When you create a new website or modifying an existing business, there are four important rules to be followed to make the site effective, functional, loved by search engines - and successful.
1. Easy to r
ead
When you build a website, the first thing you need to be sure of is that your website is easy to read. When you write content, remember that most website visitors do not read every word on a page - namely, that they only scan pages to find what they want.
Break Up Your Content
Break your pages and use headers between major ideas so people scanning your site can find what they want quickly. Use meaningful headers between each paragraph or major idea - this helps with SEO. Headers should be created with the H1 through H4 tags for SEO. Always use good writing structure. In addition, avoid long paragraphs that run on. You should break up any long paragraphs.
Color and Fonts
To help readability, use high contrast colors between font and background. Black text on a white background may seem Stark, but it is very readable. Making a website easy on the eyes, try an off-white background and a dark gray (almost black) text color.
Things to avoid with content color:
Avoid light colors as vibrant purple or yellow. Such back colors make text difficult to read.
Avoid using an image behind your text.
Avoid using bright text colors on bright backgrounds.
Fonts Matter
One simple statement covers the font issue:
Simple fonts are the best, and the more fancy the font, the harder it is to read.
Since many browsers only have the default font, use default fonts. In reality, there is no "standard", but there are some fonts that are installed on most browsers. These include Arial, Verdana, Tahoma and Times New Roman. Your readers will see something different than you see if you use other fonts.
Standard Compliant Browser Development
By developing and testing your site, use a Standards compliant browser like FireFox. If you develop your site to be standards compliant, it will work in most browsers, including MS Internet Explorer (IE). It is recommended that you test your site using the latest and last browser versions of IE (IE6 and IE7). To run multiple versions of IE on the same machine, TredoSoft.com has a free installer that will install multiple versions of IE. It works great!
Keywords in Content
Of course, when writing content, not only should it be formatted to be readable, but it must also be consumable items that are not only humans but by search engines. One way to make the subject of content known to search engines is to use the keywords that people use to find your site in your content. Be sure to use keywords in your header tags, your first paragraph and throughout your text. The keyword density should be between 4% and 7% - but more than that could 1) be difficult to read and still make sense and 2) be considered spam by search engines and banned. Keywords should also be used in your TITLE tags and your
2. Simplify Navigation
The menus and links make up the navigation that the visitor to move from page to page in a website. Always plan a site around how people will get from page to page. A visitor to your site must be able to get what they want within three clicks of their mouse.
Multiple navigation points makes it easy to find things. Repeat the top menu and bottom. Also create a left or right menu.
Use the links in your text to other areas of your site. You can create links so they are good at search engine optimization (SEO). There are generally two ways to create links in your text:
The wrong way: "For search engine optimization techniques, click here."
The right way: "Good techniques for search engine optimization is important to use."
Use the link text (anchor text) that describes what the link is about the best way. Search engine web crawlers (programs that automatically index the contents of websites) visit your site, they "read" links. Spiders can index descriptive links into a subject or keyword category. Spiders have nothing to work with when reading a "click here" until it reaches the linked page.
This is Cross Linking - use it as much as possible when it makes sense to do it when you write your content.
3. Uniform Design
At most, should one or two layouts used in your site design. As a reader browsing your site, they should be able to get used to seeing in the same place for your navigation, for your sub-navigation and your content. That's all there is to say about it.
4. Lower Page Weight is Better
Page weight is the total size of a page on your site in bytes - code, text and images. Your site's page weight makes a big difference to your viewers. Lighter page weight is better for your readers because the page will download faster. The faster a page downloads, the faster they will get to the content.
What is means to be Light
- No large images.
- Fewer images are better.
- Optimize images for the web at no more than 72 dpi
- Use as small an image dimension as possible for the given design.
- Use a table td bgcolor attribute or a background-color style attribute for color backgrounds.
- Make gradients horizontally or vertically (not diagonally), so you can use a small image "strip" and repeat it.
How "Heavy" If a website be?
Some studies show that 64K is a good maximum webpage size. 64K is the maximum, but it is still, in our opinion, great shame! The smaller the page, the better. 25K is good, 15K is even better. There is a balance between design and function. It is a good idea to focus more on function.
Try putting pages on your web host server as you build your site so you can test it as you go.
Ways to make the pages easier:
- Use linked style sheets
- Using divs instead of tables where possible
- Use simple repeating backgrounds for effect
Summary
Visitors on your website should be able to find what they are looking for within about three clicks. Search engines should be able to navigate easily through your website. Making a site easy to read with consistent page design and easy navigation will make it easy to find information. When people find information they are more likely to refer your site or linking to it - which is exactly what you want to promote. You will be on the road to building a readable and hopefully successful website that is loved by search engines if you follow these principles.
