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5 Simple Rules To Website Design
When designing a website you sometimes
only have one chance to keep the internet visitor from clicking the back button
on their web browser. Whether you are selling a product or offering a service,
remember your website design represents your business.
For years, we have been told that when
going to an interview you have 10 seconds to make a lasting first impression.
There is no difference when designing your website than making the first
impression in an interview. You are making a first impression with the internet
visitor who has searched for what you are offering in your website design. The
first impression can make the difference between in a paying customer or just a
visitor to your website.
Here are just 5 simple rules to keep in
mind when designing your website.
Rule #1. Limit the use or do not use
flashy banners and advertisements at the beginning of you website. There is a
time and place for the banners and advertisements.
There is nothing more annoying than
clicking on a website to see cartoon characters and advertisements for other
products flashing in front of your face. This can be too much for your potential
customer. Your customer is there for a purpose and if the blatant advertisements
or flashing banners turn them off they may just hit the back button before they
find what they are looking for.
The only exception to this rule is
determined by the purpose of you website.
Rule #2. Make sure your website design
make it easy for the visitor to find the navigation buttons. If a customer has
to search for a navigation button to find information about the company or the
navigation buttons are not working, the visitor may get frustrated and leave you
website.
As a rule of thumb, your navigation
buttons should be on the left side of your web page because the majority of
people read from left to right. Think about reading a newspaper or a book. You
look at the headlines then you read from the left to the right.
Rule #3. When visitors are browsing your
site, have a clear indication for the visitor of where they are on your website
and how to get to other parts.
You may want to put a link on each page
that the visitor clicks to take them to the home page or another page relating
to the information currently viewing. In other words do not confuse your visitor
or your visitor may just click off the website totally.
Rule #4. When designing your website pay
close attention to loading time, the time it takes your web pages to load. You
can reduce loading time by reducing graphics on each page. A good website design
should load under twenty seconds.
The longer it takes the pages to load
the more frustrating it can be to the visitor. People want it yesterday not
today and definitely not tomorrow.
Rule #5. Use a font that is common to
all web browsers and easy to read. You have to think of your market. If you are
selling a product or service that is used by older individuals you may want to
increase the font.
Most of us are not going to get younger
and with age, we find our eye sights are not what they use to be.
In addition, different web browsers
display fonts differently. Therefore, you want to use a universal font
compatible to the popular web browser for better viewing.
Bonus Rule #6. Make sure the information
on your website is up to date, and relevant to what you are offering. If your
website is selling 32", LCD Flat Screen TVs you should not be offering products
to repair your driveway. I know that is extreme but people want to know they are
visiting a website that has up to date information and is relevant to what they
are searching for.
These are just a few rules of website
design. There are many other things to adhere to when designing your website for
optima visitors. When designing your website look at it from the customers' or
visitors' standpoint. Would you want to visit this website? Would you want to
purchase a product from this website? If you answer "no" then correct the
problems.
If you deal with customer
service, you need to do as they do. Get out from behind the counter and see what
the customers see from where they stand. If you go "ugh", that is not good and
you need to make some changes.
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