Elements of Good Website Design (Part 1)

With the millions of websites available to your customers, it’s extremely difficult to create a website that will not only stand out, but offer a valuable service as well. But what makes a well-designed web site? What is the most important factor that differentiates successful from unsuccessful websites?

The criteria for effective website development varies from person to person, however, the purpose of each website should be at the forefront of your design. Whether you are starting an e-commerce website or showcasing videos or images, the main focus of your site should always drive the overall design.

Although design will change based on the nature of your site, there are several elements of good web design that are generally considered universal.

Easy to Navigate

The navigation portion of your site is possibly the most important aspect of any page so they must be easy to find, understand and follow. While special effects menus like Flash, JavaScript or Java look very appealing, you should always include an option to use an HTML version of your website. Should you only provide a Flash-based menu, you risk alienating users with web browsers that don’t support this program. You can bet that if a customer can’t use your menu, they’re not going to be using your website (or maybe even your product!).

Always keep in mind that your website should ultimately be designed to be “user friendly.” Keep your navigation links clear and meaningful to anyone that should come across your site. Your navigation should be prevalent across your website and appear on every page of your site. This will enable your visitor to navigate your website quickly and easily without having to return to the homepage every time.

Usability is key in web design and navigation is a large part of it. After all, it would be a shame to spend a great deal of time, money and effort to design a website that no one can use.

For examples of quality web design visit: http://www.globalnetdesigns.com/

Check back next week for more tips on good web design.