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Design VS Content

by websignificant
24 replies
  • WEB DESIGN
    • |
Hello everybody.
When I start working on a new website, the question arises - which is more important, the design or the text? There is an opinion that if you have a limited budget, it is better to allocate 70% for content and prototype, and 30% for design, definitely not the other way around. How are you doing with this?
#content #design
  • Profile picture of the author allegandro
    You can have great content, but if your design sucks, only Google will read it.
    If you start in WP, you can get an acceptable design for free or a good design for a small budget.
    Content, if you can't produce it for free you need to buy it. but you can also look for friends and people you know that are willing to help you.

    So content is KING, as long as people can read it.
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    Meow!

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  • Profile picture of the author amuniverse
    I like great content and have no problem with less than stellar website designs to access it. Having said that, I've definitely also left websites quickly that were so poorly thought-out that their design was a bigger distraction than my interest in the site's content. (I figure there's usually another website that's got similar content I'm looking for, so I can just go there.)

    If I were really limited, I'd put more resources into great content and keep the design simple. Build from there.

    Good luck with your new website!
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    Independent contractor teaching online, graphic designer, online marketer

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  • Profile picture of the author Diego Aguirre
    This reminded me of some TED Talks where they use very little content in the screen (however major delivery speaking) but nicely designed.
    As a book reader I tend to prefer good content over design, however this would be the opposite if you asked my friends who are into comics.
    Tough one.
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  • Profile picture of the author Serene Carmen
    Hi there

    The question is slightly vague? What is your website? Is it a blog? Is your plan to grow organic traffic? If so content is most important. User experience is also important, you should be able to achive a decent layout with a good wordpress template.
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  • Profile picture of the author savidge4
    Originally Posted by websignificant View Post

    Hello everybody.
    When I start working on a new website, the question arises - which is more important, the design or the text? There is an opinion that if you have a limited budget, it is better to allocate 70% for content and prototype, and 30% for design, definitely not the other way around. How are you doing with this?
    Without content there is no need for a website right? Kinda like which comes first the chicken or the egg.. except this time we know the answer.. Content comes first.

    In terms of design.. forget about all of the colors and which theme and logos and all of that nonsense, when it comes right down to it.. who cares.

    In the design process just follow form follows function... If the idea is to display videos or articles or products, it would make sense that the #1 priority in design would be how to get from one to the next to the other... NAVIGATION is hands down no questions asked the most important element on a website - the most looked over - but still most important.

    You can pick a theme any theme, keep the background of the text white, and after that focus on the content and the method of jumping from one piece to the next IE Navigation.
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  • Profile picture of the author WF- Enzo
    Administrator
    We all know content is king, but it also pays to have good design.
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  • Profile picture of the author websignificant
    Thanks everyone! The opinion of each of you is very useful to me. Content is certainly important, especially for a blog, but will a user be able to read for a long time if the design annoys him? For myself, I decided to do a simple design first, but strong content and then a redesign when the budget allows
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    • Profile picture of the author Diego Aguirre
      will a user be able to read for a long time if the design annoys him?
      I can only speak from my own experience and I prefer to read text with a plain background and soft colors during the day, or black background during the night. Just keep a elegant contrast between text and background colors.
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    • Profile picture of the author Matthew Stanley
      Sounds like a reasonable/solid approach. Design is of course important (although important doesn't necessarily have to mean stunningly beautiful), but in a blog where your content/voice/level of reader interest is paramount, it can almost be akin to a shiny distraction that steals focus from what will ultimately drive success. Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Ilona Roberts
    I will echo what some of the other users have said: context matters and so does content. However, having optimized design is equally important. What is a bit worrying to me is that there are still perceptions around content that suggest that it doesn't matter and that people writing it should just be 'willing to help.' Content writing is a job in and of itself and good content only comes to you if you treat it with the respect it deserves. That being said, I think the idea of a website with a minimalist, simple, clean design and solid, comprehensive content is great and a good step toward establishing a trustworthy digital presence.
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  • Profile picture of the author Leadnetwork
    From my point of view, design is as much important as the content, this is really individual issue. Ì guess 60% for content and 40% for design
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  • Profile picture of the author vladseochnik
    Both of them are important as for improving the ranking on Google and for visitor experience.
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  • Profile picture of the author AndrewSmith22
    As per my knowledge both are important for any website. If the design is simple and clean it will be worked. However if the content is not up to the mark then you will definitely not getting concurrent visitors.

    If I were you, I will make simple and clean design with evergreen content.
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  • Profile picture of the author nwnomi
    Content first approach is the way to go, we've been shifting our focus on making Content and Design happen together.
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  • Profile picture of the author KrazyShirts
    Both are significant, but I believe that quality content takes precedence over design. Consider a plate of food: you might be less interested in eating a plate of food that doesn't look enticing, but you'll be more likely to eat it if it tastes delicious. If a plate of food appears to be beautiful but tastes awful, you may be tempted to try it at first, but after a bite, you'll be disappointed.
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  • Profile picture of the author AdbangsTechnologies
    Hello, Good question to be asked for. I feel both have their own significant. While the good design engages visitors, the content helps to perform better in Google ranking. Quality content is not only required for good ranking but also for better user experience.

    Hope this will help you.

    Thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author Monetize
    If your content is compelling, and your visitors are
    interested in your topic, design doesn't matter. I
    don't mean that it's okay to have orange font on
    purple background, but you can have a very plain
    and simple website and people will not care.

    Further, most of your visitors will be on mobiles
    so they really won't care for a bunch of bells and
    whistles in your design anyway. People just want
    relevant, useful and well-written information.
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  • Profile picture of the author WayneT
    Originally Posted by websignificant View Post

    Hello everybody.
    When I start working on a new website, the question arises - which is more important, the design or the text? There is an opinion that if you have a limited budget, it is better to allocate 70% for content and prototype, and 30% for design, definitely not the other way around. How are you doing with this?
    Why do you waste our time.
    Your account is 2 weeks old, if you don't know the difference between a "website Design" and "Content" then you need to give up.
    You could put good, informative "Content" on a blank page and you'd get hits, if you don't understand that people are clicking onto the link or the site for a reason (content) then you need to get into something else.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Singletary
    People read hundreds of pages of books with black text on a white page.

    Digitally, people read hundreds of pages with black text on a white page in ebooks/Kindles.

    Design has its place but perhaps one goal is to get your content to where someone is willing to and wants to read it no matter what it looks like.

    Mark
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  • Profile picture of the author Henry Martin
    Design is basically the structure of a website whereas content is the king of a website. The content basically creates high backlinks and high domain authority.
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  • Profile picture of the author nemz
    Focus on content. Even the best design in the world won't improve poor content that doesn't engage it's audience.

    Whereas great content with a basic design will still hold value, and will serve as a great way to test the water with your audience. If there's a demand for what you're creating only then will it be worth investing your time in a better design.
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  • Profile picture of the author maxsi
    Design is important => but you have premade templates to build a website in 10 minutes or less

    Content => text is very important, especially rich content with keywords inside ( SEO)
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  • Profile picture of the author Jacey Tome
    Designers want content (or at least a general idea of content length) first. Content writers want designs (or at least some kind of sketch) first.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sparity
    Design and Content both are the most important factors in the website. having great content in the website will make the user stay in your website and Having a good design of the website will help you get more visitors to your website...
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