Web Site DesignWeb Site Design15 Easy Steps to an 15 Easy Steps to an Excellent Web SiteExcellent Web Site

A Well Designed Web A Well Designed Web Should:Should:

Be attractive and pleasing to look at & Be attractive and pleasing to look at & readread

Be well organizedBe well organized

Be self-explanatoryBe self-explanatory

Contain text & graphics that are carefully Contain text & graphics that are carefully linked to each otherlinked to each other

Contain design & content that are Contain design & content that are appropriate for the targeted audienceappropriate for the targeted audience

Rule #1: Easy to ReadRule #1: Easy to Read

Include a navigational structure that is Include a navigational structure that is easy to navigateeasy to navigate

Include a complementary color schemeInclude a complementary color scheme

Include graphics that are consistent in look Include graphics that are consistent in look & feel throughout the Web site& feel throughout the Web site

Include text consistent in size, color, etc.Include text consistent in size, color, etc.

Include hyperlinks that work properly & Include hyperlinks that work properly & easily accessibleeasily accessible

Rule #2: Know Your Target Rule #2: Know Your Target AudienceAudience

Determine the single most important Determine the single most important message your Web site should conveymessage your Web site should convey

Know your audience’s interestsKnow your audience’s interests

Design based on factors such as age, Design based on factors such as age, gender, & locationgender, & location

Rule #3: Make your Site Rule #3: Make your Site Navigation User-FriendlyNavigation User-Friendly

User should not have to “guess” or “hunt” for User should not have to “guess” or “hunt” for hyperlinks or informationhyperlinks or informationNeed to be able to move from one page to Need to be able to move from one page to another easilyanother easilyMore important to read and understand than More important to read and understand than have “flashy” effectshave “flashy” effects

MAXIMUM OF 3 MOUSE CLICKS TO MAXIMUM OF 3 MOUSE CLICKS TO FIND INFORMATIONFIND INFORMATION

Rule #4: Use White SpaceRule #4: Use White Space

Keep from being clutteredKeep from being cluttered

Must allow users to “breathe” Must allow users to “breathe” between different elements on between different elements on your Web pagesyour Web pages

Rule #5: Determine Size of Rule #5: Determine Size of PagePage

Users can set screen settings to Users can set screen settings to different sizesdifferent sizes

Watch out for users needing to Watch out for users needing to scrollscroll

Best size is 800 X 900 maximumBest size is 800 X 900 maximum

Rule #6: Lay out page using Rule #6: Lay out page using tablestables

Web pages don’t recognize the Web pages don’t recognize the spacebar strokesspacebar strokes

Tables can control layout and Tables can control layout and make it more interestingmake it more interesting

Watch out for pixel width!Watch out for pixel width!

Rule #7: Use Fonts that will Rule #7: Use Fonts that will Display CorrectlyDisplay Correctly

ArialArial

CourierCourier

GeorgiaGeorgia

HelveticaHelvetica

Times New RomanTimes New Roman

VerdanaVerdana

Rule #8: Keep Text Rule #8: Keep Text ConsistentConsistent

Avoid making text too small or too large Avoid making text too small or too large (8 – 14 points)(8 – 14 points)

Keep alignment of body text to the leftKeep alignment of body text to the left

Text links should be unique to other text Text links should be unique to other text on siteon site

Avoid underlining text unless it is a Avoid underlining text unless it is a hyperlinkhyperlink

Keep color of text consistent with siteKeep color of text consistent with site

Rule #9: Rule #9: Research Research

Competitor Competitor Web SitesWeb Sites

Rule #10: Rule #10: Establish a Establish a Professional Professional

IdentityIdentity

Rule #11: Rule #11: Proofread for Proofread for

Spelling, Spelling, Grammar, and Grammar, and

DesignDesign

Rule #12: Rule #12: Revise, Revise, Revise, Revise,

ReviseRevise

Rule #13: Rule #13: When in When in

Doubt…KISDoubt…KIS

Rule #14: Guidelines to Web Rule #14: Guidelines to Web Site ColorsSite Colors

Maximum of 2 – 3 colors throughout the Maximum of 2 – 3 colors throughout the web siteweb site

One color should be dominant & other is One color should be dominant & other is used for accentused for accent

Create a scheme that coordinates with Create a scheme that coordinates with overall messageoverall message

Avoid colors that make text difficult to readAvoid colors that make text difficult to read

Remember you RGB’sRemember you RGB’s

Rule #15: Have Rule #15: Have a Paper Plana Paper Plan