Simple web design tips

Your web site should have the following elements to achieve both a user and search engine friendly web site;

1. Colour and Branding

   If you are an established business then your web site should look like your business and it should incorporate your colour scheme and branding. Whatever your business you have invested time in your business name and company logo, so your web site should use it. This is your current clients comfort zone. When they find you on the internet they will instantly identify you and be happy that they have reached the right web site and not some other web site that has a similar name.

   If you are a new business then it is just as important to establish branding. Whether you start with the web site, business stationery or a shop front signage, they should all match and provide easy recognation for your clients.

2. Navigation

   Your web site should have an obvious navigation system. This is the means that your client will use to explore all the pages on your web site. It doesn’t matter where the navigation appears on the page but it is important that it keeps the same look and location on all pages to make its use easy for the client. There’s nothing worse than going from one page to another and having to work out how the navigation works each time on each page. This would be a great way to drive traffic away from your web site and straight to your competitor.

3. Contact Details

   To us at Specnet this has been the most obvious thing to have on your web site. PUT YOUR CONTACT DETAILS on every page. Surely the point of the web site is to get people to get in touch. MAKE it easy for them to find your phone number or email address. Keep telling them, don’t make them hunt through your web site to find it on a hidden contact us page. clients will only spend a short amount of time looking before going somewhere else.

   Also it is required by law to have all your contact details on your UK web site. A law was introduced in January 2007 requires that all business web site have the following details available to the client; Directors, Company name, Registered address, VAT number(if you have one), Company registration number(if you have one). This enables clients and trading standards to validate your legitimacy, which is important to any client before they do business with you, and it also enables them to have the necessary information with which to settle disputes.

4. Page Content

   Now you have a look for your web site what are you going to put on it? It is important that the homepage, the first page the client arrives at clearly states what you do and who you are. This can be done with both images and text. At Specnet we don’t believe that images or text are more important than the other. They both have their place and role to play.

   Good Text will not only give search engines the information they need to log your web site, but it can also sell your product / services to your client. Attentioning grabbing, interesting and informative text can make the difference to the client choosing you over your competitor. By giving them the information they are after is crucial.

   Good images can back up good text and give and instant attractive visual to what you do. The best images are those that don’t need any explanation. Remember people use the internet for searching and comparing products quickly and will be looking through many other web sites as a comparison to yours. So don’t waste their time with abstract images that might be a lot of fun to you but are meaningless to your client.

   All your web site content needs to informative and interesting and give your client the information they need. By doing this you will keep their attention and encourage them to view other pages of your web site and eventually make contact with you. If this happens then your web site is doing its job.

   Remember the golden rule of KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) and you can’t go far wrong with your web site. Don’t confuse your client, keep them focussed and interested in what you are doing and most importantly establish your brand and make your navigation idiot proof.

If you would like to discuss web design further I am always happy to help. At Specnet we have developed a very unique skill to ensure the web sites we design have the KISS approach. Please feel free to view our portfolio pages for the web sites we have designed or CONTACT US NOW for a FREE consultation.