General Guidelines
So what makes a successful web site? Here I will outline some general rules to build a good website.
People often get so caught up with the design/look of the site they forget that how it's built determines how it is
found by users in the first place and how usable it is once they get there!
A web site is found many different ways; the most common is from a search engine or from another web site linking to it.
No one knows exactly how the search engines work and how they rank pages but through research I have been able to
determine successful routines and practices to elevate web sites higher in search results.
Some general rules to follow are listed here:
- Use text for navigation/menu links, you can always use an image background to keep a snazzy design
(E.g. see my tabbed menu above).
- Don't use Flash! See my article below on Flash.
- Make your content clear and concise, and put the important information as high up in your pages as possible so that people can find it quickly. Remember some users may be looking at the site in 800x600 resolution!
- Categorise your menu as best as possible, clarity is key. Make your site as easy to navigate as possible or the user will lose interest.
- Always think about your target user, what word will they type when searching for you? What information would they want and where?
- Don't go over the top with your design. Clarity and usability is what will make your site successful. For example white text on a black background really puts users off. Moving animations everywhere is a distraction. Have a really attractive design but don't confuse the user.
No Software Assistance - Just the code :-P
Unlike many web designers, I don't use Frontpage, Dreamweaver or many of the other web design programs. I deal directly
with code using a text editor designed for programmers/developers. Why? So you get exactly what you want and in the
most efficient way. Software to build websites 'assumes' what you want and adds unnecessary code slowing page loading
time, making search engines work harder to decipher your page, upping your bandwidth usage and often changing your
desired design.
Writing the code means NO compromise on design or functionality. It means I or other developers can quickly and
efficiently update or change pages in the future. It means good design!
Flash
Do I design in Flash? No, not if at all possible. Why? Where to start! There are a lot of reasons I don't design sites
in Flash, the main reason is it cannot be seen universally. Anyone with a newly installed browser won't have Flash.
Many people deliberately chose not to install the application when their browser asks. Large & small companies often
block the ability for their workers to install anything and therefore they won't be able to see flash.
The image to the right illustrates exactly what I mean. This was the homepage of a large businesses website when I visited it.
Click here or the image to see their full website!
So you want an animation or moving graphic? No problem, there are alternatives to Flash! I can create GIF image
animations such as those used in banners and adverts or I can use Javascript to animate images.
Simply contact me for more details.
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