Web design has become a hot topic recently

Everywhere you look, there’s advice on what works and what doesn’t work in web design (including coding for SEO). While the intent of websites is to convey information, the design of your site weighs heavily whether anyone will actually find and read your content. If you’re running ecommerce, design becomes critical.

Users spend most of their time on OTHER websites

Their experiences on other websites form their expectations for YOUR website. Take some time to research what others in your industry are posting. Your competitor may market inferior products and services, but still outsell you online. Why? The perceived value of their products and services may be enhanced because of the way they’re presented online.

What turns users OFF?

Excessive use of flash
Poor navigation
Unreadable font and background color combinations
Long page load times
Clutter
Irrelevant content based on their search query
Broken links
No way back to the previous page
For ecommerce – NO PRICING
Poor grammar
Audio with no OFF option
Loooooooooooong paragraphs

What turns users ON?

This ties directly to what users become accustomed to on other sites. You don’t have to spend thousands on design work – just enough to give you an edge or a niche. Of course, these help:

Effective use of flash
Fast page load times
Appropriate amount of white space
Relevant content based on search query
For ecommerce – PRICING
Inuitive navigation
Unique theme with READABLE font and background color combinations
Professionally written content
Easy to get from Point “Search Query” to Point “Buy”

Really Nice post, I do belive a lot on what you said about whats brings people and drives them away.

1. Select a colour scheme and stick to it.

The most common colour schemes include:

- Red, yellow and white
- Blue and white
- Red, grey and white
- Blue, orange and white
- Yellow, grey and white.

If you’re not sure what colour scheme to choose, surf the internet and find a website that you like. You can then model your colour scheme on what already exists.

2. Use templates.

Can’t find a website you really like? Another option is to choose a template. There are many templates or pre-set designs. These come as part of your web design software (such as FrontPage) or you can check out some websites that specialise in designing templates.


3. Provide an easy to use navigation system.

This is one of the most important issues to consider when designing a website. You need to ensure your visitors can find what they are looking for easily. Most websites either display their navigation bar on the left or at the top. And since most people are used to this type of navigation, it’s best to stick with it.

It also helps to include your navigation bar at the bottom of each page to save your visitors from having to scroll back to the top.

4. Don’t go overboard on special effects

Whilst it is ok to have one or two special effects to jazz up your website, spinning graphics and logos often distract your visitor from the content, not to mention they can take too long to download. Your visitors may click away even before your spinning logo finishes loading.


5. Backgrounds

Ensure your visitors can read the text on the background, ie. no black writing on dark blue background or yellow on white. Also be careful that your links are visible before and after being visited. The default for links in most programs is blue (before being visited) and burgundy (after being visited), so if you have a dark background, ensure your links are light.

6. External Links

It is a good idea to open links to other websites in a new window. That way your visitors can easily return to your site when they are finished browsing the external link

7. Site Map & Search Feature

If you website is more than 15 pages, it is useful to have a site map or a “Search” feature to ensure your visitors can easily find what they’re looking for.

8. Content is King

While it is important that your website looks clean and professional, it is far more important that you concentrate your efforts on the content and promotion.

If you want a professional website, things to stay away from include:

1. Flash intros, revolving globes, bevelled line separators, animated mail boxes
2. Loads of pop up or pop under boxes
3. Autoplay music. Allow your customer to play music only if they choose.
4. Hit counters of the free variety, which say “you are 27th visitor”
5. Date and time stamps, unless your website is updated daily or weekly
6. Busy backgrounds.

I think certain flash intros are fine, but the rest of your points are right on.

Yep - thats what everyone's after nowadays.

It seems like aesthetics have taken precidence over all other aspects of designing like user friendliness etc.

People go for what looks 'hawt' or not.

Keep it simple, unique, and be creative. Trial and error works best

Short paragraphing is one of the keys in writing successful sales copies. It keeps the visitor on topic and engaged, and the points are easier to be delivered as well.

I agree on that, taking on consideration that people have lost the habit of reading books.

Great tips here! I agree that my top 3 pet peeves are on that list! I will instantly leave a site if I am unable to get past the flash entries or ad popups, if I cannot turn the sound off and if the content is too long and strung out I won't even attempt to read it.

Great list of things! Thank you guys for sharing these here. I think that it's definitely a comprehensive list that captures what you don't want to be using.

I think that "Excessive use of flash" is definitely my favorite negative thing. Most of the newly flash designers, once they learn flash can't stop forcing it as much as they can, so they end up with sites that have nothing but flash. They somehow loose good taste on the way while trying to squeeze even the last drop from their knowledge and skills.

I have seen some flash intensive sites that have impressed me, but more often than not, once I've sat through the display once, that's it - I move on. I'm just thankful I have a fast broadband connection.

Really nice post.
I am getting more knowledge about website design from your post. I am liking a web site with royal look and sober color combination. with new thing are added .
Thanks !

I like websites with royal looks. What would a sober color combination look like?

Thanks for this. I am always trying to make my website(s) more appealing to the target audience. Good points here.