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Keep
It Simple: Website Design Tips
by Michelle Roy; Staff writer -
January 2001
Web
Pages are highly subjective; everybody has a different idea
of what they find enjoyable. Each person has his or her own
idea about colors, graphics and layout. But these are superficial
compared to what really makes a Web Page good.
The
first rule of thumb is KISS (keep it simple, stupid). A well
designed Web Page will have minimal graphics. Graphics slow
down loading time. Put yourself in the shoes of your customer.
How long would you wait for a page to open? Animation and
funky graphics are great tools to use, but you have to use
them wisely. If you have graphics that are necessary to the
survival of your site, you should consider programing your
page so that the text loads first. This way, your customers
can read the content while they wait for the pictures.
Web pages should be well designed, with not only your customers
in mind, but also their computers. Is your target audience
affluent business men, or the average family person? How old
would you expect his computer to be. Design your pages so
that the oldest computer will be able to view your page just
as quickly, and with the same colors, as the newest. Keep
in mind that many computers show color differently, and many
Internet connections are slow. Always remember to keep in
mind what you want your customer (and their computer) to experience.
Your
Web Page should also be properly META tagged and submitted
to search engines. Many search engines will ignore your site
if you mis-tag your site, or try and cheat in your tagging.
Lastly, your Web Page should provide valuable content for
your visitors. Always remember it is the content they probably
came for. Make sure that you have an editor look over your
Web Site before it is published online. A spelling or grammar
mistake may hurt your credibility. Don't rely on your word
processor's spell and grammar check. They are never as good
as a trained eye.
In
order to keep your visitors, you need a good Web Page, keep
it simple. A good web page should load fast, provide the visitor
with good content, be aesthetically pleasing, and most importantly,
serve a purpose.
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