keeping to short and sweet always online invariable Principles

We are based in our last article in a three-game series on creating websites on the User Centered Design. The three principles of the article in this series focus on:

1st Give consistent navigation and design
2nd The focus on user needs
3rd Keep it short and sweet

Last month we wrote about focusing on the needs of users. This month we are talking about our final principle:

Keep it short and sweet.

It is a known fact: many times people really do not read web pages, but the fly. In fact, it has been documented that most Web pages seen by less than 10 seconds. If people want to do in-depth reading, go get a book, not go to a site.

What does this mean for you? This means you need to make your web pages less like an essay-design, and more like a billboard. Here are some suggestions:

* Replace bulleted paragraphs long, from groups and titles.
* The contents of the text with images and icons Divide.
* Highlight key words or phrases in bold.

I would be for sites that say a good rule of thumb would be to avoid that more than two digits in a row. Council pages or the pages of "inside" can be more than text on the homepage, often have to submit further information in depth - but it still does not turn your body locations in the next edition of "War and Peace!

In addition, the text is interspersed with several calls to action: the links or buttons with labels such as "More", "Contact" or "Sign Up Now." This helps the users in the process of Web Browsing Guide - ie. "What can I do with the information you have just read?" (This is also a good sales practice.)

Much of it relates to the principle of utility, which last month wrote, focusing on the needs of users. As I said last month, people are not visiting your page to read a long tome about the complexity of the history of your company. want to visit because they know how you can help. You need to do in a nutshell, what you and show why it should not care.

Here are some examples of sites that have a great job, "that do it short and sweet."

* FreshBooks.com
* BaseCampHQ.com
* Mozy.com
* And of course ... Apple.com

We'll be back next month with a new article on the planning, construction and maintenance of your website. Meanwhile, if you have any questions about web design and development, please contact us and we will help you.