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Designing the User Interface
The most important and in many corporate cases overlooked aspect of website
publishing is the User Interface. You've probably already heard terms like GUI
(graphical user interface) and dismissed them as nerd euphisms for some archaic
computerese. But the User Interface is as simple as a human face.
A good website looks and works just right to appeal to a certain audience.
From font colors, background graphics and navigational controls, the User
Interface defines a surfers experience and ultimate impression of your business'
home on the web.
Elements of a Good User Interface
- Distinctive Color Combinations
- Contrasting complimentary colors like red, white and blue make it easier
to define different areas of importance. Color also represents different
values or themes. e.g. Red-White-Blue feels "All American" whereas
Black-Orange seems perfect for Halloween.
- Logo Branding
- One of the first rules in the book "How to Win Friends and Influence
People" is to always remember names. On the web as in real world
advertising, this is called branding. Spend a little extra time or money and
get a professionally designed logo with your company name. Make sure it
appears on the top of every page reminding your customers who you are.
- Consistent Site Design
- As websites grow there's a temptation to make small changes or big ones to
the layout of future pages. To web surfers, pages that don't look the same
feel like a thrown together untrustworthy site.
- Avoid Broken Links
- Simple rule. If you haven't posted a page, don't link to it in a published
page. There's nothing more aggravating to a web server than getting a 404
File Not Found error as a stop sign.
- Smart Navigation
- Take some time to think like your most naive visitor. Is it easy to find
the answer to a question on the first page? Do the links make sense? Dig
down into the site and see if you can navigate sideways without having to go
back to the main page. Usually, if it takes more than 3 clicks to find a web
page, surfers will give up and move on.
- Tailor-Made Design
- This relies heavily on your target audience. If you defined your prototype
surfer well, then this will be much simpler. A site geared to kids will have
a bright and fun look to it. Comic characters may act as guides. Women tend
to like softer colors and shapes with plenty of room for content. Men tend
to like a technical or utilitarian approach.
- Avoid Templates
- Last but not least, remember this rule. Sure they look easy and
well-built. Most are professionally designed, but then they're sold in the
thousands and millions. Eventually, you and your customers will find a
competitor's site using your template design.
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Web Business Corner
Planning a Website
Top 10 Building Tips
Website Financing
Web Design 101
HTML, Greek or Latin?
User Interface Design
Why Rent Web Space?
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