First impressions count for web

from : http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4616700.stm

First impressions count for web

Internet users make up their minds about the quality of a website in
the blink of an eye, a study shows. Researchers found that the brain
makes decisions in just a twentieth of a second of viewing a webpage.

They were surprised as they believed it would take at least 10 times
longer to form an opinion.

The study, published in the journal Behaviour and Information
Technology, also suggests that first impressions have a lasting
impact.

Speedy conclusions

The Canadian team showed volunteers glimpses of websites, lasting for
only 50 milliseconds. The volunteers then had to rate the websites in
terms of their aesthetic appeal.

The researchers found that the speedily formed conclusions closely
tallied with opinions of the websites that had been made after much
longer periods of examination.

Gitte Lindgaard of Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and lead
researcher of the paper expressed her surprise at the results.

"My colleagues believed it would be impossible to really see anything
in less than 500 milliseconds," she told the website of the Nature
journal, which reported the research.

The judgements were being formed almost as quickly as the eye can take
in information.

Lasting impressions

The researchers also believe that these quickly-formed first
impressions last because of what is known to psychologists as the
"halo effect".

If people believe a website looks good, then this positive quality
will spread to other areas, such as the website's content.

Since people like to be right, they will continue to use the website
that made a good first impression, as this will further confirm that
their initial decision was a good one.

As websites increasingly jostle for business, Dr Lindgaard added that
companies should take note.

"Unless the first impression is favourable, visitors will be out of
your site before they even know that you might be offering more than
your competitors," she warned.


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Paul B wrote:

Internet users make up their minds about the quality of a website in
the blink of an eye, a study shows. Researchers found that the brain
makes decisions in just a twentieth of a second of viewing a webpage.

I personally buy quite a bit of stuff online, and it's very true, I
wouldn't consider using my credit card on a website that looks
unprofessional. If the web site looks unprofessional, then you assume
that would carry to other areas such as their security too.

I saw another interesting study a couple months back about the increase
in people ordering online while intoxicated, I got a chuckle out of it,
because I've ordered a few things online after a few beers, that
perhaps I would have been less inclined to purchase without a little
liquid courage.

Us web buys are a fickly bunch

--
Ken
http://KenDennis-RSS.homeip.net/

On 16 Jan 2006 06:15:32 -0800, "ken.dennis (AT) gmail (DOT) com"
<ken.dennis (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Paul B wrote:
Internet users make up their minds about the quality of a website in
the blink of an eye, a study shows. Researchers found that the brain
makes decisions in just a twentieth of a second of viewing a webpage.

I personally buy quite a bit of stuff online, and it's very true, I
wouldn't consider using my credit card on a website that looks
unprofessional. If the web site looks unprofessional, then you assume
that would carry to other areas such as their security too.

I agree with what you say.

I know that the article is not directly about SEO - but I have seen a
number of SEO sites that look totally boring. Yes, they may be high up
in the rankings (some of them) but if the user is not pleased with
what they see (ref: article) then it is on topic.

I saw another interesting study a couple months back about the increase
in people ordering online while intoxicated, I got a chuckle out of it,
because I've ordered a few things online after a few beers, that
perhaps I would have been less inclined to purchase without a little
liquid courage.

I think we have all done that at times.

Us web buys are a fickly bunch
LOL

plh
Paul

--
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Native Clipart, Wallpaper Pictures, Legends, Wisdom, Art. Safe Surf Rated.
http://www.houstoncrafts.com
Houstons Finest Handcrafted Jewelry

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