ClancyCreations.com – Website Designs – Software and Graphic Arts

With the present technology, it cannot be denied that internet drives the world around. It helps in business transactions and connects families from different parts of the world; basically making the world a smaller place. Our day to day lives are governed and made easier by the emergence of computers and internets.

Connecting to the internet and probably researching for something is everyone’s task. Upon opening a website, the first thing that a researcher sees is the design of the site itself. Whether we like it or not, how a site looks affects the chances that someone would spend time reading on what is actually written in it. Even if it has a very good content, probably being research-based and peer reviewed, it would be considered as a waste if the font’s too small, the background is too dark or the colors of the text and the background do not match.

A website is much like a person. Imagine a fresh grad individual applying for his first job. One of the key points during a job interview is to look presentable and smart as well as conveying the message “I am fit for this job.” If a person is well dressed, it is more likely that he will get hired, right? This also applies to a website. A very dull looking site with a very long text is a big bore. A few designs or even slight change in font size could be helpful in reducing the dullness in it.

How a website is designed can act as a double-edged sword. It can attract researchers to click it in a search engine and can also drive people away if it seems to be a big sore to the eyes. Therefore, a website’s looks really do matter.

Making a good web layout is not that hard. Here are few techniques that can help in designing a nice website.

• Graphics need not be big. The size of images displayed really slows down the download time, which can really be annoying. A 10-12 kb image would suffice.
• Choose pictures that are content-appropriate. Even though a very nice picture is available, it doesn’t have to be present in your site if it is not actually significant to your site’s content.
• Refrain from using pictures that blink, move or rotate. Any form of movement causes adjustment and focusing of the eyes which can really cause headaches. Making your site a big no no.
• Standard layouts go a long way. Having 5 or 7 frames and columns in a page would definitely drive your readers crazy. Try keeping it simple and neat with 2 or 3 columns and you’ll be just fine.
• Whitespace must be used wisely. This can greatly affect how the readers perceive your site.
• Utilize graphics as layout elements. Pictures are not just simple pictures. These can an added tool in supporting the site’s content.
• Changes in fonts must be minimal. Sticking to same sizes of the texts, and probably a bigger font for headings, is the best way to do this. It aids in easier content understanding and preventing misunderstanding.
• Advertisements are like pictures. Keep them small and avoid blinking ads. This causes more confusion to the readers.
• Run some tests. Try opening your site using different browsers. Your site would not be useful if it only chooses a specific browser for which it opens to.
• Write what’s needed. Match what the readers need. It can surely make your site a hit.

Nowadays, almost every company has their own website because it serves a form of advertisement. But first, what is a website? A website is a collection of webpages prepared and maintained by a certain group of individuals. In order for a person to access a website, he/she must first be connected to the internet. Since the recent boom of the internet broadband, almost everyone now has access to the internet. It is for this very reason why almost every company invests in a website.

Aside from its wide range of users, it is also a cheaper form of advertisement because a company only has to pay for the website design and hosting fee. Both of which can be paid to one company and they will be the one to do the two. It is much cheaper compared to a television advertisement but has the same if not more, number of viewers. The reason why companies prefer websites is because it can be viewed not only in the whole country but everywhere else in the world.

However, since almost every company has their own website. It is very hard for a not-well-known company to catch the attention of the public. Thus, website design comes in. Most designs focus on the homepage, the webpage which the viewer first sees, because if the viewer is impressed with the homepage then he/she will be encouraged to check out the website thus, knowing more about the said company.

After knowing more about the company, the customer may wish to place an order. Another aspect of website design is the Electronic Commerce or E-Commerce, a platform for a company to sell their products. It is up to the website designers to think of a way to make the presentation of the different products attractive.

A major priority that any type of business needs to pay a lot of attention to when creating a website is easy navigation. This ensures that visitors and potential clients visiting the site are able to locate whatever it is they are looking for on the site. When this particular aspect is not considered, a customer or browser could find it hard to gain access to the web pages they would want to look through, causing frustration and in effect, leave the page completely. Through easy navigation, more customers are attracted to site as they are a lot easier to use than others that make things complicated for purposes of appearing professional. Little do they know that they push potential customers to search for simpler sites that do not take too much of their time.

A good website design promotes products and services in the best manner possible, attracting visitors to browse through it and see what deals can suit them perfectly. It must stand out from other websites, especially if the products being offered are similar to those that are being advertised by others. It must therefore be unique so that people spend more time checking it out instead. A successful website is a money maker. Every section of the site must be able to convince potential clients that it has exactly what they are looking for. Sometimes, it may need to create a need so that visitors who are simply browsing through may find the necessity of making a purchase.

Having a professional web designer to work on a website may be the best decision anyone can make. These professionals are highly knowledgeable on the art of creating sites that can attract visitors and generate income. Although a little extra cash may need to be shelled out for hiring the services of the experts, the rewards of having a good website to promote business are definitely worth the expense.

The main objective of a majority of website designers is to come up with eye-catching and functional websites that can be easily accessed and are able to encourage visitors to do things that the site has been designed for. To create a website like this calls for a well thought of graphic design, site navigation that is both uncomplicated and intuitive, a website plan that is logical, and a quality web copy. There are a few suggested guidelines that could be very helpful in creating a good website design, items that web designers have found extremely useful.

One important factor in creating web designs is web content. The visitor must be able to perceive the site as an excellent source of information and a business that can be trusted. The credibility of a website can be significantly reduced when poor grammar or incorrect spelling is present in its content. It does not really matter if a personal product is being sold, or if the site is recommending a particular product from another source. What is important is that pertinent information can be found on the website or risk a visitor going somewhere else to get what he needs. Another thing to keep in mind is that it has been proven that people who surf the web are frequently impatient and cannot wait for any webpage that does not load within ten seconds. It is best to maximize the use of graphics and other photos by keeping them in the smallest size possible while not having to sacrifice the quality of the picture.

When using other colors apart from white as background for texts, it must be ensured that link colors are specified. If not, the browser defaults of a user will decide on the particular color of the links, which may render them indecipherable. With regards to site navigation, there are two things to remember – easy and intuitive. Studies made show that when visitors are unable to access information they are looking for in 3 clicks, leaving the website is the next move. Each section of a website must be accessed in a matter of 3 clicks from any other area of the site. Links must also be tested every so often to make sure of their validity. Broken links are sure to keep visitors away. There are a lot of online services that check a site’s links for free.