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