To learn more about the elements of clean web design and how they impact player conversion rates, join us for How To Optimize Your Site for Maximum Conversions & Revenue with Tim Ash, CAP webinar with Tim Ash, CEO, SiteTuners, Wednesday, February 22 at 9 AM PST.
When it comes to designing a casino affiliate website, many publishers try making their casino websites look like actual casinos. Garish, over-the-top and brash works on the Las Vegas Strip, but it doesn’t work so well on the Web. Packing a gaming site with excessive graphics and text not only makes your site look cheap, it drastically increases load times.
Fortunately, developing a clean website design doesn’t require an art or design degree. All it takes is a commitment to the minimalist credo that less is more. What follows are some elements of clean web design that any affiliate partner can start incorporating into their site right away.
Keep the Scent
Chances are that no matter what your site looks like today, it’s not a total loss. There’s a little big of good design in every site and that’s where you should start building from. Making changes that are too drastic could have the effect of actually scaring away regular customers.
There’s a certain look and feel to every site and that core element is not something you want to mess with, especially if you’ve been around for a while. That’s what top conversion expert Bryan Eisenberg calls, “keeping the scent.”
So be open to change, but be open to not changing, too. Don’t throw out elements you, or your customers, really like just for the sake of shaking things up.
Embrace Minimalism
Minimalism is a design philosophy that emphasizes fewer, and more useful, moving parts. Like we said, what works in Vegas doesn’t necessarily fly on the web. You want your site to look attractive, but you also don’t want it to look like something a potential player is afraid to click on for fear of viruses and pop-ups.
Remember, minimalist designs don’t have to be plain or boring. PokerStrategy.com is a good example of a gaming affiliate site that’s made good use of minimalist design techniques. Note how every design element is meaningful and draws your eye towards a desired action; registering with the site.
There aren’t a lot of bells and whistles here, but there’s no doubt that this is a gaming site; and a pretty credible one at that.
Clean On the Inside
The elements of clean web design are something that should be applied to both the outward, and inward appearance of your site. Cleaning up your code is a job almost every expert recommends affiliates take on.
Cleaning up your code means getting rid of excess code and graphics that severely impact page load times. It also is a good time to look for dead links, outdated content, and excessive graphics.
Don’t Be Afraid to Outsource
If designing a clean, minimalist website just isn’t your thing, you shouldn’t be afraid to outsource the job to someone who knows what they’re doing. This may mean hiring a freelance designer to take on the job or even purchasing pre-built, but customizable WordPress themes like the kind made by Flytonics. These products are designed specifically for gaming affiliates and are functional, but not overly flashy.
Finally
Your website is a window into your business and you want it to look good from the outside. That’s why garish casino graphics and busy designs may not be the best way to go. Embracing the elements of clean web design help you put your best foot forward to potential players.