Do’s:

  1. Make Your Web Site Unique2
    1. List what's unique about your company's products or services.2
    2. List the specials, products, and services your competitors' Web sites offer.2
  2. Design an Uncluttered Web Site with Understandable Navigation Directions2
    1. Have the navigation links where people expect to find them.2
    2. Make sure the format links are consistent on all pages of your Web site.2
    3. Have each page in your Web site link back to your homepage. 1
    4. Keep your web navigation simple3.
  3. Keep Your Web Site Current and Fresh2
    1. A current web site shows your visitors that your site is worth visiting.2
    2.  List information on new products, special offers, and services.2
    3. List business operations – hours available and contact information.2
    4. On the bottom of your home page include the date your Web site was last updated.2
    5.  A current web site shows that your business is credible and trust worthy.2
    6. Quarterly check your hyperlinks to see if they are current.
  4. Keep Standard Hyperlink Colors Blue1
    1. Changing the colors confuse the users.
  5. Have Your Web Site Organized and Consistant3
    1.  Being consistent with your web site design and formatting techniques. The Internet will have an easier time navigating the web site.
    2. Have a consistent look and feel about your site so the user feels comfortable and has a sense of recognition when they visit.
    3. The page or site color scheme and navigation should be the same throughout the site.
  6. Minimize the Amount of Graphics and Flash3
    1. Graphics and Flash Animation will take time to load, which makes the Internet user impatient.  Be sure to use the graphics that load fast.
    2. Use the graphics in a table or a cell.
    3. Search Engine Spiders will not be able to index web pages.
  7. Three Types of Links
    1. Have descriptive links.
    2. Have readable links.
    3. Add color to your links.  One color could be for your major links.  Another color could be for your local links.

Organize Your Site Files

    1. Organize your site files by dividing them into categories for easy management.
    2. Use high compression in JPEG
    3. Improve the performance of your site by reducing the size of your JPEG-images.
      JPEG can be saved with different compression-percentages. A high compression results in a smaller file size but also in a less perfect image. Test several compressions for each image you want to use. For different images the acceptable compressions will differ.     
  1. Provide Thumbnail Size Photos for the Large Images
    1. In some cases you do need large pictures that take a while to load. I.e. if you're running a website on modern art.
      In such a case do provide small copies of the original images (thumbnails) that link to the original ones.
  2. Ask the User for Feedback4
    1. Have questions about your site for the user to add their comments.
    2. Ask for ideas of improvement.
    3. Leave an email address for the user to reach you.
  3. Show Web Site Publish Date4
    1. Have a place on your home page to show when the site was updated.
    2. Regularly check your web sites to update information on a regular basis.
  4. Add Information about your Links4
    1. Accompanying text with a links add value to your resource.
    2. Share your knowledge about the site you are referring the user to check out.
  5. Use a Descriptive Title4
    1. The user will see clearly that to expect on that web page.
    2. This descriptive title will show up in the results section on the search engines.
    3. Internet Browsers will use this descriptive title in the history list.
  6. Present Most Important Information on the Home Page4
    1. Tell the user what to expect on the web site.
    2. Peak their interest with a descriptive title and a link to the information they are seeking.

Don’t:

1.                 Avoid Using All Caps4

a.      Text using all caps is hard to read.

b.     This type of text makes the user feel as if they are being punished.

2.                 Avoid Publishing a Web Site Under Construction4

a.      This will frustrate the user

b.     The user may not return to your site.

3.                 Use Text that Blinks4

a.      Blinking text is hard on to read.  Avoid <BLINK>.

b.     A user might not come back to your site.

4.                 Over Use Formatting Styles4

a.      Use bold in areas that you want to user to focus.  Make it be functional and short.

b.     Use of italics is hard to read and will distort what the web designer intended.

c.      Avoid small serif text like Times Roman because it is hard to read.

5.                 Avoid Repeating Links, Link to Irrelevant Pages,4 and Clichés6

a.      Repeating links too often within your site will confuse the user.  Repeat at the top and bottom of the web pages.

b.     Linking to irrelevant pages outside your web site will confuse the user.

c.      Use “Click Here” to link the user to another site to find the information that are searching for.

d.     Avoid “Welcome to My Web Site”.  The user already knows that they are welcome to view the web site.

e.      Click here to see something.

6.                 Avoid Create Dead End Pages4

a.      This is a web page that has no links to other web pages.  The user has to use the back button or home button to leave that web page.

b.     No orphan pages.

7.                 Avoid Experimental Navigation Buttons4

a.      Plan out your web site with understandable navigation buttons for directions, so the user does not have to return to the home page to navigate through the web site.

b.     When the navigation of a web site is not clear then the user will give up and not return to your web site.

8.                 Avoid Excessive Use of Shouting Colors5

a.      These colors are your primary colors – red, green, and yellow.

9.                 Avoid  Embedded music6

a.      Embedded music will take time to load, which makes the Internet user impatient.

b.     There no way to turn of the music.

 

10.            Avoid Splash Pages 6

a.      The reader only sees “Enter Here” or ‘Click Here to Enter” to view your Web Site.

b.     The user need to wait will the splash page loads.  They are useless.

11.            Avoid Adding Numerical Hit Countes.6

a.      This is not real statistical value.  The people visiting your Web Site might not be repeat visitors.

12.            Avoid Centered Text6

a.      Centered text is hard to read.  Use of left justified is easier on the eyes.

13.            Do not Confuse Web Design with Sex and Football7

a.      Linking sex with web sites will offend you users.

b.     Web designers need to be gentle and guide the user through their site.  Web sites are teaching tools for a variety of categories, where set does not belong.

c.      Web designers are there to make money with their business trade.

14.            Avoid Scrolling Text, Marquees, and Constantly Running Animations8

a.      Constant moving objects on the monitor makes it hard for the user to focus on the task at hand.  Let them actually read the text.

15.            Avoid Long URl’S8

a.      Be sure to use lower case characters with shorter names.

b.     Do not use special characters.

 

References:

1.                    River School  http://www.rivier.edu/faculty/dburgess/web/ic/do.htm

2.                    Spectra Web Sites at http://www.spectrawebsites.com/article4.html

3.                    Web Pro News at http://www.webpronews.com/webdevelopment/sitedesign/wpn-26-20040930DesignanEyeCatchingWebsite.html

4.                    Spider Pro at http://www.spiderpro.com/pr/prstgm001.html

5.                    http://web-design-tips.blogspot.com

6.                    Alicoma Web Development and Digital Design http://www.alicorna.com/donts.html

7.                  Vincent Flanders http://www.fixingyourwebsite.com/dontconfusewebdesignwithsex.html

8.                  Ten Good Deeds in a Web Site http://www.useit.com/alertbox/991003.html

http://www.rivier.edu/faculty/dburgess/web/ic/do.htm