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Web design crimes – what to look out for and how to avoid them
| Guest post by: Jonathan |
Article Overview: Web usability guru Jakob Nielsen knows a thing or two about web design. Here is his list of the top 10 web design fails.
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Free Download - How NOT to SEO your site By Jonathan |
Web design crimes – what to look out for and how to avoid them
Web usability guru Jakob Nielsen knows a thing or two about web design. He's been around since the year dot (that's 1994 in web speak) studying the good, the bad and the Myspace of Internet design. Many graphic designers can't stand the guy, believing that his functional approach to web use fails to take into account the artistic side of website design. Nielsen is singularly unapologetic focusing his efforts solely on ease of use. Businessweek rates him as one of the worlds's most influential web designers.
Here is his list of the top 10 web design fails.
1. Bad Search
Sites should have a simple search facility that takes into account typos, plurals, hyphens, and other variants of the query terms. Most don't.
2. PDF Files for Online Reading
Displaying information as a PDF roadblocks the user experience. Different page layouts, sizes and navigation menus are suddenly thrust on the user, which can make life difficult.
3. Not Changing the Colour of Visited Links
Clearly identifying where you've been stops you wasting time revisiting a page, stops disorientation and improves user experience.
4. Non-Scannable Text
A slab of text turns people off. Make your copy scannable by usingsubheaders
- bullet points
- highlighted keywords
- short paragraphs
- the inverted pyramid
- a simple writing style using plain English, not copy full of complicated words.
Specify font sizes in relative terms and remember that not everyone has 20:20 vision
6. Page Titles With Low Search Engine Visibility
Failing to use the page title tag to clearly display the nature and contents of your page makes identifying the contents of the page difficult.
7. Anything That Looks Like an Advertisement
Don't include ads or anything in your web design that looks like an ad. People are increasingly selective and it will probably be ignored. Web users are goal driven and will read past what they believe to be advertising.
Nielsen uses three examples. Banner blindness, animation avoidance and pop-up purge as techniques that people now subconsciously deploy to avoid visual noise.
8. Violating Design Conventions
When it comes to design, consistency is important. Give people what they expect. That way they feel more in control and positively inclined towards you. Meet people's expectations. Confounding them simply drives them away.
9. Opening New Browser Windows
Nielsen says opening new browser windows or tabs 'pollutes the screen'. If people want a new tab or screen they will select that potion themselves.
10. Not Answering Users' Questions
The cardinal sin of any web site - not providing the information that are looking for. The worst example? Failing to list a price
Eminently sensible stuff if a little dull, and to be fair there's a balance in there somewhere that needs to be struck. You wouldn't want every site looking like Nielsen's. Talk to a web design pro for their take on the line between web design and web use.
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Article Tags: internet marketing, SEO, web design, web design newcastle, website design
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About the Author: Jonathan RSS for Jonathan's articles - Visit Jonathan's website Having over 12 years experience in the IT industry and a qualified MCSE, Jonathan's web design and digital marketing is big on inspiration, big on know how and totally client focused. Whether you are a sole trader or a multi-national Onit Solutions is committed to long term, Internet marketing partnerships, web development and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) that exceeds customer expectations. Considered a leader in the field of organic SEO, Jonathan has an enviable and 100% proven track record of delivering page one positions in major search engines such as Google and Bing. His work wins clients many thousands of new customers and millions of pounds worth of new enquiries and sales. Jonathan is also the founder of the much talked about pixel advertising site, Tired Mouse. His love of internet, advertising and marketing ensures he is always at the forefront of expertly managed and maintained Internet marketing delivering impressive, measurable results. Click here to visit Jonathan's website   Website experiences Part 2 Ecommerce SEO be seen to sell Strong SEO means style AND substance Google Caffeine wants a relevant web Take stock with an SEO Audit |
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