| Think small, like 10-12KB per image. Yes, depending on | | | | on computer monitors because the screen resolution |
| the source, the number of broadband users is going | | | | is not as high as in print. If you use serif fonts for |
| up. But slow pages are still really annoying, even if | | | | normal text, the serifs can blur together on the |
| you're on a T1. And huge images are a primary cause | | | | screen making them hard to read. Your printer |
| of slow pages. It's easy to optimize your images. | | | | friendly page should use the opposite fonts (serif for |
| Always use graphics that fit the content. Just | | | | headlines and sans-serif for text). |
| because you have an adorable photo of your dog | | | | Limit the number of different fonts. One of the best |
| doesn't mean you should have it on your Web site | | | | ways to make your Web site look amateurish is to |
| about Web Design (sorry, Shasta...). The main | | | | change the font over and over. Sure, it's possible to |
| exception I would make to this is for "design" images. | | | | do, but limiting your page and site to 2 or possibly 3 |
| These are photos or graphics that help make up the | | | | standard font families is easier to read and looks |
| design of the page, and are not intended to illustrate | | | | more professional. |
| the content. | | | | Use standard font families. Yes, you can choose to |
| Do not use images that blink or move or change or | | | | use "Rockwood LT Standard" as your font on your |
| rotate or flash or do anything on your page. Or use | | | | page, but the chances that one of your readers will |
| them sparingly. There have been many studies that | | | | have that font as well is pretty low. Sticking with |
| show that flashing graphics are distracting and | | | | fonts like Verdana, Geneva, Arial, and Helvetica may |
| annoying to people. In fact, in one focus group I | | | | seem boring, but your pages will look better and the |
| watched the browsers actually physically cover up | | | | designs look correct on more browsers. |
| flashing graphics so that they could read the rest of | | | | Advertising |
| the page. | | | | Don’t be greedy. If you have any control over |
| Layout | | | | the number of ads on your site, be aware that your |
| Stick with standard layouts. I've seen some pages | | | | readers are not coming to read the ads, they are |
| that use 6 or 8 frames on one page. Another site | | | | coming for the content. If the ads overwhelm the |
| used a layout where you had to scroll to the right to | | | | page content, many readers won't stick around long |
| read everything on the page (but you never had to | | | | enough to read your purple prose. Yes, it's important |
| scroll down). These layouts are cute, and you might | | | | to make money from your Web site, but if your ads |
| find them fun to build, but they will drive your | | | | drive people away, you'll ultimately lose money. |
| readers nuts. The reason that the 3-column layout is | | | | Treat ads as you would any other image. Keep them |
| so popular on Web sites and newspapers is because | | | | small, avoid blinking/flashing, and keep them relevant. |
| it works. You might think it's boring, but you'll keep | | | | Just because you can have an ad on your site, |
| more readers if you stick with something simple that | | | | doesn't mean that you should. If the content is |
| they can understand. | | | | relevant to your readers, they're more likely to click |
| White space is more than the CSS property, it is a | | | | on the ad. |
| function of your layout. You should be aware of the | | | | Remember Your Readers |
| white space on your pages and how it affects how | | | | Test your pages in multiple browsers. Writing Web |
| the content is viewed. White space is just as | | | | pages that work only on the most modern browser |
| important in a Web layout as it is in a paper layout. | | | | is both stupid and annoying. Unless you are writing a |
| Use your graphics as elements in your layouts. | | | | Web site for a corporate intranet or a kiosk where |
| Graphics can be more than just graphics when you | | | | the browser version is completely fixed, you'll have |
| use them as actual elements in your layouts. An | | | | problems with people not being able to view your |
| extreme example is when you wrap text around an | | | | pages. |
| image, but any image you have on your site is a | | | | The same is true for operating systems. You can't |
| layout element and should be treated as such. | | | | assume that just because your page works in IE5.0 |
| Fonts | | | | for Windows it will work in IE5.0 for Macintosh. |
| Serif for headlines and Sans-Serif for text. If you've | | | | Write content that they want. Unless you're writing a |
| taken any type of print design, this might be exactly | | | | site purely for yourself (and if you are, why is it |
| the opposite of what you were taught. But the Web | | | | posted to the Web?), make sure that your content |
| is not print. Sans-serif fonts are much easier to read | | | | covers topics that your readers want to read. |