9 Ways to Improve Bad Website Design
You're website reads well and you're proud of it. But, you've tried and
tried to create something that looks good too, and you can't seem to get
it together. You're waiting for rave reviews but none have come your way.
Your website is a flop. Not to worry. You're not alone. You want to fix it
but you don't have the big budget you need to hire a great web developer.
Check out some simple ways you can improve your website and get it into
better shape, now!
1. Balance your page: When users enter a website, their focus first
starts at the top left of the page, and hovers there before slowly
tracking to the right. Contrary to what many think, the web user is
focused more on the text of the page, rather than images or graphics. This
is where balance comes into place. Balance will not only make your page
more visually appealing, but it will make your page easier to read and
items easier to find. A good layout will help the objects on your page to
flow.
2. Keep it simple: Less is more. Clean your website up by removing
all the unnecessary visual elements. This will allow important items to
stand out. Leave some white space on the page. The illusion of space is
visually pleasing, as well as easier to navigate. Otherwise, your visitor
will get whiplash by darting their head from left to right in an attempt
to look at all the information crammed on your screen. Or worse, they'll
click on out of there in a hurry.
3. Fix your fonts: The size and type of font you select will have
an effect on how your reader takes in your information. What font should
you use? San-serif fonts such as Arial and Verdana are popular choices for
on-screen reading. And keep the size in mind too. The font size should be
no smaller than 10 points and no larger than 14 points. You don't want the
reader to be able to read the information from across the room, but you
don't want them squinting and leaning closer to the monitor either.
4. Clean backgrounds: Go subtle. The background textures and colors
you choose have the ability to gauge the overall appeal of the website.
Lots of texture and graphics in the background can be distracting, and the
more texture you add to the background, the less noticeable your text and
images become.
If you're going to use a color on the background, make sure there is a
significant contrast between the background color and the text. Strike a
good balance, or you may compromise the readability of the text. Make good
choices. You will rarely go wrong with black text on a white background.
It's crisp, clean, and easy to read. Be cautious when using darker and
brighter colors such as red or yellow. They cause visual fatigue and the
reader will lose their focus on the text.
5. Graphics: Graphics are often overused on WebPages. We often
clutter the pages with objects that look cool but serve no purpose other
than to increase the download time. Here are some instances where you can
use graphics to enhance your pages:
Logo – Your logo is your brand recognition and it adds visual appeal to
your WebPages.
Title bars – The title bar lets your visitors know which page they are on.
Horizontal rules – Graphic lines are often used to separate categories or
sections of a web page.
Background images – Are used to add visual appeal or make a web site
easier to navigate.
Photos – Personalize a website and make it inviting.
Navigation icons, such as `home' and 'back' enhance a page because they
are familiar and users anticipate seeing them.
6. Easy navigation: Create a toolbar with links that are easy to
navigate. Position the toolbar in an area that makes sense. Web users
often look for the toolbar across the top or down the left hand side of
the page. Going with the norm will create a sense of familiarity and
facilitate the ease of navigation. And don't forget a link to your
homepage. It's often forgotten but very important to point your users to
your home page. Check out
www.invesp.com for an example of easy and well structured website
navigation.
7. Text readability: You have great copy, but are you displaying it
effectively? Make your pages easy to read. Break up blocks of text and
create short paragraphs.
Consider the key points on each page and create headings and subheadings.
Only use one or two fonts. Select one font for your headings and
subheadings and another for the body text.
Highlight key words and phrases by bolding or using a different color. Be
careful when selecting colors, and don't use every color in the rainbow.
Many, such as yellow and pink, don't stand out well if you've selected a
white or black background.
8. Scrolling: Horizontal scrolling? Yikes. That needs to go, now!
Users hate, hate, hate to scroll left to right. It's disorienting and
annoying, so if you've got it, lose it. Vertical scrolling is ok if you
have to have it, but consider moving larger blocks of information to
another page and providing links. There's also the danger of missing vital
information that falls below the screen if a user decides not to scroll
down to view it. So if you've got to have a scrolling page, try to keep
all your important information above the fold.
9. Make it quick: We all get impatient when it takes more than 5
seconds to connect to a website. Users want to make contact, and make it
quick. Ensure that your pages load as quickly as possible. Eliminate
unnecessary graphics, especially flash graphics...they can be time hogs.
You need to make an immediate impression, and the only impression you're
leaving as your page slowly grinds in to view is "this page sucks"...if
they're still there to see it at all.