10 Principles of Effective Web Design

Usability and practicality, not the visual design, determine the success or failure of any web site. Because it is the user - the only one mouse clicks, and thus makes all the decisions, one of the standard approaches to create successful and profitable web designs became the "design-oriented user (user-centric design). After all, if a user does not know how to use a feature, it can be easily neglected.

In this article we will not discuss the details of implementation (for example, where you need to have the search field), and more focus on the key principles, heuristic methods and approaches to creating an effective web design, which, with reasonable utilization could lead to better decisions and simplify design perception of the proposed process information.


First of all, to use the correct principles, we need to know how users interact with the web site, what they think and what their model behavior.

As users think?

In principle, user behavior on the website is not particularly different from their behaviour in, say, the supermarket. Users catch sight overview each new page viewing of text and click on the first link which pay their attention, or perhaps remotely similar to the one they were looking for. In fact, most of the page, they do not even watch.

Many users are looking for anything interesting (or useful) and clickable ", as soon as the eye encounters a suitable" candidate ", the user clicks and moves quickly on the link. If not met its expectations, the user clicks "back" and continues to search.

Users appreciate the quality and truthfulness of information. If the page contains high quality material, users are ready to compromise with the presence of advertising on the page and its design. This is one reason why sites with not very good design, but with content receive high-quality traffic. The content is much more important than its design formed.

Users do not read, they "scan". By analyzing web page, users are looking for a fixed point, "anchor" that will guide them through the content on the page.


Users do not read, they crawl. Pay attention to the hot point of the middle proposals. This is a peculiar process of scanning.

Users impatient. A very simple principle: if a website could not justify the expectations of users, the design is not fulfilling its function, and the company is losing money. The less intuitive navigation, the stronger the desire to leave the user's Web site and find an alternative.

Users are not the best solution. Users are not looking for the fastest way to find the desired information. They also do not crawl the Web sites sequentially, moving from one section to another. In fact, they choose the most suitable first, in their view, option. As soon as they see the link, which could lead to the desired goal, the probability that the link instantly click.

Users involving intuitively. More often than not, users are browsing, but not read carefully what they proposed to us. According to the famous web developer, the main reason that users indifferent. "If we find something that works, we will use it. We were interested to know how it all works, the main thing to work properly. If your audience perceives you made a bulletin board, then create a quality design board. "

Users want to control. Users control the browser and it is important to rely on the correct transfer of data through the site. For example, they do not want to suddenly opening pop-up windows, and they want to be able to return to the previous page by clicking the "back". Hence, it is necessary to follow one of the most important practices - never link to open in a new browser window.

1. Think According To The User's Point of View

According to the first law of usability Circle, a web page should be obvious. When you create a design, your main task - to get rid of issues - all users should take a decision consciously, given the advantages, disadvantages and alternatives.

If the navigation and site structure is not good, the number of questions grows and users become more difficult to understand how the system works and how to get from point A to point B. A clear structure, the correct visual clues and easily recognizable links will help users find their way to their goal.

Although the design of a simple and intuitive to understand what a page is about, users will need to search for answers. This is an excellent example of unwanted questions. The task of the designer to make the number of questions sought to zero. Visual explanation of the right hand. Even simply swapping the two blocs could be enhanced usability.

2. Not testing the patience of users

In every project where you are going to offer your visitors a service, try to minimize the demands on the user. The smaller the action required from the user in order to try your service, the greater the likelihood that a random visitor actually try it in action. Visitors coming to the site the first time, want to try the service, and not long forms to fill in to create an account, which they can and do not use it. Give users to browse the site and try to use your service without the "pulling" of personal data.

Users will be happy to give your email address if they will be asked when they will see how the service works in reality. In other words, users will realize that they receive instead of typing their email. For registration is not required virtually nothing - it is quite easy and simple. And that is what you want, so that users feel at your site.

Ideally - remove all barriers and obstacles, not first ask any registrations. One only registration procedure is sufficient reason to reduce the number of its potential users.

3. Concentrate the attention of users

When the web site contains both static as well as dynamic content, some aspects of the user interface attract more attention than others. Clearly, the images catch more than text - the same as the proposal in bold are more visible than usual.

The human eye - a complex nonlinear device, and Web users can instantly determine borders and movement patterns. Therefore, based on advertisements containing video or moving objects - incredibly irritating and distracting attention, but by marketing it carries out its function - drew attention to the user.

If the user to focus on specific sites site (with the correct use of visual elements), you can help your users get from point A to point B without much thought on how this should be done. The fewer questions arise from visitors, so they are better targeted and the more they trust company, which is a website. In other words: the less the user needs to think of the meaning of his actions, the better his impression of a site - and that is the main principle of usability.

