Shiny object syndrome. Yes, it’s a thing. Both a blessing and a curse, shiny object syndrome is not new in the world of creative entrepreneurship.

It’s a blessing because it means that wheels are turning! Creative juices are flowing. New ideas are capturing your imagination. I’d take this any day over… nothing! Dry spells with no engaging ideas for my business are a drag! I’d choose this creative form of ADHD any day of the week over the bland chasm of nothingness and stagnancy. 

Shiny object syndrome… Both a blessing + a curse.

It’s a bit of a curse though, because it causes us to lose focus. It hijacks what we’re currently working toward. Our current project can get a bit steamrolled when a shiny object comes into view. Shiny objects are just that – SHINY! They catch your eye. They suddenly look MUCH more appealing than the reality of fleshing out your current path. Your current path which, btw, started off pretty shiny as well. 

That’s the thing about shiny objects. They don’t STAY shiny. In order to turn that shiny object into reality, you have to do the really boring task of adulting. Focusing. Being realistic. Staying the course. Not NEARLY as fun as chasing shiny things, right?

Shiny objects don’t stay shiny.

This is why goals and plans are so important. If you know where you’re headed (the goal) and you’ve got a map to get there (the plan), then you can use this as a filter when you see that next shiny object.

Not all shiny objects are bad, but very few shiny objects will align with your goals or help you get where you want to go. You can see how easy it would be to chase down every.single.idea when you don’t know where you’re headed. You then get part way down a new path and switch gears to a new shiny object as soon as things lose their luster. When there is no end-goal, chasing the shiny object becomes the main event, instead of a means to a well-planned out end.

Very few shiny objects will align with your unique goals.

This is all so very true when it comes to your website! If there was ever a load of distractions – fancy apps, flashy opt-ins, marketing ideas, downloads, oh my! – it’s in the realm of web design.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been halfway through a web build for a client and I’ll get an email: “Hey, my friend is using {this app} on their site and I want to add it to my site too!” Or “I just saw {this fancy looking such-and-such} and I would like it on my site please!” as if building a website is the digital equivalent of dining at your favorite all-you-can-eat buffet (do those even exist anymore in this post-COVID world? lol…)

Luckily for my clients, we don’t ever start building ANYTHING without a crystal clear plan. Goals? Check. Processes well thought out? Check. Plan in place? Check, check, check. So when they send me that “I neeeeeed this shiny object on my site” text I can point them back to their goal. Does this {shiny object} help you get to your goal? Or does it actually distract your web visitors and *keep them from* taking the action you ultimately want them to take on your site?

Use your end goal as a litmus test…

It’s that simple. When you know the end goal, it becomes a litmus test of sorts. Does this {shiny object} get me to my goal, or does it hinder it? 

On your website, if an app or design element or pop up or block of text doesn’t help your visitor take the action you want them to take, it’s purely noise. A distraction. Something that will either confuse them or lose them or both. 

Keep things simple. Don’t try to integrate all the things. Yes, there are a TON of great apps and tools out there. Your friend’s website might be REALLY COOL and have functionality that you LOVE. But likely their line of business and/or goals are different from yours! That’s ok! 

So if you’re finding your website cluttered, confusing, or you’re just feeling STUCK with how it looks and feels right now, set aside some time to do some thinking. Your website should have a very specific purpose and end goal. Nail that down first. In the world of design we start at the end and work backwards. 

Once you nail down the goal of your site (i.e., what specific action you want visitors to take), you can design every step of their journey to lead to that. From when they first land on the home page, to where your site guides them next and then next after that… The entire journey should be leading up to a call-to-action (CTA) that matches YOUR specific goal!

A handful of other tips that will improve your website…

1. Like I mentioned earlier, if you confuse them, you’ll lose them! Keep your site SIMPLE! The average attention span is like 8 seconds! People are used to scrolling and finding info fast. They don’t stay in one place for very long. If you don’t get right to the point and MAKE IT EASY, your visitors will leave.
   
2. Along those lines, don’t give more information than your visitors need! Sooooo many websites out there word-vomit all over their visitors. Understand your clients and the questions they have about what you do. Only include information on your website that answers THEIR questions! Make it simple and engaging and ABOUT THEM.
   
3. Last for now, be sure that a visitor who lands on your site knows within 5 seconds exactly what you do and how you can help them. If that isn’t clear within the first 5 seconds of landing on your site, you will lose them! Your entire site should be crafted around making things incredibly easy for potential clients. “Can you help me” and “Is this relationship going to be easy to start” are the two TOP questions your web visitors are asking. So don’t spend your time answering questions they aren’t asking, and instead focus immediately on what they do want to know.

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Do you want some pro help with your website and brand? Beyond providing full design services, I also offer strategy only. It’s perfect for the business owner who is capable of building out their own assets and website, but need help gaining clarity and focus so they can solidly nail down that “end goal” and put an end to the shiny object syndrome chase. Take a peek at my story or connect with me if you’d like to chat about how I can come alongside your business and help you move to the next level. ~Lyndsey