Better designed websites are those that have been planned for in advance. While you plan your website, consider the following elements that go to make up a webiste along with "Determining Your Website Design Needs."
There are five essential components that go to make up a good website design:
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Visual Appeal
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Informative
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Cohesiveness
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User Friendly
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Web Optimized
Each essential is discussed on its own merits.
A good website design has Visual Appeal
Visual appeal means the site is attractive. It catches the eye, making a pretty or good-looking impression. It may even be considered smart and striking, but it leaves one with the sense that it is pleasing to look at.
Visual Appeal is the first impression your visitor gets about you, your site, and your business.
A good website design is Informative
Informative refers to the way your site information is displayed and organized; from text to photos to buttons. Everything on your website communicates some type of information. Having a lot of information on your site doesn’t necessarily mean it is informative.
As Jason Beaird noted in his book The Principles of Beautiful Web Design (page 5), “Users are pleased by the design but drawn to the content”.
A good website design is Cohesive
Website cohesiveness means that everything on your website belongs. Every page is recognized as part of the website and every page element helps communicate your message.
The visitor doesn’t get lost and wonders if she or he is still on the same website.
A good website design is User Friendly
Sometimes this is called Usability and refers to the ease of scanning and navigating through your site looking for needed information. Visitors don’t spend a lot of time on a website and if it is too difficult to find what they are looking for, they quickly move on to another site.
A good website design is Web Optimized
Optimized website design means that the four elements above are ensured to work together and complement each other. A website that presents good information, but is not appealing, will not be used. A website that is nice to look at, but difficult to use will soon be abandoned. All the elements and functionality of a good website design work as a single cohesive unit.
