The idea to good website design is to offer your viewer a logical flow while making it interesting and easy to
understand. Lead your viewers to the starting point and then direct them through your site without confusing them.
Here are some excellent tips that can help you develop a user friendly site and please your visitors senses. Give
yourself a chance before they get away.
1. Use Lots of White Space.
Don't feel that because you have a whole screen that you need to fill it up with stuff. Your page should follow a
clean outline. Include your site name at the very top. Below that list the subject of your page and below that expand
on your topic. Leave adequate space between each section. Don't cram a lot of pictures and ads. If you have an ad,
keep it off to the side or subtly intersperse it between your text. The idea is not to overwhelm your reader.
2. Don't Use Animation and Flashing Objects.
As advertisers we feel the need to get our viewers attention. This is important but we need to do it gracefully.
Flashing objects and scrolling images distract your visitor and take away from the content. If your product is better
demonstrated with animation or some other multi-media, allow your viewer to select the option. Don't force it on
them.
3. Every Page of Your Site Should Contain an 'About' Link.
The internet can be a rather cold and quiet environment. If someone can come to your site and find out about who
you are and what you are about, they can feel a little better about doing business with you or taking advice from
you. Always include your business address and phone number and email address as well. This lets viewers know that
you are serious about your business and that you welcome contact.
4. Include a 'Privacy' Link.
Viewers like the reassurance that you have a policy that follows privacy guidelines. They want to know that you
will not sell or give away their information. In these days of rampant spam, your privacy policy needs to be
prominently displayed. Many viewers and business partners won't do business with you unless you have it.
5. Always Keep Your Links in Blue.
Why does that matter you might say? It's an expectation that viewers have along with the links being underlined.
There's certainly no law that says they need to be as such but people spend a lot of time on the internet and it's
good practice to keep your navigation consistent and recognizable. If it's not you may lose out on clicks.
6. Keep Navigation Consistent.
Keep your site's navigation consistent. What you do on your index page should be done the same way on the rest of
your site's pages. Keep the colors consistent as well. Don't force your viewers to relearn each page of your site.
Keep your navigation bars and links the same for each page.
7. Understandable Buttons and Links.
Title your links appropriately. Don't use cute or misleading names. For example, if you have a link to sports
equipment don't label the link 'Great Outdoors', call it 'sports equipment'. If you have a link to
'cameras' don't label the link 'hotshots', label it 'cameras'. Your viewers don't want to waste time
figuring out what things are. Be clear with your labeling.
8. Focus on the 'You', not the 'Me'.
Make it obviously clear to your readers that you are there for them. What can you do for your reader? What benefits
are there for your viewer? How can you make their life or business better or more profitable? Request feedback on
their success. Find out what they want to know or how you can offer them what they need.
9. Make Sure Your Page Loads Fast.
If viewers have to wait for a page to load they will click elsewhere. If a page doesn't load in 8 seconds you
lose 1/3 of your visitors. Here's a great free tool to help you check your website's load time:
http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/tool.loading-time-checker.htm
10. Use a Site Map.
A site map will give visitors a "guide" on viewing your site and also eliminate confusion, especially with larger
sites. It's a road map for your visitors to follow while they are on your site. Sitemaps will also increase rankings
and placement within the Search Engines.
About The Author
Elizabeth McGee has spent 20 years in the service and support industry. She has moved her expertise to the world
wide web to help businesses find trusted tools, enhance customer service, build confidence and increase sales. You
can contact Elizabeth at mail@pro-marketing-online.com or visit
her website at Pro-Marketing-Online.com.
Copyright (c) 2004 Adlite Enterprises
http://www.pro-marketing-online.com All Rights Reserved.
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