One of my favorite things I like to do when I'm online is browse the Internet,
and check out other marketing websites. I'm an avid reader, so when I come
across a well-designed website that appears to have an abundance of quality
content, I'll usually spend a few minutes on the site reading that content.
And if the site provides a pleasant reader experience, I'll bookmark it
and visit it again.
However, it takes a very special website to capture
my attention. And unfortunately, most sites fall far short of my expectations.
As a result, I rarely bookmark websites. No, more often than not, when I visit a
website, I click away after just a second or two.
Why? Because in my
opinion, many websites just aren't what I would call reader-friendly. In fact,
they're just the opposite. They provide a lousy reader experience.
Following are five things that ruin my reader
experience:
1. Too Busy Web Pages
Have you ever
visited a web page that was so busy and overcrowded your eyes didn't know what
to focus on? The tragedy of these types of web pages is some of them probably
have content that readers would be interested in.
But the web pages are
so doggone clutttered and disorganized, visitors can't find what they're looking
for - or are too frustrated to even try.
When you design your website,
arrange items in a neat and orderly fashion. Space things out. Because when it
comes to website design, a little white space is a good thing.
Also, if
you don't already have one, install a sitemap. The following website will allow
you to quickly and easily create your own sitemap right online:
http://www.xml-sitemaps.com
In addition
to a sitemap, installing an internal search box will also improve your visitors
reading experience, as well as assist them in finding the information that
they're seeking. This is especially important if you have a large website with
lots of pages.
If you would like to learn more about installing an
internal search box on your site, TechSoup has written an excellent article on
the topic, titled Adding a Search Engine to Your Site Is Easier than You
Think:
http://www.techsoup.org/learningcenter/webbuilding/archives/page9353.cfm
2.
Reverse Type
I'm absolutely amazed at how many websites I've
visited that are written in reverse text. What's reverse text? Reverse text is
light colored or white text on a dark or black background. If used correctly,
reverse text can produce an impressive visual impact.
The problem is many
websites don't use it correctly. And if you have a whole web page of reverse
text, it's extremely difficult on the eyes.
Why? Because according to
readability studies, reverse text is not suitable for reading because of its
poor legibility even in normal lighting conditions. It's hard on the eyes, and
just not reader-friendly. That's why newspapers, books and magazines have always
been printed on white paper with black text.
When designing your
website, it's best to use black text on a white or light-colored background, for
optimum readability. However if you decide to use reverse text, use it in
moderation.
3. Huge Blocks of Text
Internet
users are notorious scanners. They’ll scan your text first, before deciding
whether or not to actually read it. That's why you should always break up your
text into short, reader-friendly paragraphs.
When I come across a web
page that has these huge blocks of text, (ie, paragraphs that never seem to
end), I won't even waste my valuable time trying to read it. I'll just click
away, and leave your site.
And if I feel that way, you can bet other
visitors to your site feel the exact same way. Again, always break up your text
into short paragraphs. In addition, use bullets and subheads whenever possible.
They help break up your text, so that it's easier to read.
Remember what
I said earlier? Internet users are notorious scanners. That’s why subheads and
bullets are so important.
4. Tiny Font Sizes
Do
you remember the nearsighted cartoon character, Mr. Magoo? He always walked
around with his eyes in a permanent squint, trying to visually decipher things
that were right in front of him.
Well, that's exactly how I feel when I
visit some websites. I find myself squinting like Mr. Magoo, because the font
size is so tiny. When that happens, guess what? Click...I'm outta
there.
Do your readers a favor, and stay away from tiny font sizes. Stick
with the standard 12-point font size, whenever possible.
Conversely,
it's not a good ideal to use overly large font sizes either. It's just not
reader-friendly. Another thing, use ALL CAPS and fancy fonts in
moderation.
5. Excessive Bold Type and Highlighting
The other day I was browsing the Internet doing research, when I came
across something that caught my eye - but not in a good way. It was a web page,
and it was absolutely hideous. So, what made it so hideous?
The entire
web page written entirely in bold type, which is a crime in itself. But even
worse than that, the page was highlighted in yellow from top to
bottom.
Can you imagine that? It looked like a big mustard sandwich with
ants.
Unfortunately, I see this all too often on websites. You should
always use bold type and highlight in moderation, and only to emphasize certain
words, sentences or paragraphs.
In closing, I hope you'll take these
reader-friendly website design tips to heart, and apply them to your website, if
applicable. After all, you only get one chance to make a first
impression.
Because if your visitors have an unpleasant reader
experience, chances are, they won't be coming back.
