In cyberspace, the best medium to interact with users in a global scale is a website. Now, take note of the word “interact.” If you want to have an effective and successful website, it should feature a design that attracts users and encourages them to use the different features of the site. For years, designers have searched high and low for that secret ingredient that makes a website tick. And throughout the years, designers believe they have found that element—website interactivity.

What is website interactivity? To explain this element, we need to cite an example. For instance, there are two shops right next to each other, and both sell the same merchandise. However, one attracts more customers than the other. Why is that? Well, that shop interacts with people visiting it. They may be open to suggestions, may have automated price checkers, may feature product booths that offer free sampling, etc. while the other simply displays its products. The better store draws more people because the environment enables a customer to feel more comfortable.

The same concept works in a website that has interactive features. The site has subtle uses of web interactions to get the attention of users and enables them to engage on a page.

For instance, a bookstore’s website may have internal links that point out to its different pages. Fine, but it does not show any interactivity. But what if when you click the link, the page “peels” off just like the way you turn a page in a real book? What if you can change the background by moving your mouse in a certain way? With these interactive features, viewers can now have the experiences of doing stuff while they browse through the information in the site. The interactivity of the site effectively captures user-attention.

The elements of website interactivity will be discussed in a later topic. For now, let us check some great interactive websites.

1. Infinit Colors

www.infinitcolors.com

The website is creatively designed in such a way that users can engage its features from the moment the site displays itself after its URL is entered on a browser. With its interactive features, you can change the site’s background. You can drag the main menu around or even drop it down.

2. Starbucks Coffee at Home

www.starbuckscoffeeathome.com

Aside from having outstanding graphics, the site has an interesting interactive feature. By clicking on “Find my Perfect Coffee” and take the quiz, a user will have an idea of what kind of coffee in Starbucks’ product range best suits his or her taste. In addition, by moving the cursor over the coffee packets in the website, he or she can view the different types of Starbucks coffees.

3. Roth Aniko

www.rothaniko.hu

Roth Aniko is an artist who uses an interactive website as a portfolio. In his site’s home page, you can pop out balloons by clicking on them as they fly around the page. You can have fun watching passing cradles vibrate as you click on them.

4. Aparte Graphique

www.aparte-graphique.com

The Aparte Graphique website involves a cartoon character that you can move around. Menu tabs also reveal themselves in an interesting way.

In the next article, we will discuss about tips on how to make your site interactive.