WS - The Basic Web Design Principles You Should Know

Do you have basic web design knowledge? Because creating a website is not just a matter of putting up your content in just a few minutes without even thinking of the overall look and feel of the site. Always remember that first impression lasts. And people can easily judge the quality of your site just by a second's worth of looking at it.

So what makes a good web design? Here are some of the basic principles that you should keep in mind when you are creating a new site.

Easy navigation

Unless you are putting up just a one-page site, you will need clear links that will tell people exactly where to click next should they want to read more of your content or where they could go to find other information. This is often called usability and it is the ease of use that makes people have an easy time locating what they want from your site, often with just a click or two. After all if you make it harder for them to go from one page to another, they probably would not even bother and just go on to the next website where they think they can get the information that they need.

Be consistent

Consistency can apply to a lot of things pertaining to your basic web design. It can be about the color of your background. All of your pages should not differ in terms of color scheme so that people will know they are still viewing a page that is part of your website. Consistency can also refer to the branding that you utilize on your site to help promote your company or organization. Again, if you have a logo placed on you header, do the same to the rest of the pages. It will remind your visitors what your brand is and that they are aware who are the people behind the site.

Don't go for very long copy

The text, especially the articles on your website should not go beyond a thousand words each. Of course an exemption to this are academic articles, but if you are just a company site or any other regular web page, your copy should be as short and as concise as possible. Why? This is because of the fact that most people are only scanning the text on the websites. They will only stop and carefully read if they found something of great interest or exactly what they are after. A good practice is using bullets so you can easily and quickly enumerate the key points in your article.

Keep it simple

There is no need to over complicate the features of your website. People generally like simplicity in everything that they see. If your site is offering a product, simply showcase it prominently. Do not make your visitors work harder to learn about it. Do not have a varied mixture of colors that your site turns into a psychedelic show. Keep it simple, silly (KISS) should be every web design consulting firm's motto.

Always aim for quality when you are creating your websites. The principles behind these basic web design tips can be adjusted if you feel that your site goals warrant it. But do not deviate too far because these are tried-and-tested approaches to design and it will help you launch a useful, interesting, and lasting website.

Source: Ezine

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