Tips on designing your website

Here are some suggestions to consider when designing your site.

  • Your website is an advertisement for your company and should be uncrowded, presentable and informative. Your message should be simple and straight to the point.
  • Avoid having a long drawn out "Flash" presentation on your home page. If you must use one then give your audience the option of bypassing it. People need to see an engaging website to keep them interested. If your audience has to wait ages for your flash movie to load and play they will vote with their feet and move on to the next site. Keep your site fast loading.
  • Have the same design throughout your site, you dont want your audience thinking that they have somehow ended up on another site.
  • Good Navigation is essential. All links should be in plain view, unbroken and relevant.
  • No "Site Under Construction" signs. It is very frustrating for a visitor to find your site only to be greeted with a page stating it is still "under construction". Rather just have one page with your mission statement and a way your potential customers to contact you via phone/fax/email or your physical address.
  • Avoid gimmicks Background music, animated images and garish backgrounds are a no-no unless they are an integral part of your business. They are not only annoying to most but also take time loading. My own experience tells me that if a site does not load up fairly quickly I soon leave that site for one that gives me what I am looking for.

 

If you had to ask internet users what single thing they look for in a site they'd probably vote for a fast loading AND relevant site that informs the viewer instantly what that site is all about. This is worth bearing in mind right from the outset when you decide to build your site.

Good Luck!