Archiwum kategorii: Design

How and why a mobile-first strategy is a must for a website nowadays

Post pobrano z: How and why a mobile-first strategy is a must for a website nowadays

Mobile is
something that is not always designed for the first time around; however, it’s
something that should always be considered depending on the specific type of
website that’s being constructed, as well as the overall demographics and how
the website itself is used in general.

With a mobile-first approach, you are really seeing more of the content
than the graphics or the design itself, meaning that the content that you
create to help improve the user experience itself is extremely important.

This is
the most basic mobile-first definition. This kind of content not only includes
text, but also images, audio, and video. Designers always work hard to dedicate
their time to create a better user experience by ensuring that every bit of
content is arranged in a manner that is convenient, especially when it comes to
viewing this content on various kinds of mobile devices.

Why you should use a mobile-first strategy

All of
the different needs of mobile users are always met, including all of the
various specifications of mobile platforms. Besides that, designers are able to
focus on various technicalities, as well as details involving navigation,
structure, and content.

Let’s not
forget that websites are much easier to navigate, which leads to better user
experience. In addition, a fresher concept and design can materialize as the
result of a mobile-first approach.

Why you should use a mobile first strategy 2
Image source: Carl John Spencer

There are
other additional benefits to approaching a mobile website before a more
traditional website. For starters, a mobile user’s requirements are able to be
met on a level that is more basic thanks in large part to the platform’s
landscape and performance constraints.

The
device used by a mobile user is smaller in terms of both real estate and
overall connection speed and/or specific data plan. This, essentially, makes us
become much more focused and direct with the content that is created, which, in
turn, produces a great user experience that can carry over to a desktop
website.

Delivering a better experience in various viewports

Adaptivity 1
Image source: Jasontdsn

There are
many challenges in terms of mobile development that must be met before a
website can be created that works well for various types of mobile devices in
terms of context rather than just the smaller screen size.

Thanks to
the different constraints of mobile context, we are essentially forced to focus
on exactly what particular content is essential, as well as determining exactly
how to present that content in the quickest possible way.

Adaptivity 2
Image source: Katy Jackson

When we
concentrate on first building mobile experiences that are both optimized and
fast-loading, this will eventually lead to a form of “trickle-down”
effect for other platforms such as desktops and tablets.

Different
adaptive experiences are able to be kept manageable and accessible thanks in
large part to the latest advancements in web technologies, especially in HTML, with the release of
HTML5, and CSS with the latest version, CSS3. For example, if responsive tables
were a bit science fiction a while ago, now they are the norm. I know at least
one WordPress table plugin that does this by default. Most likely, there
are several others.

The best
approach with this is not to reinvent the wheel, but to use one of the many CSS libraries out there and get on with the next task that
you have for the site.

Unicode symbols

Unicode symbols
Image source: Danny Markov

One
useful way to help reduce the overall need for any type of background images is
to use special HTML characters for the simplest shapes. This is also a great
way to save HTTP requests as well.

When it
comes to stars that are generally used to rate something or other simple icons, you could use something as simple as a
question mark to create both solid and empty stars. Even better is the fact
that since it’s HTML and not an image, the end result will be a lot crisper
visually on screens that are of a higher resolution.

Overall style

Overall style
Image source: Darren Alawi

Whenever
we craft anything involving CSS, it’s important that we do anything to keep all
elements as fluid and lightweight as possible. It’s no secret that mobile
devices have many different screen sizes.

It’s also
no secret that the devices that come later on down the road won’t have a lot of
the same features as the ones of today do. The content itself is therefore used
to help determine how the layout should actually adjust to the device that
contains it.

When you
start with a style that is more baseline and shared, you will be able to
introduce more advanced layout rules whenever the screen size itself actually
permits you to do so. This is something that will help to keep the code
smaller, more maintainable, and a lot simpler.

JS libraries

JavaScript
enhancements can then be added to add a sense of functionality to the overall
navigation of the website. Doing so will also add functionality to aspects such
as auxiliary content and image galleries. The best interactive websites out there are taking advantage to the maximum
of JS libraries.

Mobile navigation

Mobile navigation
Image source: Jason Reynolds

This is
something that can be especially tricky when it comes to experiences that are
adaptive. Aspects such as top navigation are very common for desktop websites;
however, this is something that can also clutter up the screen itself, as well
as push down the amount of primary content on screens that are smaller in size.

A
hamburger menu could be useful, but be careful to make some tests before using
one form of another of this type of navigation.

Responsive images

Responsive images
Image source: Tom Newton

Mobile
optimized images should always be loaded in by default before loading in any
larger images whenever they are needed. Different techniques exist for responsive
images
on both
the server-side and the client-side of the spectrum. Whenever images are
optimized, overall performance can also be optimized even further.

Make sure you deliver a good user experience

Search
engines such as Google have worked hard to identify many different components
involving user experience mistakes. These mistakes are common and are ones that
you should work hard not to make. This is because of the fact that Google uses
these to judge your pages on how mobile-friendly they actually are. For
example, if you have an event
website
and
people can’t book events easily, you will lose positions in SERP.

Here are
the most common mistakes to avoid:

  • Avoid using lots of plugins
  • Avoid using font sizes that are not
    legible. Also aim for good fonts.
  • Size all of your tap targets as
    appropriately as possible
  • Forgetting to configure the viewport
  • Forgetting to size content to viewport

What you won’t like

Perhaps
the biggest downside of mobile web design is that it’s not fun, nor is it easy,
as you are hit with a lot of constraints from the first step.

These can
range from a smaller-sized screen to fewer amounts of resources, which can
create many headaches on your part. Additionally, beginning with mobile design
and working your way up from there can make it especially difficult to really
dive into a design concept, but it’s doable.

