dentalblogs.com

dental news for dentists from the best minds in dentistry today

dentalblogs.com header image 2

Dental Websites that Work

June 18th, 2008 · No Comments

dental websitesHave you ever been to a Website and felt like you’re being pummeled with information? Where do you begin? What do you click first? Long paragraphs, longer pages… Do you really have time for this? Do your patients?

When a guy sits down at a home computer to find a dentist, he is looking for a resource, not a novel. Once he finds a dentist he likes (based on factors like hours, financial policy, gallery pictures, location, and how the receptionist treats him on the phone), he may explore the site for information about procedures that interest him – like cosmetic dentistry or oral sedation. But in the beginning, the Website must incentivize the patient to make that initial call. An easy read and simple navigation will help.

A recent article at Slate.com, written by Michael Agger, reviews Jakob Nielsen’s report on the elements of a reader-friendly Website. With a humorous tone, Agger discusses what makes Web readers different from hobby readers. This is what today’s Internet reader wants:

  • Bullet points
  • Short sentences or fragments (studies show that readers skip long text)
  • Short paragraphs
  • Headings & subheadings (Internet readers scan pages for quick reference)
  • Links to other pages (they also have a short attention span)
  • Bold type (this is tricky with keywords)
  • Straightforwardness

Read the Slate.com article here.

Additionally, your Website shouldn’t be an encyclopedia – at least not on the surface. Nielsen says in his article, “Print vs. Online” (June 2008), “We should accept that the Web is too fast-paced for big-picture learning.” He adds, “At the same time, the Web is perfect for narrow, just-in-time learning of information nuggets…” He also says that Web readers want to build a personal experience by putting together the bits of information pertinent to them and their situation.

Read Nielsen’s article Print vs. Online here.

The rule of thumb for reading level is 8th grade for newspaper, and according to Nielsen, the same holds true for Internet readers. Because of the vocabulary associated with dentistry, reading level for a dental site may be a bit higher, say 9th or 10th grade – particularly for specialists.

If you want to consult the experts in dental Website design, call TNT Dental at 877-868-4932 or visit TNT online here.

Tags: Dental Websites · Websites & Internet