Forum Moderators: not2easy
After reading some threads here regarding informational sites some questions poped up. Assuming a site makes money from text links, affiliate links, contextual ads like AdSense etc you don't want users sticking around too much, you want to make users click on the links and see them go (actually I'd like to keep them for longer but I guess that doesn't improve my revenue).
From what I can see you can either do this by
- having brief copy that will make readers want to get more content (and click those links in order to get it)
- having long and boring copy that makes users want to get away and hopefully by clicking on the links (that's if they can't find the back button)
- making information difficult to read, have small font size, poor contrast which in my opinion will definitely make users click the back button and not the money links.
- having reasonably sized copy that is easy to read, that users enjoy reading, that is well presented from a usability standpoint.
Which of these helps content sites sell better? From an usability/accessibility viewpoint I prefer to go for option no 4 but is that really the best choice?
If a vistor searches for blue widgets and finds your bluewidgets.htm page, reads it find the page sucks and clicks and ad, then your lucky.
BUT if a visitor searches for bluewidgets and finds your bluewidgets.htm page, read it and LOVES it, then he might no click an ad right away, but he will remember your site and use it and rely on it for his blue widget needs. When he wants to buy accessories for his blue widget, he doesnt even do a google search, he just goes straight to your site and finds reviews of vendors.
Be nice to your visitors and you will make more money in the long run.
