a man looking down, visual impact, Hixonic Web Services, Greg Hixon
a man looking down, visual impact, Hixonic Web Services, Greg Hixon

Real estate websites designed for online visual impact

TAKE A SECOND, close your eyes, and remember walking through a market place.  In your memory, you were captivated by something on display – it caught your attention – it had visual impact.  Then, you made a purchase.

That display may have been attractive, but there was something else to it that drew you in.   This deals with visual science that affects various aspects of your brain.  As you’ll see, this science reveals how the right visual impact will capture attention and draw interest.

Now that most people spend many hours online each-and-every day, the potential size of your online audience is HUGE.  But in today’s quick-swiping world, you only have a few seconds to attract attention and provoke interest before they move on.  As such, grab your audience’s attention quickly.  Then, draw them in.

Being paramount to your online success, continue reading to discover how visual impact done right will bring in more prospects.

The importance of visual impact for instant gratification

Nowadays, people expect instant gratification.  Therefore, it’s no surprise that increased media consumption and digital lifestyles have reduced the ability for consumers to focus for extended periods of time.  So if people no longer have a need to remain on your website, they’ll just move on to the next big thing.  Remember this: Images stick in people’s minds, evoke thoughts and feelings, and provoke action.  Now, use that to your benefit by providing strong visual impact that is tuned to your target audience.

Given that most information transmitted to our brain is visual, it’s crucial for websites and blog posts to use effective visual impact.  As such, your online content must immediately spark interest and increase your customer engagement.  And since our brains process images faster than textual content, your images must also provide intrigue after capturing your online visitor’s attention.  Visual impact science covers both of these aspects.

There’s one thing that is crucial for your website and blog – it must have big visual impact in a small space.  And, that visual impact must be laser-focused on delivering the right message or information quickly.  It takes the right images and keyword phrases that are attractive and immediately understood at first glance.  Then, they must intrigue the viewer to dig for more.  It’s like magic, and it results in more views, longer views, and more conversations – ultimately, more revenue for you.

Today’s short attention spans – a Microsoft study

Attention spans are very short, as shown by a recent study by Microsoft.  The study found that this digital age has made it difficult for people to stay focused.  To be specific, our attention spans have shortened from 12 seconds to 8 seconds statistically – from short to shorter.  That means, in today’s fast-paced online world, we must capture attention and spark interest within seconds, or lose valuable prospects.

Visual storytelling throughout your website

Visual stimulus works best if it combines with everything else. When done correctly, the visual impact of your website should be seamless and blend in nicely.  Then, it must tell a story.  The story may start with attracting tourists to your destination.  Next, the story will draw them in with intriguing information and promotions in order to capture their personal information – a new prospect.  Finally, the story must lead them to a purchase.

The importance of visual communication for visual impact

Visual communication is important for any website.  To begin, visuals attract more attention than words, so use visual impact to direct attention to your textual content.  Next, visual impact inspires and influence your website visitor’s mood – color and image choices determine the atmosphere of your website.  Finally, visuals should improve ease of navigation throughout your website layout.  Just remember, although visual communication is important, it has its limitations, as you’ll see next.

Careful visual impact – visual effects in moderation

The dynamic nature of visual effects is useful to grab your website visitor’s attention, convey the right emotions, facilitate easy navigation, and turn them into prospects. However, overuse of these effects is not conducive to the overall experience.  In other words, your visitors will ignore them if they take too long to load or are overwhelming.  Also, visual effects can distract from your message.  It’s important for your visual effects to draw them into your message instead.  That’s the right type of visual impact.

Using dynamic effects in moderation on your website will attract attention, increase interest, and guide users effectively. Focus your website’s dynamic effects on your content and products – your valuable information. Don’t use dynamic effects and pictures that are very attractive, yet distract your visitors from what you have to offer.  The visual impact of your website should always be intentional, focusing on drawing your visitors attention to your message.

Attractive versus intentional visual impact

Eye-tracking visuals that are also attractive are your best options.  Imagine an image with a cute puppy on the left side gazing at you with sad eyes.  To the right of the puppy is your textual content – a heading or title and a block of text.  The cute puppy will grab everyone’s attention.  But, the puppy will also keep everyone from viewing your important content.

Now, turn the puppy sideways, looking to the right, staring at your content.  That puppy is no longer so cute.  But since the puppy is looking at your content, the viewer’s eyes will do the same.  It’s like walking into a crowd and looking up.  Everyone else will look up too.  Use visual impact to draw your website visitors to your important content.  Then, make sure that content sells!

Pictures that are too attractive can monopolize your online visitor’s attention.  On your website, these pictures are a source of distraction and interference.  That isn’t conducive to your important message – your selling point.  However, if that image has an intentional purpose, it will guide your visitors to your selling point effectively.  And when your selling point is worded well, using attractive writing techniques, you’ll be spending more time handing keys to new homeowners and less time wondering why your list of prospects isn’t growing.

Once you’ve satisfied those important aspects of Visual Impact, be sure to provide User Experience (UX) and mobile responsiveness too.

Hixonic Web Services,Greg Hixon, Top 100 Magazine

Featured in Top-100 Magazine for Web Development and Blogging on Pg. 94


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