1. Be sure to edit what you your website - Having grammatical and spelling errors is not only annoying to read but also loses the credibility of your website. It's not that hard to read over what you have written, and it makes a big difference to the readers.
2. Add pictures and figures in moderation- Graphics make websites more entertaining and often can add to the general message of what you are writing, but when you are making a website, you have to take into consideration how long it will take the average computer to download the image. If a reader has to wait too long, they won't stick around to read what you have to say.
3. Know your audience- It is difficult to read an article or about a subject when the vocabulary is over your head. It is also not credible to be reading about an academic subject and see incidences of slang throughout the text. When creating a website, be sure to cater the voice and vocabulary of the writing to the audience.
4. Make it user friendly- If a reader can easily jump from page to page and read about what they are interested in, they are more likely to explore the website. The use of links and proper organization encourages readers to further explore and keep them from getting bored.
5. Use appropriate text- Crazy fonts are great for getting the reader's attention, but if you are writing a 10 page essay, in order for a reader to get through it, the text needs to be easy on the eyes. An understanding of the purpose of the webpage will aid in the selection of text to best suit the reader.
6. Keep it short!- Readers tend to like to skim through long pages of text. If you want your point to get across, you need to keep your writing short and to the point. Another strategy is to bullet your text. This allows the reader to be able to pick out the most important points.
7. Extra Links- It is important to give your readers the ability to learn more about the subject. By providing a list of extra references, you not only increase your credibilty but you are also more likely to keep your readers happy.
8. Use attractive colors- If it is hard to look at, it will probably be hard to read from. Be sure to use colors that go well together and do not strain the eyes to look at. You also may want to consider what you want the mood of the webpage to be. This will decide whether you want brighter colors, or a more toned down scheme.
9. Be sure to have a focus to your site- It is important to have a reason for making the website. whether it is for research purposes or just for fun, being able to portray the purpose of the site is important. It is also important to stick to that subject so that you don't lose the interest of your readers.
10. Let your readers know who the author is- I am not saying to give out your personal information, but if an author takes credit for his/her work, the reader is more likely to believe that what is being said is credible.
Examples:
Good Website- Yahoo.com : This website is easy to navigate and gives links to various subjects. There are pictures to entice the readers and all of the articles are credited to an author.
Bad Website- http://www.angelfire.com/super/badwebs/ : This website basically shows you how mistakes can go wrong. It is hard to read, the graphics are distracting, and they use motion that makes it hard to focus.
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