Web Design: How To Design An Attractive And Useful Site
Always remember the principles of proper web design. Your goal is not just to be pleasing to the eye, but also to present your content and navigation in a clear and uncluttered manner. Far too often, novice web creators overload their pages with "bells and whistles", which merely serve to detract from the purpose of the page. Remember, people are there to learn something, or to buy something, and they typically want to reach that goal as quickly as possible.
There is a never ending debate over web design and content. Some people maintain that the websites content is the most important, while others believe that the design is more important. There is no right answer to this, because they are both necessary for a successful website.
If the web design is not good then your visitors will not even look at your content, and if the content is lacking then your visitors will never come back. A good website design is what forces the visitor to read what you have to say and forms the first impression of your site.
It is very important that you put in time to plan the website design tactic before starting work on it. The website design should be decided keeping in mind the field the site is related to and the target viewers.
A website aimed at business executives for instance needs to look clean and simple in its design, and needs to be presented professionally. But if you're making a site for children, the design needs to have vibrant graphics and maybe even sound and animation.
You must take into account the importance of design and browser settings when you are building your site. A website that uses horizontal scrolling is difficult to view and will be avoided by most users, limiting your traffic. Browser compatibility across different browsers is also important and should be addressed in the planning stages. Another important aspect is consistent design throughout all pages in your site.
Carefully incorporate colors and pictures or drawings in the design of your website. Background colors and color palettes can have a subtle effect on the attractiveness and utility of your web site. For example, using a neutral or white background lends a somewhat more professional appeal for business websites and allows for experimentation with various multi-hued designs. SEO and search engine submissions considerations are also paramount.
A superior web design is always user friendly, easily comprehensible, eminently readable, and appealing to the eye. That doesn't mean that it is necessary to insert all sorts of graphics and animation. For example, a site designed for business executives must have a professional look - a minimal, attractive design that is uncluttered. What is crucial for you is that your web site does not draw the reader's attention from the text which is your most important means of getting your message across. Search engines play an important role in design, specifically search engine marketing and search engine submissions.
Published May 10th, 2008
Filed in Ecommerce