How to Make Your Website Look Attractive to Your Audience - By: Jamie Simpson

It's often speculated that good knowledge of HTML is enough to get a website up and going, but there is really a whole lot more beneath the surface. Actually, most successful websites thrive partly from their look and design alone. What makes a website attractive, though? Why is website design important, and how can you improve the look and feel of your current website?

One of the best places to start when trying to come up with a website design that works is taking some time to evaluate the colours you will use (or are using) for your website. Something as simple as a solid colour scheme can create an emotional connection with your viewer, and it's important not to overlook this. You will want to create a colour palette for your website. This is essentially a group of colours that will be used on your website for various elements. You will want these colours to work together in harmony and coincide with your site's purpose.

Next, you will want to evaluate your font types. It is essentially common knowledge that there are some font no-no's such as using Comics Sans or using light colours against a light background. However, even if you're avoiding all of the common no-no's, you may not be using the "right" font types. In general, it's best to go with thick and legible typefaces for headings, and light but solid typefaces for general text. Evaluate the readability of your font types you've chosen. Are they easily readable? Could you decipher the text sitting a few feet away from the monitor?

You'll also want to take a look at what is happening in your background. It's generally best to steer clear of busy backgrounds because they can be distracting from your website content. They can also make it hard to read your text. Generally, a solid colour or light pattern is fine, but you'll want to make sure that your eye does not easily wander from your site's content.

Make sure that your website isn't "busy." This generally means placing too many elements on one page. Too many Flash elements are a common example. You might feel the need to include a lot of information or photos on a particular page in your website, but it's important to do this in an aesthetically pleasing way. For example, using bullets and lists can make it ten times easier for a reader to skim your content. Maybe you've got a lot of photos you'd like to publish to your site. Using thumbnails and a pop-out photo viewer can make this a successful web page.

Always remember that simplicity is key. It may seem like a good idea to use detailed fonts, Flash intros, flashy backgrounds, and so on. However, the end result may not be desirable. Using various rules in design such as proportion, repetition, and others can really help you create an attractive website. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be on your way to having a beautiful website!

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