When you’re an expat moving to a new country, having an effective website can help give you a localised area for content that is relevant to your move for different cultures and languages. It can provide an all-round hub for users to be engaged with their new home, as they adjust to their new life. The website needs to have great accessibility and optimsied for speed to give expats the most streamlined experience.
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The website also needs to be perfect on mobile devices, as many users will be navigating logistics while traveling, waiting in queues or house-hunting. It’s less common that they’ll be sitting at home on their laptop browsing for the latest expat information, as they are more likely to need it while they’re on the go, whether that be to learn something new or to give them software for instant language translation.
This guide will explore how an expat website can be designed to help users that are making the move to a new country. We will in particular take a look at the UK, as this country has many differences from other countries. Continue reading to find out more.
What to Include in an Expat Website
Mobile-First Design
As mentioned, when designing a website for expats, it’s important to ensure that the mobile version is streamlined and meets the required standards for expats who will want to access it while they’re on their travels. Focus on single-column layouts, large buttons for easy tap targets and minimal scrolling to access key information. Expat users may be viewing the screen outdoors in bright sunlight or at night in low-light conditions. You should use a simple font with sufficient contrast between the text and the background to help with this.
Prioritised Speed
Having a fast website is essential, no matter the type of website. However, it is specifically important for an expat website where users will need to access information on-demand with little waiting times. Something you can do to improve this is to implement lazy loading for images and videos, so they only load as the user scrolls down the page. This will make the website perform quicker for expats, especially those with a short attention span.
Geo-Location Features
Geo-location features allow you to automatically display information most relevant to the user’s current location. If a user from Germany is browsing from the UK, the homepage can automatically highlight articles about living in the UK. It can give them a platform for local expat meetups, cultural events and news for the area, so the user can be provided with useful information that they can use in their day-to-day life.
User Experience (UX) Features
When designing an expat relocation website, the UX must focus on reducing cognitive load. This can be achieved by using modular content blocks instead of long paragraphs, allowing overwhelmed users to quickly scan for essential information. Calls to Action (CTAs) provide clear guidance and can instruct users to complete certain actions. You can integrate a “Quick Exit” link to emergency services, ensuring critical help is instantly accessible.
Smart Data Input and Form Completion
Relocating usually involves a lot of data input and forms, so an expat website needs to make these processes easier. All on-site forms should be optimised for mobile use. Designers can also minimise typing by relying on clear drop-down menus, buttons and date pickers, making expat address entry less challenging. You can also leverage smart auto-fill for repeated information, as this streamlines the process and ensures users can focus on settling into their new life.
Translator
Some expats might not be familiar with the language of their new country. Even if they have a strong grasp of the English language, each area has plenty of unique slang that can be tricky to understand. You can drive 10 minutes up the street and there’ll be a completely new dialect. This means having a translator built into your website can be considered essential. There is also a feature that can allow users to translate the entire website so that it appears in their language.
Visa Education
If an expat is seeking to live in the UK permanently, they are likely to want to apply for a visa or indefinite leave to remain. Having plenty of educational material on your website can heavily benefit expats, as they can learn all the ins and outs of the application processes. One idea is using an interactive tool or quiz to help users instantly find their ideal visa type based on their purpose and nationality.
Final Thoughts
From offering clear Visa Education roadmaps to providing instant translation, the expat website’s ability to improve the UX can help with its success. Having a mobile-optimised design approach ensures the platform remains a trusted platform that empowers expats to seamlessly transition from traveler to settled resident in their new UK home.