Design a Great Website - 7 Steps to Follow

Do you want to know how to design a web site that looks good, offers quality content and draws commendable traffic? If yes, here's some help for you.

• Choosing a color scheme: It is a good idea to choose two or three complementary colors that you will use in your web pages. Once you have selected these colors, stick to them. Don't make each page of your site in a color different from the other. Doing such a thing will give an unprofessional look to your web site.
• Opt for an easy navigation system: When you design your web site, make sure to use a clutter free and easy navigation system. This will allow your visitors to search for products/services easily and in quick time. It is a convention to display the navigation bar on either the top or at the left side of your web site. Most of the web sites follow this convention and it is good to stick to it.
• Use proper background color: Remember to use readable text that is easily visible against the color of your background. So, stay away from color combinations like yellow text on a white background or black writing against a dark blue background. You should also ensure that your links can be seen easily both before and after they are visited. Most web sites use links that are blue before being visited while after a visit, they change to a burgundy color. In case you have a dark background, make sure that the text of your links uses a light color.
• Separate window for the external links: It is a good option to make the external links to other web sites open in a new window. This will allow your visitors to return to your site easily after they have finished browsing the external link.
• Limited use of special effects: There is a great temptation to use special effects, colorful logos and spinning graphics to jazz up your web site. However, try to keep such use to a minimum level. Too much of special effects not only make your web pages download slowly but will also distract the attention of your viewers.
• Put a site map and search box: If you have over 15 pages in your web site, it is advisable to put a site map and a search box feature. This will help your visitors to find what they are looking for without any difficulty.
• Include quality content: While you ensure getting a clean and professional look for your web site, don't neglect the importance of having useful and fresh content on your site. It pays to put a good effort for creating good content for your web site and then promoting the same.