Your app’s users need you to tell them what to do next. As a UI designer, it’s your responsibility to gently guide them toward successful actions and, ultimately, conversion.

Directional cues are one of the most effective ways to do this. In this article, we’ll look at what they are, why they matter, and how to use them well.

What Are Directional Cues?

A directional cue is any UI element that visually draws attention to itself and points users toward something important.

You can think of directional cues as digital road signs. They guide visitors to:

• Key interface elements
• Important lines of text
• Calls-to-action (CTAs)
• Critical interactive zones

Because you often have only a few moments to convince users to interact with your product, directional cues help indicate which content pieces and interaction points are crucial to decision-making.

How Directional Cues Influence User Experience

Directional cues help your app or webpage achieve several important UX goals:

• Stronger visual hierarchy
  They clarify which elements users should look at first, second, and third.

• Improved navigation
  Cues show users where to go and what to do next, reducing confusion.

• Enhanced page or screen scannability
  Users can quickly understand structure and find what they need.

• Higher conversion rates
  By pointing to CTAs and important actions, directional cues can directly influence sign-ups, purchases, and other key metrics.

The CXL Institute once created different versions of a landing page to demonstrate the power of directional cues. After measuring user interactions, they found that:

• A version with a hand-drawn arrow pointing toward the contact form kept users on the page longer and focused attention on the form.
• A version with a man looking away from the form got the least attention and interaction.

The lesson: directional cues can significantly shape user behavior—positively or negatively. Use them thoughtfully to enhance visual communication and overall usability.

Types of Directional Cues

Many apps showcased on UILand use a subset of common directional cues, including:

• Arrows
  A universal symbol of direction, often used in sliders, carousels, and gallery navigation.

• Pointers
  Simpler than arrows but still effective at directing focus toward specific areas or elements.

• Eye line (gaze direction)
  People naturally look where another person is looking. Photos or illustrations where a character’s gaze points toward a CTA or key message can be very effective.

• Visual prompts
  Icons or illustrations that signal specific interactions. Examples include:

  • A mouse icon to suggest scrolling
  • A hand animation to prompt swiping
  • Gesture hints on mobile devices

Despite having different visual styles, all of these cues share the same goal: helping users understand what to do next without having to think too hard.

Conclusion

Directional cues might seem like small details, but they have a big impact on user experience. Used well, they:

• Respect users’ time and attention
• Make interactions feel natural and easy
• Increase clarity, confidence, and conversion

In short, directional cues communicate care for your users. They show that you’ve taken the time to guide them—step by step—toward successful outcomes in your app or on your website.