Newsletter #109 Keep It Simple Superstar

Created on 16/11/06

A special hello to all new subscribers. This article is on the Web at this address.

Our last newsletter (13th October, 2006) was "Why This Headline Is Boring ".

Feature Article

I have always liked the KISS principle with a small modification to the last word.

Nowhere is KISS more important than on a webpage. Why so? Because eye-tracking studies have proven that your site visitors do not read, they scan. Visitors to your website are normally on the hunt for information, products or services. They know that if they can’t find what they’re after on your site they can usually find it elsewhere, so they are unwilling to put too much time into your webpage unless a quick scan assures them that it is worth it.

So what are some guidelines for keeping webpages simple?

• Generally keep to one topic per page so that visitors don’t need to consider where their attention should be focused – they just need to read from the top to the bottom.
  
  On your home page this may be hard to achieve but for internal pages it is normally the best way. Making your pages shorter with just one main topic can be better for Search Engines too.
  
  
• Don’t overload the page with graphics. In this era of broadband, graphics can be incorporated without affecting the speed of the page download too much, however too many big graphics can break up the text and annoy visitors as it slows them getting to the information they are hunting.
  
  Graphics can be useful in some instances however, where standard elements can communicate more quickly. A good example is a download link graphic that is easier to find than searching for the link text within a paragraph.
  
  
• Links threaded throughout your content are highly useful though particularly if they are easy to see. Links should always be underlined so that visitors can easily see which text is a link rather than having to find them with their mouse.
  
  It doesn’t hurt to have redundant links on the page, ie links that may be on the main menu or elsewhere already. If a visitor is reading the text, it is easier to click a relevant link nearby rather than having to search for the right link within the navigation system.
  
  
  
• Lots of bullet points, short paragraphs and clear text make it easy for your readers. Visitors will struggle to stay focused on densely written long-winded paragraphs.
  
  
  
• Keep to one column if you can, multi-columns can be distracting as your visitors scan the page. Which column should I read first? Don’t make them scroll down then back up to read the top of the next column.
  
  
  
• All forms where you collect information should be as simple and as short as possible. The longer the form, the fewer people will fill it out.
  
  If you do want to collect extra information ask for it at a later opportunity, the object is to get the initial contact, not scare potential customers away.
  

KISS is a principle that works in all manner of business activities. Follow the guidelines above and I’m sure no-one will think your website is stupid.

Hot Tips

Newbies

Most of you are probably using Internet Explorer 6 to surf the Internet. There is an under-utilised feature of IE6 called the Links bar. Firstly open IE6 and go View/Toolbars and make sure "Lock the Toolbars" is unchecked. Almost at the top right of your screen you will see "Links". Hold your mouse over the dividing line just to the left of it and drag (keep the left button down) it left until your Address Bar is smaller. You will see that there are a number of default links put there by Microsoft - right click on them and select Delete if you don't want them.
Go to a site you visit a lot - hold your mouse on the icon to the left of the "http:" in the Address Bar and then left click and drag to put that page on your Links bar. If the description of your link is too long, right click and choose Rename to make it shorter.
Now your favourite site is one click away.

Power Users

Google Desktop has been considerably updated this year and they have added Google Gadgets and Sidebar to customise your desktop even further http://desktop.google.com/

Interesting Sites

Meebo is a Web-based Instant Messaging system that lets you log into your Instant Messaging networks via your browser. You can also easily integrate Meebo with your Website so that visitors can chat with you. Check it out at http://wwwl.meebo.com

InsiteFul Quotes

"There are only 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't." unknown

You can see our other Quick Quotes on the front page of www.netinsites.com; just refresh the page to see another one randomly selected from our database. Great for presentations or times when you want to appear to be a techno-dude(ss)!

Archives

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Best wishes

Alex Garden

Internet Strategy | Website Design | Website Promotion | Web Text Messaging | Email Newsletters | Online Sports Games | Content Management