So you don’t think design plays a part in first impressions? Think again! A study by researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in 2012 showed that it takes two-tenths of a second to form a first impression, give or take a nanosecond.
This makes it ever more important, as the ability to obtain good design is proliferating, to ensure that we are doing all we can to grab that favorable awareness. This really is vital for small business, as a poor design will often lead to trust issues, a key factor for smaller enterprises attempting to build their brand.
How can we promote good design?
The first place to start is with some thought. Discovering how you would like to present your brand and products is largely influenced in the planning stage. That very same study revealed that your logo has the lion’s share of a visitor’s attention, with images and social interaction following closely on its heels.
In a nutshell, the visual elements matter! So now that you have the data, you have no excuse. I mean you really don’t, because expense is not really a viable excuse for inaction. Crowdsourcing sites like 99Designs, CrowdSpring and others have made what was in the not so distant past a very expensive proposition, into a very achievable endeavor.
How can you expect to benefit?
The benefits of good design are more plentiful and often less obvious than you may think at first. While a killer look for your website and graphics is a no-brainer, other elements like product packaging, advertising, and even infographics are shared, Pinned and ReTweeted from your pages.
This can have a substantial effect on your site’s reach, and client base. Moreover, the good feelings that an exceptional design impart may be intangible, but not when you watch your site’s traffic increase as a result of it! Take a cold hard look at your design elements today!