The attention statistics are becoming scarier every year. People form an opinion about your website in 0.05 seconds. Not even a full second. If your website isn’t easy to navigate, you don’t even have a moment of a user’s time.
And let’s say they like what they see. Then, you have about 45-55 seconds to convince them to stay. The average time a user spends on a website is less than a minute. Emails have even scarier numbers. People skim through the content in less than 10 seconds.
So, imagine you spend months creating your website and hours crafting an email, only for someone to decide less than a second. It seems like a lot of wasted effort, right? To avoid that from happening, here are seven attention-grabbing elements that will hook your users.
Striking Headline
The headline is the initial visual element that people see when interacting with your website or email. It has the power to influence whether they keep on reading further significantly. Your headline is the make-or-break part of everything, and you probably abide by the same rule, too. If an email subject doesn’t interest you, you don’t open it. If a website has unclear messaging, you just close it.
Position Your Logo
Imagine Nike without the logo. It just doesn’t feel the same, right? The logo is the visual signature of every brand. It speaks without words, and you must make it professional and clear. It needs to appear prominently in every header of the email and be in a consistent place on your website. Make it appropriately sized and in high resolution, and by definition, add it to the top left or center. That’s where most people expect it.
Make It Mobile Friendly
The internet, for most people, has shrunk into a pocket-sized device. Everyone uses their phones to check their email and browse, and device-responsivity is not an option – it’s a necessity. You must create tappable buttons and a fluid design and optimize your layouts. On both desktop and mobile devices, you can use responsive design and check the visitor’s location for better targeting. You need to research what tool can you use to identify a secure location and implement it into the site. However, ensure that any tool you add to the site doesn’t decrease speed.
Focus on the CTA and Slogan
Keeping up with the Nike example, what’s the logo without “Just do it” that pops into your mind when you see it? Your slogan is a great way to make your value proposition memorable. It instantly communicates your message. Here are some tips to make it evergreen:
– Keep it short (3-5 words max).
– Align it with your core message and brand.
– Make it rhyme.
The same rules apply to your call-to-action. Here’s how to make it effective:
– Position it strategically.
– Use visual contrast.
– Make it clear and inviting (e.g. Secure Your Front-Row Seat).
Big Green Buttons
Big green buttons work wonders. They’re familiar and easy to implement, and even though it seems strange, big buttons still work. When you see a traffic light, green means go. When you look at the stock market, green means good. In most infographics, it means the same thing. Many websites want to make buttons black, purple, or red (big no-no). In the eyes of the user, anything apart from green is unfamiliar. Users have to think about their decisions for an extra second, and their brain subliminally tells them to stop. When adding buttons, make them 10% bigger than you think they should be. That makes them stand out more, guaranteeing users see it.
Flow and Hierarchy
You can’t start building a house from the roof down. The same rule applies to email and websites. You must begin with the most important things – the headline and the main offer. Then, arrange more supplemental information and then dive into additional resources. Announcing a new launch should contain the vibe of “For a limited time, you can have an exclusive look at…” with a few compelling images and a discount code. For example, the main price is in red, crossed over, and the discounted price is in green, with a bigger font. It doesn’t have to be that salesy, but it needs to paint a picture in the prospect’s head. You can’t add FAQs at the start and the offer at the end. It just doesn’t make sense.
Add Images, Videos, and Graphics
Pictures speak louder than words. And the right visual can make your content ten times more compelling. It also strengthens your brand. You need to focus on using high-quality videos, graphics, and images to convey your message. We live in an era of short-form content – use it to your advantage.
