When readers come to your website, they want to encounter a certain type of information. Your goal is to keep them interested in your content and to have them stay on your website for as long as possible. One way you can do this is by offering a variety of plug-ins and widgets that will help hold their attention.
A widget is downloadable software that is embedded in your web page’s HTML coding. Whether you have a profile page, a business page, or a blog, widgets can draw a user’s attention and keep them on your website longer, no matter what operating system they use. A plug-in is very similar. By definition, it is a set of software components that adds capabilities to a larger application.
Some people think that widgets and plug-ins are used only for entertainment purposes. Other people think that they are used only for practical purposes. As a web page designer, it’s important for you to know that they do both. It’s up to the web page designer to decide what type of plug-in or entertainment they want to add to a page.
When adding widgets and plug-ins, think about your theme for your web page. Make sure the added content is in alignment with the theme of your page otherwise you will turn away website viewers. Use the software to enhance the content on the page rather than overwhelm it. Avoid inundating the website with multiple widgets and plug-ins. You don’t want the page to look cluttered. What you do want to do is to carefully select particular widgets and plug-ins that engage your website reader, encouraging them to interact and even recommend your website to others. In fact, there is a widget for that, too. If you don’t find the perfect widget already set for download, consider making your own. There are a variety of tutorials on the Internet that will show you how to do this.