The first impression of your website can make or break a visitor's experience. This article delves into the third and fourth parts of a nine-part series, focusing on the use of sound files and text presentation on your website. It provides insights on how to make your website more user-friendly and appealing to visitors.
If you decide to incorporate MIDI sound files into your website, ensure that visitors have the option to play the file, perhaps by clicking a "start" button. This is crucial because:
Forcing sound on visitors can lead to a negative user experience. Many users, unable to stop the sound because the page is still loading, may simply close the window and never return to your site.
The way you present text on your website can significantly impact its appeal and readability. Here are some tips to consider:
Consistency in Typeface Sizes: Ensure that the body text is of the same size throughout, and maintain consistency in the sizes of headings and subheadings. Random changes in typeface size can make your page look unattractive and confusing.
Specify Typeface: It's advisable to specify typefaces across your site to maintain a consistent look. Using common typefaces like Times, Ariel, and Helvetica ensures that your pages look the same to visitors as they do to you. However, remember that most browsers allow visitors to override a webmaster's choice of type.
Avoid Underlining Text: Underlining is often associated with typewriters and is considered poor typography. On the web, underlined text usually indicates a link, which can confuse visitors if the underlined text isn't actually a link.
Limit the Length of Links: Avoid turning entire sentences into links. Large chunks of underlined text are not only hard to read but also visually unappealing.
Use Capital Letters Sparingly: Use text in all capitals only for headings, and even then, use it sparingly. Blocks of text in capitals are hard to read. Most headings look best with just initial capitals.
Remember, if it looks unattractive on paper, it will look just as unattractive on a monitor. For more insights on web design, check out Smashing Magazine and A List Apart.
Is Your Website User-Unfriendly? Part 1 of 9
This article delves into the common pitfalls that can make a website user-unfriendly, using a real-life example to illustrate these issues. It also provides practical advice on how to avoid these mistakes, focusing on the importance of page width in this first part of the series.
Optimizing Your Website's Visual Appeal: Part 2 of 9
This article is the second in a nine-part series that aims to help you enhance your website's user experience. In this segment, we delve into the role of images on your website, how to use them effectively, and the common pitfalls to avoid.
Making Your Website User-Friendly: Part 7 of 9
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