You want to design a website, but you are not sure how to get started. Putting together the various elements that combine to create the perfect web site in form, function and appearance requires some basic knowledge. The following tips on web site design can help you out. Continue on for some helpful tips that will let you know what you are overlooking.
You should be aware of any clashing colors when building your website. It is important for the text to be legible when set on the background color you have chosen. Using a dark text color on a lighter background is generally easier to read than the opposite. If you are uncertain about the effectiveness of your color scheme choice, try it out on a friend and solicit feedback from them.
A fast website is a good website. If your visitors are waiting forever while something is loading on your site, there is a good chance they will quickly leave and never return.
If you want your website to attract many visitors, it must be simple to navigate. Your links need to be prominently placed, easy to understand and functional. Good menus make navigating your site much easier. Make sure that you have links posted to every page of the website. This will allow visitors to easily navigate the site.
When a user enters personal information into a form on your website, give the user the option to have the server retain that information should it be needed again. An example of this is if someone fills out a form to register, and then has to fill out other forms for other things. If the person’s info transfers from one form to the next, it will be much more convenient and less time consuming for the user. If you use this data to your advantage, users will be able to save time as they navigate your site.
Use free software to set up your own site. Some people assume that spending hundreds of dollars on a software program is an absolute must. However, there are dozens of programs that offer comparable results for less money. Just perform a simple search and you’re sure to find some wonderful tools.
Do not have pop-up windows on your site. Though there are some uses for pop-ups, they are often considered an annoyance. As a result, your users may just go away from your site, too angry to come back.
Explore your website with different browsers and computer systems. Every browser sees sites a little differently, since these can affect the user experience. You can easily discern which browsers are used frequently. Perform browser tests on your website, and include the mobile web browsers that are most popular.
A well-written “About Us” page is worth the effort. A lot of websites offer nothing of substance in this area, and some even leave this page empty. Try to write this content in an entertaining way. Aim to give visitors a small glimpse of your personal background. Demonstrate how you began website creation, the people who inspired you to do this, and what your business goals are.
Be very critical of the fonts you choose. Fonts say a lot about the professionalism of a site and the business it represents. Fonts that are overly artistic may seem like a good idea, but often aren’t accessible on all computers. If a visitor doesn’t have a font on his computer, his browser may display a default font that doesn’t look right. This can look worse.
Make sure to check for any broken links. Complete your error check before uploading your site and going live. Links that lead to the wrong place or nowhere at all are frustrating and visitors will soon lose interest in your site and stop visiting it. Check to be sure everything is working in order to avoid this.
Designing a website need not be so difficult. There are a few basic building blocks of web page design, and once you’ve learned those, you can see the whole picture. Use these tips to learn web page design basics that you can use on your site.