What Makes a Quality Website?
There is an endless list of what comprises a quality website. What follows is a quick overview of general topics, each of which would merit a book. Check out Vandelay Design on the links page for a longer list.
Who Will Design It?
A website can be put together with little more than a text editor like notepad. I know, I've done it. While hand-coding is a very useful skill especially for keeping things precise, quality website design requires many hats.
Marketing, graphic design, sales, technology, writing, photography, plus plain old heads-up common sense are just a few of the skills required for a quality website. To do this effectively, you need someone with a depth of skill and the interest to constantly upgrade their knowledge and stay current with trends to present YOUR passions to the world.
Important Elements
Who are you?
The most essential piece of information on a website page is the name of you or your organization... and some way to identify you, perhaps a logo. This should grab attention. Perhaps tell a story about what you do. It gives the viewer a starting point.
What's the story?
Websites generally sell products and services or provide information. Each website page should say ONE THING. Whatever the main point is on any page, it should draw attention to itself. Large type, big picture, bright colour, contrast.
Look at magazines ads or television commercials. At any given point there aren't a lot of words on the page and the main message is very clear.
What do we do now?
Lastly, there should be some call to action. What do you want the visitor to do next? Give some feedback? Take some action such as a phone call or email? Or perhaps directly buy something from the website?
Beyond this, the following points just make sure we get the job done in a pleasant and engaging way with care and attention to detail.
A Quality Website Means Details, Lots of Details...
Colour Control
Colour on the page should help the site visitor find their way around. Most important things should stand out in brighter colours or greater contrast, lesser things should be presented in muted colours and lower contrast.
Typography
Firstly, the text should be readable. Save the fancy display text for headlines - present information in clear, legible typefaces. The point here is to communicate. And again, focus is important. The most important piece of information should stand out and call attention to itself.
Use variations of one kind of type to keep the message unified. Using too many kinds of type faces results in a confusing appearance, not a quality website.
Consistency
A quality website has navigation that's easy to move around in and all the pages should relate to each other. Let the viewers know they haven't left YOUR "place".
Accessibility
Some visitors have disabilities or older browsers or slow connections. All of this can make a bad impression. W3C validation is a start. Awareness of accessibility issues goes a long way to solving these problems and producing the quality website you're looking for.
