I have noticed lately that there are a lot more of the really busy looking websites popping up. Meaning either there is just way too much information posted on a page or even having a background and graphics that draw away from the content. These are things people really need to watch when creating and updating their sites.

I would be interested to see what you consider 'busy' website. Would you be so kind as to post links so myself and others my view Thanks!

Would you consider the Orlando Sentinel too busy or necessary for a major metropolitan online newspaper?

I see you're point but at the same time it's important to note that you need to draw the user's attention right away and by having a bunch of images and article snippets on the homepage, there's a good chance that something will interest them and serve as an incentive to stay on the site instead of visiting another. However, if your audience consists of those on dialup or an older generation, then it might not be wise to use this approach as they might be overwhelmed by this much content all at once. With that said, I think it's alright to have a handful of content with media at once as long as it's well organized and not excessive otherwise it might do more harm than good.

You definitely don't want a background that makes it difficult to view the print on the page, but sometimes it is necessary to have a lot going on on the page. I think it really depends on the purpose of the page as to what is considered too busy. You don't want to bore your viewers either.

I have been seeing the same. A newspaper site and a corpoate or sales related website are very different. Users expect very different things and define busy differently.

When I hit a newspapers site, I expect tons of headlines and articles. That is why I went there is to get the most information on what is happening in as short of a time.

When I am looking to buy something or visiting a corporate website. I do not want 16 products highlighted on the front page.

Not necessarily for a newspaper but that is much different than that of a sales site or similar. The site is full of imagery which is expected of a news related site, however if it were full or bright colors and ridiculous things not related to the site, that would make it busy.

Pop up is the way to attract attention of the visitor although that could be considered annoying

If, due to the sort of site you're running, you need to have a lot of content on one or all of the pages, divide it up so it doesn't hit the user all at once. Make use of sidebars and subtle background/font color coordination for links/comments that aren't meant to be the main attraction.

Very good advice. Content is important, but dividing it into digestable segments makes a lot of sense. Massaging your site with the correct blend of background/font color coordination for links/comments can help lead your prospect to focus.

Agreed! That is great advice and very pleasing to the visitor. That is how I prefer sites. Crazy sites make me want to especially those with outrageous content which makes my computer go wacko. Great advice I wish everyone would follow those tips when setting up a site!

Wow, the link for that Orlando newspaper, I would certainly say that site looks busy.

You can provide lots of information to a user but do it in a structured manner that still makes your site look clean.

Just think of any of the major news outlets, especially CNN, they have a what I would consider a clean design, but they still grab your attention.

Any time you have to scroll that far down, and can see literally 20-30 or 40 articles (not just headlines) then I think it is way busy.