4. Seek to show the most important things

Modern web designs often been criticized for its approach in the use of "steps" (similar to 1-2-3 - Ready!), The huge buttons, a pile of effects, etc. But in terms of the design of such elements is not so much bad. On the contrary, such elements are very effective because They facilitate the transition between parts of the site users.

Giving users to understand what options are - the fundamental principle of a successful design. No, it is important to the essence of what it is a way to reach you. What is important is how easy it is perceived and how much content users to easily work with the system.

5. Write to effectively

Web differs from the print media should be able to adapt to the style of writing user preferences, and how to browse through browsers. Visitors will not read the promo copy. Large paragraphs no pictures, no bold or italics allotment proposals will be missed. Literally be ignored.

Speak in the case. Avoid "lovely" or funny names, specific names used inside companies unfamiliar technical terms. For example, if you want to describe the service and to registered users, the "register" is better than "start now", which in turn was better than "test our services."

The optimal solution for the effective preparation of the text:

* Use short, succinct expression (to get to the essence as soon as possible);
* Use partitioning (Categorised content, use multilevel headlines, lists and visual elements that break the flow of text blocks);
* Use a simple and objective language (promo text should not be read as an advertisement; to offer your users a few reasonable and objective reasons why they should use your service or remain on your web site).



6. Seek to Ease

The principle of "do more easily" (keep it simple, KIS) should be the main purpose of site design. Users rarely go to the site simply to enjoy the design. Moreover, in most cases, they are looking for the necessary information, despite the design. Seek to be simple, not uslozhnyayte.

In terms of visitors, the best - the plain text design, or ad units without any additional references on the topic. " This is another reason why web pages have to be the print version: such details enhance the user the impression of the web site.

7. Do not be afraid of empty space

In fact, it is difficult to overestimate the function of empty space. It not only helps to reduce the cognitive burden on the visitors, but also makes it possible to perceive information on the screen. When a visitor is studying design, the first that he or she is doing - scans the page and shares its content on the regions and convenient pieces of information for understanding.

The complex structures are difficult to read, scan, analyse and work. If you are faced with a choice, to split the two elements of design visible line or empty space, it is best to opt for the latter. Hierarchical structure reduces the complexity of (Simon's Law): the better you are able to provide users with a visual hierarchy, the easier it will be perceived content.

8. Effective communication with the help of content

In their work on the effective filing visual information indicating author three fundamental principle of the so-called "visual language" - content that users see on the screen.

* Organization: Give the user a clear and coherent structure. The sequence of logical blocks and accommodation, the relationship between them, the possibility of moving between these blocs - the important points organization. The same rules should apply to all elements.
* Savings: Try to do as much as possible with fewer visual elements. The four main points: simplicity, clarity, expressiveness and distinctiveness. Simplicity means the inclusion of only those elements that are most important for effective communication. Clarity: all components must have the design, which is not confusing to the visitor purpose of these elements. Distinctiveness: the most important properties of elements should be easily visible. Expressiveness: the most important elements to be easily visually perceptible.
* Networking: appearance should match the physical possibility of visitors. The site should be clear and readable, with the correct typography, appropriate flowers, etc. Use no more than 3 to 3 different font sizes, as well as no more than 50-80 words or 18 characters per line of text.



9. Traditions - our friends

Traditional design elements of the web site does not necessarily mean boring design. Indeed, the tradition is very useful, because They study the curve and reduce the need to know and how that works. It would be a usability nightmare if all web sites in different ways visualised RSS-tape. Traditions differ slightly in design from our traditions in daily life: the way we used to organize data (folders), or make purchases (the products).

Using traditional approaches, you can gain the trust of users, their confidence in you. Follow the expectations of users - understand what they expect from the site navigation, the structure of the text, the location of the search, etc.

Experties proposes to invent anything new unless you are certain that your idea really is good, otherwise adhere better to traditional solutions.

10. Test early, test often

This principle (TETO, "test early, test often") should apply to every web project, as usability tests often show all the biggest problem with the design.

Most tests are conducted too late or too infrequently. Sometimes tests are not what they need. It must be understood that most decisions are taken locally in design; other words, you can not be sure that a better markings different, because the decision is very dependent on the position from which to look at it (the original demands, the expectations of investors, the budget etc.).

Several important points:

* Experties believes that the testing of one user in 100 times better than testing without the participation of users in general, but testing with one user at the beginning of the project is better than testing with 50 users at the end. Errors often occur in the initial stages of design and design; than later, they discovered, the more expensive it goes project.
* Testing - iterative process. It works like this: You create something, testing, and testing again correct. Perhaps you will find problems that go unnoticed in the first test along with other mistakes.
* Tests usability always give useful results. You will see an ongoing problem, or the lack thereof. In any case, this is useful for the project.
* In accordance with the law, the developers are unable to test your code. This applies to designers.

