Do you want to start a new blog? Do you have all your content mapped out! Do you post and wait! If you’re frustrated by your bounce rates, it’s time to take a look at something you may not have considered.

The truth is that reading on the internet fatigues your readers’ eyes, and if the design of your site further strains them, they won’t stay.

It might seem silly, but the better designed your blog is, the more likely you are to catch and keep your target audience. Don’t let bad design keep your readers from finding and connecting with your killer content.

What is Site Functionality?

When you click on a blog and it takes forever and ever to load, do you wait? Probably not. A site that is optimized for faster loading times could mean the difference between a new reader and crickets.

At this point in the world of the internet, it’s also likely that your reader is looking at your site on their mobile device. If your site loads funny and makes the text unreadable, they won’t be back.

Make sure that images and content load quickly and properly across multiple platforms. There are many blogging sites that will help you do this so you don’t have to worry about deep formatting and coding.

How can I improve my site functionality?

Most web hosting platforms make it easy to build and test your website for computer, iPads, and mobile devices. It’s important that you make sure each type loads quickly and correctly without text obscuring.

Another thing to check is that any links on your site are up to date and take the reader where they want to go. Broken links make things very frustrating for readers.

You should also limit the number of features on your site to help with load times as well. Not everyone has access to lightning-fast internet, and the more uncluttered your features are, the better responsive your site will be to those who have lesser quality internet signal.

How do I improve my site design?

You might be tempted to put a bunch of designs, ads, and pictures all over your blog, but an uncluttered design improves the user experience.

Getting rid of visual clutter makes your content easier to read and to navigate. When readers are encouraged to stay on your site through ease of navigation, it helps your bounce rates and encourages them to come back as you add new content.

The average time a person spends on any site is about 190.4 seconds. You’ve got a little over three minutes to grab and keep their attention. A professional looking blog with a clean design is crucial to this first impression.

Responding to your audience

It’s helpful to get crystal clear on what type of reader you are going for and what your call to action will be. If you know this ahead of time, you can optimize your site to attract this specific type of reader. When they arrive at your site, everything is laid out with them in mind, encouraging them to take a specified action. When they do, they aren’t leaving your site.

Change with the times

Design and functionality standards change from time to time. You can do a site audit periodically to make sure that your site remains optimized for your target reader.

What kinds of things are you doing to help your site functionality? Let us know!