Does Good Design Influence Buying Decisions

11 years ago

Originally Posted by kwc

As a web/graphic designer, good design has always played a major part in my buying decisions. For example, if I had a choice between two websites selling the same exact thing, I'd be more inclined to spend my money on the site that appears modern, clean and up to date. In other words, I'd feel more comfortable giving my money to the guy in the suit opposed to the guy in jeans and a tee.

Sounds weird, I know. But the question is - Does a well designed website influence your buying decision?

Ugly works. As a performance marketer, butt-ugly landing pages and ads are my bread and butter. Most of my highest conversion landing pages are butt ugly, but man do they convert well.

Here's an article by a well known marketer about why he thinks marketing works: mrgreen.am/affiliate-marketing/the-ugly-truth/

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kwc

11 years ago

Originally Posted by viasq

Ugly works. As a performance marketer, butt-ugly landing pages and ads are my bread and butter. Most of my highest conversion landing pages are butt ugly, but man do they convert well.

Here's an article by a well known marketer about why he thinks marketing works: mrgreen.am/affiliate-marketing/the-ugly-truth/

Wow! That was a good read. That's exactly what I was looking for. Definitely opened my mind up. Thanks

Thanks

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Edge360

11 years ago

Sure, good design would effect my decision on interacting with a website and or purchasing from it. If I see one of those squeeze pages that looks terrible I immediately close my current window, why? Because I know the person who has created it hasn't put much time and effort in to it and if they can't understand that then I can only begin to imagine what their product would be like.

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kwc

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Edge360

Sure, good design would effect my decision on interacting with a website and or purchasing from it. If I see one of those squeeze pages that looks terrible I immediately close my current window, why? Because I know the person who has created it hasn't put much time and effort in to it and if they can't understand that then I can only begin to imagine what their product would be like.

I'm the same way. I always assumed that it was because I'm a designer. That's why I was curious if non-designers care what a site looks like.

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Istvan Horvath

11 years ago

The only problem with the approach when you guys described "what I would do..." is - you are not your own customer!

Study and test your market/niche instead of making up 'theories' based on your subjective feelings

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GlobalPMT 11 years ago

I agree Istvan. You can solve it all by testing to see what is truly working. Many people will want to "ask or survey" as a substitute for testing. However, when asked, many markets will answer questions one way and then vote with their wallet another way. Testing, testing, testing... is the only way.

As for the original question of "Does a well designed website influence your buying decision?" For me personally, my answer would be "it depends." As an example, I wouldn't want a potential doctor's web site to look like it was built by a 7 year old because it's a reflection of the quality of work he/she may tolerate! For other areas, it may not make as big of a difference.
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marks2424

11 years ago

One of the funny things you said was that if the site appears modern, but by who's standards do you mean modern.

I have changed the looks of my site at least 4 times in 3 years all based on what people have said on warriorforum and after the changes were made the people that told me it was old fashioned said it looked great. But then 6 months later when I ask why I have so few sales even though I was on page 1 position 1 of google and a different set of people told me the same thing as the last group did and that the site looked old fashioned. So how could my site become old fashioned so fast, well it couldn't it was the other people perception that it was old fashioned and to others it is not old fashioned

After looking at most of my competition my site looks more modern. So how does someone decide what is modern looking and what is not. I however never base a buying decision on the looks of a site I am looking for a site that will give me the information I am looking for and of course a good looking site will make me stay and read at first but if the info isn't there I am leaving.