Special Website Design Considerations

Webpage content

If you want to present these things, do it on another page where you can isolate the full effect from other elements of the website or use them sparingly for emphasis.

Use white space to lead the eye around the page. The spaces and margins on a webpage can help to frame the contents and emphasize key areas.

Rules of thumb

• Explain everything clearly and briefly. Web surfers are short on patience. Give them what they want by keeping sentences and paragraphs short and to the point.
  
  
• Make sure you present information in a logical order. Both website visitors and search engines look for structure in the content of a webpage. If the content is haphazard and illogical in its composition you will have problems.
  
  
• Use plain language. Avoid being overly technical in the language you use. Consider the average reader and use words that you would use in normal conversation. Also, simple language translates better when viewed by visitors from other countries.

Main sections

The Pyramid

A website can be compared to a triangle. The index page forms the tip of the pyramid followed by the main sections, subsections and pages of increased content. Let your visitors decide where they want to go, starting with brief introductions and leading into more detail as they proceed through the site.

Now let's recap the main points:

• Balance the web page for a more pleasing experience for the visitor
  
  
• Have a clearly defined focal point on your page
  
  
• Make good use of the hot spots on the page for your title and links
  
  
• Keep your content brief and to the point
  
  
• Use only one style of alignment and be consistent throughout the website.