Building a website has become easier because of the number of user-friendly tools available. However, regardless of what tool you use to develop a website, there are things that you should remember when you put together your website. Read this article for some suggestions on what makes a good web design.
One of the biggest complaints that web users have about websites is that some of them load very slowly. This is because some web designers overload their web page with too many oversized graphics, long videos or other media that take nearly forever to load. A web user typically will not wait more than 10 seconds for a page to load, unless he is waiting for a specific piece of information to display. If he is just browsing, he will skip over the slow-loading pages. Therefore, keep your website agile, and only use elements that load quickly.
You should include a clear navigation menu on your home page. Web users like to find information quickly. If they have to hunt for something, they usually will not stay on the site. Make your navigation buttons clear and easy to find, typically near the top of your page or in the left-hand column. Label the buttons clearly so that your audience knows exactly what is behind the buttons.
People surf the web using a variety of screen resolutions. Some people use large monitors, while others use something smaller. Try to design your website for the most widely-used resolutions. For resolutions on hand-held devices, you may need to design a separate page for the smaller display.
Be sure that your web site is compatible with all major web browsers. Sometimes, slight variations in rendering will cause your page to display strangely. Install different browsers on your computer, and test your website in each one. Most display problems can be solved by tweaking the stylesheet.
The font that you use should have a professional look to it. Avoid the use of fancy fonts in the main body of your text because they can be hard to read. Stick with the basic serif or sans-serif fonts, and reserve the fancier fonts for your major headings.
Images can add interest to your content, but use them sparingly. A page that is cluttered with images does not provide valuable content. In addition, the more images you include, the slower your page will load. If your reader is impatient, he will not wait for your page to load and will leave. So, do not overuse images. If you have many images that you want to display, consider putting them in a slide show or rotate them periodically.
Make sure that your website does not have any broken links. Broken links make your website look unprofessional, and they convey to your readers that you do not pay attention to the quality of your content. Spending a little time checking your links will prevent this problem.
These are basic but important details on web design that you should remember. If you apply these when you are designing your site, you will end up with a high-quality product.