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Top 10 Web Design Tips - Part 2

Posted Wed, September 30, 2009 — by Paul Russell

6. Don’t build entirely in Flash

Websites built in Flash look great and are often very interactive, but the mechanics of Flash mean that Google can’t crawl the site or read the actual content. This means they can’t add the pages to their index file and therefore the site will not appear in Google search results. Using small elements of Flash to make a site more dynamic (like a moving masthead banner) is the way to go if you want to use Flash.

7. Don’t try to be everything to everyone

Stay true to the site’s primary objective, and avoid trying to meet every possible users needs. Attempting to be all things to all people will result in clutter and will muddy the objective and conversion point potentially allowing the user to bounce around randomly on the site then leave without taking any desired action. Remember, less is more!

8. Use customer focused language

Many businesses speak to their target audience using industry jargon. Yes your employees might understand it, but potential customers may get lost in technical terms and lose interest. Language should be friendly, conversational, engaging and speak to the wants, needs or problems of the visitor.

9. Use a clear call-to-action

Once you have determined the site’s objective, and defined clear pathways to this conversion point, make sure you incorporate a site-wide call-to-action. This is commonly a button on each page that tells the user exactly what action they should take e.g. Contact us, Buy now, Find a store

10. Implement measurement & reporting

Many businesses have no idea how their website and online campaigns are performing. Implementing Google Analytics is free, and with some specialist guidance, you’ll have access to a wealth of information and data that can inform your business.