5 Questions To Ask When Designing A Web Page
A lot of entrepreneurs thought process revolves around "I want to make my own web page" which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Adding new pages to your website is important, and it's something you're going to need to do regularly as your website expands.
The problem most people run into when doing this is a fundamental lack of understanding on basic design principles. Putting together a web page you think might work isn't a smart business practice, and this is why you should never create a web page without asking the following questions.
1) What Is This Web Page For?
It's one thing to say, "I want to make my own web page," but quite another when it comes time to do so. The first thing you need to be asking yourself is what purpose this page serves, and do you know how you're going to present your message?
A visitor is not going to want to be drowned in fluff, and this is why all the top business site's emphasis a concise, and easy to understand message. If you're not a talented writer, than it pays to outsource the content creation to someone experienced with getting a message across.
2) Is The Web Page Neatly Organized?
Is the web page going to be cluttered with links, and visually unappealing? Would your visitor find it hard to locate what information they're looking for? No matter how good your content is, it won't mean anything if the visitors to your website can't find the information they're looking for.
Furthermore, an organized design is a sign of professionalism, and reassures your visitor they're dealing with someone who cares about the user experience.
You should try getting some people you know to check out the web page to see if they consider it neatly organized, and can find the information they want. A neutral set of eyes will reveal a lot of problems than yours might have missed in the design process.
3) Do I Need To Add A Video Or Pictures?
One of the most common problems when people decide "I want to make my own web page" is just what kind of video, or photo placement they need if any at all. You need to remember that adding both increases the load time of your website, and long load times can dissuade people from visiting your new page.
So the right approach to take is to consider exactly how either one is adding to the message. A well-placed photo can let a person easily visualize something they might have trouble doing so by just reading text. If you're providing instructions, a video is a great tool for those who learn better visually.
As long as the stuff you're adding is contributing to the web page's message, feel free to add a couple of pictures and videos but don't go so overboard it makes loading times a slow crawl.
4) Does The Web Page Fit With My Website Design?
The theme of a website is something that needs to be reflected on every page, but the good thing is this is easily doable by just keeping a few thoughts in mind. Don't design a web page using dark colors, and then suddenly have neon pink splashed all over another.
Try to keep your colors consistent as much as possible, and this includes formatting. Now there might be times when the needs of the web page might make this impossible, but even then you should do your best to keep the design consistent with the feel of your overall website.
5) Is The Web Page Even Necessary?
This is the most important question you can ask yourself when thinking about adding a new web page to your website. The truth is the leaner a website is better, but this should never mean you become afraid of adding pages.
If you have a genuine need to add a web page, then go right ahead but if the function of this web page can be better served on another page, then forgo doing it.
In the end asking these questions along with a dose of common sense will prevent you from making most of the mistakes other people do. Don't be afraid to tweak the page over time to improve the customer experience, and remember that adherence to fundamental design practices is good business.
The problem most people run into when doing this is a fundamental lack of understanding on basic design principles. Putting together a web page you think might work isn't a smart business practice, and this is why you should never create a web page without asking the following questions.
1) What Is This Web Page For?
It's one thing to say, "I want to make my own web page," but quite another when it comes time to do so. The first thing you need to be asking yourself is what purpose this page serves, and do you know how you're going to present your message?
A visitor is not going to want to be drowned in fluff, and this is why all the top business site's emphasis a concise, and easy to understand message. If you're not a talented writer, than it pays to outsource the content creation to someone experienced with getting a message across.
2) Is The Web Page Neatly Organized?
Is the web page going to be cluttered with links, and visually unappealing? Would your visitor find it hard to locate what information they're looking for? No matter how good your content is, it won't mean anything if the visitors to your website can't find the information they're looking for.
Furthermore, an organized design is a sign of professionalism, and reassures your visitor they're dealing with someone who cares about the user experience.
You should try getting some people you know to check out the web page to see if they consider it neatly organized, and can find the information they want. A neutral set of eyes will reveal a lot of problems than yours might have missed in the design process.
3) Do I Need To Add A Video Or Pictures?
One of the most common problems when people decide "I want to make my own web page" is just what kind of video, or photo placement they need if any at all. You need to remember that adding both increases the load time of your website, and long load times can dissuade people from visiting your new page.
So the right approach to take is to consider exactly how either one is adding to the message. A well-placed photo can let a person easily visualize something they might have trouble doing so by just reading text. If you're providing instructions, a video is a great tool for those who learn better visually.
As long as the stuff you're adding is contributing to the web page's message, feel free to add a couple of pictures and videos but don't go so overboard it makes loading times a slow crawl.
4) Does The Web Page Fit With My Website Design?
The theme of a website is something that needs to be reflected on every page, but the good thing is this is easily doable by just keeping a few thoughts in mind. Don't design a web page using dark colors, and then suddenly have neon pink splashed all over another.
Try to keep your colors consistent as much as possible, and this includes formatting. Now there might be times when the needs of the web page might make this impossible, but even then you should do your best to keep the design consistent with the feel of your overall website.
5) Is The Web Page Even Necessary?
This is the most important question you can ask yourself when thinking about adding a new web page to your website. The truth is the leaner a website is better, but this should never mean you become afraid of adding pages.
If you have a genuine need to add a web page, then go right ahead but if the function of this web page can be better served on another page, then forgo doing it.
In the end asking these questions along with a dose of common sense will prevent you from making most of the mistakes other people do. Don't be afraid to tweak the page over time to improve the customer experience, and remember that adherence to fundamental design practices is good business.
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