| How is a website like a Windsor?
APPEARANCE: The first thing people notice about both Windsors
and websites is their appearance. Not all Windsors are built alike, nor are
all websites. You want a pleasing appearance to attract customers.
COMFORT: Once attracted by appearance, a Windsor chair has to
be comfortable. A website is comfortable in its function. A website that
is easy to navigate, fast to load and pleasing to move around is as comfortable
as a well-scooped seat and will keep folks browsing .
TECHNICAL SKILL: A Windsor that is both attractive and comfortable,
still needs the technical skill to ensure its structural integrity. Experience
helps to make a chair that will withstand years of use. Most customers need
to be educated to this facet of chairmaking which is less obvious than appearance
and comfort.
The same is true of a good website. The real value goes into technical
aspects that are crucial but not obvious to the consumer. Websites, unlike
documents on a computer, have a dynamic aspect. They need to be formatted
to display reliably in different browsers, all of which use different display
methods, and also on different monitors ranging in size from 13” to
over 20”. Old CRT monitors and LCD monitors also display websites
differently, and designing a site to display pleasingly on all is challenging.
Further a good website:
· Follows the rules of The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)
· Understands and builds on good techniques for good search engine
placement
· Understands and designs for mass viewing. While DSL and cable
connections are spreading, the majority of internet users still use dial-up
connections. Good websites are designed for this slower connection to ensure
maximum usability. |
