Web Design for a Likable Website
When you create a web design that is appealing to visit, people will be more likely to visit more often, add you to their bookmark list, and, therefore, think of you first when your products and/or services are needed. Therefore, when you're designing your website, it is strongly advised that you place a good deal of emphasis on building a likeable website design. This, strictly said, is a craft. It is a subjective process. This means that a likeable website design is not only different from one opinion to the next, but is also open to as many different options as you can think of.
If you're looking for more direction for a likeable website design than "what you think is right" then there are two key steps that you can take to make it work. These steps include:
Keeping away from traditional, stale ideas Be wary of novelties until they've settled
Now, keep in mind that the point of this article is not trying to tell you how you should specifically design your website, nor is it trying to establish what is right and wrong. The point is to lay down a good foundation to give you a place to get things started.
Though everything does have its place, it is important that you try to use tools only when they enhance the actual message that you're trying to put across, instead of just downloading them and sprinkling them around on your site because you think they look neat.
Most of these stale old tools have been used a million times before and are simply getting too tired for a web design that is supposed to stand out. Such traditional tools include:
Page counters Too many animated GIFs JavaScript text scrolling Page fade-ins Under-construction signs And other similar devices.
If you find that you do want or need a page counter, that's fine, just make sure that it is hidden. This means that you'll be able to see it, as the person who owns the site, but your visitors won't. Other than for your own measuring purposes, a counter doesn't serve any real purpose to your site. In fact, if you do get a lot of traffic, a page counter only looks arrogant when it's included in your web design. Similarly, if your site doesn't get very much traffic; is this really something that you want to be bragging about?
The same thing goes for JavaScript scrolling and page fading. Though these seemed pretty interesting when they were first introduced, they have been used so frequently that the only message they seem to put across is a lack of originality about the website design.
Under construction signs are a pointless part of any website. After all, shouldn't your website - and the entire World Wide Web for that matter - always technically under construction. It's always growing, changing, adapting, and therefore never has a need for an under construction sign. If you truly feel the need to say that your page is coming soon, do just that. Place a little text marker on the page that says that it is coming soon. If you have an expected date for its "live" day, even better.
The same idea is true with novelties. Every week, and every day there is a new and hot "thing" on the internet. If you wanted to stay on top of each new development, you'd quickly be overwhelmed. However, for a likeable web design, you'll want to stay away from such things and reach out to a wider audience. This means that you'll need to wait until the novelties aren't novel anymore; they're just good.
Though there will always be people jumping on the band wagon for fresh new things, you don't need to be the guinea pig. Your site's likeability needs to be based upon the willingness of your visitors to find its elements appealing.
Some examples of novelties that have become quite popular but are becoming heavily disliked by web users and web developers include:
Java applets Shockwave objects Activex controls Anything requiring plug-ins Specialized document formats (requiring a program download, even if that software is free)
This doesn't mean that you specifically need to avoid these things. If they work for your site, great. Just make sure that you're using them for the right reasons, not just because they seem new and spiffy.
Don't be afraid to try new things, but make sure that your goal is to make your web design more likeable and workable, not just a place for the next design fad.
The author is a Writer working with a leading software development company, which deals with software outsourcing, offshore outsourcing and offshore software development. Get more valuable information at http://www.a1technology.com.
Related Articles:
Valleyfire.com, Created by iGenMedia Web Design, Receives Prestigious Web Design and Excellence Award
Valley Fire Protection Systems receives Web Design and Excellence Award from The American Association of Webmasters for their new re-designed website, http://www.valleyfire.com.
McCord Web Design Becomes McCord Web Services LLC after Strong Growth in 2007
McCord Web Design based in Waldorf, Maryland has changed their business name to McCord Web Services LLC after experiencing a 49% increase in sales in 2007. Positioned for more growth in 2008, McCord Web Services LLC is adding new Web related services in their aggressive growth plan for 2008.
