Some Rules for Writing Effective Web Pages

The topic, its main idea, and its conclusion

Should be immediately visible, locatable, or knowable.

Ideas rule structure

Main ideas at the “top” of the screen and supporting and secondary information below.

Structure of the content and the website

Should be readily recognizable to your visitor.

Simple constructions are best

Limit one idea to a group of words, whether sentence, phrase, paragraph.

Avoid technical terminology

Unless you clearly and intentionally have its purpose in mind and definition available.

Data, detail, and complexity

Are subjects for subsequent pages and should be logically placed.

Each subsequent page’s content

Should be apparent by its link and consistent with its predecessor.

Detailed information

Can be accessed through links for printing.

Edit out the superfluous

No matter how clever if it detracts from your message.

Spell check,

Then have your pages independently proof-read.

Always focus on your message

Invite feedback with a “mailto” for comments, suggestions, questions to enhance the effectiveness of your website; ignore (don’t respond to or waste your time on) idiotic responses.

Formatting:

• Each page should be consistent in design.
• Use a table, one row/one column, to center your text in the monitor’s display (80% or so) to create margins left and right.
• Leave white space between paragraphs to enhance readability.

The use of graphics (your choice) can:

• reinforce text
• elaborate on text highlight text
• replace text
• be meaningless and distracting (not!)

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Monday, August 28th, 2006 at 2:58 am | Trackback Url