How to Design a Website

As the economy gets worst and it becomes harder to make money, more people will be turning towards the internet in hopes of finding a way to make an extra buck.

I’d like to point out a couple things that can make the difference between a website that makes money and one that does not.

1. You need to understand the audience you’ll be marketing to. The design, colors, pictures and text will differ from one sex to the next, as well as from one age group to the next.

2. Take some time and look at other websites and make a list of what you like and don’t like about each site. Everyone doesn’t have the same taste, by giving your designer an idea of your taste he/she will be able to build a website that will be closer to what it is you’re looking for with less wasted attempts.

3. Once you agree on a design you need to carry that look and feel throughout the site. You don’t want a site visitor thinking they’ve left your site because they’ve clicked a link and the design has totally changed. You also what to brand the look of your site into the mind of your visitor, the second time they land on the site they are more likely to buy.

4. The site needs to be organized by what’s most important while at the same time guiding your visitor towards the goal of the site, rather it be subscribing to a news letter, buying a product or making a phone call.

5. Keep it simple. Don’t use language that will cause your site visitor to have to think. Write so a third grader can understand the site.

6. Break up text and use sub headers to make it easier to read. Reading off a computer monitor is a lot harder than reading off a piece of paper.

7. Setting up a website is a lot like trying to pick a woman up, if all you do is talk about what you want you’ll be leaving alone. Let her know what’s in it for her.

8. The website should be like a pretty picture frame adding to but not taking away from the information you want to express to your site visitor. Flash animation, bright colors, and over-powering graphics can put-off a site visitor. Like with the text keep it simple and most of all don’t use tags, features, and plug-ins that are only available to one brand or version of a browser.

9. Make sure your website is accessible to the blind and hearing impaired. Not only is it the right thing to do but it’s the law in some countries. And who knows, they could become your biggest client.

10. If you’re trying to sale something then put your phone number in the header of every page. Don’t make your site visitor have to go and look for your phone number.

11. Put an email address at the bottom of every page. Don’t make your site visitors have to figure out how to send you an email.

Tips:

If your website is a business website then don’t use animated graphics and flash unless it is used in a modest form. People don’t like flashy sites and it makes it difficult to read and follow a site when everything is moving all around the test.

It’s important that your website loads quickly and for this reason don’t add large graphics or other things that will slow down you load time.

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