When you
adopt a mobile-first approach, you are essentially helping out your user base a
lot. After all, the main point of establishing a presence on the internet is to
reach all of your users and have a pleasant interaction with them.

Ending thoughts

Ending thoughts on mobile first web design
Image source: Nathan Powell

Adopting
a mobile-first strategy can be extremely difficult at first; however, there are
many benefits to this concept. All that is required from you is to step up and
take the leap. So what’s holding you back from doing so?

How and why a mobile-first strategy is a must for a website nowadays

Post pobrano z: How and why a mobile-first strategy is a must for a website nowadays

Mobile is
something that is not always designed for the first time around; however, it’s
something that should always be considered depending on the specific type of
website that’s being constructed, as well as the overall demographics and how
the website itself is used in general.

With a mobile-first approach, you are really seeing more of the content
than the graphics or the design itself, meaning that the content that you
create to help improve the user experience itself is extremely important.

This is
the most basic mobile-first definition. This kind of content not only includes
text, but also images, audio, and video. Designers always work hard to dedicate
their time to create a better user experience by ensuring that every bit of
content is arranged in a manner that is convenient, especially when it comes to
viewing this content on various kinds of mobile devices.

Why you should use a mobile-first strategy

All of
the different needs of mobile users are always met, including all of the
various specifications of mobile platforms. Besides that, designers are able to
focus on various technicalities, as well as details involving navigation,
structure, and content.

Let’s not
forget that websites are much easier to navigate, which leads to better user
experience. In addition, a fresher concept and design can materialize as the
result of a mobile-first approach.

Why you should use a mobile first strategy 2
Image source: Carl John Spencer

There are
other additional benefits to approaching a mobile website before a more
traditional website. For starters, a mobile user’s requirements are able to be
met on a level that is more basic thanks in large part to the platform’s
landscape and performance constraints.

The
device used by a mobile user is smaller in terms of both real estate and
overall connection speed and/or specific data plan. This, essentially, makes us
become much more focused and direct with the content that is created, which, in
turn, produces a great user experience that can carry over to a desktop
website.

Delivering a better experience in various viewports

Adaptivity 1
Image source: Jasontdsn

There are
many challenges in terms of mobile development that must be met before a
website can be created that works well for various types of mobile devices in
terms of context rather than just the smaller screen size.

Thanks to
the different constraints of mobile context, we are essentially forced to focus
on exactly what particular content is essential, as well as determining exactly
how to present that content in the quickest possible way.

Adaptivity 2
Image source: Katy Jackson

When we
concentrate on first building mobile experiences that are both optimized and
fast-loading, this will eventually lead to a form of “trickle-down”
effect for other platforms such as desktops and tablets.

Different
adaptive experiences are able to be kept manageable and accessible thanks in
large part to the latest advancements in web technologies, especially in HTML, with the release of
HTML5, and CSS with the latest version, CSS3. For example, if responsive tables
were a bit science fiction a while ago, now they are the norm. I know at least
one WordPress table plugin that does this by default. Most likely, there
are several others.

The best
approach with this is not to reinvent the wheel, but to use one of the many CSS libraries out there and get on with the next task that
you have for the site.

Unicode symbols

Unicode symbols
Image source: Danny Markov

One
useful way to help reduce the overall need for any type of background images is
to use special HTML characters for the simplest shapes. This is also a great
way to save HTTP requests as well.

When it
comes to stars that are generally used to rate something or other simple icons, you could use something as simple as a
question mark to create both solid and empty stars. Even better is the fact
that since it’s HTML and not an image, the end result will be a lot crisper
visually on screens that are of a higher resolution.

Overall style

Overall style
Image source: Darren Alawi

Whenever
we craft anything involving CSS, it’s important that we do anything to keep all
elements as fluid and lightweight as possible. It’s no secret that mobile
devices have many different screen sizes.

It’s also
no secret that the devices that come later on down the road won’t have a lot of
the same features as the ones of today do. The content itself is therefore used
to help determine how the layout should actually adjust to the device that
contains it.

When you
start with a style that is more baseline and shared, you will be able to
introduce more advanced layout rules whenever the screen size itself actually
permits you to do so. This is something that will help to keep the code
smaller, more maintainable, and a lot simpler.

JS libraries

JavaScript
enhancements can then be added to add a sense of functionality to the overall
navigation of the website. Doing so will also add functionality to aspects such
as auxiliary content and image galleries. The best interactive websites out there are taking advantage to the maximum
of JS libraries.

Mobile navigation

Mobile navigation
Image source: Jason Reynolds

This is
something that can be especially tricky when it comes to experiences that are
adaptive. Aspects such as top navigation are very common for desktop websites;
however, this is something that can also clutter up the screen itself, as well
as push down the amount of primary content on screens that are smaller in size.

A
hamburger menu could be useful, but be careful to make some tests before using
one form of another of this type of navigation.

Responsive images

Responsive images
Image source: Tom Newton

Mobile
optimized images should always be loaded in by default before loading in any
larger images whenever they are needed. Different techniques exist for responsive
images
on both
the server-side and the client-side of the spectrum. Whenever images are
optimized, overall performance can also be optimized even further.

Make sure you deliver a good user experience

Search
engines such as Google have worked hard to identify many different components
involving user experience mistakes. These mistakes are common and are ones that
you should work hard not to make. This is because of the fact that Google uses
these to judge your pages on how mobile-friendly they actually are. For
example, if you have an event
website
and
people can’t book events easily, you will lose positions in SERP.

Here are
the most common mistakes to avoid:

  • Avoid using lots of plugins
  • Avoid using font sizes that are not
    legible. Also aim for good fonts.
  • Size all of your tap targets as
    appropriately as possible
  • Forgetting to configure the viewport
  • Forgetting to size content to viewport

What you won’t like

Perhaps
the biggest downside of mobile web design is that it’s not fun, nor is it easy,
as you are hit with a lot of constraints from the first step.

