Home
>
Web Design
>
12 Essential Web Site Design Tips

12 Essential Web Site Design Tips

1. What's the purpose?

The most fundamental thing to do before designing your web site is to define its purpose. Do you want to sell products directly to your customer through your web site, or collect contact details to develop future relationships? A lot of this will depend on the products or services you sell, those with a larger price tag will require more relationship building than those that would count as an "impulse" purchase. People also use web sites to research products as well as purchase them so a company selling fridges for example may not be able to sell them through their web site (people don't often buy fridges online!) but they may well be able to direct them to their nearest store where the item they are interested in is in stock.

Identify the purpose of your web site and make sure all the actions you ask the customer to take leads them to the final outcome you have identified.

2. Define the structure

Once you have decided the final outcome you want to achieve, whether it's a sale, an enquiry, etc. work out a logical progression through the process your customer would need to go through and structure your web site around it. Give the customer the information they will be looking for and help them find it easily and quickly. If you offer a large range of products, use a search facility, if your products carry a detailed specification, add a "click for spec" button which links to further information on an additional page, this way you will not slow those who are ready to buy, but offer the additional info required by those still undecided.

Above all, keep the structure and progression as simple and logical as possible.

3. Decide on an overall design layout.

Most web sites have navigation down the left hand of the page, the company logo graphic across the top and the content of the page below and to the right. Another common layout is to have both the logo and navigation menu along the top of the page and the page content across the page beneath it. As these are the most familiar layouts to users, it would be wise to stick with them as the last thing you want to do is make your web site confusing to your customers.

Avoid too many moving graphics, as they are distracting, avoid large logo-only entrance pages (click here to enter site?) as they only delay the user and avoid anything "cute" that may undermine your professional look.

4. Be careful with colours.

Use contrasting colours for your text, black or blue on a white background is ideal. Don't forget to check the colours of your text links both before and after they've been visited, you don't want them to disappear. Patterned backgrounds look dated and unprofessional and make your text harder to read, try to avoid them. If you have them, use your corporate colours in your logos, buttons, etc. and keep the overall colour scheme inoffensive, clean and simple.

5. Be consistent.

Put your links or buttons in a prominent place and keep them in the same place on every page. Make sure your colours, navigation, typeface and text size are consistent on every page. Make sure the user knows which page they are currently viewing and provide direct links to the contact and home page on every page of your web site.

6. Don't get creative with your typeface.

Make sure that your text is easy to read. It's very tempting to use an unusual typeface but your customers will appreciate text that's easy on the eye. They want to read your information and not be challenged in doing so. Also remember, when it comes to overall design layout, white space is beautiful. Break up your text into short paragraphs, bullet points, etc. For more detailed advice on designing a professional web site that will achieve high search engine listings and increase customer conversion rates, download our ebook "Start at the Beginning". Click here for an excerpt: http://www.enable-uk.co.uk/html/book_2.html

7. It's all in the content.

Once you've defined your purpose and planned your layout, design and navigation you should begin to create your content. Once you have decided what pages will be on your web site you will have a good idea of the kind of content that will be needed for each page. Write all the text that should go on each page, decide which graphics or photos to use and remember to space the information out on the page.

This is a critical step. Once you have established credibility with a professional looking design and layout, it's the content that will either convince your customers to buy, or have them clicking away to your competition. If you are not a professional copywriter, get some help. Either pay a professional to do it for you or for invaluable advice, read our guide "Writing Text That Sells".

Click here for an excerpt from the book:

http://www.enable-uk.co.uk/html/book_3.html

8. Make it brief

It has been proved time and again that Internet users have a short attention span. They find long pages and acres of text off-putting. Give all the information that's required but keep it concise, break it up with graphics and try to make your pages as short in length as possible. Don't make your viewers scroll down more than an extra page height and give your visitors manageable chunks of text that keep them interacting with your site. If your page is longer than this, consider splitting the information over two or more pages.

9. Check your facts, spelling and grammar

Few things are more likely to cost you customers than incorrect information or poorly written or misspelled text on your business website. It will destroy your credibility. Read through all your text carefully and double check all the facts, get someone else to proof read it and run the text through a spell checker after checking your language settings (English ? US or UK for example). Then do it all again, twice!

10. Check your web sites download speed

We've already mentioned that Internet users have a short attention span. Once your web site is ready with text and graphics on all the pages, check that it loads quickly at various connection speeds and remember that not everyone has a fast connection. Where possible reuse buttons and graphics, as they will load quickly when they have been viewed once.

