Introductions & Web Design – Part 1

Human beings are naturally very judgmental. People, even at a very young age, are constantly developing opinions and perceptions, testing them and then taking action. In fact I don’t think there is any major aspect of the human life style where we are not making judgments in some shape or form. It is a critical part of how we function. From choosing an evening meal to deciding the next vehicle we are going to buy, we explore the possibilities and then come to some sort of a conclusion. This is especially true when it comes to browsing the internet for a service or product. Within seconds of viewing a Web Page we instantly have fairly strong opinions and perceptions of what we are viewing. Within a few more seconds we use these initial judgments as a foundation for other opinions related to the  subject. The more research we do, the more informed we think we are and the more solid or fragile our initial judgments become.

Understanding this process is very important. Not only for myself as a Web Designer, but for basically anyone trying to use the Internet as a means of self promotion and marketing. For this reason I have decided to do a series of posts that briefly explain some useful tips and guidance when it comes to developing your Web Site to make sure those quick and unforgiving judgments are positive ones in relation to your online presence.

The first thing I want to touch on is the Homepage. Although it may not necessarily be the first point of contact for your business online, your Homepage is usually one of the first key instruments a potential customer will use to develop an opinion of you and the products you offer. Here’s a quick list of some Do’s and Don’ts when it comes to your Homepage.

#1 – Less is More!

Nothing is worse than browsing to a homepage that is overly cluttered and graphically overwhelming. Too much text and graphics is a great way to stop people from viewing your Web Site for more than a few seconds. The key to success here is balance. Everything from the number of main navigation links to the size and format of text needs to be balanced in an appealing manner that encourages your visitors to explore deeper into your web site. You need to provide enough information to wet their appetite without going overboard.

#2 – Stick to a Theme

With literally millions of Web Sites out there these days it has become increasingly hard to differentiate your business from everyone else. A great way to set your homepage apart from your competitors is to have your design focused around a strong and well planned theme that stems from the Homepage and into all your other Sub Pages. Ideally this theme will draw some sort of connection to the industry you serve and will act as a key factor in developing your online identity. Adding technologies like Flash is also a great way to stand out and get noticed.

#3 – Update

Grabbing your visitors attention is great when they first visit your homepage but this is often times not enough. You need to give them a reason to come back! If your homepage doesn’t contain some sort of rich content that changes over time than you will most likely be missing out on hundreds of potential return visits to your site which will eventually convert into paying customers. This is a huge aspect of Home Page design that often gets overlooked. Think about what your visitors might enjoy coming back to read, play, or view on a weekly or monthly basis.

#4 – Summarize

In my opinion the most useful and popular homepages online today all share one major element. They all summarize the major site content in an effective and compelling way for human beings to easily read and navigate through. Think of your homepage as a portal to all your other content pages. Your homepage should act like a navigator pointing your visitors to the content you want them to see. But remember the first tip I mentioned in this list…Keep It Balanced!

If your homepage follows these steps than your site is well on it’s way to developing positive opinions of your business in the minds of your customers and eventually within your entire community.