| Effective web design goes beyond simple aesthetic | | | | 5. Avoid auto-playing music. You may absolutely love |
| appeal. In fact, there are many factors which can | | | | the Red Hot Chili Peppers - but there is no way to |
| contribute to the overall success or failure of a | | | | guarantee that every single visitor to your site will. |
| website. Therefore, it is important to have a solid | | | | Even if they do, odds are they don't want everyone |
| understanding of the common pitfalls you will want to | | | | at work to know they are surfing the Internet during |
| avoid before starting this process. | | | | the day - and a sudden blast of loud music coming |
| Here are 8 specific ways to avoid some common | | | | from their computer is a definite give-away. |
| web design mistakes: | | | | 6. Incorporate value-added audio (or video). Audio |
| | | | and video presentations can be a great way to |
| 1. Avoid fancy, flashing or too-small fonts. Less is | | | | enhance the user's online experience. Just make sure |
| often more in the world of web design and this | | | | they don't significantly increase your page load times |
| concept definitely applies to making font selections | | | | and enable your visitors to start and stop each |
| for your site. Remember to keep your human visitors | | | | presentation at will. |
| in mind while making your selections and stick to | | | | 7. Avoid clutter. Too many badges, banners, |
| those that are clear and easy to read. | | | | association labels or other items can take away from |
| 2. Break content blocks into bite-sized pieces. | | | | or confuse your ultimate message. Again, good web |
| Internet readers tend to prefer material that is easy | | | | design is usually simple and straightforward - so try |
| to scan over novel-length dissertations. Try to break | | | | to stay focused on only those elements which |
| up long paragraphs by incorporating bullets or | | | | enhance your primary message. |
| numbered lists whenever possible. | | | | 8. Limit scrolling. Some amount of vertical scrolling |
| 3. Clearly communicate what the site is about - fast. | | | | may be necessary, but try to limit it as much as |
| Your visitors should be able to understand what your | | | | possible as web surfers have notoriously short |
| site is about right away. You have a brief window of | | | | attention spans. On the other hand, horizontal scrolling |
| opportunity to convert a first-time visitor into a | | | | should be avoided at all costs - you want the width |
| repeat customer - so the more clearly and quickly | | | | of your entire web page to display upon opening (vs. |
| you can communicate your message, the better. | | | | needing to scroll across to see the whole thing). |
| 4. Skip the fancy introductions. This applies to | | | | Clearly, there are many factors to consider when |
| anything that makes it harder to visitors to get to | | | | deciding on the right web design options for your |
| what they want. The fewer steps between landing | | | | business. This list and the recommendations of a |
| on your site and finding what they are looking for, | | | | reputable web design firm can help you avoid the |
| the better. As always, make decisions based on what | | | | most common mistakes as you establish a successful |
| is best and easiest for your human visitors. | | | | online presence. |