5 Simple Rules to Website Design

When designing a website you sometimes only have one chance to keep the internet visitor from clicking the back button on their web browser. Whether you are selling a product or offering a service, remember your website design represents your business.

For years, we have been told that when going to an interview you have 10 seconds to make a lasting first impression. There is no difference when designing your website than making the first impression in an interview. You are making a first impression with the internet visitor who has searched for what you are offering in your website design every time. The first impression can make the difference between in a paying customer or just a visitor to your website.

Here are just 5 simple rules to keep in mind when designing your website.

Rule #1. Limit the use or do not use flashy banners and advertisements at the beginning of you website. There is a time and place for the banners and advertisement.

There is nothing more annoying then clicking on a website to see cartoon characters, advertisements for other products flashing in front of your face. This can be too much for your potential customer. Your customer is there for a purpose and if the blatant advertisements or flashing banners turn them off they may just hit the back button before they find what they are looking for.

The only exception to this rule is determined by the purpose of you website.

Rule #2. Make sure your website design make it easy for the visitor to find the navigation buttons. If a customer has to search for a navigation button to find information about the company or the navigation buttons are not working, the visitor may get frustrated and leave you website.

A rule of thumb for your navigation buttons are on the left side of your web page because the majority of people read from left to right. Think about reading a newspaper or a book. You look at the headlines then you read from the left to the right.

Rule #3. When visitors are browsing your site, have a clear indication for the visitor of where they are on your website and how to get to other parts.

You may want to put a link on each page that the visitor clicks to take them to the home page or another page relating to the information currently viewing. In other words do not confuse your visitor or you visitor may just click off the website totally.

Rule #4. When designing your website pay close attention to loading time. The time it takes your web pages to load. You can reduce loading time by reducing graphics on each page. A good website design should load under twenty seconds.

The longer it takes the pages to load the more frustrating it can be to the internet visitor. People want it yesterday not today and definitely not tomorrow.

Rule #5. Use a font that is common to all web browsers and easy to read. You have to think of your market. If you are selling a product or service that is used by older individuals you may want to increase the font.

Most of us are not going to get younger and with age, we find our eye sights are not what they use to be.

In addition, different web browsers display fonts differently. Therefore, you want to use a universal font compatible to the popular web browser for better viewing.

Bonus Rule #6. Make sure the information on your website is up to date, and relevant to what you are offering. If your website is selling 32", LCD Flat Screen TV's you should not be offering products to repair your driveway. I know that is extreme but people want to know they are visiting a website that has up to date information and is relevant to what they are searching for.

These are just a few rules of website design. There are many other things to adhere to when designing your website for optimal visitors.

When designing your website look at it from the customers or internet visitors standpoint. Would you want to visit this website? Would you want to purchase a product from this website? If you answer "no" then correct the problems.

If you deal with customer service, you need to do as they do. Get out from behind the counter and see what the customers see from where they stand. If you go "ugh", that is not good and you need to make some changes.

Pat Turman is a successful mid-level manager and internet entrepreneur. She co-owned and operated a quarter million dollar e-retail store selling golf equipment for women, runs numerous online businesses, and manages a company with revenues of over a million dollars. She holds a BBA from an accredited University and numerous awards and certificates. http://www.eznichewebsitedesign.com

How to Create Your Own Website - Pick a Template and Boom You Are Done

Building your own website may be a necessary part of any little business plan. This will give means to the buyers so that they have instant access to your goods and services. Taking the correct steps when building your website may distinguish whether you spend hundreds of dollars for a expert web designer or having that money for other promotions for your business.

It can also be a lot of fun for non-professionals as well. In this day and age, with families living far away from one another it's a great way to keep everyone updated on your life. You can learn how to create your own website that is updated frequently with pictures and stories from your life.

Your first impression might be that creating a website is complicated and beyond your ability. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many companies specialize in "how to create your own website" with a content builder. That simply means that you pick out a template, type in all the required fields and soon your very own site is up and running. Learning how to create your own website is a no-brainer in today's world.

If you prefer to create a one-of-a-kind site, you can find all sorts of internet tutorials to learn from. They begin with the fundamentals for rookie web designers and also provide material to aid in adding to the skills one has already acquired. Regardless of your proficiency level, you're sure to find a tutorial on the Net that can assist you in accomplishing your aims.

Before designing your website it's important to think long and hard about exactly what you want your content to be. If you're a business, you will need to figure out which sections you'll need. For example, you might want an area that has a price comparison between your different products. Or, you might want a section devoted to testimonials from previous customers.

