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7 Tips For International Markets - Website Design

You need good web design for good online results.

For any website aimed at an international audience, be it a personal blog or a corporation website, the web design is even more critical for acceptance.

Good website design can be the difference between a first time visitors leaving after a couple of seconds or adding your site to their favorites.

Here are seven tips to help improve your design:

1. Speed of Loading

Most people will leave your site if it's not done loading in about 10 seconds. If you have an animation that loads so slow the "Loading..." sign appears on the screen, you will lose visitors who don't have a fast connection.

Keep in mind that less than 5% of the world has broadband and less than 10% of the users in the most active internet countries have broadband. The 56k modem still exists and is considered good enough by most people.

2. Text should be easy to read

The text size should be big enough, and the background should work well with the text. Black on white is used most often because it is the easiest to read. Don't decide to write green on red. If you want more color, choose very carefully to make sure it's still easy to read.

Choose a common font style, one that everyone will have on their computers.

Font size can vary, but your text must be a readable size and in a font that people consider easy to read. It may be hot with your friends to write in Agency, but that does not make Agency a font that is easy to read.

3. Your layout and design should be consistent

If you switch between styles too much, you will confuse your visitors. If the design differs a lot throughout the website, people may think they are now on a different website since the layout changed. This is confusing.

International visitors already have to adjust their cultural perceptions to take in information that is not communicated to them in a way they are used to. Creating a consistent feel to your website will make it easier for them to get used to as they navigate your website.

4. Your website should be easy to navigate

Each link should be clearly identified - don't use CLICK HERE. Give a description of where you want to take them.

Limit graphic navigation elements like buttons and tabs unless they are small and easy to load, easy to read, consistent. People will leave if they can't figure out how your Flash menu works (that is, if they waited for it to load).

5. Be careful with music and sounds

Different cultures will react differently to sounds. They may be used to different rhythms, a different volume or a different style of sales pitch,

Remember to verify your target audiences, if your web pages automatically load with a loud audio difficult to turn off. Very few people like to have music forced on them while they navigate, especially if they are already listening to music or if they are supposed to be working.

If you NEED the music, by default have it turned off with an easy button to activate the sound. Do not have the reverse as the default, forcing people to turn your music off or quickly close your web page.

6. Design for browser compatibility

Most people use Internet Explorer on Windows. But not everyone. Do you want to offend those that don't?

Since most people don't make the choice to change from Internet Explorer you should understand that those who chosen other browsers are probably more mature internet users. Do not offend them by not testing for their browsers.

If you are targeting technology driven markets, you should do some research. Your readers are more likely to use the newest browsers and gadgets such as PDAs and Blackberries. Having a browser window with frames on a PDA is a nightmare.

Remember to research all of your international audiences and make sure you can see your website as they see it. This might be difficult from your own computer screen.

7. Design for all screen resolutions

You may like to surf in 1240x1080 with your new screen, but some people still use standard sizes. When working on your website, resize the window several times to see what does not work.

What is popular in your international audiences?

Research your international audiences, test and adjust your website design

A little research to see how foreign visitors to your website actually see your website and how they react to your web pages might provide you with some surprising insights.

If you have a doubt, test, test and test! Find people in your target audience and have them surf. Many people like to be chosen as beta testers. You give them a sense of value that costs you nothing, helps you develop a better site, and starts word of mouth advertising.

Adjusting your web design to the feedback you get will make visiting your website a good experience to all of your international readers.