Does Your Website Spark Joy?

Refresh and Declutter Your Website to Attract your Ideal Clients

WordCamp Baltimore Lisa Petrovich Smith

October 15, 2017

Hi, I’m Lisa

Graphic / Web Designer, Strategic Communications and IT Consultant for over 25 years

Help small businesses and nonprofits deliver their message and make impact through branding, design, and websites

B.A. Communications, M.S. Management Information Systems

WordPress User, Designer, Fan

@lpsweblisa@lpswebdesign.com

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Upby Marie Kondo

Published in US in 2014 Kon-Mari Method Declutter your home in one go Tokimoku – Japanese word for “Spark Joy” Literally “flutter, throb, palpitate”

#WCBalt

Story Time

“As you put your house in order and decrease your possessions, you’ll see what your true values are, what is really important in your life.”

– Marie Kondo

#WCBalt

Hurricane Katrina Aftermath

“I don’t want to start any blasphemous rumours, but I think that God’s got a sick sense of humor.”

– Depeche Mode

If Content is King, Design is Queen

Good Design:o Fulfills your business objectiveso Follows rulesoOrganizes content o Does not equal personal tasteoCan be challenging process

#WCBalt

What Does it Mean to Spark Joy?

“One theme underlying my method of tidying is transforming the home into a sacred space, a power spot filled with energy:

- A comfortable environment

- A space that feels good to be in

- A place where you can relax

These are traits that make a home a power spot.”

– Marie Kondo

#WCBalt

Powerful First Impression

o Average user spends fewer than 15 seconds on a Web Page Tony Haile, Chartbeat (2014)

Another study = 5-8 seconds

o People form an opinion in 50ms (milliseconds) Three studies in Behaviour & Information Technology (2006)

o 75% of users make judgments of a website’s credibility based on WEBSITE DESIGN

o 94% of first impressions are DESIGN related

Stanford web credibility research

Four Cs to Declutter Success

Clear Consistent Credible Clean

#WCBalt

Clear = Clarity

Know Your Why Target Audience Right

Message Value you BringOne Big IdeaCompelling Call to Action

“Design is not making 1000 ideas, Design is making 1000 ideas 1 idea”

– Joe Stewart, Work&Co

Clear: Example

Consistent

Consistent Visual Identity = Branding

Does your site: Reflect/Match your branding?

Maintain same fonts, colors, styles from page to page

Use the same TONE of voice?

Integrate new elements and plug-ins well?

Does it all work together?

#WCBalt

Consistent: Examples (Logo Identity)

Credible

TRUST Factors: Nuts & Bolts: Links work, Error-free

Contact Information

Quality Photos

Site Speed

Current: Mobile-responsive

Fresh Up to Date Content

Reflects Current Business

If you can’t maintain it, get rid of it

Credible: Example

Burn the Boats Neil Vogel, CEO formerly

About.Com

Now dot.dash

Candidates to eliminate: Legacy items

Doo-dads

Fluff ”You’ll be surprised how many things you possess have already filled their role. Acknowledge and let them go with gratitude”

- Marie Kondo

Credible: How Do You Decide?

Data Usability Testing

Heat Maps

Analytics

Phone A Friend Use a Checklist

Email me: lisa@lpswebdesign.com

“Clothes, like people, can relax more fully in the company of others who are very similar in type, and therefore organizing them by category helps them feel more comfortable and secure.”

– Marie Kondo

Clean

Design Principles:White Space

Visual Hierarchy

Proximity

Alignment

Scannability

“When it comes to tidying, the majority of people are lazy. They are also busy.”

- Marie Kondo#WCBalt

Clean:Examples

#WCBalt

Wrap Up / Q & A

Summary of Key Principles Four Cs:

Clear Consistent Credible Clean

Visual Design Checklist Download at

www.lpswebdesign.com/checklist

Q & A lisa@lpswebdesign.com

@lpsweb

www.lpswebdesign.com