These can
range from a smaller-sized screen to fewer amounts of resources, which can
create many headaches on your part. Additionally, beginning with mobile design
and working your way up from there can make it especially difficult to really
dive into a design concept, but it’s doable.

When you
adopt a mobile-first approach, you are essentially helping out your user base a
lot. After all, the main point of establishing a presence on the internet is to
reach all of your users and have a pleasant interaction with them.

Ending thoughts

Ending thoughts on mobile first web design
Image source: Nathan Powell

Adopting
a mobile-first strategy can be extremely difficult at first; however, there are
many benefits to this concept. All that is required from you is to step up and
take the leap. So what’s holding you back from doing so?

Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Post pobrano z: Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Many
people are choosing to sell products online as it is now easier than ever. When
designing and maintaining an online shop you should focus on the shopping cart
as one of the main areas of importance.

Having
a checkout that runs smoothly and is easy to access is by far the most
important element within a successful e-commerce site.

Having
a well-designed e-commerce website is all about getting trust from the
customers and it is for this reason that the checkout area on the payment page
needs to be very secure and well-designed.

Checkout
Image source

A
well designed and simple layout will make the customer feel more at ease when
they enter their payment information and their private details.

The
problem with an e-commerce website is that if they are too vague and
unwelcoming they can drive customers away. This mostly happens when the web development company handles the UX
as well. Shop owners then risk losing over half of all their customers. So how
do you make sure that your shopping cart is well tweaked to all the potential
customers? For starters, let UX designers handle UX. Still, here are a few
guidelines on designing the checkout interface.

Registration should be optional

The
benefit of registration is that they can allow one the ability to gain
information about their customers. However, this may deter new customers from
using the website
and will stop sales of products from taking
place.

The
best websites really will give the customer the choice of whether they want to
register or not as many people do not enjoy sharing their personal information
but may still wish to buy the products on the website. The annoyance of having
to fill out a registration form is a danger of putting the customer off for
life.

So
how does one get a customer to register without intruding on the purchase? One
method is to ask the customer if they wish to register once they have made the
purchase by offering them a set of forms to fill in. This may be as simple as a
username and password.

The single-page checkout

The single page checkout
Image source

The
trend these days with the modern checkout design is to have a single page
checkout which is easy to understand and quick to fill out.

These
are the most popular ways to purchase orders as multiple columns have shown to
confuse and deter customers from making the initial purchase.

Once
you have a single page flow in your checkout area of the site, you are much
more likely to get your customers purchasing the products that they want to
buy.

If
you’re using WooCommerce and you want to enable this functionality, look
through the best WooCommerce plugins. There surely is
one that has this one built in. If you’re using Opencart or something
else, you might need to look into their guides to see if they have a solution
for this.

Have a back button in the design

It
can be a very good idea to have a back button in the checkout process. If this
is not implemented, when the customer chooses to go back on the process they
may get an error message which will cause frustration and problems for the
purchase. Having a back button allows the customer the ability to check their
details.

If
a back button is not implemented and the customer gets an error message, they
are likely to give up on the whole process altogether.

Optimize for mobile

Many
web designers forget that customers often use their phones to browse websites
and may use this device to purchase products that they find online.

Optimize for mobile
Image source

However,
many websites are not optimized for mobile devices and will not be
able to sell products to the customer in this way. In order to maximize
profits, the individual needs to make sure that their website can work on many
different mobile devices. This often means cutting back on the design of the
site for mobile devices by removing input fields and focusing on the
essentials.

A
checkout on a mobile device should also be as simple as it is on the web and
should not try to make the customer register for the site before they make
their purchase. You should constantly do tweaks to the whole buying process and
make sure everything is as smooth as possible for the end user. Look into web application testing to streamline
your optimization process instead of doing things oldschool.

Set the shipping address as billing address

It
is always a good idea to combine the shipping address and the billing address to
make things simpler for the customer as they will often be making a purchase
from home.

By
doing this the checkout form becomes simpler for the customer and they will
quickly understand that their shipping address is also the billing address by
default.

Display all cart items

Display all cart items
Image source

It
is important to clearly show what the customer has bought when they are at the
checkout stage of their purchase. This is also important if you are offering a
special type of shipping such as express delivery.

If
you are in any way unclear about the purchases that customers are making at
this stage, they may very well abandon the purchase and give up completely on
the website.

Trust is vital

Trust is one of the most important
elements in a website
as an individual has never even met you and
is trying to make a purchase of a product that they need.

However,
the good thing is that online shops are becoming more and more popular as one
of the main ways in which to buy products while security and design are also
developing at a rapid rate. Just as in the real world, there is always the
possibility of data being lost or stolen. However, these situations are rare.

Trust is vital
Image source

Keeping the customer feeling safe and
confident

is the key goal and this can be done by offering a more personal experience.
Showing phone numbers and other easy ways to contact the shop is always a good
idea.

Another
good idea is to have trust signals which can be placed throughout the site.
These are simply symbols that have been designed and state things that will
keep the customer feeling safe and secure.

Use progress trackers

Use progress trackers
Image source

A
well-designed checkout page will give the customer the information they need in
order for them to feel safe within the checkout process. In this situation, a
progress tracker is used to show the customer exactly what stage they are at
with the checkout process so that they know how much further they have to go
until the order is completed.

Use descriptions for your form fields

There
will also be many moments when one will need to enter information regarding
personal information such as the email address. Some customers will understand
what this information is needed for. However, others may need a small
description which can either be on the show or hidden behind an arrow button to
explain what the information is used for.

