How Do We Read Websites

By Adam  |  12 Sep 2016 12:00:00

Did you know that the average person will only stay on a webpage for about twenty seconds before clicking off it? When monitoring how much traffic your site is receiving, it is elevating to see high numbers. However, it is discomforting to know that a majority of the people aren’t seeing your content. Logically, to sell more products, customers will have to spend more time on your website and the longer they spend there, the more likely they will be to return. But the big question is, how can we get them to stay?

• Highlight keywords

By highlighting keywords, you are drawing the eye to the most important information. Pure bold text can be overwhelming. Similarly, pure standard text can too. However, a mixture of the two will mean that if someone is scanning the page they can easily find the relevant information.

• Don’t be afraid to bullet point key phrases

Highlighting keywords is a handy tool, however if you are trying to convey a lot of important information then bullets points will allow you to concisely display information, meanwhile drawing attention to itself.

• Summarise key points at the top of the page

On sites like eBay there is a small key which specifies product information like size, brand and if it is new etc. A few key points about a product will make the content much more digestible. If the customer likes what they see, they can then move on down the page or click onto another product.

• Keep the word count down

If your customer comes across a wall of text, then chances are, it will scare them away. Ensure your words and phrases are concise and succinct. If half your text is irrelevant, then cut it. Remember that pictures can also be used to break up text to make it appear less daunting.