The 5 Simple rules in web design
11.05.2009
On the internet, whether you have an ecommerce website or a website offering a service, the website design represents your business or company online.
As we have heard it since long, when going to a job interview, we have 10 seconds to make a lasting first impression. The same applies when designing a website. The web designer with the website is making a first impression with the visitor who has searched for what your website is offering. The first impression can make the difference between in a paying customer or just a visitor to the website.
Here are 5 simple rules to keep in mind when designing your website.
Below are the 5 simple rules to be followed when designing a web site
Rule #1
As far as possible, limit the use of flashy banners and advert at the beginning of a website. Banners and advertisements should be used intelligently as this may distract the visitor. It is really annoying when clicking on a website and see cartoon characters and adverts for products visitors may not be interested with. The website visitor comes to your website for a purpose and if the advertisements or banners annoy them, they will hit the back button and go to another website. The only exception to this rule is determined by the purpose of you website.
Rule #2
Navigation is very important for a website. Make sure your in your web design, it is easy for the visitor to find the buttons to navigate. If the visitor finds it difficult to navigate your website or the links don't work, the visitor may get frustrated and leave you website. For the sake of simplicity, put your navigation buttons on the left side of your web design as the majority of people read from left to right.
Rule #3
When the visitors are browsing your website, make it clear for them where they are and how they can easily go to other pages. Don't confuse the visitors. Provide them with relevant links to easily move from one page to another else your visitorsmay just click off the website totally.
Rule #4
The web designer should pay close attention to loading time, the time it takes for the webpage to load. A good website loads quickly without having to wait a long time. This can be achieved by reducing graphics and other heavy stuffs on webpages.
Rule #5
Use fonts that can be easily read and common to all web browsers. You have to consider your target market when using the fonts. If you are targeting the old people to sell a product or service, you may have to increase the font size. Different web browsers display fonts differently. Thus , it's better to use a font that is compatible to the popular browsers.
These are a few rules of web design. There are many other factors to adhere when dsigning a website to better use.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.
