When you arrive at a website what do you see first? Do you look at the pretty graphics? Do you study the bold text? Studies show that most people begin with what they see in the upper left-hand corner and then scan to the right. Contrary to popular opinion people focus on the text first. Bold headlines and text in a well-ordered layout draw the most attention. Graphics are secondary at best.

There are many items that people notice when they visit a website. Several key factors are subtle, such as site speed, correct spelling, age of content, and more. Each element plays a role in whether or not a visitor stays on your site and ultimately becomes a customer.

When you visit your website what do you see first? Focus on the upper left-hand corner then scan to the right. Is the information presented what you hoped for? If not, slight modifications may be in order. Be careful not to change the theme or relevant content on your site, a shift of existing content may be the fix.

Graphics still offer an appealing backdrop to your content but don't let pretty pictures stand in the way of the message you want visitors to see.