furniture hardware business websiteAt this point, everyone knows that it is essential for any business to be on the Internet. But something that not everyone knows is what that “looks like”. In order for your efforts and investment to pay off in the digital world, your furniture hardware business website must be well thought out and programmed.

At IBMH, we have a unique understanding of:

For this reason, we thought that you might find our tips useful. If you want it to, your furniture hardware business website will contribute to the success of your company. Keep reading!

Essential features for your furniture hardware business website

The first thing you need to consider for your furniture hardware business website is usability. Usability means that users can browse through a site easily and intuitively, and that the information there is convenient and attractive to them.

Although many design and programming webpages talk about usability, very few businesses apply it correctly. This major detail can make all the difference for your potential customers.

Specifically, a website can be defined as having good usability if it is:

  • • Effective: The user gets exactly what they need. Your website must have a clear purpose, which could be to provide information, process online quotes or even commercial visits, etc.
  • • Efficient: Fulfilling that purpose is a fast and direct process. The more clicks are needed to get what they need, the more users will leave before getting it.
  • • Satisfactory: The experience is pleasant from beginning to end, without causing any kind of frustration.

Key points to ensure your business website has good usability

 

  • • Focus on the homepage

On your homepage, the user must be able to quickly get the main idea or message of the business, at a glance. Furthermore, they should be able to intuit how to get the products or services that you offer. Put your website to the test by showing the homepage to someone who is not familiar with your business, and ask them what message they are getting from it, just from their first impression.

  • • Think of your audience

You should always keep your target audience in mind. Think about them when you are building, organizing and developing the content of your website. Consider their needs, their likes, and what they know about and want from your business. They should be able to find and understand all of these things quickly if you want to be seen by them as their best option.

  • • Leave tracks

Every step a user takes on your website should be clearly indicated. Visually signal when moving from one page to another, page loading, searches, etc.

  • • Constant orientation

At all times, the user should know which section or subsection they are in, no matter how deeply nested it is. Constantly provide ways for them to orient themselves. For example, a “breadcrumb trail” is very useful, as well as color changes, highlighting and underlining.

  • • Use innovation wisely

It’s not a good idea to go overboard with innovation in your website functionality. If you want to include something innovative, test it first, and make a decision based on the results. Internet users have learned a series of mechanisms and a language of sorts, and it is best not to change these things if at all possible. If words in blue are usually links, if menus are usually at the top and/or to the left, or if the logo is usually a link to the homepage, it is better to stick to these guidelines and look to innovate somewhere else.

  • • Get their attention

It is important to help the user avoid making mistakes during the process. Give examples, signal irregularities through the website programming, etc.

  • • Recognize and channel errors

Don’t forget to design your error pages, too. If some programming error occurs, the user needs to know how to proceed. Remember: the more personalized, the better.

  • • Minimalism

The concept of “less is more” is also a good strategy in design. The less cluttered, the better. If there are lots of photos, banners, menus, sections… the user will get lost much more easily.

  • • Focus on your star pages

Pay close attention to your product pages and their images. They are fundamental in order to connect with your audience.

 

In summary…

  • • Study your audience in depth before choosing the design
  • • First define all the content that your website should have
  • • Mark functionalities (information requests, contact with potential customers, etc.)
  • • Sort messages according to priority

In order for it to be truly effective and work like a good business tool, your website must meet these requirements. For that reason, we recommend that you don’t leave this up to just anyone. Choose quality professionals, just like when you needed to import furniture and construction hardware from China. In this way, you will get the best results.