8 Specific Ways to Avoid Common Web Design Mistakes

Effective web design goes beyond simple aesthetic appeal. In fact, there are many factors which can contribute to the overall success or failure of a website. Therefore, it is important to have a solid understanding of the common pitfalls you will want to avoid before starting this process.

Here are 8 specific ways to avoid some common web design mistakes:

Avoid fancy, flashing or too-small fonts. Less is often more in the world of web design and this concept definitely applies to making font selections for your site. Remember to keep your human visitors in mind while making your selections and stick to those that are clear and easy to read.
Break content blocks into bite-sized pieces. Internet readers tend to prefer material that is easy to scan over novel-length dissertations. Try to break up long paragraphs by incorporating bullets or numbered lists whenever possible.
Clearly communicate what the site is about - fast. Your visitors should be able to understand what your site is about right away. You have a brief window of opportunity to convert a first-time visitor into a repeat customer - so the more clearly and quickly you can communicate your message, the better.
Skip the fancy introductions. This applies to anything that makes it harder to visitors to get to what they want. The fewer steps between landing on your site and finding what they are looking for, the better. As always, make decisions based on what is best and easiest for your human visitors.
Avoid auto-playing music. You may absolutely love the Red Hot Chili Peppers - but there is no way to guarantee that every single visitor to your site will. Even if they do, odds are they don't want everyone at work to know they are surfing the Internet during the day - and a sudden blast of loud music coming from their computer is a definite give-away.
Incorporate value-added audio (or video). Audio and video presentations can be a great way to enhance the user's online experience. Just make sure they don't significantly increase your page load times and enable your visitors to start and stop each presentation at will.
Avoid clutter. Too many badges, banners, association labels or other items can take away from or confuse your ultimate message. Again, good web design is usually simple and straightforward - so try to stay focused on only those elements which enhance your primary message.
Limit scrolling. Some amount of vertical scrolling may be necessary, but try to limit it as much as possible as web surfers have notoriously short attention spans. On the other hand, horizontal scrolling should be avoided at all costs - you want the width of your entire web page to display upon opening (vs. needing to scroll across to see the whole thing).

Clearly, there are many factors to consider when deciding on the right web design options for your business. This list and the recommendations of a reputable web design firm can help you avoid the most common mistakes as you establish a successful online presence.

Salli Berman is a Documentation Specialist at Western Reserve Internet Services, a Cleveland web design,
Coldfusion hosting, PPC and SEO company established in 1996.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Salli_Berman
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	Free Website Design Templates view actual page \| download view actual page \| download view actual page \| download 8 Specific Ways to Avoid Common Web Design Mistakes By Salli Berman Effective web design goes beyond simple aesthetic appeal. In fact, there are many factors which can contribute to the overall success or failure of a website. Therefore, it is important to have a solid understanding of the common pitfalls you will want to avoid before starting this process. Here are 8 specific ways to avoid some common web design mistakes: Avoid fancy, flashing or too-small fonts. Less is often more in the world of web design and this concept definitely applies to making font selections for your site. Remember to keep your human visitors in mind while making your selections and stick to those that are clear and easy to read. Break content blocks into bite-sized pieces. Internet readers tend to prefer material that is easy to scan over novel-length dissertations. Try to break up long paragraphs by incorporating bullets or numbered lists whenever possible. Clearly communicate what the site is about - fast. Your visitors should be able to understand what your site is about right away. You have a brief window of opportunity to convert a first-time visitor into a repeat customer - so the more clearly and quickly you can communicate your message, the better. Skip the fancy introductions. This applies to anything that makes it harder to visitors to get to what they want. The fewer steps between landing on your site and finding what they are looking for, the better. As always, make decisions based on what is best and easiest for your human visitors. Avoid auto-playing music. You may absolutely love the Red Hot Chili Peppers - but there is no way to guarantee that every single visitor to your site will. Even if they do, odds are they don't want everyone at work to know they are surfing the Internet during the day - and a sudden blast of loud music coming from their computer is a definite give-away. Incorporate value-added audio (or video). Audio and video presentations can be a great way to enhance the user's online experience. Just make sure they don't significantly increase your page load times and enable your visitors to start and stop each presentation at will. Avoid clutter. Too many badges, banners, association labels or other items can take away from or confuse your ultimate message. Again, good web design is usually simple and straightforward - so try to stay focused on only those elements which enhance your primary message. Limit scrolling. Some amount of vertical scrolling may be necessary, but try to limit it as much as possible as web surfers have notoriously short attention spans. On the other hand, horizontal scrolling should be avoided at all costs - you want the width of your entire web page to display upon opening (vs. needing to scroll across to see the whole thing). Clearly, there are many factors to consider when deciding on the right web design options for your business. This list and the recommendations of a reputable web design firm can help you avoid the most common mistakes as you establish a successful online presence. Salli Berman is a Documentation Specialist at Western Reserve Internet Services, a Cleveland web design, Coldfusion hosting, PPC and SEO company established in 1996. 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