11. Check browser compatibility

Check how the site looks on different browsers and at different screen resolutions. People use different browser settings to alter text sizes and have additional toolbars filling up their browser windows. Nothing is more frustrating than a site that you can't read because it is a fixed size and disappears off your screen. Have a look at your web site using http://www.anybrowser.com.

12. Check customer compatibility!

Finally, do a dummy run. Get a typical customer to road test your web site. If possible, ask them to buy a product and let them go through the whole process from start to finish. Did they manage to find what they wanted in three or fewer clicks? Did they find it easy to complete the purchase? How long did it take? Did they become confused or distracted at any point?

More detailed advice and tips on how to construct a web site, or optimise an existing one, for both customer use and search engine listings, can be found in our ebook "Start at the Beginning". It's the first essential step before undertaking any marketing or advertising campaign. More information and an excerpt can be found here: http://www.enable-uk.co.uk/html/book_2.html

For a complete guide to marketing on the Internet, including:

? The General Principles of Internet Marketing

? Start at the Beginning

? Writing Text that Sells

? Building Online Relationships

? Maximising Your Pay Per Click Campaign

? Measuring Success

Why not purchase the whole series for the discounted price of ?64.95. Click here for more information: http://www.enable-uk.co.uk/html/book_2.html Justine Curtis Enable UK Internet Marketing Information and Resources Make your web site work harder! Web: http://www.enable-uk.co.uk/html/book_2.html Email: http://www.enable-uk.co.uk/html/book_2.html Article from Internet Marketing Tips Newsletter, a monthly publication of Enable-UK Copyright ? 2004 Enable-UK.

move in cleaning service Glencoe ..

In The News:

New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.

Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.

The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Fake Geek Squad invoice emails are targeting users with convincing charges and urgent phone numbers to steal personal information and money.

Fox News Digital's artificial intelligence newsletter digs into a robot in Russia that faceplanted, George Clooney's alarm and OpenAI's rivalry with the New York Times.

Major data breach at Conduent exposes personal information of 10+ million people. Government contractor hit by cyberattack affecting Medicaid, child support systems.

Texas startup Janta Power raises $5.5M for innovative vertical solar towers that generate 50% more energy than traditional panels while using just one-third the land.

NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched aboard Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, beginning their journey to Mars with arrival expected in 2027.

Learn how to set email reminders on iPhone and Android so you never forget to reply again. Simple built-in features help you stay organized and on top of messages.

Discover how Apple's passkeys revolutionize Mac security by replacing vulnerable passwords with biometric authentication and encryption for ultimate protection.

New survey reveals 78% of parents fear AI scams targeting their kids, yet nearly half haven't discussed these threats. Learn why this dangerous gap exists.

Chrome now autofills passport and driver's license info automatically. Google's latest browser update adds official document support with encryption and user control.

Scammers impersonate Department of Veterans Affairs employees claiming veterans owe money, but real VA communications only direct to VA.gov or official channels.

The AltoVolo Sigma hybrid-electric aircraft flies 500 miles at 220 mph while operating 80% quieter than helicopters, featuring safety systems and compact design.

Google search scam alert: fake customer service numbers can give scammers remote control of your phone. Learn how to spot these traps and protect yourself.

Electric vehicles overtake gas cars in total CO2 savings after just two years of driving, with emissions benefits growing over time as power grids get cleaner.

Louvre Museum reportedly used "Louvre" as password for surveillance system during $100M jewel heist. Learn how weak passwords put even famous institutions at risk.

Bipartisan AI jobs bill from Sens. Hawley and Warner would require companies to report AI-related layoffs and hiring to Department of Labor quarterly.

Joe A. from Shelton, Connecticut, lost $228,000 to a ZAP Solutions cryptocurrency investment scam after his divorce, highlighting rising online fraud.

AI-powered autonomous trucks from Waabi and Volvo target U.S. freight driver shortage with Level 4 self-driving technology and NVIDIA computing platform integration.

Survive flight disruptions with expert travel tips: Book early morning flights, download airline apps and know your refund rights during service cuts.

Apple's iOS 26.1 update delivers major security fixes, performance boosts and enhanced privacy controls for your iPhone. Discover why updating now protects your data.

Russian hackers use fake CAPTCHA tests to spread dangerous malware targeting governments and journalists. Learn how to protect yourself from these deceptive attacks.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Miami-Dade debuts America's first autonomous police SUV with AI cameras, drone deployment and real-time crime detection in groundbreaking law enforcement pilot.

12 Essential Web Site Design Tips

Web Design