Use only relevant fields in your forms

Use only relevant fields in your forms
Image source

It
really is a good idea to avoid as many forms as possible and stick to the bare
essentials as customers often feel like their personal information is invaded.

This
technique can be seen in some of the bigger websites, which always stick to the
minimal amount of forms, allowing customers to quickly enter the information
and make a purchase without unnecessary hassle.

Avoid multi-columns

It
is also a good idea to avoid multi-columns as these can confuse the customers
when they least expect it. The customer wants to enter their data quickly and
does not want to spend on time and energy on forms that they don’t understand.

The
problem with having several columns on one page is that users begin to wonder
whether these columns are related and this begins to bring confusion to the
user.

Consider closed checkouts

The
final thing to make sure when setting up an e-commerce site is to make sure the
customer fully understands what they are purchasing and how much they have paid
for that product. It is important to outline any other costs when the customer
makes their purchase so that they know exactly how much they are spending.

Finally,
the customer should feel completely confident that their purchase has been
processed and that it is on the way to them. Once they feel this, they are
likely to rely on the website for more product purchases in the future.

Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Post pobrano z: Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Many
people are choosing to sell products online as it is now easier than ever. When
designing and maintaining an online shop you should focus on the shopping cart
as one of the main areas of importance.

Having
a checkout that runs smoothly and is easy to access is by far the most
important element within a successful e-commerce site.

Having
a well-designed e-commerce website is all about getting trust from the
customers and it is for this reason that the checkout area on the payment page
needs to be very secure and well-designed.

Checkout
Image source

A
well designed and simple layout will make the customer feel more at ease when
they enter their payment information and their private details.

The
problem with an e-commerce website is that if they are too vague and
unwelcoming they can drive customers away. This mostly happens when the web development company handles the UX
as well. Shop owners then risk losing over half of all their customers. So how
do you make sure that your shopping cart is well tweaked to all the potential
customers? For starters, let UX designers handle UX. Still, here are a few
guidelines on designing the checkout interface.

Registration should be optional

The
benefit of registration is that they can allow one the ability to gain
information about their customers. However, this may deter new customers from
using the website
and will stop sales of products from taking
place.

The
best websites really will give the customer the choice of whether they want to
register or not as many people do not enjoy sharing their personal information
but may still wish to buy the products on the website. The annoyance of having
to fill out a registration form is a danger of putting the customer off for
life.

So
how does one get a customer to register without intruding on the purchase? One
method is to ask the customer if they wish to register once they have made the
purchase by offering them a set of forms to fill in. This may be as simple as a
username and password.

The single-page checkout

The single page checkout
Image source

The
trend these days with the modern checkout design is to have a single page
checkout which is easy to understand and quick to fill out.

These
are the most popular ways to purchase orders as multiple columns have shown to
confuse and deter customers from making the initial purchase.

Once
you have a single page flow in your checkout area of the site, you are much
more likely to get your customers purchasing the products that they want to
buy.

If
you’re using WooCommerce and you want to enable this functionality, look
through the best WooCommerce plugins. There surely is
one that has this one built in. If you’re using Opencart or something
else, you might need to look into their guides to see if they have a solution
for this.

Have a back button in the design

It
can be a very good idea to have a back button in the checkout process. If this
is not implemented, when the customer chooses to go back on the process they
may get an error message which will cause frustration and problems for the
purchase. Having a back button allows the customer the ability to check their
details.

If
a back button is not implemented and the customer gets an error message, they
are likely to give up on the whole process altogether.

Optimize for mobile

Many
web designers forget that customers often use their phones to browse websites
and may use this device to purchase products that they find online.

Optimize for mobile
Image source

However,
many websites are not optimized for mobile devices and will not be
able to sell products to the customer in this way. In order to maximize
profits, the individual needs to make sure that their website can work on many
different mobile devices. This often means cutting back on the design of the
site for mobile devices by removing input fields and focusing on the
essentials.

A
checkout on a mobile device should also be as simple as it is on the web and
should not try to make the customer register for the site before they make
their purchase. You should constantly do tweaks to the whole buying process and
make sure everything is as smooth as possible for the end user. Look into web application testing to streamline
your optimization process instead of doing things oldschool.

Set the shipping address as billing address

It
is always a good idea to combine the shipping address and the billing address to
make things simpler for the customer as they will often be making a purchase
from home.

By
doing this the checkout form becomes simpler for the customer and they will
quickly understand that their shipping address is also the billing address by
default.

Display all cart items

Display all cart items
Image source

It
is important to clearly show what the customer has bought when they are at the
checkout stage of their purchase. This is also important if you are offering a
special type of shipping such as express delivery.

If
you are in any way unclear about the purchases that customers are making at
this stage, they may very well abandon the purchase and give up completely on
the website.

Trust is vital

Trust is one of the most important
elements in a website
as an individual has never even met you and
is trying to make a purchase of a product that they need.

However,
the good thing is that online shops are becoming more and more popular as one
of the main ways in which to buy products while security and design are also
developing at a rapid rate. Just as in the real world, there is always the
possibility of data being lost or stolen. However, these situations are rare.

Trust is vital
Image source

Keeping the customer feeling safe and
confident

is the key goal and this can be done by offering a more personal experience.
Showing phone numbers and other easy ways to contact the shop is always a good
idea.

Another
good idea is to have trust signals which can be placed throughout the site.
These are simply symbols that have been designed and state things that will
keep the customer feeling safe and secure.

Use progress trackers

Use progress trackers
Image source

A
well-designed checkout page will give the customer the information they need in
order for them to feel safe within the checkout process. In this situation, a
progress tracker is used to show the customer exactly what stage they are at
with the checkout process so that they know how much further they have to go
until the order is completed.

