Designing a website that is fully functional, practical, and visually stunning is the key aim for most companies and businesses. This should include adding a search bar to the website, to help users find information they need quickly and easily, with just one click. But the design of this search bar needs to be top notch, to secure the best possible results. So what are the key design features of an effective website search bar? And how can you be sure to create a search bar that will add value to your website? Well, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design professionals. From Wigan to Southport, we work with companies across Manchester and the surrounding region to deliver high quality web design solutions that really get results. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about effective website search bars.
What are the key design features of an effective website search bar?
There are a number of important features that should play a big role when designing your website search bar. These include:
- Using a recognized icon
- Prominent positioning
- Using a different colour
- Responsive design
Using a recognized icon
For the search bar to be utilised fully by your website users and potential customers, you should make sure that this is clear and obvious with a recognized icon. A magnifying glass is the most effective option, as this is used extensively online, and on mobile devices, and makes it clear what the bar is for. You should design the icon to match with the rest of your website style, including the other popular icon designs, to ensure design consistency.
Prominent positioning
The search bar needs to be easy for your potential clients and customers to find, to improve the user experience and direct them to the information they need quickly and easily. For this reason, the search bar is often positioned at the top of the page, somewhere near the navigation menu, bar or hamburger icon. The search bar can also be added to the menu screen that appears when someone uses the hamburger button or the slide out menu too.
Using a different colour
To really make the search bar feature prominently and be easy to see, you should consider using a different colour for the fill inside the search box, or for the search icon. This can help draw attention to the search bar, and improve the user experience. However, it is important to bear in mind that the colour will need to fit with your existing design scheme for a professional finish.
Responsive design
Finally, one of the most important features of your search bar is that it is responsive to changes to the type of device accessing the website. A search bar that does not work on a mobile device because it is too small or cannot be clicked will not show potential customers or clients that your website is trustworthy or professional.
For more information or for professional web design support, contact the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.