| You spent countless hours designing a website with | | | | white space to emphasize a few things. |
| fantastic colors, attractive images and beautiful layout | | | | Too much color, words or clutter may result in sensory |
| but it failed to click? Some of the reasons could be | | | | overload of the user. |
| lack of planning or inappropriate web design elements. | | | | Readability: No reader on the net will make an effort to |
| A well thought out site never fails to click. To avoid this | | | | read the text that is not comfortably readable, even if |
| kind of situation it is very important for a web designer | | | | your site is very useful and beautifully laid. So do not |
| to plan things in advance and foresee the impact of | | | | loose out on this front and follow some standard |
| the site. Ask a couple of questions: | | | | norms of font size and line length. |
| Who is the target audience? | | | | Font size and type: Optimal font size is 12-13 pts. Use |
| What is the purpose of the site? | | | | professional font types like Verdana, Arial, and |
| What all functionalities are to be included? | | | | Helvetica. These are system default fonts. Avoid using |
| If you have done your homework and have the | | | | fancy fonts like Comic Sans and the ones that are |
| capability to come up with a snazzy website design, | | | | externally added. |
| you will definitely make your first impression a lasting | | | | Always use darker text on light background. Light text |
| one. | | | | on darker background is hard to read and has a |
| Once things are planned, it is time for the web design | | | | blinding effect. |
| elements to be taken care such as: | | | | Graphics: Graphics are a powerful tool to |
| Layout: Simplicity is the key here. Keep the layout | | | | communicate. They can say a million words in lesser |
| simple and straightforward. This will help you to build a | | | | space as compared to the actual text. But use them |
| site that is user friendly and accessible. Place the | | | | judiciously because too many images increase the |
| things that are most important and functionally basic to | | | | load time. So make sure that you optimize your |
| the site's purpose at the forefront. Avoid clutter | | | | images before adding them to the website. Use a "gif |
| because it distracts the user. | | | | image" if it has smaller number of colors. "Jpeg" is |
| Navigation bars: Keep the navigation of your web site | | | | advisable if there is more of text to be incorporated |
| really simple. It is one of the determining factors to | | | | into an image. |
| ensure traffic to the site. If a first time user of your site | | | | Download time: More the loading time, lesser is the |
| finds the navigation easy in the first couple of minutes | | | | number of audience to your website. So try to keep |
| of his contact, he will definitely come back. | | | | the page size as small as possible. Always keep in |
| Place the navigation menus on top or left of the home | | | | mind, there are many broadband users but there still |
| page because almost all the sites on www follow this | | | | are people who use dial ups. So try to minimize the |
| pattern. This is where most of the users are used to | | | | size of your web pages but still maintaining the quality |
| look for menus. | | | | of the images. |
| Main menu should be placed on all the pages at the | | | | Testing: This can be a very crucial factor since almost |
| same place and try to keep the navigation same all | | | | all the users of your website will be having a different |
| through the pages. | | | | combination of software and hardware available on |
| Avoid scrolling horizontal. | | | | their system. So it's advisable to check your site on as |
| Always include a site map. | | | | many as varied computers. And also if there is any |
| Color: Site that is visually pleasing is a sure shot. So, | | | | malfunction or bug on your site, its better to know it |
| always use eye-pleasing colors. Don't let your personal | | | | yourself rather than people telling you (if someone is |
| choices take over the required color scheme that | | | | bothered at all). |
| goes with the taste and purpose of the site in question. | | | | Above mentioned points can enhance your website |
| White spaces also make great impact. Use a lot of | | | | presence as beautifully as possible. |