How to Determine the Elements of a Good Web Page

You want your web page to appeal to people, make sense and get results; in other words you want quality. This article will summarize the common elements that make a web page work.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. The homepage should highlight the type of content to be found on your site. It shouldn't be overwhelming with too much detail and too many links. It should just convey the gist of what the site is about and guide people to find content easily. Put the main site brand or logo on the homepage and carry that branding through consistently to all of the inner pages.

2. A crucial aspect of helping people find your content is good navigation. You should spend a lot of time and testing to make sure that your navigation is simple, clear and easy to use. It's important for people to understand where your links will take them and what they will find when they click.

3. Sections of the page that users normally expect to find are: a header, navigation, content and a footer. These can be arranged in various ways in two- and three-column displays. The header usually contains site identification, logos, perhaps some top-level navigation and a search box. Navigation areas and content areas fill the majority of the page. The footer should give information about the site, site policies, contact information and copyright notices.

4. Consistent layout, color choices, typography and icons are important. The site should seem united, a seamless whole that fits into a consistent look and feel.

5. An effective website has effecting titles and headings for the pages. Provide clear statements in titles and headings that help people to understand what content is provided on the page.

6. Don't get too experimental; make things work as expected. If people don't understand what you are doing or how to get around on your site, they won't stick around.

7. Make your content accessible to everyone. Don't block readers from getting your content because of vision, hearing or mobility problems. Take time to learn how to design an accessible site so that your content can be accessed in any number of ways.