can possibly lose you, precious customers. Before you embark on designing your website or mobile app, it is important to identify what you want your user to do, that will generate revenue for your business in turn.
Next comes a user journey that features [the least number of] steps required towards reaching that end goal. Lastly and in tandem, it is important to brainstorm what that brief yet highly prominent CTA will read and look like – as it will make all the difference between successful click-through rates and subsequent conversions, and lacklustre ones.
While users nowadays are familiar with infinite scrolling across both websites and mobile apps, it is still wise to include your most important content and elements above the fold. This may include (but isn’t limited to) taglines, image galleries and CTAs. Deciding what should ideally come above the fold is a discussion that can be had as early as the wireframing stage, so all team members are aware of what needs to take precedence as early as possible.
While elements above the fold can be changed depending on user feedback, seasonal demands, campaign requirements or any factors that could possibly affect this prime space well after a website or mobile app is deployed, it is still good practice to be mindful towards what will occupy this spot during the initial release stage – so your users have a positive first impression about your brand while learning what it can do for them at a glance.
Although a user-friendly website or mobile app is a necessity in today’s highly saturated and competitive business environment, many businesses fail to get it right. Symptoms show up in the form of high bounce rates, low click-through rates or simply inadequate conversions to warrant a digital presence at all. As the online space buzzes with endless streams of content and users are spoilt for choice, making a first impression is challenging enough, let alone making one that will tempt customers to return. Add to this the possibility of user frustration – something that spells certain death in any future engagements with the said user(s).
Counter-intuitively, sticking to some of the basics when it comes to UI/UX design can establish a strong base for your business’s online presence. By retaining common yet familiar navigation elements and simplifying otherwise long and complex user journeys, your website and mobile app are well on their way towards engaging users in a smooth, seamless and overall positive manner. Coupled with intelligent product recommendations, timely marketing campaigns and prompt assistance through great customer service, your website and mobile app will serve as the key touchpoint for users that are interested in purchasing the products and services your business offers.