What is a good web page?
Today I would like to talk about fluid design. You may be wondering just what is fluid design? Well, I would like to call it as design that adjusts and accommodates depending on how your viewer is viewing your web pages on your web site.
Ultimately, the best sites are sites that genuinely care about their user’s experience when they visit the web site. What I mean by this is, you do not impose flashy graphics or force the user to create an account etc. Remember, most users are searching for information, while few want to buy something. Keeping this simple rule in mind will save you time and grief later on.
If you know your user has come to your site looking for information, why not make it easy for him/her and give that? In fac, if you provide quality information without any expectations, your credibility will go one notch higher in your users’ eyes.
However, most sites rely on heavy usage of graphics, flashy banners, animated buttons, mouse trails and colors to attract a user’s attention. This has been proven time and again it isn’t one of the best ways to grab your user’s attention. Sure, slick graphics for an advertisement in the corner of your page might pass. But think about it. How many times have you reached for the fast-forward button on your remote control when you are watching a movie and the producers are trying to “dump” you with advertisements? Don’t you think the same holds true for your web site? Believe it or not. It does.
Unless you are in the entertainment industry, use of flashy graphics, flying banners etc. tend to be out of place. Even though a web designer may suggest (perhaps even insist) on doing some of these “tricks” (more $?), you as a business owner need to seriously ask yourself; “Is my user visiting my web site because of my fancy graphics? Or because of my content/service/prodct?” The answer to that will determine where you need to focus on your web site.
Laying out content (and a few graphics) in an easy to read format may seem too simple to ask on a web page. But it doesn’t surprise me how many times you see web pages that are designed to be viewed at a specific resolution? Or on a specific browser? How many times have you heard people say, “Well, it looks good on MY browser?” What does that tell you? It says, your web designer is fixed on one type of design. It says, you don’t care how your information gets displayed to your visitors. Have you seriously thought about that? Did you even know that your web site may look different on different browsers or screen resolutions?
If this is news to you then be prepared to work a little with your web designer. In fact, in some cases you may have to switch your web designer/developer to accommodate what is being said here. Why? Because your visitors’ experience is what matters in the end.
Can this be done, you ask? Well, stay tuned for my next article(s) that will explain how this can be achieved.
Elvin Picardo
Delivering Net Results to Small Business
Author of numerous articles on web development and Internet Marketing for small business
10723 159th St, Surrey, BC V4N 3J1 Canada
NetMedian.com
Contact Elvin
Ultimately, the best sites are sites that genuinely care about their user’s experience when they visit the web site. What I mean by this is, you do not impose flashy graphics or force the user to create an account etc. Remember, most users are searching for information, while few want to buy something. Keeping this simple rule in mind will save you time and grief later on.
If you know your user has come to your site looking for information, why not make it easy for him/her and give that? In fac, if you provide quality information without any expectations, your credibility will go one notch higher in your users’ eyes.
However, most sites rely on heavy usage of graphics, flashy banners, animated buttons, mouse trails and colors to attract a user’s attention. This has been proven time and again it isn’t one of the best ways to grab your user’s attention. Sure, slick graphics for an advertisement in the corner of your page might pass. But think about it. How many times have you reached for the fast-forward button on your remote control when you are watching a movie and the producers are trying to “dump” you with advertisements? Don’t you think the same holds true for your web site? Believe it or not. It does.
Unless you are in the entertainment industry, use of flashy graphics, flying banners etc. tend to be out of place. Even though a web designer may suggest (perhaps even insist) on doing some of these “tricks” (more $?), you as a business owner need to seriously ask yourself; “Is my user visiting my web site because of my fancy graphics? Or because of my content/service/prodct?” The answer to that will determine where you need to focus on your web site.
Laying out content (and a few graphics) in an easy to read format may seem too simple to ask on a web page. But it doesn’t surprise me how many times you see web pages that are designed to be viewed at a specific resolution? Or on a specific browser? How many times have you heard people say, “Well, it looks good on MY browser?” What does that tell you? It says, your web designer is fixed on one type of design. It says, you don’t care how your information gets displayed to your visitors. Have you seriously thought about that? Did you even know that your web site may look different on different browsers or screen resolutions?
If this is news to you then be prepared to work a little with your web designer. In fact, in some cases you may have to switch your web designer/developer to accommodate what is being said here. Why? Because your visitors’ experience is what matters in the end.
Can this be done, you ask? Well, stay tuned for my next article(s) that will explain how this can be achieved.
Elvin Picardo
Delivering Net Results to Small Business
Author of numerous articles on web development and Internet Marketing for small business
10723 159th St, Surrey, BC V4N 3J1 Canada
NetMedian.com
Contact Elvin
<< Home