5 Lessons Web Designers Can Learn From Eye-Tracking Studies

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There’s no doubt about it – web design has changed dramatically in the last few years, and the advent of eye tracking technology has been a key factor in this evolution. The data collected from eye tracking studies has enabled website owners to see where users are looking on their pages, and make changes to improve the user experience and boost conversions. In this post, we’ll take a look at 5 lessons eye-tracking has changed web design forever. Enjoy!

Intuitive Navigation

Have you ever landed on a website only to find yourself quickly leaving because you couldn’t figure out how to navigate it? Well, you’re not alone. A study by Google found that people have a limited attention span and will leave a website if they can’t figure out how to use it within 10 seconds.

That’s why it’s important to structure your website in a way that is easy to navigate. One way to do this is by placing your navigation tools at the top of the page. This will allow readers to quickly find what they are looking for and start engaging with your content.

So, next time you’re designing your website, remember to put navigation at the top of the page. Your readers will thank you for it.

Using White Space

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever to make sure your website is easy to read and navigate. One of the best ways to do this is to use white space effectively. White space, also known as negative space, refers to the areas of your page that are free of any text or images.

While it might be tempting to fill up every inch of your page, research has shown that too much clutter can actually hinder users’ ability to process information. In fact, eye-tracking studies have shown that people tend to ignore content that is surrounded by too much text or other visual elements.

While designing your website, be sure to leave some breathing room for your readers’ eyes. A little white space can go a long way in making your site more user-friendly.

Appropriate Font Size

When it comes to web design, the size of your font can have a big impact on how people view your page. Studies have shown that smaller fonts encourage focused viewing behavior, while larger fonts encourage scanning.

Depending on your needs, you may want to adjust the size of your font accordingly. Of course, this is just one factor to consider when designing your website. The importance of typography in web design and the time it takes to complete this task cannot be overstated. But if you’re looking to optimize your site for maximum engagement, it’s definitely worth paying attention to.

Ad Placement

If you’re looking to get your ads seen, you need to incorporate them into your web design in a way that places them near the most interesting elements of your content. Studies have shown that ads placed next to the best content are more likely to be seen and clicked on.

If you want to increase your chances of getting clicks, make sure your ads are placed eye-catchingly close to your most compelling content. Your users will still be able to find what they need, but you’ll gain an advantage in advertising if you draw more eyes to the ads.

Faces Matter

Images are a key element of any website design, but not all images are equally effective at attracting and holding attention. According to a number of eye-tracking studies, images featuring faces tend to generate more eye fixation than images without faces. This effect is even more pronounced when the face in the image is looking directly at the viewer.

When you’re looking to capture and hold your readers’ attention, it’s worth giving some thought to the images you use on your site. And when in doubt, a close-up shot of a smiling human face is likely to do the trick.

 

With this in mind, we hope you find these 5 takeaways as useful as we do. Eye-tracking studies are a great way for web designers and marketers to learn more about how people interact with their website. If you’re looking for help designing or redeveloping your website, our team at Netgain SEO would be happy to assist you. We have years of experience creating intuitive websites that convert visitors into customers. Contact us today to get started!

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