In 1996, Bill Gates wrote an article titled “Content is King” about how content will be presented and delivered on the then-emerging Internet. His lede was simple, and, even twenty years later, accurate.
“Content is where I expect much of the real money will be made on the Internet, just as it was in broadcasting.”
Gates’ explores how Internet users will interact with content and how, as technology advances, content providers will have to utilize innovative design to keep the user interface fresh and engaging.
“If people are to be expected to put up with turning on a computer to read a screen, they must be rewarded with deep and extremely up-to-date information that they can explore at will. They need to have audio, and possibly video. They need an opportunity for personal involvement that goes far beyond that offered through the letters-to-the-editor pages of print magazines.”
While “turning on a computer to read a screen” is clearly a dated reference in this age of screen overload, his sentiment on delivering content is the current rallying cry in the marketing industry.
Informed and engaging content keeps customers coming back to you as an expert in your field and builds brand confidence and recognition. But take equal care to develop the digital design elements that deliver your content.
Good digital design involves – first and foremost – understanding user behavior. Combining an understanding of behavior with compelling design can lead to an engaging user experience.
Why is user experience so important? Remember, every business has a bottom line. Driving sales with clean digital design that heightens the user experience should not be overlooked.
Kompani Group has spent years developing and optimizing e-commerce platforms for some of our clients in addition to designing engaging, functional digital resources for desktops, tablets and mobile. Read more about Kompani Group’s digital design approach in our complimentary white paper.
Content is still king, but digital design is the prince in waiting ready to take his rightful spot on the throne.
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Snippets from Bill Gates’ article “Content is King,” which is archived here: http://web.archive.org/web/20010126005200/
