| In Part One we reviewed several things | | | | considerable interest, most people will |
| to that we would avoid when creating a | | | | not scroll down to the the bottom of a |
| website. Here are some additional stand | | | | very long page. Try categorizing your |
| outs, that we would avoid. | | | | content and add more pages instead of |
| Blank Space. | | | | going "on and on and on", on a single |
| Many web designers try to fit in as much | | | | page. |
| as possible onto a single page and in | | | | Now the width is a whole different |
| doing this the page becomes so cluttered | | | | story. That is a definite violation of |
| with text boxes, images, ads, links, | | | | the rules. I don't know where the rules |
| etc. that it becomes one big "mish-mosh" | | | | are written, but it's against the rules |
| (how's that for good English?). | | | | anyway. Having to scroll width is |
| Give the page plenty of empty space. | | | | without question poor design and |
| Make it easy to read, see and | | | | planning. People hate scrolling width. |
| understand. Even if your writing | | | | Although computer monitors are ever |
| lengthy articles group your content in | | | | changing their viewable area, my |
| order for the viewer to easily scan the | | | | suggestion is to keep the width, at |
| page to get an overview. Of course we | | | | least for the moment, at around 900 |
| want the viewer to read everything, but | | | | pixels. |
| it just doesn't work that way. | | | | Interestingly enough, when I view my |
| It has been shown that people like bite | | | | site on my older 19" monitor it takes up |
| sized pieces and don't like very | | | | entire screen, however, when I look at |
| cluttered pages. | | | | it on my 15" laptop it takes up about 75 |
| Spelling, Grammar, Vocabulary. | | | | percent of the width. |
| Could it be more obvious that you should | | | | Overall Poor Quality and Omissions. |
| have correct spelling, proper grammar | | | | Have you ever looked at a site with |
| and a good vocabulary. You would be | | | | blurry pictures or graphics? Or, have |
| amazed at how many web sites that I look | | | | you looked at a site that has so much |
| at where it looks like it was written by | | | | left out and omitted that it leaves you |
| a "Fifth Grader". The question remains, | | | | with more questions than answers. |
| "Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?" | | | | This is just plain sloppy work. There |
| Now don't misunderstand, we're not | | | | is absolutely no excuse for it. Yes on |
| looking for a literary genius here. You | | | | occasion we all make mistakes, but, if |
| don't have to be an F. Scott Fitzgerald, | | | | you continually see the poor quality |
| or an Ernest Hemingway, but you should | | | | throughout the website, as far as I'm |
| be able to properly phrase a sentence | | | | concerned it tells me that this is a |
| and write so that you're not going to be | | | | company that I'd prefer not to do |
| laughed at. | | | | business with. |
| I know that when I read the content of a | | | | Generally, the website is your first |
| web page I can quickly tell you whether | | | | exposure to the company. If they can't |
| this is a person or company that I would | | | | put their best foot forward when they |
| want to do business with. | | | | are trying to attract customers, what do |
| And with "SPELL CHECKER' you have | | | | you think that you're going to get once |
| absolutely no excuse. | | | | you are a customer. |
| Oversized Pages. | | | | There is an awful lot more that we can |
| A big "No, No" is an oversized page, in | | | | discuss regarding negative impressions, |
| "Length" and most especially in "Width". | | | | but in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series |
| The length, and this is one of my | | | | "Website Impressions - Be Positive" I |
| faults, is not quite as big a problem, | | | | tried to outline some of the more |
| but should still be kept within reason. | | | | obvious, errors, mistakes, omissions, |
| It has been shown that, unless there is | | | | etc. |