Nostalgia can be an incredibly emotive force. When successfully utilised within web design as part of a measured and considered digital strategy, it can secure consistently impressive engagement and conversion levels for your business.
From film and television remakes and much-anticipated sequels of classic favourites to style statements first prevalent in the ’80s and ’90s, reminiscing about and reinventing nostalgic pieces is certainly nothing new. Nostalgic touches are now being applied to the world of web design, increasingly because of their unique ability to quickly captivate audiences’ attention.
The Psychology of Nostalgia
Taking your audience back to a very specific time is always going to be a powerful way to establish meaningful connections. While it is certainly true that offers and discounts also have the ability to capture attention, it is often only fleeting and doesn’t possess the necessary depth required to also provide your audience with an experience that feels genuine and sincere.
The Link Between Nostalgia and Connection
There is an unarguable link between the act of reminiscing and experiencing heightened feelings of connectedness. On a very simple level, recalling positive memories and experiences makes us feel more optimistic and often, somewhat more complexly, we feel as though we’re sharing in the nostalgia alongside other people.
For web designers and marketing professionals, the aim is always to create and convey an atmosphere of connectedness. This may be completed through visual design elements or relatable storytelling; however, the key is to do this in authentic and meaningful ways to ensure your efforts are both appreciated and memorable.
Authenticity is Everything
As this New York Times article details, the ’90s are currently one of the most prominent web design influences. Although incorporating nostalgic elements into web design is a simple process in theory, doing so in ways that feel authentic to your brand and audience is a wholly more complex task.
Questioning whether nostalgia fits with your approach is essential, and engaging the services of experienced Reading Web Design teams such as starwebinnovations will help you to reach a conclusion and develop an authentic and effective approach for your unique values and circumstances.
Moving forward, employing nostalgic design elements in increasingly creative and innovative ways is likely to continue to be a hugely effective component of a considered marketing strategy for driving both engagement and connections whilst boosting conversion rates.