Attention Grabbing Web Design
There is no question that designing an effective web page requires the ability to evaluate and implement a variety of technical applications. Are you going to use cascading style sheets? How do you create them and use them? How about browser compatibility? Will the page work just as well in IE for Windows as it does in IE for Macintosh? What kinds of images will you use and how will they be placed in the page? Are you going to use wrap-around text with your images? What about Flash applications? Printer friendly web pages?
Creating an engaging, effective website does require some understanding and mastery of these techniques and other applications, too.
But wait! First things first. Before you spend a lot of timing downloading and plowing through articles and instructions on the technical aspects of web design, take some time to consider the elements of a web page that would really grab YOUR attention- a web design that would have you pause and look again, that would pique your interest and engage you to read on. Does the page that your imagination conjures up look like the standard web templates that are available everywhere? Hopefully not. Ideally you have envisioned something a bit more exciting, inviting and tempting. After all, web site design is marketing. And successful marketing is separating yourself from the horde. How do you differentiate your site and make visitors want to stay and even better, return?
Originality should be your first consideration. The “stick with what works” approach means your site will fall in line with its competitors and you will have missed a valuable opportunity to break away and engage your target. But keep your eye on your objective, which is to engage effectively. ‘Original’ doesn’t mean crazy, loopy, screaming, goofy or weird. Those are turn-offs guaranteed to drive people away. But stepping away from the computer for a few minutes and taking some time to consider innovative approaches to otherwise standard applications can pay big dividends in hits, sales and returns. Try out an innovative approach on a small group of friends, family, colleagues or trusted users. You may be surprised at how effective an original web design can really be.