Hidden Secrets Of Web Design Made Simple!
In order to produce appealing websites that work properly, it important to have a solid understanding of standard web design principles. Fortunately, there are hundreds of valuable resources–this article included–that can contribute to your knowledge of basic design principles. Keep reading for a selection of web design tips and tricks.
Pay attention to the way the different colors you use on your website interact. Be sure that your written content is clearly visible and easy to read against the background you choose. Choose a dark color for your text, and use a lighter color for your backgrounds. Ask someone to look at your color schemes to make sure you are choosing something harmonious.
One critical part of great web design is ease of navigation. Links should be displayed where users will find them easily. Another way to provide easy navigation is to incorporate menus. Ensure your site users can easily find the way to the pages are the main ones by providing links to them on each subordinate page.
Always give viewers the option to cancel a current action. Types of such actions would include registering an email, filling out forms, or browsing your site for archives or topics. If you do not give site users the opportunity to cancel an action, they are not likely to return to your site. Over time, this could negatively impact your sales and site traffic.
Don’t rely on JavaScript too much. While it is useful in delivering a more interactive experience, it can create problems for various visitors. Web browsers have different capabilities, and they all have new versions that come out regularly. Everyone who visits your site will not always have an up to date browser. Also, some people browse with scripting turned off. If they aren’t using either or these options, then they will not be able to view your site.
Always implement powerful site-searching capabilities when designing a large website. In the upper right-hand corner of the homepage, include a search box that allows users to search for a single term that appears anywhere in your site. If you can’t code one yourself, Google and a few other websites offer free search functionality for websites with no programming required.
Free design software is a valuable tool for quickly setting up a website. Don’t be fooled into believing that pricey software is what you have to use; there are many free tools that can get your site up and running. You just have to search a little to locate the free tools that best suit you.
Avoid having pop-up windows on your website. Although you may think they are helpful, many people think they are annoying. A user who is constantly closing pop-up ads is more likely to look for information on a different site without endless nuisances.
Check links carefully before you include them on your site. Make sure the links all lead to valid web addresses. Do this from time to time, before uploading it to the server. This is important, as visitors who click on your links expecting useful information, only to find a 404 page, will leave your site in disgust. You can prevent this by frequently checking that all links still work.
Even if you invest large amounts of money in your website, it’s not a good idea to host a site yourself. Design as much as you can yourself, but letting someone else host it will free up some of your time, allowing you to work on other things.
Like we’ve said, designers who are just starting out need to learn the basics of design to make enticing sites that work properly. Figuring out the best place to start can be tough, given all the different resource options. This article has provided you with the basics that you need to understand web design.
