In last month’s info sheet we introduced to you some of the basic emerging rules of good web page design. In this month’s edition we complete the introduction to web page design, and hopefully give you enough of a framework to be able to judge the quality of pages you see and any that you have built for your business:

5. Keep it simple – Impress people with the substance of your site and make it as simple as possible to use. Make sure the navigation bar is clear and avoid using esoteric graphical elements.

Make sure the presentation of content is logical. Ask friends and colleagues of varying Internet experience to play with your site and watch for any confusion they encounter.

6. Channel users to a conclusion – You want to coax people from the index page to some specific product information and then details to buy online or contact you for service. All else should be considered secondary to this.

7. Make it easy to read – Ensure there is a high contrast between the text and the background. Also, avoid using too much movement on the page - movement on the periphery draws the viewer’s eyes away from what they are trying to read.

Microsoft has developed the san-serif face Verdana and the serif face Georgia specifically for the purpose of readability on a computer screen. Consider using these fonts for the text on your website.

Whatever you decide to use, make sure it is a common typeface. If you use Trebuchet for example and a viewer’s system does not have that particular font, they won't be able to see it used on your website.

8. Write for the web – People tend to skim read content on screen. To effectively communicate your message to the viewer - use headings liberally, write concise paragraphs with engaging first sentences and avoid sounding too formal.

9. Just because it can be done, does not mean it should be done – Don’t let a designer tell you your page needs bells and whistles to effectively build your brand online. People are no longer blown away by gimmickry on the net. Your business website is for showcasing your business and facilitating sales - not for showing how cool a designer can be. Keep the page clean, stylish and easy to comprehend.

Let the content justify the existence of your site. Make it useful, engaging and update it regularly.

If designing the page yourself, don’t be daunted if your first few efforts look bad. This is part of the beauty of the web - you can fix up mistakes and try new things without having to reprint anything. So look at what other people have done, study your usage statistics and refine the site accordingly and before you know it you will have a great site that contributes prospects to your business, builds relationships with clients and enhances your credibility.

Next month... FAQ re PDFs