Use descriptions for your form fields

There
will also be many moments when one will need to enter information regarding
personal information such as the email address. Some customers will understand
what this information is needed for. However, others may need a small
description which can either be on the show or hidden behind an arrow button to
explain what the information is used for.

Use only relevant fields in your forms

Use only relevant fields in your forms
Image source

It
really is a good idea to avoid as many forms as possible and stick to the bare
essentials as customers often feel like their personal information is invaded.

This
technique can be seen in some of the bigger websites, which always stick to the
minimal amount of forms, allowing customers to quickly enter the information
and make a purchase without unnecessary hassle.

Avoid multi-columns

It
is also a good idea to avoid multi-columns as these can confuse the customers
when they least expect it. The customer wants to enter their data quickly and
does not want to spend on time and energy on forms that they don’t understand.

The
problem with having several columns on one page is that users begin to wonder
whether these columns are related and this begins to bring confusion to the
user.

Consider closed checkouts

The
final thing to make sure when setting up an e-commerce site is to make sure the
customer fully understands what they are purchasing and how much they have paid
for that product. It is important to outline any other costs when the customer
makes their purchase so that they know exactly how much they are spending.

Finally,
the customer should feel completely confident that their purchase has been
processed and that it is on the way to them. Once they feel this, they are
likely to rely on the website for more product purchases in the future.

Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Post pobrano z: Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Many
people are choosing to sell products online as it is now easier than ever. When
designing and maintaining an online shop you should focus on the shopping cart
as one of the main areas of importance.

Having
a checkout that runs smoothly and is easy to access is by far the most
important element within a successful e-commerce site.

Having
a well-designed e-commerce website is all about getting trust from the
customers and it is for this reason that the checkout area on the payment page
needs to be very secure and well-designed.

Checkout
Image source

A
well designed and simple layout will make the customer feel more at ease when
they enter their payment information and their private details.

The
problem with an e-commerce website is that if they are too vague and
unwelcoming they can drive customers away. This mostly happens when the web development company handles the UX
as well. Shop owners then risk losing over half of all their customers. So how
do you make sure that your shopping cart is well tweaked to all the potential
customers? For starters, let UX designers handle UX. Still, here are a few
guidelines on designing the checkout interface.

Registration should be optional

The
benefit of registration is that they can allow one the ability to gain
information about their customers. However, this may deter new customers from
using the website
and will stop sales of products from taking
place.

The
best websites really will give the customer the choice of whether they want to
register or not as many people do not enjoy sharing their personal information
but may still wish to buy the products on the website. The annoyance of having
to fill out a registration form is a danger of putting the customer off for
life.

So
how does one get a customer to register without intruding on the purchase? One
method is to ask the customer if they wish to register once they have made the
purchase by offering them a set of forms to fill in. This may be as simple as a
username and password.

The single-page checkout

The single page checkout
Image source

The
trend these days with the modern checkout design is to have a single page
checkout which is easy to understand and quick to fill out.

These
are the most popular ways to purchase orders as multiple columns have shown to
confuse and deter customers from making the initial purchase.

Once
you have a single page flow in your checkout area of the site, you are much
more likely to get your customers purchasing the products that they want to
buy.

If
you’re using WooCommerce and you want to enable this functionality, look
through the best WooCommerce plugins. There surely is
one that has this one built in. If you’re using Opencart or something
else, you might need to look into their guides to see if they have a solution
for this.

Have a back button in the design

It
can be a very good idea to have a back button in the checkout process. If this
is not implemented, when the customer chooses to go back on the process they
may get an error message which will cause frustration and problems for the
purchase. Having a back button allows the customer the ability to check their
details.

If
a back button is not implemented and the customer gets an error message, they
are likely to give up on the whole process altogether.

Optimize for mobile

Many
web designers forget that customers often use their phones to browse websites
and may use this device to purchase products that they find online.

Optimize for mobile
Image source

However,
many websites are not optimized for mobile devices and will not be
able to sell products to the customer in this way. In order to maximize
profits, the individual needs to make sure that their website can work on many
different mobile devices. This often means cutting back on the design of the
site for mobile devices by removing input fields and focusing on the
essentials.

A
checkout on a mobile device should also be as simple as it is on the web and
should not try to make the customer register for the site before they make
their purchase. You should constantly do tweaks to the whole buying process and
make sure everything is as smooth as possible for the end user. Look into web application testing to streamline
your optimization process instead of doing things oldschool.

Set the shipping address as billing address

It
is always a good idea to combine the shipping address and the billing address to
make things simpler for the customer as they will often be making a purchase
from home.

By
doing this the checkout form becomes simpler for the customer and they will
quickly understand that their shipping address is also the billing address by
default.

Display all cart items

Display all cart items
Image source

It
is important to clearly show what the customer has bought when they are at the
checkout stage of their purchase. This is also important if you are offering a
special type of shipping such as express delivery.

If
you are in any way unclear about the purchases that customers are making at
this stage, they may very well abandon the purchase and give up completely on
the website.

Trust is vital

Trust is one of the most important
elements in a website
as an individual has never even met you and
is trying to make a purchase of a product that they need.

However,
the good thing is that online shops are becoming more and more popular as one
of the main ways in which to buy products while security and design are also
developing at a rapid rate. Just as in the real world, there is always the
possibility of data being lost or stolen. However, these situations are rare.

Trust is vital
Image source

Keeping the customer feeling safe and
confident

is the key goal and this can be done by offering a more personal experience.
Showing phone numbers and other easy ways to contact the shop is always a good
idea.

Another
good idea is to have trust signals which can be placed throughout the site.
These are simply symbols that have been designed and state things that will
keep the customer feeling safe and secure.

Use progress trackers

Use progress trackers
Image source

A
well-designed checkout page will give the customer the information they need in
order for them to feel safe within the checkout process. In this situation, a
progress tracker is used to show the customer exactly what stage they are at
with the checkout process so that they know how much further they have to go
until the order is completed.

