|
|
|
Four Critical Web Design Rules
hen creating a new writing structure. Additionally,
website or redesigning an avoid long paragraphs that run
existing site, there are on. You should break up any long
four critical rules which the paragraphs.
designer should follow to make
the site effective and functional Color and Fonts
- and successful.
To help readability, use high
1. Easy to Read contrast colors between font and
background. Black text against a
When building a website, the white background may seem stark,
first thing you need to be sure but it is very readable. To make
of is that your website is easy a website easy on the eyes, try
to read. When you write content, an off-white background and a
remember that most web site dark gray (almost black) text
visitors don't read every word of color.
a page - in fact, they only scan
pages to find what they want. Things to avoid with content
color:
Break up Your Content
* Avoid vibrant background colors
Break up your pages and use like purple or yellow. Such back
headers between major ideas so colors make text difficult to
people scanning your site can read.
find what they want quickly. Use * Avoid using an image behind
meaningful headers between each your text.
paragraph or major idea - this * Avoid using bright text colors
helps with SEO. Headers should on bright backgrounds.
be created with the H1 through H4
tags for SEO. Always use good Fonts Matter
site using the latest and last
One simple statement covers the browser versions of IE (IE6 and
font issue: IE7). To run multiple versions
of IE on the same machine,
Simple fonts are the best; the TredoSoft has a free installer
more fancy the font, the harder that will install multiple
it is to read. versions of IE. It works great!
Since many browsers only have the 2. Simplify Navigation
standard font set, use standard
fonts. In reality, there is no The menus and links make up the
"standard", but there are certain navigation that the visitor uses
fonts that are installed on most to get from page to page in a
browsers. These include Arial, site. Always plan a site around
Verdana, Tahoma and Times New how people will get from page to
Roman. Your readers will see page. A visitor to your site
something different than you see should be able to get to what
if you use other fonts. they want within three clicks of
their mouse.
Standard Compliant Browser for
Development Multiple navigation points makes
it easy to find things. Repeat
When developing and testing your the top menu and at the bottom.
site, use a Standards compliant Also create a left or right menu.
browser like FireFox. If you
develop your site to be standards Using links within your text to
compliant, it will work in most other areas on your site. You
browsers, including MS Internet can create links so that they are
Explorer (IE). It is good for search engine
recommended that you test your optimization (SEO). There are
generally two ways to create
links within your text: At most, one or two layouts
should be used in your site
* The wrong way: "For search design. As a reader browses your
engine optimization techniques, site, they should be able to get
click here." used to looking in the same place
* The right way: "Good techniques for your navigation, for your
for search engine sub-navigation and for your
optimization are important to content. That's all there is to
use." say about that.
Using link text (anchor text) 4. Lower Page Weight is
that describes what the link is Better
about is the best way. Search
engine web crawlers (programs Page weight is the total size of
that automatically index the a page on your site in bytes -
contents of websites) visit your code, text and images. Your
site, they "read" links. Spiders site's page weight makes a big
can index descriptive links into difference to your viewers.
a subject or keyword category. Lighter page weight is better for
Spiders have nothing to work with your readers because the page
when reading a "click here" until will download faster. The faster
it reaches the linked page. a page downloads, the faster they
will get to the content.
This is Cross Linking - use it as
much as possible when it makes What is Means to be Light
sense to do so when writing your
content. * No large images. (unless the
site's purpose is to showcase
3. Consistent Design images, art or photos)
* Fewer images are better. host server as you build your
* Optimize images for the web at site so you can test it as you
no more than 72 dpi go. For pages online, you can
* Use as small an image dimension test the page weight to be sure
as possible for the given design. you are on track.
* Use a table td bgcolor Ways to make pages lighter:
attribute or a background-color
style attribute for solid color
backgrounds. * Use linked style sheets
* Make gradients horizontal or * Use DIVs instead of TABLEs
vertical (not diagonal) so that where possible
you can use a small image "strip" * Use simple repeating
and repeat it. backgrounds for effect
How "Heavy" Should a Web Page Summary
be?
Visitors to your website should
Certain studies show that 64K is be able to find what they are
a good maximum webpage size. 64K looking for within about three
is a maximum, however it is clicks. Making a site easy to
still, in my opinion, really big! read with consistent page design,
The smaller the page, the and easy to navigate will make it
better. 25K is good, 15K is even easy to find information. You
better. There is a balance will be on the way to building a
between design and function. It readable, effective, functional
is a good idea to focus more on and hopefully successful website
function. if you follow these rules.
Try putting pages on your web
About the Author:
Nicholas LaPolla has been a web applications developer for 11 years. He created www.AcmeWebResources.com to help others build their websites with a focus on web design, website seo / internet marketing, and working to make money online.
Read more articles by: Nicholas LaPolla
Article Source: www.iSnare.com |
|