Advantages of High Quality Web Design Services
Planning to get a website designed or re-designed? Professional help from an experienced web design firm can definitely bring positive outcomes. Many companies operate in Southern California areas like San Diego, Los Angeles, and Glendale, as web design companies that can serve businesses in virtually any industry. In order to build professionally proficient websites, specialized skills are essential.
FireThread Studios Continues to Expand Web Design Team with New Hire
FireThread Studios, a Schenectady-based full-service interactive Web design, custom software development and e-commerce firm, today announced that Justin Paslow has joined the company as a Web and Digital Media Designer. To learn more about FireThread and its new E-commerce Solution, go to http://firethread.com/.
Web Design Perth - Everything Your Web Design Needs to Help Your Business
Hello If you haven?t noticed lately, new websites are popping up literally every second of the day
Professional Web Design Services Providing in India
From the nascent stage till a few years ago, India has now emerged as the hub of web design services. With reliance on outsourcing increasing by the day, companies worldwide find the highest standard and quality of web design outsourcing in India at cheapest rates. Web design companies in India now offer a plethora of services starting from conception to execution. The increase in qualified and skilled IT workforce has enabled India to cash in this lucrative market by offering the superior quality of professional web design service unparalleled elsewhere in the world.
Web Design and Hosting - Free Web Hosting Perks That Will Perk Up Your Web Site
If you've got or are considering a web hosting account with PHP and mySQL support, you'll find a wealth of free programs and scripts to take advantage of their powerful combined capabilities.Web hosting providers, from free to pricey, have always included some free pre-installed scripts to their customers in the way of guest books, counters and calendars.
Certified Aviation Services Unveils New Web Site Design
Certified Aviation Services has launched a newly designed website at www.CertifiedAviation.com. The new site provides visitors with new improvements to navigation, look and feel and highlights CAS' new, maintenance-focused brand imagery.
San Francisco Web Design and Web Development Services
A San Francisco Web Development and Web Design Services, #10 offers a full range of marketing and web technology solutions. Please select from the list below to learn more about each of our offerings:
Wyattopia Web Services Offers a Range of Internet Consulting Services Including Web Site Design, Application Development, Database Design and Content
Wyatt Roberts announced today the formation of Wyattopia Web Services, Inc. Based in Florence, Mississippi, Wyattopia offers a range of internet consulting services including web site design, custom application development, database design and content management tools.
Web Design Consulting Works When Choosing Dallas Web Design Team
If your website isn't giving you the results you would like, you may want to consider hiring a web design consultant Texas Web Designers can help you understand what elements of your website need to be improved
Affordable Quality Web Site Design Service
There is a new deal that people looking for affordable quality web site design service need to be on the look out for. The main problem of this is the fact that not all of these services provide much in the way of quality. In the old days there was nothing short of amazing things coming out of the web design services that were in operation. Of course these services charged thousands of dollars for their service and not everyone could afford such a large bill. Well the times changed just like they do with everything and finding an affordable quality web site design service is more common place today and one needs to just know where to look. The other matter for discussion is find the actual quality embedded in a sea of poor quality companies...
How E-commerce Web Site Design Differs From Normal Web Design
When it comes to e-commerce everything is a little bit different, even the web site design for an e-commerce site as compared to a normal web design. If you are interested in developing an e-commerce site, then it is important to learn about the differences between the two types of website designs and how you can design the best e-commerce website with your resources.
Web Design Studio Adds Built-in SEO, Analytics, and Branding to Enhance Website Development Services
To compete in the website design business, freelancers and small firms have to offer marketing services.
Which Web Design Company - Search, Find, Review and Rate Web Design Companies at WWDC
Let's face it, choosing a web design company is a pretty tough job when you are not really sure what to look for in a company. Do you go for the best price? The company who is based closest to you? A friend who designs sites as a hobby? Or one that was recommended by the company next door?
To date, the industry has mostly worked through referrals, Which Web Design Company has taken this very concept to the Web.