Issue 43: Guideline of Essential Website Elements
Elements of a website refer to a wide range of items, such as content, images, fonts, how things are presented to a visitor, grammar, and more. In my years of creating websites, I constantly see others missing essential elements to their website. In this article we will go through these essential elements.
Website Must Have’s
Clear Purpose
There is nothing more frustrating and annoying than going to site that you think might have the information you’re in search of, but you’ll be darned if you could even understand if it does.
Always make sure that you make your site’s purpose known in easy to understand terms. If the purpose or any other information on your website can be said in as little words as possible, great! No one likes to try reading a long and drawn out paragraph online. Your visitors visit your website to find the information they came to find, and if it takes them more than a few seconds to figure out if you have that information or not—guess what, they’re already clicking their back button away from your site before you even get a chance to tell them that you have their information.
Be Kind
Have you ever come upon a site that had so much going on that it was hard to find anything, let alone know what the site was about? What about colors that blind you? Or annoying pop-ups that just won’t go away no matter how much you click on the little black X to close the window? Or what about music or video that play without your consent, or has the sound so high that it blasts you into next Tuesday?
When you create your website, keep in mind the end user and their needs as it pertains to them visiting your website. I have yet to come across anyone that enjoys dealing with the any of the above mentioned annoyances, and I’m sure your own website visitors won’t like them either.
De-clutter
Clutter on a website can refer to many different things, such as color, images, content, or even font use. Let’s take a look at each of these separately:
- Color. Using more than three colors can start to make a web page feel constrained and cluttered. Keep your site fresh by sticking to only three colors that compliment each other, and compliment that of your niche target. It is okay to use shades of the three colors you have chosen, just don’t go overboard. Use color to highlight areas of your web page, though don’t over do it as search engines will consider that spamming. (SEO tactic thrown in there *grin*.)
- Images. The use of images should not be the main focal point of a web page, unless of course your web page/site is a portfolio or a photoblog. Aside from those times, images should compliment your website’s content, and your content should not rely on those images—if it can be helped. Keep the use of images to a minimum, excessive use of images can increase the time it takes for your web page to load within a browser (time that it takes a visitor to see your web page or image).
- Content. Your content should be to the point and easy to understand. Use of long paragraphs is a no-no, instead cut those paragraphs up. Try using lists to make your point or say it in less words. Long paragraphs on a web page are hard to read, and most users won’t bother to read the page at all.
- Font Use. Which fonts to use for what is a constant debate among web designers. Some believe that you should stick to one font throughout the entire site, and others believe that you should use up to 3 to 4 different fonts. In the 6+ years I’ve been designing websites, I’ve always leaned towards using a maximum of 2 to 3 different fonts; one for all content—this includes all links—and one for headings. For sub-headings I would use the same font as the headings, though make it smaller than the headings.
Another debate among web designers is which fonts are better for screen reading. Some say that sans-serif fonts are best (such as Verdana or Arial), while others believe that serif fonts (such as Courier) are better. Some even believe that it doesn’t matter and can use either. Personally, I prefer using sans-serif fonts such as Verdana (my favorite to use), Arial and Helvetica. I have found, and visitors to my websites have agreed, that using these types of fonts is easier on the eye, and makes for a less cluttered feeling within the content of a web page. I recommend to all my students that they should keep the fancy fonts (serifs) for their headings or sub-headings, and use the plain and boring fonts (non-serifs) for their content.
As far as emphasizing of content goes, avoid using italics as this is hard to read on a computer screen—italics are mainly used in print, and don’t over use bolding. The use of bolding content should only be used to highlight a point, or for headings and sub-headings.
Some Things to Consider
- Always make sure that your pages load within all browsers within 10 to 20 seconds—any longer and your visitor is long gone.
- Keep the structure of your pages consistant throughout your entire website, the same goes for your navigation—you start changing the structure or even your navigation on every page, and your more than likely going to confuse the heck out of your visitors.
- Always use bullet lists to make points, and make them short and to the point.
- If you are collecting people’s information, make sure you have a privacy statement that is easily accessible and easy to find.
- Make sure that your users can find your information within two “clicks of the mouse” (maximum) no matter where they are within your website. This will insure that they will always find what they came to your website for in the first place, and increases the likelihood that they will return to your website at some point in the future.
Essential for Every Website
Every website should include the following areas within their pages:
Main Navigational Menu—usually found at the top of left side of the web page
Header—always found at the top of the web page and should not be overpowering the content
Content—the focal point of your web page
Sub-menu—found on the left or right side of the page, depending on the website design; sometimes referred to as the sidebar
Footer—always found at the bottom of the web page. Should include the copyright information and links to the main pages within the website
Pages that every website should be made up of:
Home—normally your index page or main page
About—surprisingly this page is left out of a lot of websites; it should tell the visitor—briefly and to the point—about your website and your company (or yourself)
Sitemap—this is extremely essential for all websites, not just for the search engine optimization factor, but if a visitor cannot find what they are looking for on your website, this would be the first place they would look.
The above listed pages are the most essential, other pages are dependent on the type of website you have.
Avoid at All Cost
- Horizontal scrolling—always make sure that your website fits the screen, don’t make your visitors scroll horizontally in order to see the rest of your website content. There are ways to ensure that this never happens, which we’ll discuss within another issue.
- Vertical scrolling—the least amount of scroll a visitor has to do in order to view your website, the better. The more the visitor has to do in order to navigate your website, the more of a chance they will use that back button of theirs. To avoid this from happening keep your important information for every web page within your website above the fold. This means that one should not have to scroll in order to see the entire web page. If this is unavoidable, keep the vertical scrolling as much to a minimum as possible.
- Frames—never ever use frames to create your website. The reason being is that search engines highly frown upon them. A search engine cannot spider a website using frames. It also looks tacking and labels you as a “web design newbie”—frames were highly used when their ability became known back in the 1990’s.
- Flash Splash Pages—splash pages alone are a no-no, unless they serve a purpose such as when you offer your website in different languages. Splash pages that use Flash have no purpose other than to let the designer show off their talent. I don’t know anyone that sticks around to watch those fancy Flash splash pages.
Must Do’s
Proofread. Let me say that again…PROOFREAD. There is nothing more annoying to a visitor if they cannot understand what you are trying to say with your content. Remember that it can take the most littlest mistake in grammar or spelling to offend visitors—especially if you’re dealing with an international audience.
Test, test, and test. Make sure that your website is viewable within the major browsers, and that any broken links or missing images are dealt with. Also be sure that your website validates according to the W3C standards. This will ensure that your website will have a less likely chance of not being viewed by your visitors no matter how or with what they are viewing your site.
Conclusion
Knowing your target market when creating your own website is essential, however knowing that you have presented your website in the best possible light to your target market by following the above guidelines—that is what makes visitors come back.