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The Background
Don't use colors that tire the eye, such as red or green (lime).
Instead, you can choose the always preferred white, black, or
dark gray. A dark blue can also be used, as it gives some effect
to your page or site. You can check my new site at Advanced
IT Solutions,for some interesting uses of this color.
If possible, don't use pictures for the background, because the
text can't be easily read and visitors will be running a mile!
However, try to use contrast colors for background and text, such
as white/black, white/blue, and so on. Also, pay attention to the
text links and their color (normal, hover and visited). Usually,
the default color for a text link is blue, so, if you use a black
background, you will have to change the link color for one which
will provide a greater contrast.
Text Colors & Headings
Try to use few colors, as much as possible. If you use too many
at the same time the site will look unprofessional, it will became
gaudy. Try to use different shades of the same color instead of
choosing new ones. On some sites, I saw words where each letter
had a different color. Red with Green with Yellow, and so on. Red
with Green? Anyone with a little taste will realize that this is
an incompatible combination, especially when both are fluorescent.
Duh! If you sell something or want to gain some reputation, avoid
these fatal combinations.
The headings are also very important. The visitor's eye will be
attracted by bigger headings, or even by headings of an equal size
but different in color or other attributes. You'll want to make
them bigger, but not too much - it will get worse. The difference
between the heading and the text itself must be reasonable, so that
the page may please the eye.
Finally - 10 Rules To Respect
- Make the pages as small as possible. On-line time costs money,
images make this time longer. Faster access will always attract
the visitors.
- Access to information, access to information, access to information
! Use as many ways as possible to access a page or a piece of
information on your site! Be logical about this!
- Don't use animated GIFs! They are large, slow, and unprofessional.
- Integrate the images into your site, so it will look better.
For an example to this effect check Advanced IT Solutions
- Every 6 months, it is recommended to change the entire layout
of the site. This will attract new visitors, which will see a
dynamic, ways new web site. If you can, use templates and CGI
scripts. Thus the time spent on this boring operation can be considerably
reduced.
- Always show something new! On the first page! This will also
contribute to the sense of "dynamics" of your site.
- If the visitors can submit to your site, it is better to do
this in real time. I have had a software site where the submitted
programs were added to the database in a matter of seconds. Many
software authors have written to me about this, because everyone
wants speed.
- Try to impersonate your visitors and think what they would like
from a site such as yours.
- There is a variety of graphic modes and monitors which the visitors
can use. Preview your site in as many modes and colors as possible.
- Write the preferred browser type, graphic mode and colors somewhere
in the page. There are many differences between, for example,
Netscape and IE, and you won't lose visitors for compatibility
problems, will you ?
These are just a few aspects in creating a professional web site,
both attractive and well-conceived. If you follow them, you'll greatly
contribute to the creation of a new, professional web site. Good
luck !
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