Guide to What REALLY Matters In Web Design

Fast loading...Yes and No

Do you really need a fast loading page or people will leave and never come back?

I recommend: Yep, this is true. Your site must load in an acceptable time span. This used to be really important. Nowadays...not so much. Why? High speed internet. I know not everyone has it. the question is, do your customers have it? People that you want to reach...your customer base...do they have it? Probably so. Most of my work is for industrial and manufacturing businesses...not Bob out in Podunk, Population 100 and shrinking. Concentrate on your target audience and they will provide the best answer to this question. Check you speed: www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze

Clear, Easy Navigation...Yep

Navigation can make or break a site. Nobody likes getting lost.

I recommend: Navigation can make a good website...or can kill a good website. Do you remember being a kid and getting lost in a store?...I do. It's no fun in a website either. Navigation should be clear and CONSISTENT on each page...oh...one more thing....DON'T forget the freakin' HOME button. The home button is Mommy...it's your way home when your lost in the store...and don't hide it in small text up in the header. It's the second most used button besides the browsers back button. Now the consistent part. When visitors come to your site, you educate them on where your navigation is and how it works...don't switch it up on them...that's just mean. What about drop-down navigation, sometimes even with a slide-out? I'll only do this when a customer demands it. When I use my laptop, I don't always use a mouse...I use the touchpad. Ever try to navigate and trace one of these drop-down slide-out monsters with your finger? GOOD LUCK. If you must: www.alistapart.com/articles/dropdowns

Colors..sure...but what about images?

Garbage In...Garbage Out!

I recommend: Colors are important to the overall look and "feel" of the site for sure, but images and graphics are even more important. Images to a website are like food to your body...garbage in, garbage out. I've never seen a website that was pleasing to the eye that didn't have clear, high quality images and professionally done graphics. Let's come to one understanding...you look at a website on a monitor...basically a TV screen...it's visual. I know that not everyone can afford a photographer and/or a Graphic Artist, so use something else. How about royalty free/license free images and a quality template. That's a good start. Find some nice images and pick colors based on those images. The same as decorating a room based on and inspiration piece, like a painting or piece of art. If you don't have a good eye for that stuff, hire someone. It will end up being much less than the business you'll lose with an ugly, unappealing site. Free images: www.sxc.hu

Cross Browser Performance...You're So Vain

Just because you use Internet Explorer with an 800 X 600 screen resolution doesn't mean everyone does.

I recommend: This is one of the biggest mistakes I see everyday. Nice looking websites that are hopelessly broken and causing the company to look like a bunch of schmucks. You have to realize that not everyones computer is like yours. Mac, PC, BlackBerry, PalmPilots, cell phones...all of these things can view (or not) your website. How many potential customers are you willing to not be able to handle? 10%, 20%, 30%? You need to make sure your website works on as many browsers and devices as possible to reach the largest audience. You need to test your website on as many platform combinations as possible. Don't be lazy after all of your hard work. Now I'm not saying you need to test on Mac Internet Explorer. Microsoft doesn't even support this product anymore...neither do I. One other thing if you build a site in Microsoft FrontPage, it probably won't look or act right in anything but Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser. Check it on Mac Safari: www.browsrcamp.com

Search Engine Optimization

"You Can Be #1 On All Of The Search Engines!"

I recommend: If you ever read or hear this, run...run fast and far. There are no secrets to performing well in the search engines. There are things I know that you don't that will give you the best chance of doing well...but they're hardly secrets. Now, in my days I've seen websites that perform well in the search engines that were built specifically for search engine performance. Unfortunately, they are often horrible looking and full of text for the search engines to read. Remember one thing, build a good website for people with useful information and the search engines will come. People spend money, not the search engines. There are plenty of questionable Search Engine Optimization firms looking to take your money. If you have to hire one...you'd be better off investing in a new website designed by someone that understands the Search Engine Optimization business. After all, what good is it sending folks to a bad website? Google says: www.google.com/webmasters/