The following tips provide information highlighted in Online Web Design, by Kristina Ackley and Hilary Benoit. Take these tips into consideration when you design your next Web site, and you'll be on your way to Web success!

 Top Ten Essential Web Design Elements  

1. Offer interesting, useful information No one likes a boring site. If the content within a site contains too much technical jargon, long-winded, overblown language, or leads readers around in circles, chances are greater that users will not return.
2. Enhance, rather than overwhelm, your visitors through effective navigation The best content and graphics won't help if site visitors cannot figure out how to find the resources. When you successfully use navigation tools, you enhance the user's experience, which correlates to your site's effect.
3. Design to result in printing pleasure, not pain Some Web designers get so caught up in the effects and beauty of their site online, they forget about printing issues. Don't fall into this trap. People still enjoy printing out information and taking it with them to read later--on the train, plane, or when their eyes need a break from the computer.
4. Decrease load time, ensuring that your site loads quickly Despite the fact that computers, Web browsers, and Internet connection options continue to increase, some people still suffer connection speeds of 56k or less. Don't take the chance that elements of your site will eat up precious bandwidth.
5. Implement leading edge, not bleeding edge, technology Don't fall so in love with the latest technology, whether cascading style sheets, new programming languages, or new applications, without first ensuring they work across all platforms. After all, if only 5% of the Internet population can see certain "bells and whistles," why not wait a little longer before implementing them?
6. Use graphics to produce quality, not quantity, and avoid overpowering site visitors Sites that contain fifteen animated gifs and thirty other graphics don't usually impress your visitors; they often scare them away!
7. Update your information frequently, so users can trust the information Have you visited sites that reference information ten years old or show their last update as three years ago? How well did you trust the information on that site? Encourage your users that you are providing accurate, up-to-date information by updating your site frequently.
8. Ensure that your site provides a clear objective, both for audience and in presentation When you determine the initial reason for creating a Web site, make sure you work your entire site around that reason, then step back, and determine whether your audience will seek your site for that reason. If not, you'll encounter some confused users. By creating content that mirrors your site mission, you can avoid this problem.
9. Provide alternative methods of navigation, such as a search engine and site map No matter how perfect your navigation structure, you'll always encounter users who just can't figure out how to move around within your site. Make their lives easier and support emails fewer and further between by providing alternative means of navigation.
10. Keep informed about Web standards Read Web design magazines, subscribe to listservs, and network to find out the latest and greatest standards for Web design. Then, research that information through other sources to ensure you know the true standards, rather than the fads that do not stretch across all platforms. Consider information about monitor size, number of colors, bandwidth, and anything else you can find.