Design Features To Be Aware Of

It is only too obvious that many people set up their web site without bothering to think about design. Good sites only happen when capable design meets memorable content.

Planning & Research
Think about how you want to present your business to the world. Next we will need an idea of what you would like to see on your web pages. Grab a sheet of paper and rough out your ideas. When you are surfing the web jot down what aspects of a web site stand out to you? Good or bad. Make a note of these things to be incorporated into your web site or to make sure that they are left out of it. If they like your site, that's great; maybe they'll bookmark it. Then again, maybe they won't.

Layout
Deciding how you will put your page together is purely up to your discretion. However, there are tips and tricks that work effectively and can make viewing your site a pleasant experience.

1. Avoid frames: Although there are templates which use frames and can make your layout look good they are still best avoided. They are not search engine friendly and you are likely to get a low ranking if you use them. They can also be a nuisance to control - especially with external links. Alternative methods on the constructing page.
2. Avoid scrolling: Unless your site is rich in text content (like this one) avoid making the user scroll - This can also be a burden to your users. About two-screens worth (A4 page) is acceptable.
3. Use the <strong> tag or bold keywords in paragraphs of text. This makes it easier for someone to 'skim read' your site. Their eye is naturally pulled to the 'bold' words so they can get the jist of the text right away.
4. Line Break between paragraphs: As well as keeping your writing short, descriptive and to the point - keep it well spaced. A line break every so often will keep everyone happy.
5. Navigation: Create a column (or row) for you navigation interface. You may want to have a sub navigation section on the right (like ours) to navigate within a subject. Visit the navigation page.
6. Consistency: Once you decide on a layout that will work for you and your users then stick to it. Keep it the same on all your pages. Make sure your navigation remains in the same order, in the same column (or row), in the same place.

Navigation
Navigating your site should be - yet again - simple!! Split your site up into sub headings and list them in a column or row. If your site contains a lot of content that takes much time to navigate then consider adding a search to it. This will enable your users to quickly get to the content they require. Your site should also include a site map which is like a table of contents. It shows all the different parts of the site under the navigational headings. If you want people to come back to your site you must make the navigation of the site easy and it must make sense.

Flow
The way in which users move through your web site is what we call the 'flow'. This is especially important in e-commerce sites. Your aim is to make any user of your site follow a path but come to no dead ends. Here are some tips to make your site flow:

1. Check those links - Nothing is more annoying than dead links so make sure they are all working well. Try a checker such as cyberspyder
2. Always give them the option - place strategic links around your site so users always have a place to go.
3. Advertise your content - A big mistake some sites make is to place ads all over their home page. The whole point is to get the user interested in what you have to offer.
4. Attention spans - If you want to sell something then make sure they can get it quickly. The less clicks needed to finalise a sale - the better. The customer could change their mind if given the chance!!
5. Reassurance: A large number of internet users are uneasy about given their credit details online. Make sure you reassure them as much as possible. Especially on the credit detail pages.
6. Make sure your pages are fast: Your users want to see what you've got and quickly!! Remember some users are still connected with 28.8 k modems!! It doesn't make their money any different!!!
7. Navigation: Main pages should be accessible from every page. See our left-hand navigation column.

Web accessibility
Good Web design is accessible Web design. Despite popular belief, the two do not have to be at opposite ends of an aesthetics spectrum. Accessible sites can appeal to all users. All design faces constraints. For Web design, the ability to access a page's content is a fundamental limitation. The basic design of a site can enhance the user experience for disabled users or make the site inherently inaccessible to them.

Dos & Don'ts
The Do's

One may not be enough.
Sometimes, it isn’t a bad idea to register several similar domain names. If you have "yourname.com", register "yourname.net" so no one else takes it. You can register your full company and a shorter, easier-to-remember version. Some people even register common misspellings of their company’s name.

Do make it Simple: A famous designer once said 'It's the space around an object that makes it attractive' - keep your web site from being cluttered and make it easy for the user to see what's going on.

Do Update: Your site looks wonderful! Except a user is no longer interested in news article dated back in 1997!! You must update your site at least once a month - especially if you get a lot of visitors. If you don't plan to update it for a while then plan a date and put it on your site.

Do provide a search or site map: These are only really necessary on content-rich site.

Do use a simple font: Specify a simple font such as Verdana or arial. These fonts are available on platforms other than the PC.

Do have a mailing list: Having the option to include a mailing list is great for capturing semi-interested people. They put their e-mail address in and it is recorded on a list. You can then send newsletters and interesting articles that can bring them back to your site.

Don'ts

Don't use obtrusive advertising: Pop-up ads and banners the size of Canada don't really do any wonders for your site. You want your users to be interested in your content. Pop-ups are also extremely annoying especially when they're triggered by closing a window. People will never return.

Don't use under construction: The truth is every web site is always under construction. There is no need to display that nice man on a yellow sign repeatedly digging.

Don't use frames: Okay so you want your web site like this. The same thing can be done with tables which will also make your web pages look better. Frames aren't very good for search engines and they make navigation difficult.

Don't use complex backgrounds: While one large background image is a definite no - tiles can be accepted provided they tile with a seamless pattern and they don't make the text hard to read. For e.g. use grey's or creams with black text. You'll find that plain colored or non-colored backgrounds work most effectively.