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The Dos and
Don'ts Of Business Web Design
Teacher: Viki
Nygaard
It would appear that many business
owners just aren't getting it when it comes to Web design.
It has been proven over and over again that Web surfers prefer
certain things when visiting sites. The list below is short,
sweet and to-the-point. It will help to guide you as you design,
or redesign, your site for maximum effectiveness.
Content -
- DON'T write copy that
is focused on your company. Place emphasis on how buying
your product or service will benefit your visitor. Use the
word YOU (referring to your visitor) instead of WE or US.
- DO be very clear on
the home page about what your site offers. Don't make them
guess.
- DO use good grammar
and check your spelling!
- DO break up the copy
into small, easy to read portions by using headings, subheadings
and lists to break up the copy.
- DO use an easy to ready
font such as Arial or Verdana.
- DON'T use all caps
as they are hard to read and associated with shouting. Also
use bold and italics in moderation.
Navigation System -
- DO provide text links
even if you use navigation buttons or image maps. Some people
have images turned off in their browser to speed loading
time and will have a difficult time navigating your Web site
without text links.
- DO be consistent in
your navigation. Your navigation links and buttons should
be in the same location on every page.
- DON'T allow broken
links on your site. Download a FREE program called Xenu that
will check all links and report errors. http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html
- DO open a new window
when linking to an external site. This will allow your visitors
to easily return to your site when they are finished visiting
the linked site.
- DO consider adding
a search engine to larger sites. Atomz offers a FREE search
engine and is considered to be one of the best on the market.
http://www.atomz.com
Design and Layout -
- DON'T design your
site yourself unless you can make it look professional. "Homemade" looking
sites simply don't sell.
- DO think twice about
using frames. Most search engines dislike sites with frames
and won't index them. Using frames also won't allow your
visitors to bookmark the inner pages as the URL remains constant
regardless of what page you are on.
- DO keep the layout
of each Web page consistent. Each page should have the same
basic layout elements.
- DO choose your colors
carefully. The colors of your Web site are important because
they will define the mood and emotions of your visitors as
well as reflect your identity and image branding.
- DON'T make your
site too "busy". Leave some "white space" as it helps
to guide the eye from one point to another and eases
eye strain.
Images -
- DON'T use clip art
as it looks cheap and tacky. Have your graphics custom and
professionally made whenever possible.
- DO use alt tags
with all your images and make them descriptive. Many
people with
visual impairments use a speech synthesizer which reads
aloud to them the contents of the Web page. If an image
doesn't
have an alt tag, the synthesizer will simply say, "image".
Alt tags are also important for those who have images
turned off in their browsers. The alt tag will show
in the area
where the image normally would be.
Feedback -
- DO provide forms throughout
your Web site that allow your visitors to give you feedback.
You can learn a lot from what your visitors have to say.
- DO provide an email
link or contact form on every page.
Testing -
- DO view and test your
Web site in as many different browsers and browser versions
as possible. Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator are
the two most commonly used browsers.
- DO choose a few people
who can give you honest feedback to test your Web site thoroughly
and give you insight on its useability.
Despite all the hype about java
scripts, Flash presentations and animation, the simple Web
sites are the ones visitors return to regularly. Surfers prefer
sites that are to the point and easy to navigate without them
having to download special software.
Keeping these few simple tips
in mind during your site design can mean the difference between
a highly visited site and one that is clicked over.
About the teacher:
Viki Nygaard is
President of Mount Evans Designs specializing in professional
Web design. For those businesses who insist on quality but must
maintain a budget, visit http://www.mountevansdesigns.com today.
You'll be thrilled with the exceptional designs and the affordable
rates!
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