Web interface design for academic institutions

Nowadays, online marketing plays an important role in academic institutions such as universities and colleges; because they are seeking to improve their revenue. However, many academic websites fail to capitalize on their potential by not adhering to the principles of usability according to visitors´ culture and gender. Academic institution´ websites aiming to attract more visitors require a strategy for designing attractive web interfaces base on their visitors´ culture and gender. With a discussion of Hofstede´s cultural dimensions, Edward Hall´s cultural factor (context communication) and studies on gender preferences in website design (e.g. Mcinnis and Shearer, John Hallock, Simon and its), this article explores how academic institutions might make their website design more attractive. This article represents a web design approach aiming to enhance academic website interface usability and attractiveness through an attending majority of visitors´ cultures and genders in academic institutions.