-
Use lots
of white
space.
Don't
feel that
because you
have a whole
screen that
you need to
fill it up
with stuff.
Your page
should follow
a clean
outline.
Include your
site name at
the very top.
Below that
list the
subject of
your page and
below that
expand on
your topic.
Leave
adequate
space between
each section.
Don't cram a
lot of
pictures and
ads. If you
have an ad
keep it off
to the side
or subtly
intersperse
it between
your text.
The idea is
not to
overwhelm
your
reader.
-
Don't use
animation and
flashing
objects.
As
advertisers
we feel the
need to get
our viewers
attention.
This is
important but
we need to do
it
gracefully.
Flashing
objects and
scrolling
images
distract your
visitor and
take away
from the
content. If
your product
is better
demonstrated
with
animation or
some other
multi-media,
allow your
viewer to
select the
option. Don't
force it on
them.
-
Every
page of your site
should contain an
'about'
link.
The
internet can
be a rather
cold and
quiet
environment.
If someone
can come to
your site and
find out
about who you
are and what
you are
about, they
can feel a
little better
about doing
business with
you or taking
advice from
you. Always
include your
business
address and
phone number
and email
address as
well. This
lets viewers
know that you
are serious
about your
business and
that you
welcome
contact.
-
Include a
'Privacy'
Link
Viewers
like the
reassurance
that you have
a policy that
follows
privacy
guidelines.
They want to
know that you
will not sell
or give away
their
information.
In these days
of rampant
spam, your
privacy
policy needs
to be
prominently
displayed.
Many viewers
and business
partners
won't do
business with
you unless
you have
it.
-
Always
keep your links
in
blue
Why
does that
matter you
might say?
It's an
expectation
that viewers
have along
with the
links being
underlined.
There's
certainly no
law that says
they need to
be as such
but people
spend a lot
of time on
the internet
and it's good
practice to
keep your
navigation
consistent
and
recognizable.
If it's not
you may lose
out on
clicks.
-
Keep
navigation
consistent
Keep
your site's
navigation
consistent.
What you do
on your index
page should
be done the
same way on
the rest of
your site's
pages. Keep
the colors
consistent as
well. Don't
force your
viewers to
relearn each
page of your
site. Keep
your
navigation
bars and
links the
same for each
page.
-
Understandable
buttons and
links.
Title
your links
appropriately.
Don't use
cute or
misleading
names. For
example, if
you have a
link to
sports
equipment
don't label
the link
'Great
Outdoors',
call it
'sports
equipment'.
If you have a
link to
'cameras'
don't label
the link
'hotshots',
label it
'cameras'.
Your viewers
don't want to
waste time
figuring out
what things
are. Be clear
with your
labeling.
-
Focus on
the 'YOU', not the
'ME'.
Make
it obviously
clear to your
readers that
you are there
for them.
What can you
do for your
reader? What
benefits are
there for
your viewer?
How can you
make their
life or
business
better or
more
profitable?
Request
feedback on
their
success. Find
out what they
want to know
or how you
can offer
them what
they
need.
-
Ma
ke sure your page
loads
fast.
If
viewers have
to wait for a
page to load
they will
click
elsewhere.
Here's a site
that will
help you
determine how
well your
page loads.
If a page
doesn't load
in 8 seconds
you lose 1/3
of your
visitors.
Here's a
great free
tool to help
you check
your
website's
load
time:
http://www.1-hit.com/all-in-one/tool.loading-time-checker.htm
-
Use a
site
map.
A
site map will
give visitors
a "guide" on
viewing your
site and also
eliminate
confusion,
especially
with larger
sites. It's a
road map for
your visitors
to follow
while they
are on your
site.
Sitemaps will
also increase
rankings and
placement
within the
Search
Engines.
