Keep These Things in Mind When Designing a Senior-Friendly Website

Having a mobile-friendly website is a must for businesses of all types. It’s a marketing essential that connects organizations with their desired audiences. However, if you set a goal this year to create a new website or revamp your old one, the process might have you feeling a little overwhelmed.

Without the right support, it can be a big project to tackle. It can also be a lengthy one, depending on how large you’d like your new website to be. Remember, you don’t have to tackle it all on your own! Our website building tool, WeConnect, is easy to learn and efficient to use and our design team is available to help you build your new site if you want help! 

For organizations looking to make their site easy for older adults to visit, there are additional considerations to be aware of. As you plan your strategy, here are a few tips to keep in mind that will make navigating your site a more positive experience for seniors.

Designing a Senior-Friendly Website

• Pay attention to font choices: This tip is at the top of our list because it’s so important. Older adults are more likely to have vision issues that make it tougher to read online content. Font size and style matter greatly to seniors. A size of at least 12 points is best. Also, select a font style that isn’t difficult to read. Skip those that have a lot of flourishes. Times New Roman and Verdana are two to consider.
  
  
• Use high-contrast color combinations: As we get older, it can become more difficult to distinguish text that is similar in color to the site’s background color. A better option is to use high-contrast color combinations. A white background with black type is usually best. You can increase visual appeal by using vibrant colors as accents instead of choosing them for your primary fonts.
  
  
• Keep navigation simple: Simplicity is key for a website that will be used primarily by seniors. Make it easy to figure out where to go to find what they need. Don’t complicate the site’s navigation by requiring too many decisions. It also helps to use single-click navigation whenever possible.
  
  
• Watch the jargon and slang: When you are creating website content for older adults, be sure the writer and editor you work with know who your target audience is. Seniors may not be familiar with technical terms that are easily understood by younger generations. The same is true of slang. Skip using cultural references and language that older people likely won’t know.
  
  
• Limit scrolling: Seniors tend to read every word on the page, versus skimming like younger site visitors do. Scrolling — especially horizontal scrolling — can be more difficult for older adults, so keep that in mind. Instead, try to create content that fits nicely within the confines of the screen.
  
  
• Break up blocks of copy: Landing on a web page that has big blocks of copy can overwhelm the eye, no matter what your age. For seniors, however, it can be even more difficult to read. In fact, it’s so off-putting that many people hop right off the page. That’s why you want to break up copy by using shorter paragraphs, more headings and subheads, images, and white space.
  
  

One final tip: Pay special attention to the design of your home page. This is an essential element of your website, regardless of your intended audience. It can either help you capture a visitor’s attention and keep them on your site longer, or it can cause them to hit the back arrow and go somewhere else. Why Your Website’s Home Page Is Important is a good article to help you learn more!