If you are going to design your own website, here are some website design basics.

Graphics

Large images are the primary cause of slow pages. Use small graphics on your website and be sure that the pages load quickly. Try to keep your graphics under 20k. There is nothing more frustrating then waiting for a web page to load!

Blinking or flashing graphics can be very distracting and annoying. You want people to stay on your website and read the content, so don’t turn them off with annoying graphics!

Layout

Keep it simple and appealing to the eye. White space is important in website design just as it is in print media.

Short paragraphs are much easier to read then long ones, so try to keep your paragraphs short.

It’s a good idea to use bullet points to highlight your important text. It will flow much easier than a long string of text seperated by commas.

Fonts

There are thousands of fancy fonts available; however, just because you have a favorite fancy font that doesn’t mean that everybody else also has it. Some web browsers won’t be able to see those fancy fonts. The standard fonts for web design are:

  • Times New Roman
  • Arial
  • Veranda
  • Georgia
  • Tahoma

Advertising

It’s okay to place ads on your website; however, be sure not to overdo it! Too many ads will drive visitors away. Keep your ads relevant to the content of your website; if your site is about web design then you shouldn’t be advertising women’s shoes!

More articles about basic web design coming soon. Your comments are always welcome.