So what do you want on this most important first screen? You naturally want the title of your website and you want to let visitors know what the content is as briefly as possible. Use short phrases and short paragraphs. You also want to provide links to the main sections of your site (making sure to include text links).

The home page of your website is its front door. Most search engines will index your home page (i.e. index page) before they will index the other pages in your website so it is critically important that you give a great deal of thought to its layout and design.

Setting a theme with your webpage design

In addition to designing a home page, you are setting the tone/theme of your site with this first page. Here you are presenting what visitors can expect to see carried out on every page within the site. This is should also be true of the website navigation system you use.

Using a theme for your website provides a convenient way of placing certain elements, in the same place, on each page. Navbars, headers, footers, etc. should all appear in the same place on each page for the convenience of your visitors. At a glance they can find what they are looking for, this will enhance the usability of your website.

See: Website Navigation and Theme

Designing the pages of your website

You want to use contrast to guide the eye around your pages. And, to be effective, the contrast must be bold. Also, any good webpage design must have a focal point. Something on the page must be the dominant eye catcher. If everything has the same level of importance, then nothing is important.

Group items and information that belong together using white space so that the eye knows they are together. Also, your webpage layout should be consistent throughout the website. Each page should present the same appearance and have related elements in the same place on each page.

Alignment of your webpages

The alignment of elements on the page - both vertically and horizontally - is also very important. Choose one alignment and stick with it. That doesn't mean you have to align everything along the same line; it means things should be aligned the same on the page. The following examples will help to explain what I mean.

Poor Alignment: Unjustified text and graphics example

Good Alignment: Justified text and graphics example

See: Special Website Design Considerations: Special website layout and design considerations

Using webpage templates

The perfect webpage is one that blends into and compliments the overall design of your website. Each page represents a part of your total website and it should reflect the theme, navigation and focus of all the other pages.

This is where a website template can make your design job a lot easier.

A good website layout should be themed and provide a clean navigation system. There are a multitude of templates available on the internet, some are free and others are yours for a fee. Whatever you do be sure to decide on the template that suits your website theme the best.

Once you have launched your site using a template stick to the same design throughout the website.

See: How to use Website Templates

Designing Web Pages

Designing Web Pages

Designing good webpages begins with good webpage layout. So what do you want on this most important first screen?

Professional Webpage Layout

Examining the methods of professional webpage layout. The individual pages in your website must have a layout that allows the visitor to find out as much as possible about your webpage at a glance.

All About Design Principles and Elements

Basic website design elements to consider. A truly shocking number of web designers are unfamiliar with the basic principles and elements of design.

Designing your Homepage

Believe me, you want your visitors to stay as long as possible. This is the only way your site is going to succeed. Your site must be interesting, persuading, and easy to navigate.

The Best Page Layout and Design for Content Websites

To understand which layouts work you only need to look at the industry gorillas. These are the online content publishers who have been around for years, and who have tested just about every layout combination.

Writing for the Web

Writing for the Web is very different from traditional writing. The way website visitors read Web copy is unique and you must adjust your writing style to be effective.

An Easy Way to Choose Attractive Color Combinations

Lots of people struggle to come up with attractive color combinations when designing logos, banners or web sites. So, here's an easy technique that only takes a few minutes.

Professional Graphics

Graphic design is an intimidating subject for many Internet entrepreneurs. However, most of us must learn some basic design techniques to avoid the high costs of hiring a professional graphics designer.

9 Ways to Make Your Web Site Look Great

Learn how to design a website that gets attention every time. Avoid the mistakes most people making when creating their first web site. Take home some tricks that even the most advanced designers will enjoy.

Selection of Web Templates

An important part of website designing is selection of web templates. Here are a few points which will help you select the best web template for your website.

Creating a Basic Web Design Template

A "template" is simply a design format which you can apply to all (or most) of the pages in your web site.