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Imagine walking into a store where items are left lying on the floor, racks are disorganized, housewares are mixed with clothing, jewelry with shoes and no salesperson is in sight. You'd probably leave quickly never to return. The same applies to a disorganized web site where the builder attempts to show the entire site before the customer gets his foot in the door. All too often web developers overwhelm visitors with too much clutter. Conversely, a good web design invites the user in with a simple choice or two, on a well-thought-out front page (ie. Shop, Customer Service, Policies, Contact Us, etc). From there, the web surfer has a chance to "drill down" into the specific area they seek information about with each click getting more specific and more detailed about the area of interest. To build a good website, start with a pen and paper. Create a high level outline of the topics you wish to cover on your site - much like you would when setting up "departments" in your store. Under each major heading list the functions or sub-topics that would logically be found in that area. When you build your site, don't force too many topics onto any single page (as it tends to overwhelm your visitor). Instead, use links to sub-pages where more details can be found. Also, make liberal use of white space (think of white spaces as the aisles in your store, they allow the eye and brain to rest between topics). More details about web design and construction will be covered in my "Creating a Website for Your Store" seminar at the NARTS Annual Conference in Scottsdale this June.
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© 2008 National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops, All Rights Reserved | Phone:800.544.0751 | Fax:586.294.6776 |
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