Scraping off the Cheese: Increasing Web Site Credibility

Last updated: December 31, 2005

Need to clean up your web site image fast but don't have a budget for a designer? Following these 7 web site design tips should go a long way towards increasing the credibility of your business web site.

1. Lose the clip art. Use a nice-looking photograph instead. Preferably a photo that shows your product in use or a satisfied client, but even a well-chosen stock photo would be better than clip art. And animated clip art? Unless you're a real design whiz, just say "never".

2. Reduce the size of large photos. If it's over 400 pixels wide, it's probably too big for your business web site. Hint: use your image editing program to reduce the size, not your HTML editing program.

3. Unless you really know what you're doing, remove any patterned web page backgrounds. Choose a nice solid color instead.

4. Everyone, including the design pros, should remove these special effects (unless they're part of a Flash piece):

• text or graphics that slide into position
• blinking text or graphics
• spinning text or graphics
• page transition effects
• sound effects

5. Keep extra large type to a minimum.

6. Remove underlining from any text that is not a link.

7. Use bold, italics, exclamation points, and ALL CAPS very sparingly.

About The Author: Keita Del Valle is the owner of the Inland Empire website design company, Crafty Pixel (www.craftypixel.com). This article may be re-published for free provided this byline, with its active links, remains intact.