Website Layout and Design

Things that make 'em go mmmm!

Have you ever gone to one of those fancy restaurants where you feel badly for digging into your meal because it truly looks like a work of art? I have, and I really appreciate a meal that looks just as good as it tastes. Well, I feel the same way about a website. Obviously the content needs to be great, but the presentation needs to be great as well.

Web design and layout deal with how a website is presented, from font style and color schemes, to how the information is situated on the page. For those of you that don't think it matters, think again. Whenever I go to a website loaded with multi-colored font, flashing pictures and different type sets, I get so distracted,  I can't concentrate on the point the website is trying to make. It's like driving down the Vegas strip. There's so much to look at that if I'm not careful, I'll easily smash my rental car into the car in front of me.

On the other hand, when I go to a site that's too plain or safe, it doesn't leave me with anything to remember. That would be like driving down a long highway for miles and miles with no interesting scenery. Shoot, if I'm not careful there, I may fall asleep at the wheel.

The real trick is to create a website experience that marries the scenic route with a great destination. A website should be enjoyable to navigate, fun to read, entertaining and contain great content... with just the right amount of pop. If a website achieves this, it will be miles ahead of the competition.

Here are a few points to keep in mind...

• KISS  Keep It Simple Silly:  You want your website to have obvious navigation. If customers (new or existing) get lost, they might bail out.
• Rhyme and Reason: You want your website to have a rhyme and a reason.  For example, if you use Times Roman size 14 for your first header, then you want to use Times Roman size 14 for all headers. Continuity is important.
• Color Schemes: Color is important because it helps create a mood and a flow. You want to make sure that the colors you use work well together but are not overwhelming.  You want your colors to help you make a statement without looking like you just learned about the color wheel.
• Good Use of Space:  You want to use your real estate wisely without cramming too much stuff onto the page. If there is too much to read and too much to look at, readers might give up.

These points are basic web design 101. There are millions of websites out there, so how will you make sure your site will leave a lasting impression with all visitors? Do yourself a favor and take a hard look at your existing website, then ask yourself, "is my website something that will make 'em go mmmmmm!"

If you're interested in learning more about the components of a good website, watch my video and take the website challenge.

-Dawn