The Do's and Don'ts of Web Design

Website design is an art form in itself. In order to make sure that the site you are designing achieves all that it has set out to do, the designer has to achieve a dual mindset, embracing what the client wants to project along with what it is that the consumer wants to see. To help strike this balance, we have compiled a list of the top five fundamental ‘do's and don'ts' of website design because, in the complicated arena of web design, it can often be these fundamentals that get overlooked.

1) Bigger isn't better
This rule of thumb is applicable to graphics, text and audio effects. The bigger the file size, the longer it will take to download. Google research has found that consumers expect a website to download in full in around 30 seconds. After this time, browsers tended to move on or ‘bounce' to another site if the website was not ready for them to use. Where graphics are concerned, if your website has graphics involving a wide range of colours, the file is best saved as JPG files. However, if there are few colours, GIF files are more appropriate. GIF palettes are also available with optimized colours, which can reduce file sizes by around 50%.

2) Don't try flash tactics
According to Google, the second most clicked button on the Internet is the ‘skip intro' button. Introductions that use Flash are quickly becoming outdated, as they waste time and serve no real purpose other than to distract the visitor. By disposing of Flash introductions, you can save yourself time and your client a lot of money. It can also stop site visitors bouncing to another site, improving the effectiveness of the client's site and encouraging the visitor to investigate further.

3) Leave them wanting more
Many people make the mistake of assuming that once a website has gone live, the designer's job is over. This is simply not true. In addition to attracting new custom, a website's job is to generate repeat business. Maintaining a website is important - and this doesn't have to involve perpetual re-design. Instead, simple tactics such as updating information, disposing of out of date information and offering interactive services through the website that engage, entertain and inform the visitor can encourage consumers to return.

4) It's all in the details
Research by AOL has found that many browsers save web pages to disk or print them out for future reference. To ensure that you are always contactable and that your website can always be found again, it is worth including your company's contact details and URL address on every page. This needn't get in the way of what you want the website to say and do; it can be a discreet aid to consumers who may want your services at a later date.

5) Do it yourself
While there are many web designers in the marketplace, more people are either attending web design courses themselves or paying for their employees to undertake web design training. This allows a business to operate web design in-house and makes it easier for people to translate their visions into reality.