Use descriptions for your form fields

There
will also be many moments when one will need to enter information regarding
personal information such as the email address. Some customers will understand
what this information is needed for. However, others may need a small
description which can either be on the show or hidden behind an arrow button to
explain what the information is used for.

Use only relevant fields in your forms

Use only relevant fields in your forms
Image source

It
really is a good idea to avoid as many forms as possible and stick to the bare
essentials as customers often feel like their personal information is invaded.

This
technique can be seen in some of the bigger websites, which always stick to the
minimal amount of forms, allowing customers to quickly enter the information
and make a purchase without unnecessary hassle.

Avoid multi-columns

It
is also a good idea to avoid multi-columns as these can confuse the customers
when they least expect it. The customer wants to enter their data quickly and
does not want to spend on time and energy on forms that they don’t understand.

The
problem with having several columns on one page is that users begin to wonder
whether these columns are related and this begins to bring confusion to the
user.

Consider closed checkouts

The
final thing to make sure when setting up an e-commerce site is to make sure the
customer fully understands what they are purchasing and how much they have paid
for that product. It is important to outline any other costs when the customer
makes their purchase so that they know exactly how much they are spending.

Finally,
the customer should feel completely confident that their purchase has been
processed and that it is on the way to them. Once they feel this, they are
likely to rely on the website for more product purchases in the future.

Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Post pobrano z: Tips for improving the checkout interface to get better conversions

Many
people are choosing to sell products online as it is now easier than ever. When
designing and maintaining an online shop you should focus on the shopping cart
as one of the main areas of importance.

Having
a checkout that runs smoothly and is easy to access is by far the most
important element within a successful e-commerce site.

Having
a well-designed e-commerce website is all about getting trust from the
customers and it is for this reason that the checkout area on the payment page
needs to be very secure and well-designed.

Checkout
Image source

A
well designed and simple layout will make the customer feel more at ease when
they enter their payment information and their private details.

The
problem with an e-commerce website is that if they are too vague and
unwelcoming they can drive customers away. This mostly happens when the web development company handles the UX
as well. Shop owners then risk losing over half of all their customers. So how
do you make sure that your shopping cart is well tweaked to all the potential
customers? For starters, let UX designers handle UX. Still, here are a few
guidelines on designing the checkout interface.

Registration should be optional

The
benefit of registration is that they can allow one the ability to gain
information about their customers. However, this may deter new customers from
using the website
and will stop sales of products from taking
place.

The
best websites really will give the customer the choice of whether they want to
register or not as many people do not enjoy sharing their personal information
but may still wish to buy the products on the website. The annoyance of having
to fill out a registration form is a danger of putting the customer off for
life.

So
how does one get a customer to register without intruding on the purchase? One
method is to ask the customer if they wish to register once they have made the
purchase by offering them a set of forms to fill in. This may be as simple as a
username and password.

The single-page checkout

The single page checkout
Image source

The
trend these days with the modern checkout design is to have a single page
checkout which is easy to understand and quick to fill out.

These
are the most popular ways to purchase orders as multiple columns have shown to
confuse and deter customers from making the initial purchase.

Once
you have a single page flow in your checkout area of the site, you are much
more likely to get your customers purchasing the products that they want to
buy.

If
you’re using WooCommerce and you want to enable this functionality, look
through the best WooCommerce plugins. There surely is
one that has this one built in. If you’re using Opencart or something
else, you might need to look into their guides to see if they have a solution
for this.

Have a back button in the design

It
can be a very good idea to have a back button in the checkout process. If this
is not implemented, when the customer chooses to go back on the process they
may get an error message which will cause frustration and problems for the
purchase. Having a back button allows the customer the ability to check their
details.

If
a back button is not implemented and the customer gets an error message, they
are likely to give up on the whole process altogether.

Optimize for mobile

Many
web designers forget that customers often use their phones to browse websites
and may use this device to purchase products that they find online.

Optimize for mobile
Image source

However,
many websites are not optimized for mobile devices and will not be
able to sell products to the customer in this way. In order to maximize
profits, the individual needs to make sure that their website can work on many
different mobile devices. This often means cutting back on the design of the
site for mobile devices by removing input fields and focusing on the
essentials.

A
checkout on a mobile device should also be as simple as it is on the web and
should not try to make the customer register for the site before they make
their purchase. You should constantly do tweaks to the whole buying process and
make sure everything is as smooth as possible for the end user. Look into web application testing to streamline
your optimization process instead of doing things oldschool.

Set the shipping address as billing address

It
is always a good idea to combine the shipping address and the billing address to
make things simpler for the customer as they will often be making a purchase
from home.

By
doing this the checkout form becomes simpler for the customer and they will
quickly understand that their shipping address is also the billing address by
default.

Display all cart items

Display all cart items
Image source

It
is important to clearly show what the customer has bought when they are at the
checkout stage of their purchase. This is also important if you are offering a
special type of shipping such as express delivery.

If
you are in any way unclear about the purchases that customers are making at
this stage, they may very well abandon the purchase and give up completely on
the website.

Trust is vital

Trust is one of the most important
elements in a website
as an individual has never even met you and
is trying to make a purchase of a product that they need.

However,
the good thing is that online shops are becoming more and more popular as one
of the main ways in which to buy products while security and design are also
developing at a rapid rate. Just as in the real world, there is always the
possibility of data being lost or stolen. However, these situations are rare.

Trust is vital
Image source

Keeping the customer feeling safe and
confident

is the key goal and this can be done by offering a more personal experience.
Showing phone numbers and other easy ways to contact the shop is always a good
idea.

