Issues to Consider when Building a Web Site

Source: http://www.efuse.com

Organization

• What should your site do for your visitors?
• What do you want the site to do for you?
• Create an outline
• Start with the Home Page
• Visitors immediately learn what the site is about and what it's offering them
• Introduce visitors to the organization of the Web site (sections).
• Make a list of all topics you want to cover on your site. Create sections - like chapters of a book.
• Create subtopics, when appropriate
• Navigation - How visitors will get the information that they're looking for
• Home page must link to all sections
• Every page should have navigation buttons that let visitors get to the home page or any main section page
• Should be consistent from page to page
• Try to include a search feature (for example, http://www.atomz.com)

Content

• What do you want to accomplish? Brainstorm ideas.
• What does the reader want to accomplish?
• Features & benefits -- Readers need to know what features are and how they benefit them.
• Organize your thoughts
• By importance
• By topic
• Fill-in the blanks (content)
• Editing
• Visitors should know where they are at all times -- the name of the site and the name of the area within the site
• Include ways for visitors to contact you on every page
• Don’t be stingy with content
• Include all pertinent links (page to page, site to site)

Appearance

• Formal or casual? Modern or traditional? Serious or friendly?
• Consistent appearance throughout
• Start each page with the headline
• Create an "executive summary" at the beginning, with links to main subheads
• Use plenty of subheads
• Format headings as separate lines
• Bold text stands out
• Use italics for emphasis. Help readers "hear" the same emphasis you intended.
• People read bulleted text
• Repeat your most important quotes ("pull quotes")

Top Ten Do's and Don'ts

Source: (http://www.efuse.com/Design/top_10_do_s_and_don_ts.html)

1. Keep graphic files small (reduce download time)
2. Keep text files small.
3. Design for easy reading. Don't trade readability for style. Make backgrounds as light as possible.
4. Design for 256 colors (8-bit) and 640x480 resolution. Lowest common denominator for people with older computers.
5. Use "ALT" tags on graphics. ALT text appears before the graphic does or in place of graphics. Make sure ALT text is truly descriptive. Also important to ensure accessibility.
6. Include contact information on every page.
7. Keep your site fresh. Update at least once per month.
8. Be generous. The more detail you provide, the more of a service you offer, and the more reason you give people to visit your site.
9. Be backward compatible. Cutting-edge technology can exclude readers.
10. Test your site. Connect at slower speeds and at several resolutions. Try different color depths (256, 16-bit, 24-bit). View your site using different browsers.

What Makes Good Organization?

• Easy and intuitive for visitors to find what they want.
• Easy for your site to grow logically.
• Clear navigation. Readers need to understand where they are and how to get to where they want to be. Always include a link to Home.
• A sense of identity (theme). Similar typefaces and colors on every page.