embed "fun" in web navigation

[charlieh]

Building a web site for a small business
I am thinking how to construct "fun" in it?
My concept is "fun" factor should a powerful tool to attract visitors...But how?

Someone suggest me to create a cartoon feature as an on-line guide for welcoming and delighting visitors?
Is it the right way?

[Vladdy]

Wrong way.

What you should be thinking about is content and its delivery.

If one looks for a service (that small business can provide) he does a search resulting in a list of matches. A person is likely to hit "Back" button when greeted with some cartoons and go on looking for the subject of interest. On contrary when the first page has a summary of services, a hint at prices and delivery times, and whatever else is relevant to the business at hand, the visitor is likely to stay and explore further.

The times when animations, colorfull backgrounds, music and other "fun" stuff made visitors stay are long gone and unless your site is about animations, music and colorfull backgrounds incorporating them into the business web site will make it look amature and drive visitors away.

[charlieh]

Thanks...Vladdy

Interesting!but seems we are the opposite way.

The situation is...
My client has a small jewelry store and want to promote the products on line.Till now, we have no much content to put in ,maybe just 3 categories.She want to attract the middle level customers and this kind of web sites seem to focus on a graphical visual more than content...

However,the point is to attract vistors.I thus think of "fun" as tools at this moment.
I agree catoon animation is a try close to the limit.
Just thinking is here a balanced way to combine both?

Some research shows another way...try to construct a "fantasy navigation"
It means give users a relatively different perception in navigating,such as "from a widely webspace to a narrtive path".

So...the actual application I pick up right now is
Give a short flah of movie at the beginning then lead the users to the product categories...something like that.

I know it is conflict to some design principles...but.
Other ideas I can address "attractive" besides of the classic visual design?








let me mention my target in detail
My client is a small business owner.

[Dark Dragon]

Well, actually you BOTH have valid points on the matter.

While I do agree that excessive animations aren't too helpful in this application.....perhaps having a type of animation where a customer can look at all sides of, say, a ring...perhaps with the use of Flash one could let a user view all sides of a item.

I agree, I hate all this boring "nothing but business" approach but one needs to be carefull you do not turn it into a cartoon network.

Perhaps adding a few faint animated sparkles to some of the jewlry would lighten things up a bit??? :D

[charlieh]

Thanks...Dragon.

yes, the words "nothing but business" sometimes make me tired so as to have some brainsroming on this issue.

Discuss this with my partners then summary some orientations for the purpose "attractive"
*imiagination or curiosity
*interactivity
*competition
*achievement
*surprising

next step is how to address the above .
yes, I must be careful to lead the visitors if using cartoon features:p

[DaveSW]

If it's a jewellery store you want quite a smart appearance. (don't know what the colors are, but probably a royal blue border on the left for navigation, maybe flash movies of spinning jewellery... etc)

Maybe something like www.foxpremier.co.uk would be in the right image - sophisticated for those that can cope, alternative html (equally smart) for those that can't. )

Personally, I don't mind flash menus, so long as there is alternative html. This means there is something for everyone on the site.

dave

[charlieh]

Thanks ,Dave
Good examples...

using flash to construct category,
the simplied layout , and the components all surround the core ."on-line promotion".

quite straight and unique...
It has the element "suprising" and thus attracts users.
I need to re-consider the application of flash...


Do you have other impressed examples?
thx

[DaveSW]

This one is a fantastic fusion of Flash and HTML

http://www.princess-yachts.com/

Style!!! Probably similar to what you want! It really has got class, and the blend of flash and html gives good quality images etc and a smallish download time.

Dave