Contracting out website creation is a large expense for owners of new businesses. If you’re new to doing business online, you can save tons of money designing your own site. However, you should never cut corners. Use the tips contained here to start creating a website that can rival those designed by the pros.
Don’t use lots of graphics. While they help to keep a visitor’s interest, they can also make a site look cluttered and push visitors away. Don’t use graphics just to decorate; use them to improve the site. Having the right mix of graphics will improve your site’s usability, too.
Always double check pages for broken links before publishing a page. People will become frustrated if they a link leads them to a broken page. Links can be checked manually, and you can also find software that will check your site to see if there are any broken links.
Avoid using pop-up advertising. Most people do not like visiting a website, then having pop-up ads bombard them. Many people leave any website immediately if pop-ups occur, even if they’re interested in the website. Avoid using these irritating ads to keep your visitors happy. If the pop-ups are coming about because of your host, then now is the time to start shopping for a replacement.
You want to make your site content compelling and intriguing. While the look of the design is important, the content is what keeps visitors returning to your site. Visitors are likely to return to your website if they find the content informative and it fulfills their needs.
No matter what your website looks like, all the file sizes should be small. The size of the files making up your website is the direct cause of your site’s load times. Of course, having your website load quickly is the best scenario for visitors. Remember that there are still lots of people who do not have high speed Internet. Check out your website on all types of connections, including a dial up connection.
Don’t accidentally place links on your site that lead to nowhere. Links with content should be visible enough to show the viewer what they’re clicking. If you have hidden links, users may mistakenly navigate away from the page they were on.
Usability tests that are task based are a good way to figure out what design works best for your website. The purpose of these is to find functionality or information buried within your website. A well-designed site allows the user to easily complete the task. However, if your site is poorly built, this exercise can shine a light on areas your site needs to improve upon.
Your quest to seriously enhance your web page design skills may not come quickly. In fact, you’ll probably mess up on a few different aspects of web page design. But, you should use what you’ve learned here and you will build an effective site.
