Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Factors to consider for a good web design

The Internet landscape is changing daily. Some websites are experiencing an increased amount of sales due to great SEO practices. Some are falling through thinking that they have a great website when indeed they have implemented unwanted web design elements and done bad website design. You will find below some factors to consider for a good web design.

1. RESPECT YOUR SITE VISITORS
Nothing will hurt your site or reputation more than a lousy website experience. Be helpful, courteous and generous.

2. UPDATE YOUR WEBSITE FREQUENTLY
To give people a reason to return, and to improve your search rankings, be sure to update your site regularly. Even a seasonal message can help.

3. GIVE A CALL TO ACTION
If you want people to take the next step and contact you, include a call to action, such as “Sign up for our free newsletter.

4. THINK MOBILE
Within the next year or two, most people will access the web with mobile devices. Make sure your site provides a good visitor experience using limited bandwidth and a small screen.

5. SPEAK CLEARLY
Content is still king, so make sure yours is easy to read and understand. Avoid jargon and acronyms.

6. USE INTUITIVE NAVIGATION
Structure yourwebsite so there is a natural progression to the pages. Start with general pages and enable visitors to drill down to get more specific information.

7. USE HYPERLINKS PROPERLY
Hyperlinks are a great way to build value and search ranking. Use them to help visitors access parts of your site easier and to build linking relationships with appropriate websites.

8. BE REASONABLE ABOUT SEO
But if you insist on packing your content with keywords as often as possible for the sake of search engine optimization (SEO), it can result in less valuable content and an unsatisfactory visitor experience.

9. KEEP PAGE NAMES SIMPLE
People are used to looking for familiar page names on a site, such as About Us, Products and Services. Trying to be clever or cute can frustrate visitors looking for specific information.

10. KEEP IT SIMPLE
Life’s complicated enough without trying to figure out how to use a website. Keep the design simple, straightforward and easy to use.

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