Another
good idea is to have trust signals which can be placed throughout the site.
These are simply symbols that have been designed and state things that will
keep the customer feeling safe and secure.

Use progress trackers

Use progress trackers
Image source

A
well-designed checkout page will give the customer the information they need in
order for them to feel safe within the checkout process. In this situation, a
progress tracker is used to show the customer exactly what stage they are at
with the checkout process so that they know how much further they have to go
until the order is completed.

Use descriptions for your form fields

There
will also be many moments when one will need to enter information regarding
personal information such as the email address. Some customers will understand
what this information is needed for. However, others may need a small
description which can either be on the show or hidden behind an arrow button to
explain what the information is used for.

Use only relevant fields in your forms

Use only relevant fields in your forms
Image source

It
really is a good idea to avoid as many forms as possible and stick to the bare
essentials as customers often feel like their personal information is invaded.

This
technique can be seen in some of the bigger websites, which always stick to the
minimal amount of forms, allowing customers to quickly enter the information
and make a purchase without unnecessary hassle.

Avoid multi-columns

It
is also a good idea to avoid multi-columns as these can confuse the customers
when they least expect it. The customer wants to enter their data quickly and
does not want to spend on time and energy on forms that they don’t understand.

The
problem with having several columns on one page is that users begin to wonder
whether these columns are related and this begins to bring confusion to the
user.

Consider closed checkouts

The
final thing to make sure when setting up an e-commerce site is to make sure the
customer fully understands what they are purchasing and how much they have paid
for that product. It is important to outline any other costs when the customer
makes their purchase so that they know exactly how much they are spending.

Finally,
the customer should feel completely confident that their purchase has been
processed and that it is on the way to them. Once they feel this, they are
likely to rely on the website for more product purchases in the future.

Tips on Creative Event Photography

Post pobrano z: Tips on Creative Event Photography

Event photography is all about capturing that ‘once in a lifetime’ moment, isn’t it? As much as this sounds incredible and nearly effortless, capturing the right moment at the right time, more often than not, is a real struggle. Oftentimes, the best moments do not occur twice, and due to things moving fast, photographing events can easily become one of the most stressful types of commercial photography.

Luckily, we have five event photography tips for you that not only will help you in taking creative photos but will also aid in not missing your shot ever again. From sports events to concerts, weddings, and small gatherings, these useful tips got you covered!

Let’s begin.

1. Think of the Story You Want to Share

Every event has a story, and it is your duty,
as a photographer, to deliver it in the best way possible. Therefore, it is a
good idea to think of the story before you even step into the venue of the
event. Plan everything down to details and do not leave anything to
coincidence.

For instance, start by contemplating the
overall story in your head. What would highlight moments of that event be? When
do you expect them to occur? How many people are you photographing? Who are the
main characters in this story? What type of pictures do they prefer? If you are
unsure about something, ask as many questions as you feel necessary to help you
determine the tone as well as the exact story you are expected to share.

Additionally, take a moment to think about the
place where you will be shooting. Is that a building you are already familiar
with? If not, arrive at the venue before anyone to look for the right angles as
well as size up where is the best light. This will prevent missing the right
shots and will help you immensely in the process.

2. Capture Some Behind the Scenes Action

Alongside the proper planing, capturing behind the scenes shots will also greatly contribute to the story. In case you are allowed to access the backstage, we advise you to go for it!

When it comes to events, especially shows, and sports matches, people simply love seeing what goes on behind closed doors. These types of photos make the whole story of the event more personal, relatable and beautiful, so make sure you do not miss the opportunity to get behind the curtains and photograph some real, raw action.

3. Be Prepared for the Memorable Moments

As
mentioned, event photography revolves around capturing the right moments.
Depending on the event itself, the right moments may be the bride dancing with
her bridesmaids, a guitarist at a concert performing a solo, or group of
friends laughing at a joke. Whatever these memorable moments are, catching
people’s genuine emotions and reactions, is what makes photos great and
creative.

Hence, be on the lookout and prepare yourself for them to occur at all times. You need to pay attention to your surroundings and catch the action as it is arising. Moreover, it goes without saying – The secret of not missing the moment when it happens is setting up everything beforehand.

4. Look for Interesting Details

Everything
is in the details. Especially when we are talking about event photography,
details matter the most, so do not make the mistake of neglecting them.

Capturing interesting details proves the excellence and the creativity of your work thus focus on them. They do not need to be hugely complex to look good, as some of the most powerful details are the ones you can spot without even trying. Among these, you can find the wedding napkins, the seat decorations during a theater play, the cake of the birthday party, or the public speaker’s outfit.

5. Never Settle for Boring Photos

Needless to say, boring photos never look good and almost always it is recognizable whether or not the photographed people felt comfortable during the shoot. The only way to candid portraits is to make people feel at ease while you are taking pictures of them. Find something you have in common with them, crack a joke, ask a question or compliment them so they can relax and ultimately look natural on your camera screen.

Summary

Interesting
and storytelling event photographs are not that hard to make if you know
exactly what you should do and what to focus on. The next time you have an
event to photograph, try at least one of these five tips and we assure you will
immediately notice a difference.

Pay
attention to the details, be prepared for emotional memorable moments and
action shots, talk to people and use all of your creativity and expertise to
share the story in the most beautiful way.

Design Deals for the Week

Post pobrano z: Design Deals for the Week

Every week, we’ll give you an overview of the best deals for designers, make sure you don’t miss any by subscribing to our deals feed. You can also follow the recently launched website Type Deals if you are looking for free fonts or font deals.

100+ Christmas and New Year’s Vector Designs

It’s that time of year again! The holidays are upon us, so break out the Christmas cheer with this premium bundle of high-quality Christmas and New Year vectors! You’ll get 100+ professional illustrations, all helping to usher in a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Great for everything from holiday cards to posters, ads, T-shirts and more.

