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This section is
about how to design your website in a way to maximize
the use of space and to create the most value possible.
Design is not only about colors or images, but also
about how to organize your space wisely.
Following are few
considerations to keep in mind when designing a website
or a Web page:
Theme:
A website has to have a theme, something that sets the
site apart from other sites. A good theme will put
into evidence what your site is about and will connect
with your content. If you have good content and
your design has a nice theme to it, you will have more
chances that visitors will come back. Even if
people don't come back, they will probably spend more
time on your site.
Showcase Your
Key Features: What makes your site unique?
What is your site all about? Don't forget to
showcase your content. This is what people look
for when they come to your site. Don't let the
design element take over the substance of your site,
what your site is all about. It's about striking
as good balance.
Method of
Monetization: Depending on how you want to monetize
your website, you may want to organize your space
accordingly. For instance,
pay-per-impression ads
need to be located at the top of the page, with more
stringent requirements.
Pay-per-click ads have no
such requirements, yet you are paid only when people
click on those ads, so you still have to place them at
good locations. Finding the right place to place
ads is harder than it seems and sometimes you just have
to experiment.
User Friendly:
People surfing the Web have very short attention spans.
They want to find what they are looking for and don't
want to waste their time. Good design means
displaying the information in a way that will make it
easily accessible and visible. It includes good
linking, naming your links accurately, and placing them
somewhere visible.
Search Engine
Friendly: SEO should always be a consideration when
designing your website. It can take the form of
placing your links higher up the page to let search
engines know that those links are important or writing down your title instead of using images.
Professional:
Your website has to look professional as opposed to
amateur. Look at other websites in the same niche
as yours and write down what you like and what you don't
like. From that list, try out many draft designs
until you find one that will meet all your requirements.
Consistent:
Consistency in Web design is critical. This can be
done through various ways, such as using dynamic Web
templates to ensure that all your pages have the same
core elements.
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