| There are many mistakes committed by | | | | sheets - Websites often disable the |
| individuals in the field of Web design | | | | change-font-size button on Web browsers |
| and management. It is good to know, | | | | to designate a fixed font size. Most of |
| though, that there are less usability | | | | the time, such a fixed font size is too |
| crimes committed against users now than | | | | small for majority of readers over the |
| before. | | | | age of 40. Users should have the option |
| This article presents the ten worst | | | | to resize text when needed. |
| errors in Web design. | | | | 6. Maintaining Page Titles with low |
| 1. Poorly designed search engines - Some | | | | search engine visibility - It is |
| search engines take searches too | | | | important to use good page titles to |
| literally to the point that usability is | | | | lure new visitors during their search |
| cut in half. These search engines cannot | | | | while permitting current users to find |
| manage hyphens, plural forms, typos and | | | | the specific pages required. |
| other variants of the terms inputted. | | | | If you are designing a homepage, start |
| Such search engines not only make life | | | | with the company name. Then describe the |
| harder for everyone but are especially | | | | site briefly. Do not begin with words |
| difficult to use by the elderly. | | | | such as The or Welcome To. Aside from |
| Sometimes, search engines rank results | | | | the homepage, other pages should have a |
| on the basis of the amount of query | | | | title that begins with words that |
| terms inputted, rather than on the | | | | closely describe what the user will read |
| relation of each document to your | | | | on that page. |
| search. It would be an improvement if | | | | Taglines on homepages should also be |
| the search engine places the articles | | | | short while concisely giving the purpose |
| with the closest relationship to your | | | | of the site. |
| search at the top of the list, | | | | 7. Using designs that look like |
| particularly for important searches. | | | | advertisements - Users frequently ignore |
| The search engine is the next option for | | | | any site whose homepage appears to |
| users when navigation does not work. | | | | advertise something. |
| Simple search is the most convenient | | | | Users display the following behavior as |
| method so search should be offered as a | | | | far as design is concerned: |
| simple box for the benefit of users. | | | | - Banner blindness |
| 2. The use of PDF Files - PDF files are | | | | - Animation avoidance |
| the pits to use since these break the | | | | - Ignoring pop-ups |
| flow during browsing. Standard browser | | | | 8. Not being consistent with design - |
| commands are useless thus rendering | | | | Users rely on the design principles used |
| printing or saving more difficult. The | | | | in most websites to form expectations of |
| font of the layout is also smaller as it | | | | what will be found on yours. |
| was made to fit into a sheet of paper. | | | | Disappointing your users makes them feel |
| Navigation is harder with PDF files | | | | insecure - which is bad. It makes the |
| though PDF works well for compressing | | | | site that much harder to use and users |
| huge documents into one file for | | | | will eventually leave. |
| printing. Thus, PDF should be confined | | | | 9. Opening new browser windows - This is |
| to this purpose while other information | | | | discouraged as it confuses users and |
| that should be browsed or read on-screen | | | | undermines their understanding of how |
| must be converted into real web pages. | | | | their system works. |
| 3. Maintaining the color of visited | | | | 10. Failing to answer the question of |
| links to just one - When users cannot | | | | the user - The worst crime a website can |
| tell the difference between a visited | | | | commit is to fail to supply the |
| link and a link which has yet to be | | | | information a user was looking for. |
| tapped due to no color changes, it makes | | | | Users only visit sites because they are |
| the experience of navigation that much | | | | goal-driven and want to accomplish |
| more difficult. | | | | something. When you use too much |
| Links that do not change color cause | | | | language to market to the user, the same |
| users to return to the same links over | | | | thing happens - the user loses interest |
| and over again, which is disorienting - | | | | and leaves. |
| not to mention irritating. | | | | You may find from the MyDLstore useful |
| 4. Text that is difficult to scan - A | | | | website scripts which can help you to |
| block of text found online is difficult | | | | design and enrich your website. provides |
| to read. To improve scannability, it is | | | | instant download of digital products |
| important touse the following: | | | | such as scripts, software, template, |
| - Subheads | | | | clip arts, logo, term papers, ebooks, |
| - Bulleted lists | | | | etc. |
| - Highlighted keywords | | | | This article may be used on the web as |
| - Short paragraphs | | | | long as it is presented unchanged and |
| - The inverted pyramid | | | | in its entirety along with this entire |
| - A simple writing style | | | | resource box. For other uses, please |
| - Language that is direct to the point. | | | | contact the author. |
| 5. Using a fixed font size for CSS Style | | | | |