Web Dos & Don'ts: Tips from Rawdata.net

Fast download: Avoiding Impatient Users

Ensure your site downloads quickly, ideally within 10-30 seconds maximum, to ensure that users with slower computers and modems don't get aggravated waiting for your site to load. Based on a download speed of 1K per second, the total file size of a page (including graphics) should not exceed 30K. Beantown Web will make sure that your site loads as quickly as possible.

Usability: the Simpler, the Better

If your web site is not user friendly, visitors will not be able to use it and they will become frustrated and will not return to it. It is return users who will buy your product or service, not a unique user who only visits your site the once. Good usability is found in easy-to-follow navigation and simple site layout.

A Caution about Fonts

Don't fall in love with a specific font. There are a handful of basic fonts that look good online and are easily read. AVOID ALL CAPS, whenever possible, and save script-like or funky fonts for top headers or special graphics.

Navigation: Where am I?

At any one time, the user should be able to reach any level of the site and clearly see where they are in the site's hierarchy. If your user doesn't know where she is, she will become aggravated and will not want to return to your site.

Scrolling

Never have horizontal scrolling, users find it annoying. Sites should be designed to fit a screen resolution of 580 pixels wide. Avoid vertical scrolling when possible.

Keep it Simple

Simplicity is essential. Use white space carefully. Try to make sure you don't have more than 12 words to a line of text - it is difficult to read if there are more. Although they may be "cool looking," animated graphics usually serve only to annoy the user. Don't have animated graphics, scrolling text or other moving items all over the place - they draw attention away from the content. Don't overcrowd a page with too much information and too many links, the user won't know what to look at first.

Avoid new technology

Don't create sites that rely entirely on new technology, such as Flash. Many users won't spend the time downloading the plug-in to view the site. You can't guarantee all users will have, or want, the plug-ins, and may "scare off" potential customers. If you do use animations and Flash, try to make sure they make up only a small portion of your site, so that if your user does not download a plugin, she can still understand the site's content.

Avoid frames

Frames are often confusing for users, can create unnecessary scroll bars, destroys the web address for people to email the current page to someone, or bookmark it for future. The url (web address) they save ends up being the top of the frameset, not the one they wanted. This could lose you customers/visitors who don't want to trail through the site finding the particular page. Frames will also prevent your site from being searched properly by search engine spiders.

Keep it up-to-date

Keep the content on your site current. Most good sites are constantly updated, so if yours is out-of-date, users won't return. Encourage people to come back with "news" or "highlights" sections on your home page. Beantown Web offers updating services at $40/hour or custom-quoted.

Source: information compiled from rawdata.net