June 24th, 2008Common Mistakes in Web Design to Avoid
One of the most important factors, aside from getting listed at page one of any Google search is the actual content of your website. Having a website with highly optimized keywords and other SEO-related enhancements is one thing, but building a valuable website that would have ease of use is another thing.
The first thing to realize about website design is precisely that- the website design. Your website design should maintain a level of ease and functionality that would rival other websites containing similar content. Some early internet researches concluded that the average user rates a website the first few seconds that he or she has glimpsed it, and thus, it is the web designer’s job to make sure that the first few seconds of any user to the website would impress immediately. One deciding feature in these few seconds would be the separation of the functional elements of the site, such as search, tables and graphics. The typical eyesore would present a site where the search function is at the bottom, and crazy subgroups of text are at the top and middle, with different colors, font styles and sizes. This will not do.
Simplicity is key, and many websites, including Microsoft, employ a very linear and yet very functional design. The next important feature of a highly appraised website is information architecture. Information architecture means being able to aid completely the user in his specific goals as he navigates the website. The common mistake of some websites is forcing the user immediately, for instance, to buy a product or technically cough up some dough before the user has even begun to realize what exactly the website is about, especially if he or she is a first time visitor. Make sure that the hierarchy of topics and information in your website is intelligently designed and aimed helping any user find what he or she needs. Another deciding feature of a good website would be navigability. It’s one thing to provide a very handsome main page, and following that up in the deeper pages. Make sure that there are enough linkages in the other pages linked to your site so that the user would be able to find his or her way back easily to the main page or some other pertinent page.
Including a search function in every page is a must, and should be the focal point especially of information-intensive websites like ones containing news. Another feature that cannot be understated here is accessibility. Like public buildings, your website should have the equivalent of ramps. Make sure not to marginalize users that are sensory-impaired. If you can, install applications that read text on command, et cetera. For the vision impaired, specifically, make sure that all your links are working and that there are no special actions involved during any point in the navigation of your site, such as installation of plug-ins that would require the extra two or three steps for the impaired user.
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