The Importance of Great Header Graphics for Your Web Site or Blog

Often taken for granted, header graphics on a web site are crucial. It
is the first opportunity to make a great impression on a new arrival
and anything less is likely to lose them. A successful introduction
will draw the visitor into the site and then provide or effortlessly
guide them to concise and functional navigation. Grab their attention.
Be convenient. Nothing drives a new visitor away as frustration does.
While a great header graphic is no guarantee of a repeat visitor, a
poorly designed header will certainly guarantee against them. The first
step to ensuring that a web site header is a boon rather than a
hindrance is to develop a plan. A lack of planning results in a poorly
designed header. A great plan results in an effective header that will
attract visitors and up the chances that they return.

Know the type of visitor that the web site is targeting. Examine sites
that target similar audiences and consider their header graphics. Note
the aspects that make a header effective and compare those against
those less so. Being unique is critical. A header that invokes another
enterprise could create unintended connotations.

Plan to integrate visual elements that blend into the site’s motif. A
site should always tie in a visual scheme that makes it easy to read. A
header that is overly effective at seizing attention may distract
readers and detract from the site’s overall concept.

Pay careful attention to size because it is vital to strike a balance
in this area. An extremely large header will certainly grab attention.
It will also gobble up valuable screen real estate. It may also
inadvertently influence visitors to form the impression that the site
is light on content. The flipside of this is a header so small that it
effectively serves no purpose at all.

This is the reason why carousel-style headers have become so prevalent.
Used effectively they provide the best of both worlds. The header
graphics can be large, loud and eye-catching. It can also alert
visitors to the abundance of content on the site while incorporating a
lean, central navigation.

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This post was written by admin on March 11, 2010

3 Reasons to have a Great Header Graphic for Your Web Site

The single most important graphic element on your Web site or blog is,
without a doubt, your header graphic.

If your site lacks an eye-catching, targeted and topic-specific header
graphic, it runs the risk of being ignored by untold numbers of
potential clients and readers. But an attention-grabbing, well-designed
header graphic does three things that are absolutely essential for your
site to survive and thrive:

1. It lets people know what your site is about instantaneously.
Congratulations, someone has visited your Web site! Now, whether he
stays to look around or immediately hits the back button to escape
depends largely on your header graphic.

Your header graphic is the first page element your site visitors will
see when they arrive at your Web site or blog. An effective header
graphic assures site visitors that they have arrived at the correct
destination and it confirms that your content or product is exactly
what they are looking for.

If your header does not clearly communicate your site’s topic, visitors
will leave in search of another site that fulfills their needs and
expectations better.

2. It distinguishes your site as professional and authoritative.
Your Web site or blog visitors must trust your expertise, whether you
sell a product or relay information, in order for your site to be
successful.

A sloppy, fuzzy, boring or poorly designed header graphic indicates
amateur site management and will earn you the skepticism of everyone
who sees it. A polished, error-free header graphic with clear images,
sharp fonts and site-specific art, however, will earn your visitors’
trust because it lends credibility and sophistication to your site.
If your site design looks professional, visitors will expect that you
are, too.

3. It brands your site with a unique identity.
Identity recognition is everything when it comes to building a
successful business or personal reputation. You want your site visitors
to be able to recognize your site next week, next month and next year,
even if they only visited it once before.

A strong, unique header graphic combined with a positive user
experience at your Web site or blog will ensure that your site visitors
never confuse you with someone else. If your header graphic is doing
its job, your site will stand out from the crowd and convey the message
that visitors can count on you for products, services and information
they won’t find anywhere else.

Download 5000+ incredible new Header Graphics.

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Posted under General

This post was written by admin on March 11, 2010