Online learning is the new normal. After the coronavirus pandemic, it is more evident than ever before that no matter which sector your business operates in, a well-designed website with all the necessary information is vital.
So, we have listed down the 7 key features for education platforms to keep in mind.
While designing a website for educational institutions or platforms, one big challenge is to incorporate the needs of different users – the students, faculties, administrators, alumni – all have different requirements. And unlike other big businesses, there is very little overlapping between the user bases.
People go on an educational website to look for application forms, faculties numbers, addresses, academic calendar, syllabus, etc. In contrast, what an educational site has are alumni photos, press releases, virtual tours, etc. do you see the problem?
What people are looking for and what is provided have nothing in common. That is why so many educational websites fall behind.
To help you get ahead of the competition, there are so many practices you can bring into action. Here are the top ones.
1. Powerful search feature
The best things are often the simplest. Even for the most complex websites with hundreds of pages and thousands of visitors every day, this is true.
Has it happened that you were looking for a page on the website and couldn't find it? It's frustrating. For educational websites, where different users land every day, this happens more often than you think.
A simple search bar is an answer here. The search tab can:
- help users find the information they are looking for
- Reduce bounce rates of the website
- Accelerated browsing on the website
- Decrease navigation mistakes
Ready to add a search bar to your educational website? Contact our web development team for details.
2. Video to explain the platform
Video is the most effective form of communication, and there is no need for proof. All websites are using video to communicate better with their users. Educational websites also fall into the same category of web design. So, it is important to include video content.
Videos can deliver a lot of content in less time; they are a fantastic means to increase your brand value. They are devised to speak to the mind of the users through pictures.
The video can be about anything – an explanation video, a welcome message for new students from the dean, or just a collection of shots showing the beautiful campus. Institutions and educational platforms have nothing to lose here.
The additional benefit is that there is no need to spend the entire marketing budget on it. Using cameras and drones, is it now simpler than ever to produce a high-end video. No need to hire professionals out of the budget to shoot the video.
3. Brand consistency in design
The educational website is where a new student will come first. And it is also the main communication tool among different faculties and departments of the institution.
So, the way you treat your offline interactions, you should do the same online as well. This maintains consistency and transparency.
This is also important in marketing and branding content. The stories and pictures must be the same on the website as on the welcome email or package.
There must be coherence on the website, not like ten pages, and all look completely different from one another.
4. Mobile responsive design
Mobile is where students live and breathe most of the day. And even though they are studying and working on desktops and laptops, they are always connected via smartphones. The next generation of students is sure to access everything via mobile.
Any educational website should have mobile-friendly elements to make the students feel comfortable.
The best solution to make sure of this is responsive design. A website with all pages responsive across all devices is the best bet.
Responsive design has its benefits as well. Take a look.
- In an information-dense ecosystem, mobile apps generally fail to perform well and satisfy users. Plus, it costs more to maintain two different sets of content for different users.
- Responsive websites work well for such situations, and thus, for educational platforms, it is the best solution.
5. The homepage
Homepages can pull the visitors in or blow them. So many homepage designs fail because different departments want it to be according to them. Rather than the politics of which department should be on top, the homepage should be designed for the students and users and not for the faculty.
A perfectly designed homepage is an asset for the platform. A new user lands first, where the most traffic comes, and it is also the best option to show how your platform is from the rest.
6. Updated content
Content drives the internet today. It is vital not just for marketing but to create authority, brand value, and depicts expertise.
Creating new content, publishing about research and advances in the institution, and recycling old valuable content are necessary for all educational platforms.
It is not hard. Many things happen in an institution, from admissions to research, to seminars, and others. All you need to do is post the updates on social media. It is not always required to produce new content.
For instance, the top educators of your platform can give their expert analysis on the events happening in the world. Through sharing insights about research, you put your platform as a leading authority on innovation.
7. Customization
This feature is more focused on the Genz generation. The oldest of Genz is about to turn 22, and they always expect personalization online. And for educational platforms, they are the key demographic.
An educational platform can thrive through customization, and it also solves design challenges. This is the feature for the future and moving forward; you can expect more of such features on the internet to show people what is relevant for them.
Can you think of more features that are necessary for an educational platform? Let us know. And if you are looking for a web development agency, feel free to contact us.
