Twelve Web Design Rules for Beginners
Introduction
There are a number of common mistakes beginning website creators make when building a website, what follows is a simple but very useful checklist of rules that will make your website clean, easy to manage and update.
Rule 1. Always put your logo on the top left hand corner
Rule 2. Always put your phone number and other contact information on the top right hand corner
As you begin viewing a page your eyes immediately go to the top left corner. They will then focus next on the top right. These two locations are the most important places on your webpage.
Placing your logo on the top left and your contact information on the top right makes it easy for people to remember: Who you are! What the page is about! And, How to get in touch with you!
Rule 3. Order your menu with the most important pages towards the top left hand side
By putting the most important pages first you are strategically locating what you want your viewers to immediately want to see first. By placing what you feel is most important towards the top of your list you can guide them to view what you want them to see. And by allowing viewers to quickly and easily access what you want them to see, you'll be generating repeat repeat traffic to your website.
The next four rules can be summed up, as "Keep It Simple" and "Keep It Clean" Following these rules will make it easy to design, maintain and update your Web Eden webpage. And, as a bonus, following these simple rules will make your site more attractive to viewers.
Rule 4. Use no more than 2 fonts throughout
According to a number of surveys the top 10 best fonts for the web, in order, are: Arial, Frutiger, Futura, Gills Sans, Helvetica, Lucida, Optima, Palatino, Agfa Rotis, and Univers. Choosing any 2 of these fonts and varying their look by using bold, italics, different sizes or colour can add interest and variety to you website.
Rule 5. Left justify your text blocks
Doing this makes it easier for the readers to concentrate on the information you are presenting.
Rule 6. Make sure your text and images always line up
This is more in line with the concept of good housekeeping. A clean website is a regularly viewed website.
Rule 7. Use the same design style throughout
As a website creator you want your web page to show a distinctive style and character, you also want to reinforce this motif every chance you get. By using one style throughout your web site you demonstrate your determination and show that you have a professional attitude in regards to your topic.
Rule 8. Write in short sentences. Keep text blocks to no more than 200 words (people get bored!)
Good, concise writing sells. It puts your point across and keeps people interested in the topic. Using short text blocks avoids viewer eyestrain, a problem that is so common when large blocks of text are presented on the web.
Rule 9. Use images that tie into your text
When using a photo, picture or other graphic make sure it is placed immediately next to it's supporting text. Make sure that the image is relevant to what you are writing about.
Rule 10. Include a Contact Us page
The best way to get feedback, orders or to handle complaints is to have a page where people can contact you. On this page you should always include your email address and other essential information.
Rule 11. Put less important links in a footer, including Terms & Conditions
Always include a Privacy Policy & a sitemap
All the legal information about your site, such as Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy and Copyright while essential and useful in protecting you, the website owner is of lesser importance. Links to this information should always be included and can be placed at the bottom of each page.
Also including a link to the website's sitemap is useful for ease of navigation, maintenance and regular updating of the site.
Conclusion
That sums it up! We hope you find this article useful and that you enjoyed our Twelve Web Design Rules for Beginners
Introduction
There are a number of common mistakes beginning website creators make when building a website, what follows is a simple but very useful checklist of rules that will make your website clean, easy to manage and update.
Rule 1. Always put your logo on the top left hand corner
Rule 2. Always put your phone number and other contact information on the top right hand corner
As you begin viewing a page your eyes immediately go to the top left corner. They will then focus next on the top right. These two locations are the most important places on your webpage.
Placing your logo on the top left and your contact information on the top right makes it easy for people to remember: Who you are! What the page is about! And, How to get in touch with you!
Rule 3. Order your menu with the most important pages towards the top left hand side
By putting the most important pages first you are strategically locating what you want your viewers to immediately want to see first. By placing what you feel is most important towards the top of your list you can guide them to view what you want them to see. And by allowing viewers to quickly and easily access what you want them to see, you'll be generating repeat repeat traffic to your website.
The next four rules can be summed up, as "Keep It Simple" and "Keep It Clean" Following these rules will make it easy to design, maintain and update your Web Eden webpage. And, as a bonus, following these simple rules will make your site more attractive to viewers.
Rule 4. Use no more than 2 fonts throughout
According to a number of surveys the top 10 best fonts for the web, in order, are: Arial, Frutiger, Futura, Gills Sans, Helvetica, Lucida, Optima, Palatino, Agfa Rotis, and Univers. Choosing any 2 of these fonts and varying their look by using bold, italics, different sizes or colour can add interest and variety to you website.
Rule 5. Left justify your text blocks
Doing this makes it easier for the readers to concentrate on the information you are presenting.
Rule 6. Make sure your text and images always line up
This is more in line with the concept of good housekeeping. A clean website is a regularly viewed website.
Rule 7. Use the same design style throughout
As a website creator you want your web page to show a distinctive style and character, you also want to reinforce this motif every chance you get. By using one style throughout your web site you demonstrate your determination and show that you have a professional attitude in regards to your topic.
Rule 8. Write in short sentences. Keep text blocks to no more than 200 words (people get bored!)
Good, concise writing sells. It puts your point across and keeps people interested in the topic. Using short text blocks avoids viewer eyestrain, a problem that is so common when large blocks of text are presented on the web.
Rule 9. Use images that tie into your text
When using a photo, picture or other graphic make sure it is placed immediately next to it's supporting text. Make sure that the image is relevant to what you are writing about.
Rule 10. Include a Contact Us page
The best way to get feedback, orders or to handle complaints is to have a page where people can contact you. On this page you should always include your email address and other essential information.
Rule 11. Put less important links in a footer, including Terms & Conditions
Always include a Privacy Policy & a sitemap
All the legal information about your site, such as Terms & Conditions, Privacy Policy and Copyright while essential and useful in protecting you, the website owner is of lesser importance. Links to this information should always be included and can be placed at the bottom of each page.
Also including a link to the website's sitemap is useful for ease of navigation, maintenance and regular updating of the site.
Conclusion
That sums it up! We hope you find this article useful and that you enjoyed our Twelve Web Design Rules for Beginners