Good web design is important for maintaining a good online business. If done right, it can give you a leg up on the competition. A lot of people do not practice proper web design and, but these tips will help you do so. When you’re beginning in Web design, these are some important things to keep in mind.
When you are working on your web design, use the proper graphics needed for the task. Do not use bitmap for your images as they take up too much space. PNG should be used for buttons with text and screenshots that have 256 colors or more. For pictures, use JPEG images.
Use JavaScript to include a custom font on your webpages. Libraries like Typekit and Google Web Fonts make it easy to include esoteric fonts on webpages, even if most visitors don’t have those fonts on their computers. It works by embedding the font itself into JavaScript so that it can be decoded by the client on the fly.
Make sure your webpages aren’t too long. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and if your most important content is “below the fold,” it may not even be read. If you have a lot of related content that needs to stay together, consider breaking it up into sections and adding links to each section.
Watch your use of color combinations when building your site. Your text must be easily readable and not disappear into your background. It is typically easier to see darker lettering that is set upon light backgrounds than the reverse. If you are not sure whether or not your chosen color scheme is user friendly, ask for some feedback from some of your friends.
Don’t use splash pages for your site unless required by law, and especially don’t use a Flash intro. Most people just want to get to your content as quickly as possible, and don’t care to look at useless splash pages. If you have some amusing content that you absolutely want visitors to see, integrate it into the homepage instead.
Include a link to the homepage on every page of your site. One of the best ways to do this is to make a graphic title for your page that can be included on all pages. Web users are used to clicking on a graphic to return home so there won’t be a learning curve to navigating your site.
Don’t force users to install strange BHOs. Many tech-savvy users won’t do it. Common offenders include unusual video players, image viewers, and platforms for interactive games. For most standard use cases, there is a trusted plugin, such as Windows Media Player or even Flash) that will do what you want without driving away users.
It is important that your website is easy to read. Various tests on usability demonstrate that most online readers do not actually read all the content; instead, they scan it for something that interests them. Emphasized text broken into easily scannable sections can help your viewers want to return to your site. You should put the important stuff on top. All of this ensures a more satisfying experience for your visitors because they can quickly find what they need.
Become educated on shortcuts and frequently use them. In the topic of web design, there is a shortcut for everything. Knowing them will save you time and help you be more efficient. It is even possible to find HTML codes that permit you to implement quick changes on pages without the need to upload them again.
You’ll sink or swim based on the quality of your Web design. It can make others take notice of you in a positive light when done correctly. However, you mustn’t forget the basics. Apply what you learned from this article for effective web design.
