What are directional cues?
Directional cues come in all shapes and sizes, and you may even be surprised to learn what can pass as a directional cue. Furthermore, there are both explicit (very obvious) and implicit (more low-key) directional cues. Page elements that can be considered explicit directional cues include:- Arrows
- Fingers pointing
- Eye direction (when people’s faces are looking at a call to action)
- Lines
- Curves


- Color
- Repetition of size, color and shape
- Hierarchy

How do you clarify page goals?
Every page has a purpose, which is usually to get a visitor to buy, sign up for, or subscribe to something. When users don’t understand what the page’s purpose is—such as when the navigation is poorly implemented or the page is much too cluttered—the user experience will drastically decline. This is where a crystal clear directional cue can be the page’s lifesaver. After all, when the users receive cues on what they’re supposed to do on the page, then their experience drastically improves. Their confusion and frustration is replaced by a confidence and efficiency that are brought about by great organization, design and planning. Fittingly, a superb example of a directional cue comes to us on a page that talks about the definition of a directional cue. On Unbounce’s definition page, note the huge arrow pointing to the right and thereby prompting visitors to actually read the definition of a directional cue! Thanks to this simple page element, users can clearly understand that the goal of the page is to read and understand this definition.
Empowering users with directional cues
Visual Website Optimizer looked at a page displaying an ad for Sunsilk shampoo. The results were astounding: when the woman’s eyes in the ad actually looked to her right—at the bottle of shampoo, instead of into space—the number of users who finally looked at the bottle skyrocketed to 84%, from just a meager 6% when the original ad had the woman looking straight ahead. Eazers.com is a German site for coupons that effectively uses the same technique; the gaze of the model draws your eyes straight to the central calls to action.
Don’t take directional cues for granted
The next time you’re designing and think of dismissing directional cues as just a bunch of unnecessary arrows, lines or curves, think again! Research has shown that they’re definitively tied into the user experience and, consequently, a page’s conversion rate. To help your site visitors experience a much better user experience—and your clients obtain a much better conversion rate—you’ve got to incorporate these directional cues into your design. More than issuing an instruction, directional cues are heavy-hints at what the user is expected to do. Some users won’t, some will, but the important thing is that they clearly understand what the ‘normal’ use of the page is. Directional cues are one of the best tools designers have for enhancing UX, and helping users to boost conversions for your client.Marc Schenker
Marc’s a copywriter who covers design news for Web Designer Depot. Find out more about him at thegloriouscompanyltd.com.
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