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Did you know the human attention span is shorter than a goldfish’s?
Goldfish = 9 seconds
Humans= 6-8 seconds
Your website has a lot of work to do in a short amount of time.
THE 7 SECOND TEST
In the days of yore, a long forgotten Internet pioneer developed a test for web design, known as The 5 Second Test. But for the purposes of this blog post, we are going to rename it the 7 Second Test—because I’m feeling generous. Our web designers use the 7 Second Test of Design to evaluate the functionality of a website and whether a new visitor would know what the website does within the first seven seconds.
We all have that friend who doesn’t sugar coat anything. Go find that friend and ask him or her to evaluate your website in fewer than seven seconds.
QUESTIONS THAT SHOULD BE ANSWERED WITHIN 7 SECONDS:
What is this site about?
The website visitor should be able to figure out what the website is about within the first few seconds of landing on the page. You can accomplish this with your logo, slogan, and website copy on your homepage.
Does it capture my interest?
With attention span shorter than a goldfish, it’s a must that your website capture visitors’ interest in the first few seconds. You can accomplish this with a well thought out and up-to-date design. And please, don’t add bells and whistles just for the sake of having them. They will only distract from the main purpose of your site.
What am I supposed to do?
Your website should be optimized to turn visitors into leads. A clear call to action telling website visitors where to go to buy, fill out a form, or whatever action you would like them to perform, is a critical aspect of making sure your website is successful.
Do I want to share this experience?
In the social media age, sharing content found online has become the norm. Would a visitor recommend your website or be willing to share it with a friend? Is your design so awesome that everyone who lands on the website wants to show everyone they know?
If your website design passes this test, we salute you! If your honest friend struggles to answer two or more of these, it may be time to revisit your site design.
Want an honest evaluation of your website? If you are in the Boise area, check our Events page to see when our next web marketing checkup clinic is taking place. Or you can request your own virtual web marketing checkup with one of our experts!
Written by Lindsey Bowshier
Lindsey is the President of Tribute Media. Her degree is in English and Communication with an emphasis in Journalism, her background is in copywriting and content marketing, and she's had pretty much every job at Tribute Media since she joined the agency in 2014. Outside of work, Lindsey participates in a "super-cool-not-at-all-nerdy" writing group. Her favorite writer is Dorothy Parker.
