This week we are going to focus on a very specific area that is closely related to branding – web design. More specifically, we are going to discuss the five seconds rule.

Not so long ago if you wanted to browse the internet you needed a computer. Nowadays there are many devices capable of doing that. Ranging from 4” mobile phones to 50” TVs. It is no longer enough to design a website that works well on one type of device. You need to make sure that the website looks good and is easy to navigate on every device and every browser. Otherwise, you risk losing valuable customers. If your page fails to load correctly on their mobile phone they won’t try again on another device. Most likely they will leave your website after five seconds with a bad impression of your company.

2. Clear marketing message

This point is directly related to your brand’s mission statement and general marketing. When a visitor comes across your website they want to know what it is that your company offers and they want to know it straight away. The first thing your visitor sees shouldn’t be a pompous message full of meaningless buzzwords and corporate ‘mumbo jumbo’. Yes, your message needs to be clever and unique, but it also should be direct. ‘Best independent garage in town’ is a much better message than ‘Delivering customer satisfaction through consistently providing high quality services’

3. Unique design

Making sure your website displays correctly is an important first step, but it is not enough to grab people’s attention. Your design has to make an impact on visitors. There is no single rule here, but there are plenty of examples around the web. Depending on the type of your business and your company’s brand. You could try going a bit retro, use interesting illustrations or try to make an emotional impact (fun, nostalgic, romantic etc). One thing to keep in mind is that you shouldn’t overload the visitors with too much content. Blank space plays an important role in attracting people’s attention to the key message.

4. Ask for feedback

It is always a good idea to test your design to make sure it works. You can start by asking friends and relatives to take a look at your website and see what they think. You might even try showing it to them for five seconds and then asking what was one thing that they remembered. 

You can call our Design and Technology Team or use the form below if you need a new website: 
0333 014 2035

7am-7pm, Monday-Friday