It takes a user around seven seconds to make the decision about leaving or staying on a website. What is the most prominent factor behind this speedy reaction? There are some basic factors that play a foremost part in this decision. The colors, layout, font and the overall cohesion of the site are what influence users the most.
A website needs to be convincing and impressive enough to grab attention within those crucial seven seconds. Another monumentally important element to consider is the cultural appropriateness of the website. Does it appeal to the cultural requirements of the audience your targeting? Even one message that is taken the wrong way can destroy the image of your company. This is where professional web designers come in.
It is difficult for businesses to find a website design agency in Dubai. However, our web-designing services guarantee culture-specific content. We tailor your website according to the company’s requirements, setting it apart amongst the crowd. In this article, we will focus on the main points that are invested in a website to be culture specific.
How To Begin?
Every single place and the mindsets of its natives is different. So, the business of designing a cultural appropriate website is far from easy. Yet it is certainly not impossible! How do we manage to integrate this element in UAE websites? Read on to know all the details and the complete process!
Research Is The Key
This might not sound interesting but this job takes a lot of research. Search for brand that are operating locally in the region. Especially competitors of the same business industry that you are designing the website for. Study how they present their design and the marketing strategies they use.
Familiarize Yourself With The Market
Ask your colleagues, partners and suppliers about the market trends implemented locally. This will provide useful cultural input to integrate while web designing. Make sure that the people belong to the culture, for example UAE’s, whom you are reaching out to.
Explore The Negotiable Elements
You will need to focus hard to tailor a global website template to cultural specifications. Be aware of the company assets that can be tweaked a bit. The colors, grids, alignment and content all can be created to cater to the target audience.
Testing Time
Never launch the website directly after creating it. Test it first to make sure your strategies work. Avoid making any assumptions without having factual evidence. Testing is fundamental to ensure your web design is positively responsive.
Use Proven Concepts
It is more beneficial to use what has already proved to be successful in targeting that specific audience. Going for an entirely new approach can be a risk. If you are fortunate it might become the new trend. But most often it will fall short of the mark. Hence, it is better to stick to the web designing tricks that are tried and tested successfully for the region.
Key Elements For UAE Specific Web Design
The world has shrunk into a global village. Nothing remains out of reach now when it comes to virtual connection. However, with that the spread of target audience also transcends beyond a particular area. It can be quite challenging for web designers to cater to audiences belonging to diverse backgrounds.
There is a term “website localization” which is used when a website is updated according to cultural requirements. It needs expertise in programming and knowledge about the local way of life in a region. From here on, we are going to see which factors are most important for a UAE target audience.
Eliminate The Language Barrier
English is the universal language now, but there are still many people in UAE who prefer local tongues. Especially Arabic which is the natively spoken language. A website for Dubai audience should have a translation facility. However, it won’t be easy to translate the entire website into Arabic. Nor would it be possible in some cases.
Check for the phrases, metaphors and terms that are tailored for the targeted language. If there is any humorous content, make sure that it is understandable and acceptable in Dubai. To cater to the diverse Arabic speaking users, use Arabic language of a modern standard in the translator.
The grammar, punctuation and vocabulary should be appropriate for the UAE audience such as business personals, professionals and owners. If your target audience is young, then a relaxed language tone can be used. The wrong mode of language can be disastrous when working with diverse audience.
Most websites on Dubai’s e-commerce industry do not contain enough information for the audience. This needs to be re-considered according to user requirements. When translating content to Arabic from English, check if all the necessary information is being conveyed. Are the concepts clarified for the local users to understand? If not then use alternative words and phrases that get the message across in a better way.
Add Appropriate Images
An image mirrors a thousand words. But in the world of e-commerce this can go dangerously against you. A simple picture can carry completely different messages in for different cultures. There are several displays which will not be acceptable in UAE which are otherwise suited to Western nations. The negative elements associated with a certain picture can repel traffic from your website. Therefore, caution and complete knowledge is essential. For instance, pictures with revealing outfits, drinking alcohol, or certain forms of dancing will not ignite a positive response.
Watch Out For The Wrong Symbols
This works along the same lines as images. For example, hand gestures for signaling “Okay” or the victory sign is depicted differently in other cultures. Using animal images without thinking about the target audience can also be offensive. Pigs, for instance, are considered unclean in the Middle East and cow is a sacred beast for Indians. Thus, step with care in this territory and do your homework beforehand.
Colors Hold Meaning
When using a color scheme for UAE audience choose them very carefully. The wrong colors can portray the wrong image to your website visitors. At present the most dominating colors in Dubai industry are green, blue and white. Following is a list of what different colors represent in Arabic speaking countries.
- Red= Caution and Danger
- Orange= Loss or Mourning
- Yellow= Happiness and Prosperity
- Blue= Protection, Safety, Immortality, Spirituality
- Green= Luck, Fertility, Religion, Strength
- Purple= Virtue and Wealth
- Brown= Earth and Comfort
- Black= Mourning and Rebirth
- White= Elevated Status, Mourning, Purity
Website Navigation According To User Preference
Consider the wishes of the users, when deciding website navigation. Large count and horizontal navigations can be commonly seen on Arabic websites. A problem that can arise is when it comes to Arabic translation. The language is written from right to left. Hence, this can create space issues on the website. Consider this aspect while web designing specifically for UAE.
These were all the tips we had for anyone who wishes to create a culture-specific website for Dubai. For more help, contact our web design UAE service for a website that is sure to get you into the top ranks. Our expert designers know all the best techniques to make you the center of Dubai e-commerce.