There are many things to consider when creating a website, whether you’re a fully fledged business or simply setting up a blog. You want your visitors to have the best experience possible, so most of your criteria should be for their benefit, not yours.
As a result it isn’t always clear to some owners what they need. To help those looking for some advice, here are 4 things to consider when creating or setting up a website.
Layout
A clear, simply layout is much better than a website packed with options. The quicker someone can navigate your website, the better time they will have on it. Confusing your readers only alienates your audience and ensures people will look elsewhere in the future.
A common principle used in design is KISS or “Keep it Simple, Stupid”. By keeping tabs and pages to a minimum, readers know exactly where to go. Too much choice and they may become confused. For instance, what is the difference between an “about me” and “information” page on a blog?
Security
People want to feel safe and, if your website is taking any sort of personal data, most users often look for certain signs of security. For instance, certificate authority is beneficial as it represents a certain standard of safety. These help show users how safe you are or, to put it another way, ensures you don’t lose traffic to other websites which took the effort to acquire these awards.
Performance
A great website is nothing if it’s on a poor server. If you can’t cope with the amount of traffic, everyone who visits will receive a slow, negative experience and eventually they will start looking for faster alternatives.
As a result, always try to be a head of the curve. If you see figures going up, start looking for a more capable server, rather than waiting for when you absolutely need to. This keeps things running smoothly and gives you more time to ensure a smooth transition.
Features
While websites need a unique angle, too many features can get in the way. If you’ve ever been to a website complete with flash applications, videos and moving widgets on the front page, you may notice this slows your computer down. Too many features have negative effects and, again, having too much to look at risks confusing anyone who visits.
cross-posted at ozgekaraoglu.edublogs.org
Özge Karaoğlu is an English teacher and educational consultant in teaching young learners and teaching with web-based technologies. She is the author of Minigon ELT book series, which aims to teach English to young learners through stories. Read more of her ideas about teaching English through technology and Web-based tools at ozgekaraoglu.edublogs.org.
