Carter Signed
WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN DESIGNING A WEBSITE
When you’re next surfing the net or searching for something, take a step back to really look at those websites that catch your attention – and those that you wouldn’t normally waste your time on. Try and establish what differentiates the good from the bad (and the ugly!) in terms of website design.
All too often, the issue isn’t with what the website contains but rather with the way the information is presented and packaged for users. Compare websites promoting identical products – some will be hits – others will be misses. And why do some fail and some succeed ? Generally because the failures make common website design mistakes.
Here are some of the top website design mistakes :
Bad intro
Users should know what the website is about immediately. That first impression is absolutely vital. Ditch the fancy intro and slow-loading pages – otherwise users will skip the whole website and move on.
Work on the KISS principle
Keep it simple stupid! It may be old, but it works – because simplicity is the key to understanding and the basis of good design. Yet many website designers still fall for the trap of quantity vs quality.
The menu planner
A drop down menu may look good, but it’s often the wrong choice. They’re not always easy to use and users are often mis-directed. Navigation options should be clear, concise and easy to see.
Contact is key
More often than not, customers want to locate a business via the website, so make your contact details visible and easy to find. On the subject of contact – don’t force users to enter their details or ‘register’ before accessing your website. This can cause resentment and users will move on quickly. Rather offer them something within your website that entices them to part with their details voluntarily.
Turn the sound down!
What’s with the music ?. If your website design has to have audio or video, the user should be given the option to stay silent.
When flash is not flash
Beware of moving icons, flashing text, animations… these can ‘cheapen’ a website and turn visitors away.
Lesson One – spelling and grammar
It’s so basic, yet there are so many mistakes. Many website designers go for the glory but overlook the basics. Mistakes are simply unprofessional – not a good look.
Good links make a strong chain
The idea is to have users visit as many pages of a website as possible Basic web design technique for links is to have them underlined, in a different colour from that of the basic text and highly visible – yet so many web site designers get it wrong. Links should also change colour if they have been clicked, so that users don’t waste time re-visiting pages.
Too many images spoil the design
Dale Carter, one of Perth’s best website design specialists warns that too many graphics turn people off.
Quality of output has suffered as a result of the massive growth of the internet as website designers rush to go ‘live’ without taking note of the very basics of web design – to the ultimate detriment of the viability of many of their websites.
Lynda Carter – Signing Autographs at Mike & Juliet
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This entry was posted on Monday, December 11th, 2006 at 10:59 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.