[PLUG-TALK] Web Site Standards for Look 'n' Feel

Renegade Penguin renegadepenguin at comcast.net
Thu Jun 8 17:13:37 UTC 2006


Rich,

One of the hardest things to do is to make a website appealing.  Appeal 
is totally subjective.

As far as standards, CSS will help significantly.  The name of the game 
is consistency.

Here is a helpful link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=look+feel+website+guidelines&btnG=Google+Search

I do believe that you're looking for such terms as "usability," "visual 
appeal" and the like.

As someone with a business on the web, I can tell you that it definitely 
depends on the area that you are in.  I write all of my php code by 
hand, and will edit graphics down to the bit level if I believe that it 
can be helpful to my bottom line.  Each and every one of my graphics has 
been painstakingly edited for clarity and appeal.

However, my particular business thrives upon eye candy.  The more 
attractive I can make the products look, the more attractive my graphics 
that lead you to those products are, that will result in better sales.  
All of my items for sale are scanned in.  When my business was first 
online, I scanned items in at 75 dpi (many years ago).  A couple of 
years ago I made the switch to 150 dpi.  I actually went back and 
re-scanned in all of my old items.  Business increased within 4 hours - 
absolute truth.

So it depends on how you are trying to market your business, and what 
your business does.  You should research sites that you like, and 
competitors.  Make your site look like those elements.  A gaming site 
would have completely different styles than yours would.  Look at sites 
that need to have mass appeal - Microsoft, Apple, IBM, HP, or pick 
others that you believe would be quality.  Implement, copy, imitate and 
emulate those elements that you like.

Find a website designer.  They are numerous, and any quality web 
designer will have examples of their work.  That might help.

Remember, it is subjective.  Linux folks (not all, but a good number) 
can be those who are satisfied with Times Roman for a default font (I 
know a few).  Best to ask for opinions would be those knowledgeable 
about your field.

It is a very fine line between polished and slick, visually appealing 
and crowded with eye candy, elegant and simple.

Even some of the geek sites out there have great visual elements.  
Slashdot just this week redesigned their site based upon a contest.  The 
biggest thing to look for is consistency first, and then visual appeal.  
Decide how you'll implement - php?  html?  other?

A couple of helpful hints:
The link bar on the left is hard to read, especially on the left hand 
side.  Maroon on dark grey is hard to read for some, especially if there 
are limited sight considerations.
I agree that it looks too much like a printed page.  Find visual 
elements that make it easy for people to navigate and are appealing, and 
emulate them.
The phone number on the right: +1 503-667-4517.  Many people have 
dropped the +1, unless you're going for the international market.  You 
also might try 503.667.4517 - it has a more updated feel to it.
The maroon and grey seems a bit stuffy to me.  Personally I design most 
websites in blue or green - bright spring colors, visually appealing.  
It's hard to pull off a grey website that engages the eye and makes 
people want to stay.

I would be happy to give further pointers if you're willing to listen.  
It doesn't really affect me one way or the other, but I have designed 
several sites from scratch as well as modified many others. 

You have to decide your main goals with the site, and then refine from 
there.

RP


Rich Shepard wrote:

>   Many of you develop web sites for businesses. Are you aware of any
> standards for the site's look and feel?
>
>   I ask because I completely re-wrote my site based on feedback from a
> business advisor. A couple of linux folks whom I greatly respect tell 
> me that
> they like it, but the business advisor tells me that it doesn't adhere 
> to the
> "standards" for a business site; it looks too much like a written 
> page, among
> other complaints. I've not been able to find any such standards by 
> searching
> with Google.
>
>   So, I'm asking for feedback from a broader range of viewers. Off-list
> replies are fine. Regardless of what any of us do, some folks will 
> like it,
> some will dislike it, and the rest will yawn with indifference. Since 
> I've
> not had anyone call or e-mail based on his visit to my site, I really 
> have no
> idea how it's seen by a range of viewers. The URL is
> <http://www.appl-ecosys.com/>.
>
> Rich
>




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