This area of DESIGN WORKS! is dedicated to helping our clients understand the relationship of "Web Site Pitfalls" to HTML programming, web site design, content and navigation. By now we have either completed your Strategic Internet Business Plan or are at the "Design Considerations" planning point. The purpose of this area is to present a brief review of some web site do's and don't's - better known as ...
 
 
 
If you don't want to be sucked into that vast hole of obscurity, keep in mind these helpful web site do's and don't's!!
 
  • DO NOT use large downloadable pictures on your homepage, or at least structure your homepage to support readable text while your images are downloading. Remember that the majority of your viewers still have a 14.4 bps modem. Why not offer standard and multi-media viewing options?!
  • LOST IN SPACE -- no one knows you're out there! Register your site with the various browsers and search engines individually. Use concise page descriptions, true descriptive keywords and META tags to help ensure an impactful, priority listing. And follow all the rules for each browser registration -- they're all different.
  • You got them to your site - now what do your viewers do? Don't have a static site, it's BORING!! Always be interactive wherever possible. Also, DON'T be so blatant with your text. Serve the needs of your surfers, don't force feed them. The medium is virtual so talk to your audience, don't just lecture them.
  • 2,000 hits one month and only 200 the next? You're OLD NEWS now! Update your information as often as possible using new and exciting elements. Be sure to identify which information is updated by identifying it as "NEW!".
  • DON'T leave 'em hangin'! EASY NAVIGATION is the key if you want users to stay with your site and take the whole tour. So test and retest your navigational links so that your viewers can get to where they want to go quickly and painlessly.
  • DON'T be a COOKIE MONSTER!! Setting cookies is an effective way of measuring your audience, but you must be selective in their positioning. Select your most important areas only for setting cookies and use a regular hit counter for the rest. Too many cookies will scare some viewers away.
  • GIVE your audience a reason to contact you -- make E-mail available, invite a critique of your site or products, ask for new product suggestions, and use action words such as "BOOKMARK THIS SITE".
  • REMEMBER that your business computer monitor may vary considerably from some of your viewers'. So instead of setting your page size (or screen size) to an exact figure, set it at "100%" of screen or "95%" etc. That way your viewers don't have to scroll sideways to read every single line. You can also use tables to control content boundries. For examle, the content on this page is presented within a 750 pixel wide table..
  • BE UNIQUE!! Give your site a memorable character and personality. This helps to brand your site as a memorable location to visit again.
  • Is your primary target audience Canadian? Then you should strongly consider having a BILINGUAL site. Not doing so can result in losing 25% of the Canadian market right off the top!

Contact: TOWNHALL Internet Communications
 
IT'S POSSIBLE YOU SHOULD EXPECT A WHOLE LOT MORE FROM YOUR WEB SITE !!!
 
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