Just recently, Facebook rolled out its newest layout; something that I am sure most social media enthusiasts have grown accustomed to. After all, it seems like every other week there’s something different on a particular site where there’s a massive audience, so news like this isn’t totally surprising. With that said, Facebook executed a layout change that could best be called ‘minimalist’. My take on the matter?
Just recently, Facebook rolled out its newest layout; something that I am sure most social media enthusiasts have grown accustomed to. After all, it seems like every other week there’s something different on a particular site where there’s a massive audience, so news like this isn’t totally surprising. With that said, Facebook executed a layout change that could best be called ‘minimalist’. My take on the matter?
The layout looks fine. It doesn’t look sloppy or extravagant, which is fine on paper. As long as the overall functionality of the site is kept intact and the buttons remain where they were before, you will not hear many individuals complaining about a layout change. However, there are those who have taken to airing their grievances about this particular shift. Facebook now looks more like its mobile version on laptops as opposed to a proposed format which would feature prominent media like photos and videos.
Discussion regarding which layout would have been best is subjective, but it does raise a point that any online marketing company should be aware of. What makes a good layout on any social media platform or any website in general? What is it that drives visitors to come back time and time again?
Here is a list of 3 tips for those who would like to create the best possible layout.
1. Keep your layout aesthetically simple
One of the biggest turnoffs for me regarding any website is clutter. It doesn’t matter how well-designed certain images are or how many colors are utilized; if the layout itself is too busy, chances are that my attention is not going to be kept for long. While certain companies may want to go big – and understandably so – I’d argue that it’s much more effective to keep layouts more basic. Yes, identities should be clear on any website, so brand logos and aspects of that nature should not be cast aside. However, they have to be integrated in ways that doesn’t make the visitor feel overwhelmed.
2. Lower the number of pages as much as possible
Another aspect that should be seen in the way of simplicity is a minimal amount of pages to click between. There’s nothing wrong with a broad scope for your website but, ultimately, adding too much can wind up turning many people away. For example, what if you wanted to start a business that focused on repairing computers? Those who are tech-savvy may not be turned away by multiple pages but what about those who wouldn’t know the USB port from the HDMI port? The latter may feel intimidated to visit your page as a result, so it’s important to minimize the number of clickable links, which is a challenge that the strongest designers can overcome.
3. Make sure your layout is mobile friendly
CNN.com recently posted an article that covered how mobile app usage is greater than that of Internet through PCs. More specifically, this past January, 55% of Internet usage came from mobile devices like smartphones. It’s clear that there is a shift occurring in this regard and companies have to account for it. When they create layouts, they have to make sure that their layouts will not only fit computers but iPhones and other such phones with Internet access. If you are unable to cover both fields, the number of visitors that you retail might not be as high as your competition, so be mindful of various platforms.
For more social media tips, contact fishbat Online Marketing Firm today.
