How crucial is web site planning:

Avoid placing too large graphics on the first page itself, or in any other page for that matter, as large graphics take a long time to load, and will consequently try the patience of the viewer. They will not have the patience to wait for the loading of the page and may thus just leave the site to move on to another site.

Whatever type of website you have, a large one with numerous pages, or a small one with a few pages should be well organized. This is because if there are numerous links on the website, one may finally end up turning in circles, that is, revisiting the sites already visited, thus irritating the viewer. So first, plan the website on paper, planning which link should link to which link and ultimately end up at which page. It is actually advised by information architecture studies that website with site maps are easier to navigate than web sites without them. So why not consider placing a site map on your web site too? The benefit of the site map is that visitors can use it to easily locate the information that they are looking for in the web site.

Avoid cluttering the web page with too many graphics and too much matter. This is because, web surfers surf the internet to get information and visuals and are not that interested or patient enough to be overwhelmed with graphics and links. Have as much white space on the web page so that the matter on the web page is clear. Having black print on a white background is the best combination in the web world as this gives a pleasing effect to the reader, and also makes the text easier to read. Avoid using too many different fonts on the web site. Usually only a maximum of two fonts are used. And it is also better to use a sans serif font like Arial or Times New Roman as it is easily readable to the viewer. If at all you do have too much of matter to place on the web site, instead of placing it all on a single page, it is better to divide the matter into two or more pages to make the pages look clear and uncluttered. Remember, everyone has a different computer; and not everyone has a giant monitor or a fast connection. Plan your website in such a way that it caters to as many people’s wants, and computers, as possible!

Advertisement is a part of the visual world that is prevalent in all spheres of communication, television, radio, computer and newspaper. However, having too many advertisements in any of this media proves to get too irritating to its user. So, avoid using any advertisements on your web site. This means that there shouldn’t be any pop-ups, pop-unders or any banner ads on your website. If you do have to place an advertisement on your website, place it through a link, as links take up little space and is clicked on only by people interested in looking at the advertisement. The flash colors and words of banner ads annoys the web site visitor; and also cheapens the value of the web site. The thing that is more annoying than a banner ad is a pop up ad. This is because besides being annoying, they are also an eyesore. Of course, web masters have to include advertisements in their websites as someone has to pay to keep the web site free. However, it also has to be remembered that the more ads that there are in your web page, the more likely it is that you will lose visitors! And one more thing, suppose you do participate in a banner exchange program, where you exhibit another person’s banner in exchange for the sponsor of your website; the web surfer may get interested in the advertisement and then click on it. Odds are that eventually, they will be more interested in the other site, and then forget about your site! So this will be a great way for you to lose visitors!

It is thus seen that it is indeed very important for one to plan out and think about the web site, before actually venturing to create one. The planning of the website can in fact decide whether or not you will be losing or gaining visitors to the website!