Web design is a competitive field, and you always need to be at your best. Learn more about what is important, including the right frame of mind. This article will also offer some great tips that will enhance your knowledge in a manner that is simple to understand and implement into your design work.
You will need to pass the NoScript test. Download this extension in Firefox and see how your site looks. Some content, like ordering systems, will not work properly without scripts, but when your site is completely blank when scripts are turned off, then that’s not a good sign.
Frames are a holdover from 90’s design elements. Frames worked well in the earlier days, but there are too many flaws in the design. Frames make it hard for visitors to bookmark and scroll through the page. Use other ways to make your site easier to navigate instead.
On the Internet today, speed is where it’s at. So you must make sure everything on your site loads fast. A visitor who has to wait for pages to load is likely to seek information and help elsewhere. If your site has a reputation for loading slowly, it will be difficult to attract repeat visitors.
Check for broken links before publishing your web page. Nothing is more frustrating to a visitor than clicking on a link and being taken to an error page. You can also check the links yourself or use a program to look.
Let visitors cancel actions if they want to. This includes anything from filling out a simple set of questions, up to registering for a product or service. If you do not give visitors the option to get out of an action they do not want to continue with, you are pressuring them into something. This makes them less likely to come back or buy from you in the future.
Make it easy for visitors to your website to scan your content. Most visitors won’t actually read everything you write and will skim for what they want. Use sub-headers to break text into sections your readers will appreciate. Also, make sure to keep the most important information at the top. All of this ensures a more satisfying experience for your visitors because they can quickly find what they need.
Keep personal information handy in the event that it must be re-entered by a repeat visitor of your website. Saving data from one form to another, like username or email address, is imperative. Creating information that is “sticky” simplifies the entire process, and visitors are certain to appreciate all the time that they have saved.
Try researching keywords. Although content is important, you must develop a customer base using keywords. Knowing the right keywords to make people find you through the search engines is key.
If your site is larger than a few pages, it should be searchable. The upper right of the main page should have a search box for users to search your whole site. FreeFind and Google both have these capabilities for a website.
Avoid using too may font types. Consider how the ones you choose appear on standard screens since serifs like Times New Roman can be tough to read. The most widely-used font is Verdana since it’s appealing to almost everyone.
Search Engines
Leave out the frames if you want the website you create to be optimized for the major search engines. This information will not be visible on the search engines. The search engine will give your website a lower ranking if it can’t see the great content you are providing. When you don’t have a high ranking, then your visitor count will be lower.
If you have a number of website ideas in mind, it is wise to purchase a domain name right away. The reason this is a problem is that you need to be creative and the names should match your sites but others may have the same name chosen so lock them up right away. Even if your idea is very original, someone else could think up the same thing. The connection among people is amazing.
There are many reasons web design is important. Hopefully, these tips helped you understand what to focus on in your own design.