Mistakes Made in Custom Web Site Design
A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Frances Rhea
What to Look for When Obtaining a Custom Web Site Design
People willingly, although unknowingly, pay good money for a less than good custom Web site design. Let's take a look at what consumers and Web designers can do to avoid making mistakes.
Wysiwyg Editors are Not for Custom Web Site Design
There is nothing wrong with using a WYSIWYG editor or its templates on a personal home pages or a site done voluntarily for a local organization. These programs were created for beginners and occasional users, not professional Web designers.
Look at the page source. If you see a tag that says "Theme", you know you have wasted your money. A paying client deserves an original design specifically aimed at their goals. This is the difference between a Web designer and a Web builder.
To tell if a WYSIWYG editor was used to create your custom Web site, view the source. Look for a line near the top (in the head section) that says "GENERATOR". If your Web site has this information it will tell you what editor was used.
Three Traits of a Good Custom Web Site Design
A good design has unity and variety; it will support, but not overpower, the message; and the design is appropriate to the message conveyed.
Unity and consistency are very important design principles. They reinforce your unique identity. The design should be consistent from one page to the next.
Choose a logo carefully. Stick with one logo throughout your site. You can have a big one for your home page, a small one for other pages, and one for a banner.
Design unity requires more than your logo in the corner. Colors, fonts, layout and other design elements should be consistent. Use of a style sheet allows you to change an element throughout a whole site.
Never let your custom design overshadow your message. If people talk about your custom Web site design instead of the message that your Web site is delivering, then the design is all wrong.
An effective design presents your message in an attractive way. Keep your Web site purpose firmly in mind at all times.
Choose a Custom Design Appropriate for Your Message
Good design for a business Web site may be wrong for an entertainment site. The colors, fonts, and layout will be determined by the kind of look and feel appropriate for your intended audience. Corporate sites will use basics (one font, one or two conservative colors). Internet firms will choose from a wider palette.
Including titles, style sheets, and META tags should reduce the cost of a Web site and improve the quality of the site along with the viewers' ability to find it in search engines.
Conclusions
Remember that it is the coding that counts; not the fancy stuff.
Buyers should use comparison shopping to determine the best Web site designer choice.
If you create Web sites for a living, stop being lazy and learn your craft. You owe it to your customers, and to your own business.
