A Clean & Efficient Website (Walter D. Joseph)

There are many reasons why one should have a professional styled website. Reason being, is because the more professional your site looks, the more legitimate you and your business will appear to potential consumers/clients.

For example, if you are looking at two different websites on the same exact topic and one is hard to navigate, has small and blurred images, mix-matched colors and misspelled words. While the other site looks great. The images, layout, color choice, design and navigation are all very well selected and only say one thing to viewers of the site; Professionalism! I can only speak for myself, but if I were deciding between these two sites simply based on the first impression, it would without a doubt be the second.

I encourage you to pay extra close attention to all of the details regarding your website. This extra attention will ensure your website performs optimally and makes certain that the site serves its purpose.

Here are some of my personal tips for designing a clean and efficient website. Enjoy!

1. Banners:

Many people have some form of affiliate marketing on there websites. Because of this I like to avoid plastering banners all over your website, have a few, but plan the layout so your customer doesn't see a billboard of banners on your website instead of good informative content. If you do want to promote many affiliate products, rather promote them in content/text form. Write a small review and include your affiliate links within the text. Brightly colored banners may look good, but having a written review is even better.

2. Avoid Splash/Flash Pages:

Having a splash page as your fist port of call to your website may look nice and have great flash graphics, but most of these pages will take quite a while to load. When visitors arrive at your website, they want to see immediately what type of content you offer. They don't want to arrive and have to wait for the page to fully load only to be told "Click Here To Enter". This is a huge reason for your visitors to hit the "back" button on their web browser.

3. Where Am I:

Make sure you make it easy for your visitors to know where on your website they are. Indicate clearly what page your visitor is on. A visitor getting confused whether they've been on one page on your website or not, is a frustrated visitor who will simply leave your website.

If you are promoting a particular product for example an eBook or another type of information product, make sure that your product cover matches that of your sales letter page. You want a good graphics designer. You don't necessarily have to go with a huge design company; there are many talented designers who run small operations. The smaller the operation, the more likely you are to get personal service and extra time spent on your design ideas.

4. Audio and Video:

As web masters fight to attract visitors to go to their websites, new trends are always popping up. First it was adding audio to websites, now it's adding video. Whether you are adding audio or video content to your websites, don't have the volume set at maximum volume! There is nothing worse that landing on a web page and all of a sudden you get a blast of high volume audio blaring out of your speakers or worse still your headphones. Set your volume at the mid level and an opportunity for your listener to turn up the volume if need be.

5. Navigation:

Be sure to have a clear and simple navigation system. Don't over do your navigation tabs by having complicated flash based menus or complicated drop down menus. Have you ever noticed how some drop down menus require you to have a degree in target practice? Drop down menus that tend to move around when you try and make a selection are some of the most frustrating aspects of a poorly designed website. The last thing you want to do is give your visitors another excuse to leave your website.

6. Links To External Websites:

Often I see websites with links/URLs to other websites. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this and it can play a huge advantage. But please remember, when you place a link to another website, link it so that it opens in a new window! You don't want a link opening up a page in the same page and your visitor not returning to your website.

These are all of the tips I have for you. Please share your strategies and tips for designing an easy to navigate and user friendly website.