There is nothing simple about designing a website. Anyone using the internet on a regular basis – whether for work or for personal matters – instinctively evaluates each website he or she navigates through, judging each page on effectiveness and style.

For whatever reason you are launching a website, the goals are going to be the same. You want to keep visitors interested and allow them to move freely from the home page without getting jammed. If at any point a visitor feels confusion, chances are they are moments away from leaving.

Any premature exit from your site will defeat its purpose and keep and cause you to weigh the viability of features you once considered essential to your presentation. The only way to avoid this catastrophe is to start with a sound plan and see it through to the end. If you find an area that needs tweaking, it can be handled much easier if the rest of the site is in great shape. Here are the five must-do points for any well-designed website. Read the rest of this entry »