Golden Rules For eCommerce Web Design

The sales channel on-line has become a well-established commercial landscape, especially peri targati US sites that make us a reference for the industry and good design enthusiast, I am convinced that electronic commerce and good design can, and must , go hand in hand!

The first e-commerce sites lacked any consistency in style, design and functionality while today we see more and more shopping on-line, examples like Figleaves, Firebox, Agent Provocateur who have a mixture of design, style and accessibility.

Summarise what may be the golden rules of good design for a website e-commerce, in brackets indicating any sample sites.

1. Keep the search functions in the same place on every page
2. Do not create doubts among navigator case and taking the cart 2 separate channels
3. Avoid excessive Flash animations
4. Site navigation clear areas visited by colouring
5. Exploration simple labelling sections
6. Clear and comprehensive information about products
7. Payments to simple cash, making understand what and where the customer

Following these simple rules can provide the optimal shopping cart. Your users and customers will feel supported and then, perhaps, your on-line business can have a chance of success.

Shops e-commerce success are excellent sites, which support its customers by submitting articles efficiently and making sure there are no barriers al'uso of payment systems.

What do you think, we are on the right track? Tell your…

An Unbeaten E-commerce Package

"E-commerce" also known as electronic commerce is defined as the complete set of procedures that carry commercial or business activities over a world wide network and further assist in performing online transactions electronically. Ecommerce is now a exhortation in the world of business and the ever mounting popularity of ecommerce is due to the fact that businesses conducted over the internet can easily reach out to customers throughout the world.

Today nearly all of the companies are indulging in ecommerce or online business. Online business are swamped with orders for the supply of products/services available with them, they utilize a whole assortment of software, devices to meet the customer requirements. One of the ecommerce software products that are frequently used by companies involved in online business is shopping cart software, a technical device primarily used by companies to assist their customers in buying products/services online from them.

Companies needs to make their services highly customer oriented and to accomplish this objective, it is necessary for them to go for a comprehensive ecommerce solution plan. An proficient ecommerce solutions plan should be adopted by organizations for certain success in developing and enhancing their online business and it may begin with offering proper consultation to the client regarding his/her business requirements. In the second phase, the customer should be duly informed of the time period required by the company for project completion and altogether at this stage the customer should also be made aware of specific details with regard to project costs, project delivery.

The third step of a unbeaten ecommerce package involves designing & development of the client project and as the project design and development phase approaches completion, testing is obligatory to ensure that the application developed for the client is error free and is pertinent to fulfill the requirements it is meant for.

The crucial stage is project delivery and before delivering the finalized application to the client, checking and cross-checking is necessary to remove the minute errors occurred during project development that generally passes overlooked.

Some Valuble Reason To Shop Online

Billions of people love to shop online - and there is a reason behind it. It's convenient, safe and usually cheaper.

1. It Saves Your Money:
One can easily save up to 50% of money by shopping at online websites as they sell items at a discounted price compared to physical stores. Further, there are too many online websites offering same range of products and the competition amongst them usually benefits customer.


2. It Saves Your Time.
If you are a busy person and don't have time for shopping, then online shopping is the best for you. Also, with online price comparison websites like Google product search (Froogle), Abebooks, E-bay et cetera, it has become very easy to compare prices offered by different shops.


3. Your Money is Safe:
Most of the online e-commerce websites offer Google Checkout and Paypal as payment method. These are the most secure payment methods and it guarantees that your money is safe and that you will get the item you purchase. So, you can purchase items from less established e-commerce websites without any fear.

4. Ideal for Sending Gifts:
Online webstores do ship orders directly to the recipient of a gift and hence saving your time, postage and gas cost. Some websites also offer the service to send anonymous gifts so that the recipient just keeps guessing about the sender of gift! Some websites also offer the option of getting items gift wrapped for small amount of extra money.

5. You can Pre-order Items:
Items with high demand like Harry Potter series, go out of stock very quickly after they are released. Pre-ordering such items is another feature that most of the online stores offer. This way you can reserve a copy for yourself without being worried about the release date.

6. No Need to Carry Shopping Bags

With online shopping, you do not need to carry shopping bags and moving around from one shop to another and waiting in lines. Just order it online and the item will be delivered right at your door steps.


These points show the importance of online shopping, however, there are thousands and thousands of online e-commerce websites but only few are quality websites that offer huge discounts without compromising with the quality of service. Selecting right website is another important factor of online shopping