With so many applications and templates out there, constructing a website is not as difficult as it once was.
With the right program installed, you don't even have to know HTML or CSS. Powerful construction tools give users the power to just drag and drop widgets, upload pictures, and download fonts. Some even offer randomized, generated themes to get you started.
As far as design goes, however, let's just say there are some sites out there that could use a little work. How do you make sure your website is a working model of functional and aesthetic? If it's for a business or a company, your safest bet would be to hire a web designing company. If it's purely personal and you're just out to impress, here are a couple of tips you should bear in mind.
Choose a color scheme and stick to it. I cannot emphasize this enough. If your homepage uses black text on a white background with a red banner on top, do not let your “About” page feature yellow text on a blue background with a green banner.
It's annoying, it's confusing, and people will think you're playing around. Choose colors that complement one another and use them for all tabs and pages.
Update regularly. People don't like wasting their time on sites that are inactive. They will check the dates of “recent” posts just to make sure they're not dealing with a dead page. If you want people to keep coming back, keep it fresh. Post (well-written) articles about latest trends and industry news at least once a week.
Keep your homepage neat. Always remember the 5-second rule; you have precisely five seconds to explain to users what you offer and why they should choose your company before they hit the back button.
The best web design is when a page answers all pertinent questions in a simple and aesthetically pleasing way. Overcrowding your homepage with CTA's, navigation links, testimonials, and graphics can scare away potential customers.
Use easy navigation. Users do not appreciate it if they have to search for the navigation links. You might think it's clever to hide them, scattered around the site like easter eggs, but the joke's on you in the end. Make links clearly labeled and easily accessible.
Invest in professional, high-resolution photos. Pictures are worth a thousand words. Instead of wasting a foot of site space talking about how stunning your workspace is, why not post a picture in the middle and let people be the judge?
First impressions count for a lot, so make sure the pictures you post are of good quality. This goes double if you're trying to sell something online, be it products or services. Pixelated pictures won't do you justice, and it certainly won't boost your sales.
These are just basic tips for design, but that doesn't mean you should write them off in favor of more advanced how-to's. Even experts in a website development company had to start with the basics before they started moving up. Just bear these five simple rules in mind, and you're good to go.
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