5 7 Examples of Good Web Design Page Layout
One of my favorite things about being a full-time project manager in addition to an Internet marketer is that I get some very good on-the-job training and networking opportunities at my nine-to-five. For example, I've recently had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Susan Weinschenk, Chief of User Experience Strategy at Human Factors International and an expert in web design page layout.
Experts in Web Design
(Thank you! Please read our book referral disclaimer)In her recent book, Neuro Web Design: What makes them click? (New Riders Press), Dr. Weinschenk describes important aspects of usability and persuasive web design. In plain terms, usability is the practice of ensuring that your website's layout and information is easily understood by your website visitors. Persuasive design is the art and science of how to make your message more compelling, resulting in more website leads and sales. Neuro Web Design was a great read and since then I've been looking at websites differently.
Practical Examples of Web Design
This week I came across an excellent example of good web design page layout in a site called Daily Mugshot. Daily Mugshot is a free service that allows you to take a picture of yourself every day and then post them to a flipbook that you can share with your friends or embed on your website. Today, I'm going to take you through seven examples of great web page design, thanks to Daily Mugshot.
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7 Examples of Good Web Design Page Layout:
- Home page link - It's now become best-practice to have your logo in the top-left corner of your website. Clicking on the logo should bring visitors to the home page.
- The "welcome mat" - Your website should have a section of the home page that introduces the visitor to your website. You should give folks an idea of what your site is about and why they should be there.
- Social proof - Visitors to your site want to know whether your product is any good or not. Seeing other people who have taken the time to use Daily Mugshots sends a message that the site is worth it.
- Search - Search is an important means of navigation for many web users. A visible search box is a must of almost all websites.
- Clear Call-to-Action - Your first goal in great web design page layout should be to provide a crystal-clear action you want your visitors to perform. Notice how Daily Mugshot uses about three different visual cues to get you to sign up for their service.
- Page Layout Navigation - Make sure your visitors don't get lost. Provide clear navigation with intuitive page titles.
- Clear Explanations - Be sure to use clear, concise language that your ideal customer/visitor would understand when you design and layout your web page.
Much to Learn
Great web design page layout requires that you take a lot of factors into account. Neuro Web Design helped me realize that there is much to learn. What are some of your favorite examples of good web design page layout?
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Reader Comments (5)
What are your thoughts on websites that use a blog as the main source for site traffic. I work for a small hot rod shop. We do not have hundreds of end users, but rather a small group of previous and current clients. One of the ways that I developed to help drive traffic to the new website that I had built, was through the use of engaging blog posts related to our business of hot rods.
While the numbers show that yes, there are some people that only view the blog and move on, I also have proven figures of viewership of the other pages of the website that I do not believe would be there without the blog.
The question is, is it really a loss to not have the key points in your post on the home page? I took the idea of using the blog as a homepage from www.biltwellinc.com - they deal in motorcycle accessories, and since their inception based their website on the same thing. Only now, after they have grown into a larger company have they just recently redeveloped their website with the blog still up front, but a much smaller part of the home page.
I have used the same concept of a blog as a homepage at www.choppedanddiced.com. So what are your thoughts for the small business trying to get the name out?
There's a couple of good questions here. I strongly believe that a blog is a great way to build and foster a community, which is the new currency in this "trust" economy that folks like Chris Brogan and Mitch Joel refer to. Focus on creating value for the community, not the number of followers, as you suggest.
As far as having your key points on the home page, I'm sure it's debatable in certain instances, but consider this: no matter where people land on your website, if they get lost or want to know more about your business, the home page is the place they're most likely to go to "come up for air," so to speak. Having your main points there increases the chances they'll see the main things you have to offer them and the community in general.
And finally, to build a community, start by asking what problems you can solve. Write about those things. See what happens.
To me the website designing was not a good thing when I was in my high-school, but when I came to Denver Website Designs I learnt a lot of things..the seven ideas provided by you are simply the best ideas provided on internet about the website designs..I would like to ask one more thing which I think will be simpler to you..should I use the same design within the whole website or should I change the template/design with the page theme...?? I know it will be more time consuming, but don't you think it will be better as well???
I was looking for crucial information on this subject. The information was important as I am about to launch my own site. Thanks
Picture helps a lot. I think, this article will help web designers and developers. Very clear and clean website is great in sight to visitors and customers. It will help them, this will be their guidelines in building or updating a website.