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1. Hunt and gather - Think of what appeals to you when you’re surfing the web. Website addresses that are easy to remember? Fast downloads? Clean menus? Legible type? Build a knowledge base of the attributes that appeal to you, and then incorporate as many as you can into your website.
2. Know your audience - In any form of communication, it is important to consider who your audience is. In the case of websites that sell, images and graphics that appeal to your target demographic will only enhance your customer’s experience. Is your audience an employer, a high school student, your friends? Think of the different voices you might use to speak to each group.
3. Know your medium - What is the intent of the internet? What types of things are conducive to being displayed on a web page? As the technology grows and changes, the internet can be used for research, shopping, social networking -- there are virtually no limitations. Do you want to create a website that does something totally new and never-before-seen? It’s probably possible - you’ll just have to find the way!
4. Be tech savvy - Learn the relevant technology and use it to your advantage! HTML is a very simple programming language to learn -- but it has hidden depths that allow you to create moving text, tables and graphs, and links to other pages. Conversely, WYSIWYG programs like Macromedia Dreamweaver© allow you to drag and drop text, images, and flash movies from other programs. New web technology emerges everyday, allowing websites to reach new levels of sophistication - staying current on the technology will allow you to create up-to-the-minute websites that never look dated.
5. Make a splash… - Your homepage is as important as a magazine cover or a movie poster. Many designers like to create splashy, interesting homepages that establish an identity, and then create menus and links to the real information. Your homepage is the first thing people will see when visiting your site -- and allows your customer to get an instant impression of your product or service. Make sure it’s the right one!
6. …But remember, form follows function - The vast majority of today’s web surfers are using the internet for specific purposes -- they want to shop, or research, or find information. Does your e-commerce site have a shopping cart feature? Don’t make the customer hunt for it! They are more likely to purchase if the “add to cart” button is right in their face.
7. Make it user-friendly - The best websites are easy to get to, fast to download, and simple to use. Make sure your website is easy to navigate - can users easily click back to the homepage? Are your menus logical and easy to read? When websites are well-designed and easy to use, you are much more likely to have repeat viewers.
8. Proofread! - This one might seem too obvious, but in fact it’s crucial to make yourself and your site look as professional as possible. This is particularly important for any site that considers itself an authority on a subject. Spelling errors connote sloppiness, and won’t inspire confidence in the people viewing your pages.
9. Beta-test it! - What’s the best way to make sure your site turns out the way you intended? Beta-test it on as many applications and download speeds as possible. Netscape Navigator© and Microsoft Internet Explorer© have inherent differences when it comes to downloading and display - make sure your site looks and functions properly no matter what software the viewer might be using.
10. Keep it current - If your website is designed to sell products, make sure to keep it updated - if you’ve sold out of an item for good, you have an obligation to remove it from your site. If your site is an online resume and portfolio, keep it updated with your most recent experience and projects. There are a lot of “abandoned” websites on the internet -- make sure that yours remains an asset to your business or service -- keep it current!
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