Overhaul Your Site With These Web Design Tips
Regardless of how experienced you are in the web design field, there is always more for you to learn. There are many sources of information, but they can be hard to find. Fear not, the following article will satisfy your interest in learning. Below is a list of tips for any web designer that can help to create wonderful websites.
Be vigilant in policing your website for content that has become obsolete or outdated. You will lose the attention and credibility of your readers if the promotional offer on your page expired months ago. Users will spend time on websites that are well-maintained, and the presence of your outdated information will tell them that your site it not being properly cared for. Put removing outdated content on your to-do list, to do every 2-4 weeks.
Make it possible for users to cancel action if they want to do so. An action may refer to signing up for e-mail notifications, newsletter subscriptions or filling out web forms. If your visitors feel forced into completing something they no longer want, it may leave a bad taste. They will probably avoid visiting your site in the future.
Be considerate when it comes to your site background. Animated GIF backgrounds and complicated patterns on your website can be very distracting to viewers trying to absorb your content. In order to preserve your website’s focus, and make it easy for your visitors to comprehend, you should choose a background image that harmonizes well with your site instead of clashing with it.
It’s a good idea to set up your site so that it can retain a copy of user information that must be entered repeatedly. Saving data from one form to another, like username or email address, is imperative. Developing “sticky” data like this streamlines the user experience, and your visitors will likely appreciate the convenience.
Forget about pop-up advertisements. Few things are worse than being overloaded with pop-ups. They’ll be much more likely to leave your site out of annoyance if they are confronted with pop-ups. Therefore, you should keep annoying ads off your website, in order to avoid irritating your visitors. If the pop-ups are coming about because of your host, then now is the time to start shopping for a replacement.
Regularly distributing a newsletter can help to secure repeat visitors. By giving your visitors an opportunity to keep current on your site offerings, you increase their loyalty. Place the form for signup in a sidebar or at the top of the pages in your site, and track those who sign up. Make sure to only deliver the newsletter to people who have requested it!
With large websites, it’s always best to add in good search capabilities. It is best to put a search box in the top right corner right of your homepage. Make sure that anyone can search for any item that would be included in your site. FreeFind and Google both distribute a search function which you can use on your site.
Don’t include pop-up windows when designing your website. Although they may serve some function for your site, the average reader views them as a major irritant. Frequent pop-ups can cause your visitors to become disturbed enough to leave your site, hurting your reputation.
Always use fonts that look professional and are readable. Professional websites use professional fonts. Overly ornate or obscure fonts should be avoided, as they may not display properly on site visitors’ computers. Fonts on your website can be set to match the default font used by the computer of your visitors. Try to use common browser fonts so your users don’t see unexpected type layouts.
No matter how experienced you are in web design, it’s always important to build your site on the basics. You can easily learn the basics for free on the internet if you are motivated. The tips you’ve read here are sufficient to help you get started with designing great websites.
Slides from a talk I prepared for some conferences in late 2012-early 2013.
Video Rating: 5 / 5