$9 instead of $900 – Get it now!

Revolutionary Auto Racing Inspired Intensa Font Family

Inspired by the auto racing revolution in the 1960s, Intensa is a fabulous font family comprised of 15 display fonts in a wide range for styles and weights. It also supports more than 45 different languages. Mix and match styles to create the perfect store sign, T-shirt, advertisement or any other printed project currently in your hands.

$9 instead of $28 – Get it now!

180+ Awesome Shapes and Patterns Kit

This Awesome Shapes and Patterns collection will give a wonderfully modern look to your latest project. Jam packed with more than 180 individual elements, you’ll find organic, doodle and geometric shapes, as well as a slew of dot grids and circles. They’re all perfect for everything from invitations to web design to apparel.

$9 instead of $56 – Get it now!

100+ Customizable Ugly Christmas Sweater Designs

Is the season for ugly Christmas sweaters and has Mighty Deals got you covered! This collection of 100+ Ugly Christmas Sweater Designs and Templates is all you need to create unlimited uglywear. With multiple file formats and knitted fonts, these bad boys are fully customizable to suit your every need.

$9 instead of $1295 – Get it now!

950+ Professional, Elegant Floral Elements

This beautiful Flower Bundle of line art and watercolors is comprised of 6 different floral sets from Christmas Time to Underwater Magic. That’s over 950 elegant floral designs delivered as borders, frames, logos, patterns and more. With an extended license, you can create limitless commercial projects from apparel to wedding invitations.

$9 instead of $740 – Get it now!

Design Deals for the Week

Post pobrano z: Design Deals for the Week

Every week, we’ll give you an overview of the best deals for designers, make sure you don’t miss any by subscribing to our deals feed. You can also follow the recently launched website Type Deals if you are looking for free fonts or font deals.

100+ Christmas and New Year’s Vector Designs

It’s that time of year again! The holidays are upon us, so break out the Christmas cheer with this premium bundle of high-quality Christmas and New Year vectors! You’ll get 100+ professional illustrations, all helping to usher in a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Great for everything from holiday cards to posters, ads, T-shirts and more.

$9 instead of $900 – Get it now!

Revolutionary Auto Racing Inspired Intensa Font Family

Inspired by the auto racing revolution in the 1960s, Intensa is a fabulous font family comprised of 15 display fonts in a wide range for styles and weights. It also supports more than 45 different languages. Mix and match styles to create the perfect store sign, T-shirt, advertisement or any other printed project currently in your hands.

$9 instead of $28 – Get it now!

180+ Awesome Shapes and Patterns Kit

This Awesome Shapes and Patterns collection will give a wonderfully modern look to your latest project. Jam packed with more than 180 individual elements, you’ll find organic, doodle and geometric shapes, as well as a slew of dot grids and circles. They’re all perfect for everything from invitations to web design to apparel.

$9 instead of $56 – Get it now!

100+ Customizable Ugly Christmas Sweater Designs

Is the season for ugly Christmas sweaters and has Mighty Deals got you covered! This collection of 100+ Ugly Christmas Sweater Designs and Templates is all you need to create unlimited uglywear. With multiple file formats and knitted fonts, these bad boys are fully customizable to suit your every need.

$9 instead of $1295 – Get it now!

950+ Professional, Elegant Floral Elements

This beautiful Flower Bundle of line art and watercolors is comprised of 6 different floral sets from Christmas Time to Underwater Magic. That’s over 950 elegant floral designs delivered as borders, frames, logos, patterns and more. With an extended license, you can create limitless commercial projects from apparel to wedding invitations.

$9 instead of $740 – Get it now!

Design Deals for the Week

Post pobrano z: Design Deals for the Week

Every week, we’ll give you an overview of the best deals for designers, make sure you don’t miss any by subscribing to our deals feed. You can also follow the recently launched website Type Deals if you are looking for free fonts or font deals.

100+ Christmas and New Year’s Vector Designs

It’s that time of year again! The holidays are upon us, so break out the Christmas cheer with this premium bundle of high-quality Christmas and New Year vectors! You’ll get 100+ professional illustrations, all helping to usher in a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Great for everything from holiday cards to posters, ads, T-shirts and more.

$9 instead of $900 – Get it now!

Revolutionary Auto Racing Inspired Intensa Font Family

Inspired by the auto racing revolution in the 1960s, Intensa is a fabulous font family comprised of 15 display fonts in a wide range for styles and weights. It also supports more than 45 different languages. Mix and match styles to create the perfect store sign, T-shirt, advertisement or any other printed project currently in your hands.

$9 instead of $28 – Get it now!

180+ Awesome Shapes and Patterns Kit

This Awesome Shapes and Patterns collection will give a wonderfully modern look to your latest project. Jam packed with more than 180 individual elements, you’ll find organic, doodle and geometric shapes, as well as a slew of dot grids and circles. They’re all perfect for everything from invitations to web design to apparel.

$9 instead of $56 – Get it now!

100+ Customizable Ugly Christmas Sweater Designs

Is the season for ugly Christmas sweaters and has Mighty Deals got you covered! This collection of 100+ Ugly Christmas Sweater Designs and Templates is all you need to create unlimited uglywear. With multiple file formats and knitted fonts, these bad boys are fully customizable to suit your every need.

$9 instead of $1295 – Get it now!

950+ Professional, Elegant Floral Elements

This beautiful Flower Bundle of line art and watercolors is comprised of 6 different floral sets from Christmas Time to Underwater Magic. That’s over 950 elegant floral designs delivered as borders, frames, logos, patterns and more. With an extended license, you can create limitless commercial projects from apparel to wedding invitations.

$9 instead of $740 – Get it now!