Design Tips and Tricks

The following is a general list of website design tips and guidelines. Many of the following issues have been addressed in previous blog posts, some of them are tips we will go over at greater length in the future.

1. Content Relevance – All of the content and images should be absolutely relevant and focused to the task at hand. Don’t confuse your viewers on what you want them to pay attention to and do.
   
   
2. Clarity of Purpose – Related to content relevance. Content must be organized so it’s very easy for the visitor to figure out what to look at, in what order, and how to take the conversion step when they are ready.
   
   
3. Visibility – Make sure the critical elements in your creation are visible to almost all visitors, above the fold without having to scroll down. Keep them inside the upper 300 pixels of the page. This way you are making sure that 98% of your visitors will be able to see and act upon critical elements. Remember that the first screen of visible content a visitor sees is what they make their first decision on. This happens in those very first critical seconds of viewing your site. Your initial screen shot is the one that needs to convince them not to leave.
   
   
4. Font Style and Size – Never use a font style and size that is hard to read. Never use a font size smaller than 10 point. If you are targeting older adults or young children, use a much larger font size for easier reading. Use web-safe font styles that most computers will have.
   
   
5. Left vs. Centered – Avoid centering text, with the possible exception of one-liner headlines. All text should be flush left. It is harder to read a series of centered text vs. a series of flush left lines of text.
   
   
6. Color – Using the right color scheme is important to the mode and image you are trying to convey. Avoid using white text on a colored background as it is difficult to read. The best practice is to use a white background, or a slightly gray one, that way the majority of your text appears on a color that is easier for the human eye to distinguish text against. Select multiple colors that complement each other and do not look out of place. Also avoid using dark or brightly colored backgrounds because they are too hard to read against. Blue is a favorite color of about 80% of men and 50% of women.

I’ll have more on these critical subjects on Tuesday. To my readers in the United States, have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend.

Heritage Web Solutions offers a number of different completely custom design options with a dedicated team. Call us or visit our website for details.

For more information, please visit http://www.heritagewebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.