Designing
Web
Usability
Written
by
the best-known guru
of usability.
Secrets
of
Successful
Web Sites
Siegel
gives
a perfect blueprint of ways to
plan, develop and design websites
that work.
Creating
Killer
Web Sites
Another
enlightening book by
Siegel, which (in my opinion) counts as the "creme de la creme" of
website development books.
Don't
Make
Me Think
If
you read
this book
along with Nielsen's books, and follow their advice,
visitors will
love visiting your
websites.
101
Ways
to Promote
Your Web Site
Once
you
have your website launched,
you want people to
visit. Author Sweeney
is
an expert on
a plethora of ways to accomplish it.
A
Quick Review
and Visit to Past Planning
Volume V, Issue 8
ISSN:
1547-7754
January 2008
printable
version
Chris
King, Editor
By
subscription only, this monthly e-newsletter is loaded with short, "down
and dirty" tips to help you with solving the everchanging and growing
puzzle of the Internet. This e-zine serves as a place
to ask your questions and find the answers. So, send
me your burning questions.
Note: To access the books in the Right Hand margin, click on the printable version and they will all become live links.
This time of year, I do a combination of looking forward and looking back. I decided to go back to the first issue of the Internet Tips E-zine (56 issues ago) as a reminder for those who have subscribed for awhile and an introduction for recent subscribers.
1. Planning pays off. Whether you are designing your own site or working with a website developer/designer, the more thorough and well-thought-out the planning the better. It will save time and tears in the long run.
2. Decisions, decisions, decisions. By answering the following questions in detail, you will have the necessary basics for planning your website powerfully:
-
What is the purpose of this website? (credibility, visibility, sales, branding, information, communications, identity, etc.) The purpose will help dictate the tone and style.
-
Who is my target market? What kinds of visitors do I want to attract?
-
What are my goals for each type of visitor?
-
What will make them want to stay for awhile and also return?
-
What content should I include to satisfy my purpose and fulfill my goals?
-
What and how many pages will I need for the content?
3. Start with a rough draft. Even though it is fun to jump right onto the computer, I have learned it works better to sit down with paper and pencil and sketch out a rough flow-chart type of drawing of your site map. Another quick and effective method is to label and use post-it notes that are easy to move around.
4. Spend time surfing the Internet. Check out competitors’ sites, sites with themes that appeal to you and colors that work for you, along with sites that have comfortable and sensible navigation. Take notes of what you like and why you like it.
5. Still on paper, plan your visitors’ journey through the website. From the usual starting point on the home page, decide where you want your visitors to go next and next and next. Make the path easy and obvious. Keep in mind that it is optimal if a visitor can access what he or she is looking for in one or two clicks – three clicks at the most. A large site should include a comprehensive site map and/or search feature to make navigation simple.
6. Once you are pleased with the initial plan, design a simple prototype. This may be done on the computer with basic outlines and boxes to show the locations of logos, banners, navigational tools, margins, sections for text and graphics, tables and other inclusions. By moving and changing sizes and colors, you will achieve a pleasing and balanced layout.
I
wish you a Happy New Year with smart planning that will
make all of your goals become realities! I also need your help
with ideas for topics. How can I help you? What questions do you
have?
Do
send your comments and questions to me at chris@creativekeys.biz.
I love to receive feedback and will answer your questions in future
e-zines.
If you would like to subscribe to this e-zine and receive five free Internet tips, send an e-mail to subscribe@creativekeys.biz with subscribe in the subject line. If you ever wish to be removed from the mailing list, just send an e-mail to unsubscribe@creativekeys.biz with unsubscribe in the subject line.
Chris
King
P.O. Box 221255
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
(216) 991-8428
http://www.creativekeys.biz
