Website design can be intimidating if you don’t know much about the field. Once you know the basics of good design, however, you will begin to see how easy it is to create an attractive, professional site. By using the advice provided here, you will be on your way to designing a functional, beautiful website.
Pay attention to the colors on your website to make sure they match. Your text should be easy to see against your background. Generally speaking, it is easier on the viewer’s eyes when they see darker text on paler backgrounds, rather than the other way around. When in doubt about the effectiveness of your color choices, solicit the opinions of friends.
Be sure your site can be scanned by visitors easily. Usability tests indicate that the majority of online users fail to read content in its entirety, scanning instead for bits of information that are of interest to them. Emphasized text is more easily scanned and helps readers along, also better ensuring they return. On the upper area of each page, you should place your key information. Your visitors will enjoy their time on the website more.
Make sure that all the files on your website are small in size. You need these small file sizes regardless of the overall design of your site. Keeping your files small will directly affect how fast your website loads. You want your website to load as quickly as possible. You should also keep in mind that not every visitor will be using a high speed Internet connection. Run tests to ensure that even dial-up users report a smooth user experience.
When you are creating a page that contains links, ensure your links use text content. Visitors to your page are more likely to click on a link when they know where the link will take them. If you have hidden links, users may mistakenly navigate away from the page they were on.
Try using readable and professional-appearing fonts. A site’s look can hinge on whether or not it’s fonts are professional. Avoid silly, bubbly or hard to read fonts and especially avoid obscure fonts that may not be supported by all browsers. Use a font that is part of the default font subsets on user computers. Many times, the result is very unappealing.
Design tools included in a hosting package are adequate if you just want to build a simple website, buy you should not depend on these completely. Your site should reflect you and your personality, so you want to make sure it’s not too generic.
Always proofread any information you put up on your website. Content should be read easily and quickly. When you have errors on your site it really looks unprofessional and people won’t take you or your site seriously which can hurt it’s reputation.
Most people know about Photoshop, and they realize that it takes some effort and knowledge to use it effectively in web design. However, many people don’t know about Dreamweaver and its potential for designers. Look into this application to find out its benefits.
When starting, only post small amounts of content. Don’t do more than you can handle or you might wind up posting stuff that doesn’t make sense.
Make sure you think about your target audience when designing your site. Create a poll or questionnaire to find out what they need from your page. This assists you with your design process and in choosing features to include. Giving the people what they want is vital to almost any type of success.
At this point, you probably see that designing a website is not really as confusing as you thought. Designing the right website for you becomes easier as you learn more about web design. Use these tips to create a great site in no time.
