Design

Creating an effective website demands the creation of a common HTML/XHTML template. Providing a consistent look and feel throughout your "entire" site will make a world of difference for your visitors. It shows your professionalism and projects a positive image about your company and your site. Without a good template design your visitors may become lost, confused, irritated and eventually leave your site.

• Signs of Good HTML Template Design
• Page loads as fast as possible (Less than 100kb, If Possiblel).
• Good CSS (Cascading Style Sheet) Design.
• Company Logo presented at the top of the template.
• Consistent navigational links to ensure the user doesn't get lost.
• Home, Help and Contact links at the top and/or bottom of the template.
• Graphics have been optimized for the proper file type.
• Straightforward page headlines are used (H1, H2, etc headings).
• HTML has been optimized for Search Engines.
• Design has been tested on the following browsers, IE+, Mozilla, Opera, etc.
• Page displays correctly on multiple viewing widths.
• Design print friendly pages (CSS Print Template).

Signs of Bad HTML Template Design

• Background images that make the page text unusually hard to read.
• Overused or faulty JavaScript navigation techniques.
• JavaScript page fading effects or other Page-To-Page JavaScript effects.
• Pages that force a visitor to load large Flash animations or large graphics.
• Pages that have annoying or unneeded animation graphics.
• Large paragraphed text blocks that are hard to read.
• CSS's that make it hard to determine hyperlinks.
• Anything that looks like advertising, including affiliate programs.
• Annoying pop-up windows.

I've built several custom HTML/XHTML templates for companies in the past. My designs are often very relaxed, simple and clean. I believe that simple navigation is essential and content is king. Don't overlook the main reason your visitors have come to your site, your content. If it helps you to focus, write your copy in a text editor first and then transfer it into HTML. This will help you concentrate on the content, the thing you know the most about. Make it personable and make it fun to read. Leave the HTML/XHTML Template designing to the designers.

JJW Design | Design | Photography

• Home
• Design
• SEO
• Photography
• Panoramas
• Portfolio
• Blog