Website Design , Web Development and eBusiness Services in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

What do you want your Web site to do?

After you have secured a Domain Name the next step in a Web site development project is to establish a Site Strategy. This is generally a matter of the developer asking a lot of questions in order to have a solid understanding of the objectives, your business, and the marketplace it operates in. The design process generally follows a user-centered approach. A review of existing marketing materials, user profiles, market research, and task analysis may form part of the consultation.

Tip: Sometimes looking over the benefits of a Web site can provide ideas as to the opportunities that exist.

What goes in or on your Web site?

There are many approaches this can take and opinion varies as to what makes a great Web site. At this point in Web evolution it is very much a balancing act between Science and Art. Features that limit Browser Compatibility and increase Bandwidth will all have a limiting effect on your audience.

Here are some common sense rules you can follow to ensure you will make a successful contribution to the Web community:

Content is King	Credible, original content is one of the main reasons people visit a Web site. Make sure that any information you provide is timely, relevant, and accurate. If possible, dominate a subject area to the point where others recognize the site's value. Think "one - to - one". Your site's content must be customized to best serve a user's preferences.
Fast Loading	At some point in the future this will no longer be an issue as bandwidth and processing speeds increase. For now there are many people still accessing the Internet on dial-up modems and they can't be ignored. Optimizing Graphic and HTML files to reduce download times is essential.
Browser Compatibility	The same page can look very different depending on the user's Browser and Version number. Plus older Browsers do not support some of the newest Web features. Again, this is a question of balance.
Information Architecture	How will your information be organized? Is it logical? Will it be intuitive to the user? Establishing primary and secondary organizational structures and effective labeling are part of the information architecture.
Editorial Style	It is important to use a tone and writing style appropriate for each audience. There are also considerations when writing for the screen vs. the page.
Readability Factor	It is easy to be drawn into using colours and backgrounds to enhance a page design but dark text on a white or light background is hard to beat. You have probably been on Web sites where pages were almost impossible to read.
Accessibility	There is a growing trend towards making Web sites more accessible to users with disabilities. Legal issues are starting to appear and many organizations are factoring this in when designing their sites.
Graphics	File types and the intended purpose (content, icon, layout, thematic, marketing) require thoughtful planning to ensure the desired effect.
Flash and Splash	The web offers some cool tools to enhance a Web site but they often require specialized Plug-ins for viewing. Not to mention their effect on older computer systems with dial-up Internet access. Adding Plug-in detection and streaming visitors to appropriate pages is one way around this.
Typography	Your typographical structure should be planned in advance and consistent throughout your site. Legibility (depends on the font family), to anti-alias or not (affects how text looks on the screen and prints on paper), and type as graphics are issues to consider.
Navigation	If the visitor gets lost you lose. Your site's Navigation Structure must be bulletproof to the point where the user can never get lost. Good navigation is intuitive to the user and follows a logical, well-organized approach. Information is where someone expects it to be and few people will tolerate a site that makes them hunt for what they want.
Page Length	As a guide the length of any single web page should be no longer than two printed 8.5 x 11.5 sheets. Too much scrolling is a turn-off to many people.
Aesthetics	The overall presentation must be aesthetically pleasing. Keep in mind that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and aesthetic requirements vary depending on the intended audience. The objective is an effective use of graphics, colour, and page layout.
Colour Management	In most cases it is a good idea to use web safe colours. This helps to ensure that all visitors will see the page as it was designed. Other colour management issues that may apply include colour theory, cultural interpretations, and legibility.
Consistency	Your Web site must flow from page to page. Studies have indicated that visitors have higher satisfaction levels when viewing pages that have a consistent interface design.
Professionalism	Like homemade business cards and cracked storefront windows a poorly designed Web site can have adverse effects on your image. Choose wisely.
Say More With Less	Simplicity can be another important tool for a successful design. The information age taxes the human mind and sometimes a simple approach can be the most effective.
Linking	Provide links only to other web sites or content that is of direct relevance to your visitor. Be prudent in how the link is established as legality issues are growing in this area.
Danger Zone	Beware of things that can quickly brand your site and possibly your business as amateurish. Busy backgrounds; hit counters, under construction signs, too many ads and other visual clutter such as animated graphics.