The sky is the limit when it comes to private websites. The hardest part will be figuring out what you want because you can customize any combination of links, pictures and blogs to present your personal vision.

You don't have to know the technical aspects of how to create your own website to own one. Whether for a profitable business or for keeping in touch with family and friends, there's tutorials and software out there to help you make your own website, be it basic or complex. The hardest (and most important) part is deciding what your content should be. Be sure to carefully plan what sections you want to have. A business website should have testimonials and price comparisons; a personal website should have photos, essays, and links. Even if the layout of your website is not, the content should be unique to attract visitors.

Website Design Guidelines For Novices

The internet is the first place people go to find the information they seek. The web provides people with quick access to information and the ability to find products they are seeking. While other markets are suffering, the World Wide Web is running strong.

A website design which makes your site attractive and easy to navigate is an important advantage regardless of whether you are promoting merchandise or services, selling items through an internet shop, or just providing information and/or blogging.

One of the important elements to the success of your site is its website design. You need not only attract visitors, but to keep them coming back. Some aspects of a visitor friendly site are; an attractive appearance, good information, laid out in a manner that draws your visitor's attention to your products or services and a navigational flow that is easy.

When you are selecting the colors for you template, always keep one thing in mind that not to choose those colors which could harm the eyes of the visitors. Do not use many different and intense bright colors. It is always best not to use one color at more than three places. The text shade that you use should be in way that it is opposite to the colors that you have used in your template.

Quality subject matter is crucial to your web sites success. When your customers arrive, you want them to stay, come back and refer the site to their friends. You want to provide correct and informative content. In case you are selling an item, you want to provide full descriptions that are easy to understand.

Another important aspect of website design is ease of navigation. You need to be certain that it is easy to get to all your pages. In fact, each page on your site should be reached by no more than three clicks. Navigation bars are probably the simplest way to be certain that your pages are linked properly. Another helpful option is to post a site index.

Without visitors all of the hard work you've put into your site will be pointless. One method to increase page views and to promote your site is the use of search engine optimization techniques. These techniques involve the purposeful use of keywords to improve your rank with search engines. Keywords are words or phrases people are most likely to enter into a search engine to particular pages. Using keywords properly will cause your site to appear closer to the top on search results.

If this seems like biting off more than you can chew, there is always the option of hiring someone experienced in web design to assist you. Often, you can find online designers, but there are sure to be ones in your area as well. You can do an online search to find web designers. It is simple as typing in web design Los Angeles in your search engine, and a list of experienced designers in that area should pop up.

No matter if you looking to the web for a marketing campaign to bring attention to your business, selling a product via online store or have an information site, you can benefit from a well laid out website design. Without visitors all of the hard work you've put into your site will be pointless. One method to increase page views and to promote your site is the use of search engine optimization techniques. Using keywords properly will cause your site to appear closer to the top on search results. For professional assistance, try typing "web design los angeles" into a search engine.

Making a Website That Converts - 5 Must Have Items

So you now have a website and you are driving traffic to it, but the sales just aren't coming in. I know it's frustrating, first thing you should do is stop all advertising, stop spending money. I know people that think "well they will come back and make a purchase" 85% of the people you are sending will never even click on the vendor's pages, let alone go back and buy the product. So Stop all advertising. Now the 5 "Must have items".

1.) Catchy Headline - Make sure that your headline grabs the attention of the visitor, on average you have less then 5 seconds to get the attention of a visitor, after that consider then lost.

2.) Professional graphics - Now I don't mean go spend 1000's having your site redesigned, or all flashy graphics. What I mean is that you must have a good looking webpage so the visitor feels like they can trust you. Gone are the days where you can throw up a headline, some ad copy, and makes sale. Make a good looking website.

3.) Site Layout - This is often forgotten, but if you have a opt-in box, the best place is for it to be in the middle right, or upper right hand part of the screen above the fold. Having your opt in box at the bottom of the screen, or a horrible looking pop hover, or whatever they call it are bad choices.

4.) Testimonials with pictures - everyone needs reassurances when they are buying online, and having testimonials with "real" pictures goes along ways, and to go a step further if you can get a video testimonial that can do wonders for your conversion rates. Here's a tip - don't be fake, it must be sincere and honesty, people will see through fake testimonials.

5.) Clear calls to action - People have to know what to do once they are at your website. If they are unsure, they will just leave, think of it as leading a man to water. He needs to know where to go, and how to get there and it expecting you to help. So make sure your visitor knows what to do when they are at your page.

Those are 5 things you can change today to help your website. And hopefully increase your sales.

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