Apply These Tips to Create a Professional Looking Website
Whether you are creating a website for yourself to attract corporate attention or you have already landed the big one and need to put together a truly professional site, there are a few things to keep in mind that will make the site stand out and have that feel of professionalism that businesses want. Here are some tips to keep in mind throughout the design process.
Here are some tips to keep in mind throughout the web design process.
First of all, you need to be sure not to clutter up the page. Professional sites are clean looking. Imagine the lobby of a professional office building. They don’t have 2 years’ worth of old magazines piled up on the coffee table. The furniture allows for plenty of space for walking and waiting traffic. The reception desk isn’t cluttered. Treat the homepage the same way. Don’t clutter it with ads, popups, banners, images, an overabundance of text, or anything else. Keep it simple and elegant.
If the reader has to strain their eyes to read the content or find then link to the page they want, you lose the air of professionalism. Having a readable site requires a few things.
The Right Colors: If the letters don’t stand out from the background, they will be difficult to read. Be sure to place darker letters on a lighter background or light letters on a dark background for sufficient contrast.
The Right Font: You want the font to stand out, but it has to be easily readable. Don’t use a different font for everything. You may want a different font for the site logo or maybe for the menu, but don’t have content in multiple fonts on the same page or in a different font on each page.
The Right Size: You can use a smaller font for content than headings, but don’t create anything so small that it is tough to read.
Be absolutely certain that the site will work across various platforms and on various sized screens. This is especially vital if you decide to build a responsive site rather than a separate mobile site. What the user sees needs to be just as professional when they are on a phone or tablet.
Finally, don’t forget the importance of visual hierarchy. If there is a call to action on the page (a subscribe or order button, for example) sure that they eye is directed there. Circles are a great way to draw the eye, so don’t overuse them unnecessarily so that they make the right impact when you do include them in the design.
