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Here is a simple design strategy to create a website with great usability. Web site design is based on a simple strategy of planning that relates to its usage.

First, determine who will see the site. Will it be just you or your family and friends, business associates or casual web surfers? That will create a range of acceptable style for colors, music, navigation, and functionality.

Second, Consider how big will the site needs to be? Do you need only a main page or do you need secondary pages, a database or forms? Will you have web ads running on your site?

Third, your website is controlled by code. You can develop that code to create the design. You can write that code using HTML, http://www.html.net/ JavaScript, http://www.javascript.com/ ASP, http://www.hotscripts.com/ASP/ index.html PHP, http://us.php.net/tut.php or maybe use a free software program like Joomla,http://www.joomla.org/ or use a downloaded prebuilt website template or a commercial business software program like Adobe Dreamweaver. http://www.adobe.com/products/ dreamweaver/ It really is up to you, as you determine the effort you want to put into your project.

Fourth, think about how you want the site to look and "feel" to a visitor. Is your site inviting the right visitors by being tailored to their mindsets? Does your design for navigation hinder a visitor or help them? Do you want to use crazy graphics, unusual type fonts and loud colors? If you are a skateboarding site, that might be fine. But if you are a business site, a more muted color pallet and standard buttons for navigation would be better since your site needs to be tailored to the conformity and styling of the industry you want to do business with.

Fifth, think about offering the visitor something for spending time on your site. It could be a free screensaver, a small Flash game, some wallpaper, or a tutorial, but make it an appropriate item for the type of the site classification.

Sixth, once you have the original home page built, save it and then build at least 2 more slightly different versions of your home page. As you switch between the styling changes, you will begin to see how little changes can affect the tone and create a change of style. This may be as simple as a small tone shift in the color pallet used, or a different font type or size but you will see the difference and see what draws the visitor's eye focus and then work from that point.

Seventh, have a number of people review the site and be honest with you. Then consider what they say and add it in to your perceptions.

Eight, remember if you are doing the creative design you can always alter the style or navigation if you become dissatisfied.

Learn more about this author, Vic Burrack.
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