Website buttons are among the most integral things in design. You must make sure they work properly and support the user experience. Buttons are the “communication tools” between you and the website, allowing you to access various functions and achieve your goals.
Before designing any website or app, consider this simple guide to buttons.
Website Button Rules to Follow
The visuals of web buttons can change with design trends, but there are basic rules to follow when creating them. They are:
Proper Size for Clicking
No one likes buttons that are hard to click, especially on mobile websites or apps. According to a 2003 study by MIT’s The Touch Lab, a typical fingertip of an adult has an average size of 8 to 11 mm. Therefore, your button for the mobile version should not be smaller than 10 mm for easier click.
Having Clear Instructions
Web buttons lead users to perform specific actions, so make sure the buttons have clear instructions. Avoid making users guess the function of each button. Buttons may have short instructions like “OK” or “Cancel”, but sometimes, you need short descriptions to explain the consequences of each option.
For example, instead of just a “Delete” button, put a smaller description that says, “This action will delete all your contacts from your device.” This way, users will understand the actual consequences of tapping or clicking a button.
Having Contrasting Colors
Button positioning should not confuse users. They must have contrasting colors to guide users to tap or click on them. Use negative space around the button so users’ eyes will immediately see it instead of going through packed, confusing texts or content.
Button colors are adjusted with the website themes. However, you can also consider the psychology of color in the functions. Red can mean something like “Cancel” or “Delete”, blue or green means agreeable functions like “OK” or “Allow.” Grey is often used to color non-clickable button functions.
Having “Predictable” Placement
Any good designer will mention “user experiences” as the main principle of web design. It includes “predictable” placement of web buttons, which refer to typical users’ expectations when moving their eyes and fingers to perform functions on a website. One example is placing a singular, important button near the position of the right thumb.
It would be best if you also considered users’ expectations in exploring content. For example, when placing multiple buttons, make sure to pick different shapes for each function. Place the most important action on top before adding the “View More” or “Explore More” button at the bottom.
Create Button Feedbacks
Button feedbacks happen when your buttons change state to show users that they have performed certain actions. These changes will help users to track their actions. For example, a button should change color when you hover with the cursor and click or press them. If a user does not perform the desired action, certain buttons should have muted color and cannot be clicked.
Not Having Buttons for Everything
Have you ever heard “the paradox of choice”? It is a notion that having too many options will stress people out and make it difficult for them to choose.
The same thing applies to web buttons. While having a button for every action seems ideal, it can confuse users and make experiences more stressful. Excessive numbers of buttons can also clog your website or app design. Create a space where users can follow and use the content in a logical way. Let them find and use the buttons to achieve their goals.
Graphic Templates and Clickable Buttons
Creating buttons can be a fun experience for web designers. You can get creative with button designs, feedbacks, shapes, and colors. Then, they can follow specific themes depending on the website or app design.
What if you have no experience with making a design from scratch? Use pre-made graphic templates. They usually come with clickable buttons created to match the design. Good graphic templates already have intuitive button designs, giving users a good experience while exploring.
If you design a website for businesses, you can get different graphic templates that follow specific themes: driving school, coffee shop, healthcare service, and art project. Each has intuitive and well-designed buttons that allow users to get the best experiences.
Website buttons are important because they allow users to experience all the functions and achieve their goals. Design your web buttons to support the best user experience or download graphic templates with well-designed buttons for easier web creation.
