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Web Standards Change

What looked good five years ago may not look so good now. Things change, and expectations evolve.

Does your existing site look dated? Is it interactive? Or does it look the same way it did when it was originally built?

If it's been a while since your site got any attention, chances are very good that your visitors are leaving before you get your point across. Maybe it contains dates that have come and gone, or products you no longer carry. Whatever the reason, your site needs to be updated on a regular basis, and it's content needs to remain relevant and fresh.

From a functional standpoint, the following ten things should be addressed:

10 Ways to Improve Your Existing Website

1. Color scheme. Evaluate your color palatte to determine whether it adds or detracts from your site. The best websites generally stick to 3-5 colors. The same minimalist rule applies to fonts – beginning web designers love to play with as many as they can – stick to 2-3 and no more.
2. Simplify page navigation. If it is difficult or confusing for users to move around your website and find information, they are likely to leave. Make sure that your site’s navigation is simple, intuitive, consistent, and in an obvious location. Typically, a site must be self-explanatory within five seconds before visitors close it altogether.
3. Verify cross browser compatibility. Your website should look the same in all modern browsers. This will ensure that all visitors can view and use the website as you intend.
 

4. Make sure all text is readable. Certain fonts are more legible than others, according to usability studies. Some also work on all browsers, while many do not. I know which to use and how to use them effectively to get your point across – every time.
5. Design for all monitors. While the average monitor size and resolution are increasing, there are still many people who use small monitors, or are on laptops. Typical screen resolution is 1024x780, although the new wave of netbooks may be dramatically smaller. Your site should look good on any device.

6. Make your site sticky. "Stickiness" is a measure of how well your site attracts and keeps visitors. To make your site sticky, you can add a poll, a contest, or a forum – anything which increases the time a visitor spends on your site.

7. Proofread for grammatical or spelling errors. A single typographical error can eliminate any trust a potential customer has built in your site.

8. Include contact information. Displaying your contact information will add credibility to your website. Be sure that it is displayed prominently.
9. Remove or fix any dead or broken links. There is nothing more frustrating than clicking on a link, only to find that it leads to a page that doesn’t exist. Make sure that your visitors never have to experience this.
10. Don't have a link to your home page ON your home page. This adds to the confusion if someone clicks on it from the home page and nothing happens. Almost everyone makes this mistake – don’t be one of them!
 

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