Optimal Website Design

Optimal Website Design
By Elizabeth McGee

Optimal website design offers your viewers a logical
flow while making your website interesting and easy
to understand. It will lead your viewers to the starting
point and then direct them through your site without
confusing them.

Here are some excellent tips that can help you develop
a user friendly site and please your visitors senses.
Give your site a chance.

1. Use lots of white space.
Don't feel that because you have a whole screen you need
to fill it up with stuff. Your page should follow a clean outline.
Include your site name at the very top. Below that, list the
subject of your page and below that, expand on your topic.
Leave adequate space between each section.

Don't cram a lot of pictures and ads on your site.
If you have an ad keep it off to the side or subtly intersperse
it between your text. The idea is not to overwhelm your
reader.

2. Don't use animation and flashing objects.
As advertisers we feel the need to get our viewers attention.
This is important but we need to do it gracefully. Flashing
objects and scrolling images distract your visitor and take
away from the content. If your product is better demonstrated
with animation or some other multi-media, allow your viewer to
select the option. Don't force it on them.

3. Every page of your site should contain an 'about' link.
The internet can be a rather cold and quiet environment. If
someone can come to your site and find out about who you are
and what you are about, they can feel a little better about
doing business with you or taking advice from you. Always
include your business address and phone number and email
address as well. This lets viewers know that you are serious
about your business and that you welcome contact.

4. Include a 'Privacy' Link
Viewers like the reassurance that you have a policy that
ollows privacy guidelines. They want to know that you will
not sell or give away their information. In these days of
rampant spam, your privacy policy needs to be prominently
displayed. Many viewers and business partners won't do
business with you unless you have it.

5. Always keep your links in blue.
Why does that matter you might say? It's an expectation that
viewers have along with the links being underlined. There's
certainly no law that says they need to be as such but people
spend a lot of time on the internet and it's good practice to
keep your navigation consistent and recognizable. If it's not
you may lose out on clicks.

6. Keep navigation consistent
What you do on your index page should be done the same
way on the rest of your site's pages. Keep the colors consistent.
Don't force your viewers to relearn each page of your site. Keep
your navigation bars and links the same for each page.

7. Understandable buttons and links.
Title your links appropriately. Don't use cute or misleading
names. For example, if you have a link to sports equipment
don't label the link 'Great Outdoors', call it 'Sports Equipment'.
If you have a link to 'cameras' don't label the link 'hotshots',
label it 'Cameras'. Your viewers don't want to waste time
figuring out what things are. Be clear with your labeling.

8. Focus on the 'YOU', not the 'ME'.
Make it obviously clear to your readers that you are there
for them. What can you do for your reader? What benefits
are there for your viewer? How can you make their life or
business more profitable? Request feedback on their success.
Find out what they want to know and offer it to them.

9. Make sure your page loads fast.
If viewers have to wait for a page to load they will click
elsewhere. Here's a site that will help you determine how
well your page loads. If a page doesn't load in 8 seconds
you lose 1/3 of your visitors. Here's a great free tool to
help you check your website's load time:
http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/tool.loading-time-checker.html

10. Use a site map.
A site map will give visitors a "guide" on viewing your site
and also eliminate confusion, especially with larger sites.
It's a road map for your visitors to follow while they are
on your site. Sitemaps will also increase rankings and
placement within the Search Engines.

About the Author:
Elizabeth McGee has spent 20 years in the service and support industry.She has moved her expertise to the world wide web helping businesses find trusted tools, enhance customer service, build confidence and increase sales.

You can visit Elizabeth at her websites at:
http://www.pro-marketing-online.com/http://www.homenotion.com/
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