| Professional web design has become vital during | | | | company will prevent bad design from happening to |
| recent years. A few years ago, it was estimated | | | | you. In the meantime, here are some very basic |
| that a visitor to a web site took about 8 seconds to | | | | guidelines regarding those very important web site |
| decide to stay on that web site or click the "Back" | | | | graphics: |
| button. That was then, this is now: Your web site | | | | More about the .JPG file format: |
| has only about 4 seconds to make an impression on | | | | .JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) format |
| the visitor. That is not much time at all! Today, | | | | allows images to contain up to 16 million colors. It also |
| people want instant results. Few people even wait to | | | | supports Variable Compression, which allows you to |
| see the entire web design before making their | | | | reduce the size of the image at the cost of some of |
| decision. If your web design does not grab their | | | | the detail. In order to take full advantage of this |
| attention immediately, they won't stick around. And if | | | | feature, you will need a graphics program which will |
| your web site does not offer something of benefit, | | | | allow you to preview the image after you have |
| they won't bookmark it and they won't come back | | | | compressed it. Some of the more popular graphics |
| (more on that later). | | | | programs are Photoshop, Fireworks and Corel Draw. |
| So, with that in mind, let's discuss some practical | | | | JPG is not a good format for images with only a few |
| ways to grab the attention of web site visitors. | | | | colors or for text created as an image. The finished |
| Then, in a future article, we will talk a little about | | | | image will be of poor quality. |
| keeping their attention with good web site content. | | | | More about the .GIF file format: |
| Remember, people spend most of their time on the | | | | .GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) support up to 256 |
| Internet reading. They read search results, news | | | | colors. It also supports "transparency" which allows |
| items, how-to articles and forums. A professional | | | | you to specify the background of the image to be |
| web design company will take this into account. But | | | | invisible, thereby letting the web page colors show |
| that is for later. First, we have to keep visitors | | | | through. |
| attention (remember the 4 second rule). | | | | Graphics in this format are also "looseless", meaning |
| Get to the Point. | | | | the final quality is not adversly affected by |
| We live in a fast-paced society and we are used to | | | | compressing. |
| instant results: Microwave meals in 5 minutes, lose 5 | | | | Boiling it Down. |
| pounds in 5 days, 30 minute oil changes, see results | | | | For the most part, here is a good way to determine |
| from fitness equipment in 20 minutes a day, and on | | | | what format you should use for the graphics on your |
| and on. | | | | web site: |
| The Internet is no different and it actually may be | | | | - If your graphic has many colors (such as a photo) |
| less forgiving of web sites that don't deliver results | | | | use .JPG as the format, However, make sure that |
| quickly. | | | | the file size is not so large that it prevents the web |
| The 4 second rule that we spoke of earlier does not | | | | page from loading quickly. Find a good balance |
| mean that your entire web page must load in 4 | | | | between image quality and file size. |
| seconds. Rather, it means that a visitor to your web | | | | - If your graphic has only a few colors (such as a |
| site has to at least see something interesting within | | | | chart) use .GIF as the format. |
| that 4 second window. So, to test your site, while it | | | | Of course, this is somewhat oversimplifying the very |
| is loading, ask yourself: | | | | important role of graphics in your web site design. If |
| - How much time passes before I see anything? | | | | you hire a professional web design company to |
| - What is the first thing I see on the web page? | | | | create your web presence, he or she should follow |
| - How much time passes before I can read some | | | | these guidelines during the design process. You should |
| text? | | | | make sure that the rough drafts you receive from |
| - How long would it take a visitor to determine what | | | | the designer adhere to good design standards. |
| the web site is about? | | | | Make Them Want More. |
| Try this suggestion yourself and then try to enlist | | | | Of course, no matter how well organized your web |
| the help of some of your friends. The more people | | | | site is and how effective it is at grabbing the visitor's |
| you have to test your web site, the more thorough | | | | attention, they have to view your web site as |
| your results will be. | | | | important. You have to give them reasons to stay |
| Ideally, the site should load top to bottom and left to | | | | and browse your site, to bookmark your site so they |
| right. However, your design should adhere to the | | | | can refer to it again and to tell others about your site |
| reading habits of your target audience. Some | | | | so you can build new visitors.We will consider how to |
| countries read from right to left so, make sure you | | | | tackle this aspect of quality web site design in an |
| know your audience. Also, the most eye-catching | | | | upcoming article. That article will focus on three main |
| elements should load first. Once these load, they will | | | | ways to keep visitors coming back: |
| grab the visitor's attention. Then, the rest of the | | | | |
| page can finish loading. | | | | 1. Offer something of value |
| What Graphics Format Should I Use? | | | | 2. Newsletter |
| This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects | | | | 3. Free tips |
| of web design. How many times have you visited a | | | | 4. Monthly coupons |
| web site and cringed at the slow loading pictures. I'll | | | | Good, quality marketing copy |
| bet you did not stick around to see everything load. | | | | 1. Put effort into the words of your web site. |
| In most cases, web sites that have this problem | | | | 2. Remember, the Internet is made up of web pages |
| were created by someone who bought a Web | | | | and for the most part, pages are meant to be read. |
| Design How-To book, created a web page that says | | | | Easy to use web site navigation. |
| "Hello World" and now think they are an expert. Or, | | | | |
| possibly they are learning web design and created | | | | 1. If visitors can't get around easily on your web site, |
| this slow loading site as a favor for a friend or family | | | | they won't stay very long. |
| member. At any rate, hiring a professional web design | | | | |