Good website design tries to offer your viewer a logical flow while making the website interesting and easy to understand. The design should lead your viewers from point to point, directing them through the website without confusing or frustrating them.

The following tips can help you to plan and implement a user
friendly site:

1. White Space
Web pages should follow a clean outline. The site name should be at the very top. Below that, list the subject. Below that expand on your topic. Leave space between sections. If you have an ad, keep it off to the side or in between your text.

2. Animation and Flashing Objects are Annoying
It is important get our viewers attention but we need to do it gracefully. Flashing and scrolling images distract from the content. If your product is better demonstrated with animation or some other multi-media, allow your viewer to select the option and never force them. Introductory flash pages should always have a Skip-Intro button.

3.Include an 'About' Link
Always include your business address and phone number and email address as well. Let browsers know that your business is serious and you welcome contact.

4. Include a 'Privacy' Link
Do you have a policy that follows privacy guidelines? Web visitors want to know. They want to know that you will not sell or give away their information to the spam gangs.

5. Keep Your Links Visible and Obvious
Website visitors have an expectation that links will be obvious and similar to most of the other websites they visit. It's good practice to keep your navigation consistent and recognizable.

6. Consistent Navigation
Ensure that your site's navigation is consistent - keep each page's menu, links and nav bars looking and acting the same way. Changing them causes the user to relearn how to work each page.

7. Buttons and Links should be Understandable
Title links appropriately. Your visitors don't want to waste time
figuring things out. Be clear with labeling.

8. Visitor Centric Focus
Make it clear that your website is there for the visitors. What does yor website do or provide for the visitor? Request feedback and find out what they want or how you can offer it better.

9. Load your Page Quickly
If a page doesn't load in 8 seconds you lose 1/3 of your visitors.

10. Site Map.
A site map is a road map for your visitors to follow while they are on your site. Sitemaps also increase rankings and placement within the
Search Engines.

If you'd like more information on this subject, please feel free to use our Contact page to send us an email. If you have a specific project in mind, please use our Quote Request page.

Contact Information

Henry Norris, Founding Partner
hjnorris(at)fhtechnology.com
Phone - 919.341.1238

Henry Norris is the founding partner of Fountainhead Technology Services LLC, a Raleigh based provider of affordable web design and ecommerce that enable businesses to leverage and position their internet presence.