When designing a website or an app, make sure the content you provide is:

1. Relevant to the Audience

There is nothing that will turn off a user than to be presented with content that has no relevance to what the purpose of the site is. Have you ever been to a site and been like, “Whoa! what are you talking about?” Yes you logged off real quick didn’t you! Always provide content that is relevant to why the user came to your site in the first place. Don’t bring a knife to a gun-fight…wait, can I say that!

2. Engaging

Content should be engaging for the audience. It should make them feel confident about the information they are getting. The length of the content should be appropriate to the topic. As long as the user thinks they are getting useful information, they will stay engaged. Moreover, don’t use less content to describe something that needs details. I mean you wouldn’t have a site that says change the oil and start ‘er up! Obviously you would go through all the steps of changing the oil.

3. Appropriate

Hmm…how can I explain this one. Okay, would you use a Mickey Mouse type character to guide a user through a presentation on nuclear medicine? I thought no myself! Conversely would we use someone in a lab coat to go through ABC’s with Kindergarteners. The content of the site has to be appropriate for the intended target audience in every way.