Website headers are easy to overlook but essential to get right. While they take up little of the overall space on webpages, they’re the first thing visitors see and the element they most engage with.
Website header design takes skill. A header should reflect your brand identity, clearly communicate what users will find on your site and motivate them to keep browsing. It should also be concise, and the best website headers strike a balance between clarity and simplicity while conveying the information effectively.
A good website header improves user experience, reinforces the strength of your brand identity and creates a strong first impression. It often means the difference between a web user sticking around to see what your brand offers and navigating off the page to go elsewhere. When a new visitor lands on your website, you only have about 15 seconds to impress them.
If website header design is new to you, Anchor Digital can help. In this article, we break down what a website header is and what needs to be included in it, and provide tips for designing your own creative website header.
What is a Website Header?
A website header is a menu or typographical strip that runs along the top of a website in the ‘above the fold’ section. A website header is a handy tool for both promoting your business and guiding users to other parts of the site, which is why almost every website has one. Good website header design allows users to find their way to the right products, services or information very quickly.
What Needs to be Incorporated in a Header?
There are no ironclad rules for what needs to be included in a website header to ensure its success. However, common elements like a business name, logo, call-to-action (CTA), search and shopping cart functions, and social media links make the header appear more professional and accessible. The CTA button is one of the most important elements as it can dramatically increase conversions on the website.
A website header also commonly features the site logo in the top left-hand corner and the navigation bar on the top right-hand side. This is an intuitive approach that provides users with a familiar format, making it easier for them to navigate.
Tips for Creative Header Designs
Once you’re familiar with the concept of website header design and the purpose that it serves, the next step is finding the right tips, techniques and strategies for great headers. Your header should reflect your brand and the story you want to tell, as well as be attractive and responsive across all devices, including mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Here are some tips for a more functional and creative website header:
Focus on your purpose
A good website header starts with focusing on the overall goal of your website and how your header can help you achieve it. Whether you want your users to read the webpage, make a purchase, or sign up for a free trial, approaching your header with that goal in mind improves your chances of success.
Choose your colours wisely
Your header should use the same colour palette as the rest of your brand guidelines. However, a touch of colour contrast makes your header more user-friendly and visually engaging. For example, a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 between your header background and your font of choice will ensure the text is easy to read.
Keep your fonts clear and readable
Regardless of what the current trends in typeface are, a simple and easy-to-read font is always the best approach. Your text should easily stand out on the page and provide clear and simple instructions to your users. They should be suited both to the general look of your website and the particular message you want to get across.
Include a call-to-action (CTA)
CTA’s don’t have to be complicated. They just have to be clear. Providing simple instructions like ‘sign up’ or ‘start your free trial’ simply and effectively guides your users to the actions you want them to take. Your header is the first thing web users see when they land on your page, and the most visible element of it, which makes it the perfect place to compel them to action.
Include your navigation
When you put your navigation in the top right-hand corner of your header, visitors can see it as soon as they arrive on your website. You can use a free online tool to create the code for your navigation so that visitors can quickly find their way around, no matter what kind of device they’re on.
Make it sticky
A sticky header is one that remains fixed to the top of the page no matter how far the user scrolls down. Unless you’re designing websites with very sparse content, this is usually your best option. It means no matter how much of the page your users read, they still have the header (and its call-to-action) within easy reach. To make a sticky header work, shrink it when the visitor begins to scroll and ensure a clear contrast between the header and page so users can always tell where one starts and the other ends.
Know what to avoid
Just like there are many strategies that can improve the design of your website header, there are some that can harm it as well. Too much visual clutter and too much information can overwhelm the reader, and your message can get lost. Your header should be large enough to be easy to read, but not so huge that it looks oversized and disproportionate. At the same time, taking too much of a minimalist approach can lead to users being unclear about what they need to do when interacting with your header. Make sure your header is personalised and you avoid generic elements such as stock photos, opting for custom images instead.
Before launching your website, test your header design across all available devices.
Creative and Functional Design with Anchor Digital
Both graphic and UX design have roles to play in website header design. Your website header needs to accurately reflect your brand identity and match the style of the rest of your site, while helping users seamlessly navigate to where they need to go. As a full-service creative digital marketing agency, Anchor Digital has years of experience creating designs that are both aesthetically appealing and functional. If you need a creative website header, we can help.
As a graphic design agency in Brisbane, Anchor pays attention to the finer details of both the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI). We understand the importance of balancing eye-catching designs with useful information, and we’ll design a website header that strikes that balance. The most memorable and effective website headers include brand logos, and one of our creative services is developing a logo that’s right for you.
More people learn about a brand from the website than anywhere else, and a well-optimised website is a business essential. As a website agency, Anchor provides integrated web design and development services designed for speed, usability and conversions.
To find out more, please call 1300 971 392, email info@anchordigital.com.au, or get in touch with us online.
