Web Site Tips
No matter what the purpose of your website may be, whether it's to sell a product or an idea, it needs to draw visitors in and keep them interested. If your site looks sloppy, unorganized and contains distracting elements (too many different fonts, too much 'flash', an inappropriate background image) your site visitor will not stick around very long. Here are some tips for an effective web site from a firm believer in keeping it simple.
Catch 'em and Keep 'em
The home page should introduce you, your company and/or organization and clearly state the purpose of your site. Tell them why you are there, and why they should be interested, in the immediately visible section of the default page for your website. This not only keeps the visitor on your site, clicking your links, but it also helps to make your site more likely to show up in the results of many search engines.
Identify yourself!
Identify your site. You want your visitor to remember where they are! A top division that remains the same on each page is a good place to put your logo/name. Also clearly identify each page title, both on the page and in the page properties for the browser. Just like on the home page, put the most important or needed information near the top of the page.
Text
Choose a readable font and font size. Try to avoid using more than three fonts/font sizes per page - and only when it makes good logical design sense - headings, body text, and captions, for example. Avoid the blinking, scrolling, flashing stuff. It always surprises me that even though most people find these things annoying on other peoples pages, they still feel like they have to have some on their own page. If you find it annoying, why would you want to annoy other people?
Choose a color that contrasts well with your background. Stay away from bright colors or backgrounds that make it difficult to read your text.
Graphics
It is true that graphics can make a page, but unnecessary graphic elements can also break it. Keep them small, with links to larger versions for people who are interested and have the band width. Just because you have high-speed internet access, doesn't mean that everyone else does! The latest statistics from the OECD show that less than 25% of Americans have broadband connections. Unnecessary graphics and flashy elements will make your site less accessible to the other 75%.
Portal/Splash Pages
Don't do it! For all of the reasons stated above!
