What are the Few Most Important Things that Attract Website Visitors’ Attention

The attention span of the typical internet consumer is merely 8 seconds, which is why website owners must find various ways to effectively grab a user's attention and maintain it for long enough to convey their message. If you aren't able to do that, their cursor will hit the back button, making one of your competitors their choice.

Although it may sound difficult, the process of doing it isn't rocket science! Surprisingly, most of the tricks that have been adopted from the print media were grabbing attention or making the key points simply accessible, which is the trick of their trade! And this is called structuring of the content. Websites follow these rules for engaging their visitors to maintain their position, while others aren't successful until they pursue such tricks.  So those who aren't successful in doing it and are still going through the ordeal in a world of short attention spans mustn't waste their time and efforts.

So, the Golden Rule Says:

Present the information that attracts people; don't make them wait for the information you have. Secondly, make sure the page loads as quickly as possible. Remember, you have barely 8 seconds, so it has to be fast! The first 5 to 8 seconds are critical in capturing a potential customer's interest. With this initial visual contact or text, it either passes or fails, and nothing in between. It can be an opportunity to leave a powerful impression on the visitor or get screwed up in these few seconds. The problem lies in the simple question, which says, “What do we do to capture a visitor’s immediate attention in a mere 8 seconds flat. In the mid-1990s, the popular way was flashing buttons or the use of that blinking text, but it did not catch on for long. Today, web designers have a different strategy. They are now putting forward design and usability to seek their potential customers' attention.

So let’s just focus on three things and see how they are used to get the attention of a first-time visitor to your website, and if your website is able to attract the visitor’s attention with such a limited attention span.

The first thing is what we call the “wow moment” The best thing your website has, which is shown immediately as the website page opens, and which should open up in a max 2-5 seconds.  All websites have something that attracts, so instead of keeping it in the middle of nowhere, use it effectively! Having rich media with alternate content presentation and the use of bullet points for USPs or key facts will definitely strengthen the impact.

Core values, when communicated clearly, help viewers to a great extent, taking out the confusion and ambiguity about what your website is all about and its offerings. This should generally happen in 5-7 seconds. Web designers and organizations operating their websites should focus more on making the opening moment successful!

Nancy Ronnie is a New York-based writer and Editor, with an MA in English with a specialization in Creative Writing from New York University. Her literary interests include 17th-century poetry, as she has always had a passion for literature. An expert creative non-fiction writer as she is, Nancy also enjoys outdoor activities such as biking, fishing, hiking, and running.