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Web Design

Content is king in website design. If visitors to your website can't read your content because of the way you've presented it, they will quickly leave and not come back. Therefore you have to make your website easy on the eye, if you want people to read what you've put there. By following the basic rules below you can make your website instantly more readable.

1. Text colours

Don't use dark colour text on dark backgrounds. For example, red text on dark blue or red on black are horrendously difficult to read. If you are doing colour text, make sure there is high contrast between the text and the background. Dark text on a light background is easier to read then light text on a dark background.

2. Images

Be very very careful with background images. If you are going to use them, there's a danger that the background will be too dark to read the text properly. Do a bit of work with your photo-editor to reduce the depth of colour of the image - make it pastel.

3. Limit the length of text lines

Don't make lines of text too long. Think how printed media compose their pages. They use columns and so should you. Keep the column width to a maximum of 600 pixels.

4. Restrict your page width

Page width is a different situation. A width limit of 1000 pixels is good for the standard 1024×768 pixel monitor. Fit columns into this. It should be possible to read the page without having to use the scroll bar to scan across the width of the page.

5. Capitals

Do not use capital letters for all of your text. In fact, it's best to avoid capital letters altogether, except where the rules of grammar demand them, e.g. first letter of a sentence, proper nouns, etc. Long strings of capital letters are harder to read than lower case.

6. Exclamation marks

Do not go overboard with exclamation marks! They are usually unnecessary, and there is no reason whatsoever for three of them. Littering your text with exclamation marks is irritating to the reader, and doesn't really help you get your message across.

A very limited exception to the above is for headline-style text, where you want to grab the reader's attention for a special offer or something like that. In this case you could have 4 or 5 words in capitals with exclamation marks. But keep this usage to an absolute minimum.

7. Spell-checking and proof-reading

Use a spell checker before you publish your page on the internet. This means you must type your text into a word processor such as Word or Open Office. Nothing is worse than a page full of spelling errors. But don't rely exclusively on a spell-checker. They are clever but not infallible. As a final check, get someone else to proof-read it. You, having written it, will be "blind" to any errors.

Following the tips above will ensure that visitors to your website have a good reading experience.

Chicago Web Design

When it comes to designing an engaging website, there are obviously certain limitations to what you can and cannot do, and to what will and won't work for your brand. Having said that, if your business has a target audience clearly identified, it becomes a lot easier to structure a website to reflect this.

A web designer is concerned with the visual appearance, structure, and layout of a website. The design of the web page is essentially what captures attention and determines whether someone will stay on your site or move on. Generally, users don't read things thoroughly; they scan. So if there is a huge block of text, they will more than likely skip over it or exit the site completely. They also don't scan in a linear fashion; viewers tend to satisfice. If they think an option is close to what they are looking for, they will click it rather than considering which of the options might be more beneficial to them; which means that even if your website has the most to offer, if it's bulky and verbose, your potential customers are more likely to overlook you. Functionality is important because people pretty much want to get in and get out.

Your website's design should be structured in an aesthetically striking way and communicate only the most important information. Pages should be obvious and self-explanatory. It should have an instant impact and give a positive impression while still representing your business accurately.

It is very important to use visual elements to guide users. A strong sense of direction assists users in their website navigation. The more clear and cohesive a page is, the greater the sense of orientation and therefore, heightened trust between the user and the company. A hierarchical structure within the content reduces complexity and assists in the website's navigability. A website can be a dynamic addition to your business growth and the more comfortable visitors feel using it, the more inclined they are to continue to interact with you.

Keep in mind however that there is a distinction between a web designer and an online marketing firm that designs websites; the latter has both the expertise and the ability to ensure that the website is not only attractive, but also makes a profit. A successful website will have its business' goals and its target market in mind. A clean, simple, and consistent design that shows clear relationships between the content and graphics is the most effective way to communicate to your business' audience.

Just a final note: a memorable design engages users more because it heightens their excitement level. The key idea is to surprise visitors and give them something that they will enjoy and remember. It is absolutely essential that your website is not only aesthetically attractive, but also consistent when viewed on different browsers. Interactivity is a business' most valuable tool when designing a website. If a visitor can interact and feel engaged, then a trust relationship is already starting to take shape. And most importantly, keep updating your website and its design. Technology changes so swiftly that if you don't keep track of it, you - and consequently, your business - might get left behind.




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