10 Tips to a Great Web Page

1.  Know your audience, and keep them in mind when you write.

If your Web pages are frequented by people with slower modems then designing a page that looks best over a T1 is not a successful strategy.

2.  Keep your pages short.

If you minimize the scrolling, chances are, your readers will get your message.

3.  Use tables of contents.

According to Jakob Nielsen only 10% of users will scroll beyond the first screen of text. If that first screen has a table of contents viewers will click on the links to the explanatory text.

4.  Keep images small.

Large images annoy people. If it takes too long to download, many people will never see it, as they will have browsed somewhere.

5.  Use Web colors.

The browser-safe color palette will ensure that most people will see your page and images in the colors you intended.

6.  Avoid lots of text.

People don’t read the Web, they skim it. If you must have lots of text use the tables of contents method or have just enough text to arouse the interest of the reader and include a ‘read more’ link.

7.  Check your spelling.

Use a spell checker, either in your editor or on-line.

8.  Keep links current.

Check your links often to make sure they are still valid. Using a link checker speeds up pages with many links.

9.  Annotate your links.

If a page is good enough to link to, then it’s good enough to explain why you like it.

10. Put contact information on your pages.

The Web is interactive and dynamic, and you should welcome comments on your pages. Also, if there is a broken link or other problem, your readers can let you know, easily.

Are there more tips that you would like to share on designing a great Web page? Why not post them to the forum and let us all know about them.