web design

Rules of web design

 

Rule #1 : Keep it Simple!

That's right! The most common web design fault I see is where people have a complicates navigation system, or they overload the user with information.

The visitor should feel like thay can see where the next logical step for them is, look at Google. Back in the good old days when Yahoo was king the yahoo page was full of lovely additional thingybobs on screen - but! and there is a big but here - we were all on dial up! so really slow loading and all we REALLY wanted from them was to search.

 

The google page is still pretty much the same as it was - a text box and search button, fast to load, simple and obvious. I know which one I used! taking me neatly on to rule #2......

 

 

Rule #2 : Think about what people are there for

A web designer should also understand the point of each and every page on the website. If what most people are there for is to get a phone number (obvious for restaurants and such) make damn sure the phone number is prominent on the homepage - convert the visitor to a phone call and you have done your job! Make someone dig about on the website to see all your wonderful pages - you have failed! After all once they have found you they want to get done as quickly as possible.

 

Rule #3 : how will people find you?

Yup - how? Your design should not be too image heavy, there should be good text and key phrases in the site to improve your ranking in the search engines - that's how most people do it. If you don't show up there there is very little point.

Make sure that your design is Search Engine Friendly!

 

Rule #4 : content is king!

Whatever you do, make sure that the content on your site is relevant, informative and clear. Images are vital for online shops as a photo will sell something faster than a paragraph. Make your site simple and useful and people will keep coming back!