| With the launch of the site rubix website, you can now | | | | 3. Your website should be easy to navigate, with each |
| design a personal site with a few pages or a | | | | link clearly identified as one because it's blue and |
| corporate website bursting with content. And you | | | | underlined. Similarly, graphic navigation elements like |
| won't need any special skills, not even a working | | | | buttons and tabs should be easy to recognize and use. |
| knowledge of a coding language like HTML. | | | | While you may personally delight in high-tech special |
| A good design is pivotal to your success. When the | | | | effects, like a mouse movement that leaves a trail of |
| visitor lands on your website, arriving via a link on either | | | | stars, these should be avoided. Keep navigation plain, |
| a search engine or from mention of your website from | | | | simple, and easy-to-understand. If navigation is not |
| another source, you have about 3 seconds to catch | | | | intuitive, a visitor will simply navigate away from your |
| their attention. Remember, they're only one click away | | | | website. |
| from the browser button. With a quick mouse reflex, | | | | 4. Your layout from one page to another should have |
| they can disappear in a nanosecond. Once they hit the | | | | a consistent theme. If the headers and navigational |
| back button, they'll never be seen again. On the other | | | | clues shift dramatically from one page to another, |
| hand, it is just as easy for them to bookmark your | | | | people may very well believe that they've drifted to |
| website, return to it again, and even recommend it. | | | | another website. Use a stylistic theme to weave a |
| What is the difference between losing a visitor and | | | | sense of continuity from one page to another. |
| winning one over? Content, obviously. Content that | | | | 5. Avoid music! Frankly, most websites that greet the |
| holds their interest and that answers some core need. | | | | visitor with a loud burst of music instantly frighten them |
| But content, no matter how brilliant, how articulate, how | | | | away. It does not matter how beautiful the music. You |
| relevant, and how well-formatted is not enough. The | | | | could be playing something as soothing as Mozart's |
| frame that holds the content in place -- the design -- | | | | Eine Kleine Nachtmusik Allegro and still offend the |
| can be just as important in securing visitor loyalty. | | | | visitor. |
| Design does not have to be brilliant to win respect. It | | | | The reason people use music is because it does work |
| has to be highly functional. | | | | offline. |
| Here's an analogy: | | | | When you push open the door of a physical store and |
| Grocery stores are never works of architectural | | | | are greeted with pleasant music, it uplifts you, the |
| magnificence, but they are popular. They offer people | | | | customer, puts you in a better mood, and encourages |
| something they need in a way they can easily find. | | | | you to linger and shop more. |
| There is an efficient system of shopping carts, marked | | | | But on a website, the visitors only response is to |
| aisles, and check out counters. The minute the door | | | | escape as fast as is technologically possible. |
| swings open, people know how to shop. Rarely are | | | | 6. Make your design compatible with the most popular |
| these places ugly, dirty, or disorganized. Those that | | | | browsers. What may look great on Mozilla Firefox |
| exhibit chaos soon go out of business. The better | | | | may look strange on Internet Explorer. If possible, view |
| stores have an austere, utilitarian beauty. | | | | your website from Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, |
| Similarly, a user-friendly website is considered to have | | | | Opera, and Safari. |
| a good design. Mind-boggling graphics seldom impress. | | | | 7. Design your website for all screen resolutions. While |
| Like any high quality store, your virtual establishment | | | | most people use 1240 x 1080, some still use 800 x |
| should be attractive in a utilitarian way, with form built | | | | 600, even 640 x 768! What looks perfect with high |
| around function. | | | | resolution may be unrecognizable when viewing in 800 |
| Here are 7 ways to create a winning design. | | | | x 600. |
| 1. Your pages should load fast. Statistics reveal that | | | | Good design, then, is subtle. It should be quietly running |
| most people have slow internet connections and that | | | | in the background allowing your visitor to focus on your |
| their average patience level ranges from 10 to 15 | | | | content. Your purpose is to entice visitors with your |
| seconds. | | | | products and services. In other words, content |
| 2. Your text should be easy to read. When it is too | | | | becomes foreground only when design elements |
| small, it makes the reader squint and start searching | | | | become background. Since it is content that sells, a |
| for their eyeglasses. When it is too large, they wonder | | | | "loud" design will not improve your business. Flashy |
| if the website was designed for children learning how | | | | presentations may attract attention offline, but online |
| to read. Usually, a black text against a white | | | | subtle effects sell. |
| background is best. If you lust for a colored | | | | While this type of thoughtful design can take hours |
| background, it should be a pale shade so that the | | | | using traditional HTML editors, it can be done in minutes |
| letters still stand out. | | | | with Site Rubix Website. |