Web Design Tips

The most important aspect of successful web design is relevance. The look and feel of the website should match the industry or sector the website resides in.

For instance, it would not make sense to create a website for an “old-world” Italian restaurant, using metallic gradients, hues and futuristic icons. It would be more logical to use realistic elements; dark wood to represent the paneling, old brick textures to represent the brick ovens and checkered patterns to represent the traditional table linen. By considering these details before beginning the design process you can save many wasted hours.

Here are a few tips to help you decide how to best approach your new web design:

• OBVIOUS DIRECTION
  • Analyze your business or service. Distinguish any colors, symbols or elements that easily identify it. Does the name of the business use a clever pun that can be exploited? If so, can it be integrated into the design?
• RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH
  • Get busy! Study your competition very closely. Scrutinize their websites and decide which parts are successful and which aren’t. Save your favorite links and create specific notes detailing what you liked and disliked. Websites change often. Create a folder and save pictures of the websites you like as a reference. It is very easy to save pictures of websites. Here is how you do it:

Mac OS X

1. Switch to the screen that you want to capture
2. Hold down Apple key ⌘+ Shift + 3 and release all
3. Then use your mouse to click on the screen
4. Done. You will see a picture file in at your desktop. That’s the screen capture picture.

Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7

1. Maximize the window you’d like to capture.
2. To copy/capture the current window, hold down ALT + Print Scrn at the same time. To capture the entire screen, just press Print Scrn.
3. Open a new document in MS Word, MS Photo Editor or Adobe Photoshop.
4. Paste the screen shot by holding down CTRL and V at the same time.
5. Print the document when you’re finished pasting screen shots.

• EXECUTION
  • You have done your research. You have gathered links and website examples. Now you are ready to begin the design process. Your homepage design should be attractive and inviting. It should engage the user and prompt him to click deeper into the site. Identify what would determine a successful visit and try to guide the user to that point. Stifle the urge to cram too many elements or graphics into the design. Restrain yourself! Less is more. White or Negative space is as important as positive space. White/Negative space allows the user’s eye to rest and induces a feeling of calm in the user’s subconscious.
    
• TEST, TEST, AND THEN TEST SOME MORE!

Your website in all likelihood will function 30-75% better with a few slight adjustments. If you have created some great “call to actions” with links and graphics, but are not sure if your users are clicking on it, you may have made a few design mistakes. To be sure, set up user tracking software on your website. This software analyzes the visits to your website and visually tracks the user’s path through the site. It reveals where most of the users clicked on the website, and which buttons or links get the most clicks. Many times the changes required are simple. All you may have to do is move a “call to action” graphic above the fold. Make a button graphic brighter or more “buttony” looking.  Sometimes just adding the simple term “Click Here” can do the trick. The important thing is to test. A very small adjustment can make a big difference; even the difference between a successful website and a failed website.