When it comes to your website design, extra attention should be paid to every detail to make sure the design achieves its purpose. Here are a few rules of thumb to make sure your website performs well.

1) Avoid the use of splash pages

Splash pages are often the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They may have a very beautiful image with words like “welcome” or “click here to enter”. Do not give your visitors a reason to immediately click on the “back” button! Show them the value of your site up front without the splash page.

2) Do not use excessive banner advertisements

The decision to seek more information about a topic should be the reader’s. You can help them make the ‘right’ decision by placing strategically worded links in the body of your articles.

3) Your menu system should be easy to use

Your menu system should be simple and straightforward. Make it easy for your readers to know where they are and where they need to go for the information they want. Otherwise, they will leave your site in a hurry.

4) Let your visitor know where they are

It is easy to get lost on any website unless there are sign posts to guide one along the way. Make sure your guests know which part of your site they are in on every page. Don’t let them get lost or confused because confusion means “abandon ship”!

5) Use audio and video on your site carefully

Nothing causes a reader to leave a site more quickly that the unexpected blaring of their speakers when the site first loads. They may not appreciate the same music you do and will express their opinions by leaving immediately. If you use sound or videos, give the reader control over whether it plays or not and some way to adjust the volumne levels.