Summing up: Best practices in web design

1. Keep page sizes small.

10-second rule (56kps modem).
Home page should be about 55 k max. Check Dreamweaver's status bar, lower right.

2. Offer compelling content.

Determine audience, write for that group.
Consider that people may scan on-line text.
Edit carefully for credibility.
Avoid too much information ("TMI").
Users expect updates: one internet year is like 10 real time years.
"Printer-friendly" pages--avoid if possible.

3. "Splash pages": avoid most of the time. Why?

Usually too large, slow download.
Will not be indexed by search engines.

4. Home page is most carefully considered of all site's pages.

Users must be able to identify your page in four seconds, max.
Avoid "Welcome" messages or mission statements.
Logo at upper left or, rarely, upper right: "z-pattern" reading.
Consider CRUD principles: Contrast, Repetition, Unity (proximity and alignment), Dominant Element.
White background for easiest readability, or clearly contrasting colors readable by visually impaired as well as not.
Avoid busy backgrounds; background patterns available free over the net usually look amateurish.
Search box at top right. Shopping cart icon (if necessary) at top right.
Don't make graphics look like advertisements. Unless they are.
Legal/privacy link at bottom.
Contact information: include address, telephone number, e-mail, or all three.
Webmaster link, to report problems.
Avoid sound files, unless absolutely necessary.
Offer some material available without requiring user registration.
Avoid animated gifs and scrolling signs.

5. Offer intuitive navigation.

Top or left side, visible without scrolling.
5-7 links. If more, high-priority navigation at top, secondary along side.
Intuitively labeled buttons; avoid "click here."
Animated gif links look amateurish.
Links to PDF files should be labeled as such.
Orient users to their place on the site, where they've been, how to get back to the home page.
Gif files or buttons as links should be clearly labeled; avoid links undetectable without mouseovers.

6. Offer effective graphics.

Optimize to keep file sizes as small as possible.
Size pictures in Photoshop; HTML Height and Width attributes don't change file sizes.
PNG files are still not supported by some browsers.
Don't use graphics for large amounts of text. Why: not accessible to disabled or search engines.
Graphics that look like a link (say, an arrow) should be a link.
Include ALT descriptions for every graphic.
Drop shadows, 3-D, bevel edges are considered amateurish.
Free clip art available on the net usually looks amateurish.

7. Text must be readable.

Black text on white background is most readable. Test color schemes with disabled users.
Use fonts designed for web: georgia (serif) or verdana (sans), or common fonts available in every computer (arial, helvetica, times).
Use relative text sizes (+ or -), heading styles <h>, for accessibility.
Avoid text smaller than about 12 pt., HTML font size 3.
Restrain use of font sizes and colors: five sizes and 10 colors in one article looks like a hostage note.

8. Be found.

Always include META tags clearly describing your site's content for search engines.
Always include descriptive titles for search engines.

9. Consider validating your site.

Does everything work? Rely on validation software or validation web site such as 3WC's on-line validator. Or just use Dreamweaver CS validator: From the File pull-down, choose Check Page.

General : consider your web site's purpose, and bend these principles if appropriate. Personal sites, game sites and artsy sites have goals clearly differing from e-commerce and information sites.

Now for some fun: all you want to know about maltese dogs and animated gifs (how many can you find?). (Warning: slower than heck on 56 kps).