Secrets of Great Web Page Layout

January 9, 2023 / Web Development

Page-Layout

There are many reasons why some websites are more successful than others, but one of the key ingredients is having a great web page layout. With modern site-building tools offering almost unlimited design options, anyone can create unique and striking web pages. However, to get it right, there are user expectations to meet and design best practices to follow. Here we look at what they are.

Design for both PC and mobile

With more than half of all browsing done on mobile phones, it is important that any web page layout is mobile-friendly. To ensure this, most websites use what is called a responsive theme; one that adjusts the layout to fit the device on which the user visits your site.

The issue with many responsive themes is that while you can control the arrangement of one of the versions (PC or mobile) the layout of the other is automatically generated. So, if you build the page to look great on a PC, you might not always get the look you want on a mobile screen.

To overcome this, use a responsive theme that lets you create both versions as you want, or build two separate versions of the site. If you choose the latter, you will have to ensure your settings can know which type of device the visitor is using so it can load the right site. Mobile sites created in this way are often stored on a subdomain with the name ‘m’ (for mobile), e.g., m.yourbusiness.com.  

Above the fold

Above the fold is a term that looks at a web page as if it is a newspaper folded in half. This is because when you land on a web page, only the top part is visible. To get to the rest, users will need to scroll down. What users see above the fold is, therefore, vitally important: if it doesn’t engage them, they are not going to scroll down and will abandon the site.

For this reason, users have expectations about what they will see above the fold, and it is best practice to ensure these are in place. One of the key features is the header and this goes right at the top of the page. Inside the header should be the brand name and logo and the main menu for the site.

Domain Name

Beneath this, most websites today use a striking banner image across the full width of the page that’s designed to have an immediate impact on the reader. Often the image will include important text, such as the brand’s unique selling proposition (USP).

Below the fold

What appears below the fold depends upon the type of page. Product pages will have different content and layout to information pages and so on. For this reason, it is impossible to describe an ideal layout for every type of page. However, here are some best practice suggestions you can use with all pages.

Don’t overcrowd a page

If you want a visitor to read to the bottom of a page, make the journey easier for them. One way to do this is not to bombard them with too much information all at once. Instead, break the content up into sections and put white space or images between them. This provides mental breathing space for users to take the information in without them feeling inundated.

At the same time, make sure your font size is easy to read and that there is adequate space between the lines so that the text doesn’t look busy.

Don’t overcomplicate

Keep your layout simple. If you have established a design that comfortably separates different sections, simply repeat it with each new section. This helps users get to know how your website layout works, creating familiarity and ease of use. Changing the layout constantly as users scroll down can make navigating the content more difficult.

Business at the bottom

Most website themes have a footer, a section at the bottom of the page. Internet users have expectations about what they will find in this section, so it is important that the information they require is here.

Generally, the footer will include the business name, address, company registration and VAT numbers, and contact details. It will also include links or a submenu to the business end of the website where users can find information about customer service, technical support, product returns, deliveries, and terms and conditions, etc. Often, this section is in a contrasting colour to the section above it.

Conclusion

While there are no hard and fast rules about how you design the layout of a web page, there are clear expectations from users about what will appear where and there are established best practices that have been proven to be successful. The secret to a great web page layout is to understand customer expectations and implement best practice. Hopefully, this post has shown you how this can be achieved.

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Author

  • Arjun Shinde

    I'm an experienced digital marketer with expertise in planning, SEO, SEM, and social media. I'm good at creating engaging content and optimising campaigns for a strong online presence.

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