Bummer! This is just a preview. You need to be signed in with a Basic account to view the entire video.

Preview

Start a free Basic trial
to watch this video

Sign up for Treehouse

The First Impression

2:40 with Dan Gorgone

Opinions about websites are often made within seconds. An important part of providing a positive first impression is matching the user's expectations to the reality of what they find on the site.

  • 0:00

    [Dan Gorgone] Opinions about websites are often made within seconds.

  • 0:04

    When the page loads, users will subconsciously ask themselves very basic questions each time.

  • 0:10

    Is this where I want to be? Is this what I expected?

  • 0:14

    Does the site look trustworthy? Do I understand where things are?

  • 0:18

    And can I figure out where to go first for what I want?

  • 0:22

    Even visiting familiar sites can yield similar questions.

  • 0:26

    Is everything where it was yesterday? Does everything work the same?

  • 0:30

    Do I know where the new information can be found?

  • 0:33

    And do I understand why something is different?

  • 0:36

    [Guil Hernandez, CSS Teacher, Treehouse] I'd say the first impression is extremely important

  • 0:39

    because you only have a couple seconds to grab a user's attention,

  • 0:43

    and there's a lot of things we can use to do that

  • 0:46

    with proper layout of content, structuring the content properly

  • 0:51

    with affordances, callouts, proper navigation—

  • 0:55

    we don't want them to rely solely on the navigation to get around;

  • 0:59

    we have to provide them with other methods of doing that, especially on mobile apps.

  • 1:03

    So, laying out your content, I think is one of the most important things

  • 1:08

    because when a user lands on your site, they don't immediately want to read all of your content, right?

  • 1:13

    They're looking for reasons to leave the site, to be honest with you.

  • 1:17

    [Gorgone] An important part of providing a positive first impression,

  • 1:21

    is matching the user's expectations to the reality of what they find on the site.

  • 1:27

    Providing a clear site ID, such as the logo in an expected location on the site,

  • 1:32

    usually the top left corner, can set a new user's mind at ease

  • 1:36

    about what else they'll find.

  • 1:39

    Even large companies with world-wide recognition stick to this pattern,

  • 1:43

    placing their logo in the spot where users usually look..

  • 1:47

    Deviating from the norm means taking a chance that users will become uneasy.

  • 1:54

    Many of these same questions are asked when apps are opened for the first time,

  • 1:58

    or for the first time each day.

  • 2:00

    Where's my new content? Do I have any notifications?

  • 2:03

    Has the app been updated? Am I starting from a home screen

  • 2:07

    or from somewhere within the app itself?

  • 2:09

    In either case, as users get acquainted with a site or app,

  • 2:13

    they'll begin to know where other aspects appear.

  • 2:16

    Elements like the main menu and navigation,

  • 2:19

    the use of color and different kinds of text,

  • 2:22

    and interactivity all factor into the user's next decision—

  • 2:26

    whether or not to continue using it.

  • 2:29

    By understanding what your users are looking for,

  • 2:32

    you can provide a positive first impression

  • 2:35

    and welcome them to your site or app

  • 2:37

    instead of encouraging them to leave.

You need to sign up for Treehouse in order to download course files.

Sign up