TT280 - Web Applications: Design, Development and Management - Good Design
What makes for a good web site site?
The main page of your web site should load in 8 seconds or less with a 56K modem, if not a significant number of your potential visitors won't wait and will move on elsewhere.
How to keep your load time down:-
- Avoid large, slow loading graphics - the larger the graphic the longer it takes to load
- Avoid using too many graphics and/or banners - again these can take time to load - if you need to load them be sure to specify the image size as the browser can continue to load the other stuff i.e. the text and also knows how to format the page before the images download.
- Avoid using too many animated graphics - these typically take more time to download and can also distract the visitor away from your main content.
- Optimise your graphics - Use GIFs or JPGs for graphics since they are significantly smaller than BMPS and as such download quickly
- Avoid using any unnecessary code - Don't use more code than necessary as it increases download time.
- Avoid making your pages too large - Large pages are a turn off - If I have to scroll for more than three screenfulls I usually give up and move on.
- Avoid using too much Java - This comes down to download times and execution times - if you use a lot of Java in can increase the time for the page to be displayed.
- Avoid using too many JavaScripts - Same as for Java - each script adds to the time in which the page will be displayed.
- Flash - Do not go overboard with flash opening pages as these can take forever to display, if you must use flash make sure there is a link so that visitors can miss out the intro.
- Breakup large pages into one or more smaller ones
Other Factors Influencing Good Design
- The entry page needs to project a clear image of what the site is about.
- Navigation - Does not allow you to get easily lost or confused - shouldn't have to click too many times from the main page to the page of interest.
- Common style throughout - Best way is too use templates and CSS to give a consistant look to all pages.
- Correct spelling - Nothing worse than seeing a good site let down by poor grammar and spelling
- No broken links - Another failing of some site - broken internal links there is no real excuse for apart from poor testing, broken external links may be that the site linked to has gone down or ceased.
- Accurate search facility - especially for larger sites
- Cater for the lowest common denominator and user skill/ability
- Site reachable from search engines - Correct use of Meta Tagging and optimisation of code and content for higher search engine listing prior to submission to the search engines.
- Split up text, use sub headings - mentioned previously - break up large blocks of text eith sub - headings and more pages if neceassary.
- Test in numerous browsers and versions - different browser display pages in slightly different ways and some may not display the page as designed.
- Well-organized site maps -
- Free goodies - Also known as sticky content - This will attract repeat visitors.
- Kept right up to date - refresh the pages regularly
- Privacy/security statement - particularly if you are storing visitor details.
What brings visitors to the web site?
The site has something the visitor is interested in so it comes down to Content Content Content........... To get repeat visitors it is vital that there is good content and this needs to be regularly refreshed and enhanced. Of course there are a few other things like - is the site listed on a search engine? If not very few people will ever see the site.
How visitors get to the site for the first time:
- Reference from a friend.
- Link from another site.
- From a search on a search engine.
If you are listed below 50 on a search engine the amount of visitors will be minimal - not many people go past the first three pages of search results.
What brings visitors back to the web site?
Content Content Content...........