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Blinking text and
gratuitous animation Avoid blinking text and unnecessary animation;
many people find these effects annoying and meaningless. On the other hand,
many people appreciate a slick yet simple rollover effect for buttons. |
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Competition
Search similar sites to see what's out there, and then make your site
unique. By viewing similar or related sites, you can also get ideas of
topics that need better coverage or that you've forgotten to address on your
page. |
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Content Keep
content fresh, simple, and smart. Further, aim to use at least 80 percent of
your page to present your content (especially if you plan to use advertising
on your page), and restrict navigation elements to 20 percent or less of
your page area. |
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Cutting-edge
technology Avoid using too many high-tech features or you'll lose the
majority of your viewers. Most people don't want to download a plug-in just
to view a Web page. If you use advanced technology, make sure you know what
your page looks like on systems that don't support it. |
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Download speed
Ensure that your page downloads as quickly as possible; you have about 10
seconds max before viewers itch to surf elsewhere. |
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Frames
Please do not use frames. Or, if you do, use them sparingly. Frames are
tricky to implement properly and often hard for users to navigate. Frames
can be useful for sites that include many links, but you have other options,
which means not using frames shouldn't pose a problem. |
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Functional design
Opt for function over form—every design element should also serve a
purpose. |
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Important
elements Size elements in proportion to their importance. Bigger means
more important and draws attention quicker, whereas smaller equates to
lesser importance. |
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Moderation
Avoid using too much of any element or technique, including links, colors,
scrolling, and so forth. Remember, too much emphasis results in no emphasis
as all. |
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Sound files
Don't automatically enable sound files. If you must include sound, provide
an option to play an audio file. |
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The kitchen sink
Don't get crazy and overload your Web pages. |
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Visual appeal
Verify that your page looks good in Internet Explorer and FireFox (at a
minimum) at various resolutions on Windows and Macintosh systems. |
|
White space
Create eye relief and visual space with strategically placed blank areas
(white space). |
