Why wait for a second chance? « Oh My Stinkin Heck

WORDPRESS, WEB DESIGN, AND BLAH, BLAH, BLAH…

Why wait for a second chance?

Show me a bland or poorly planned site and I’ll show you a site that won’t boast many (if any) return visitors. It takes more than a wing and a prayer to turn-out a design with just the right aesthetic to promote your fabulous content without overpowering it, but it can be done. Oh yes, it can.

Here are a few suggestions to put function before funk in your web designs.

Websites that auto-download video or sound, or rely heavily on blinking advertisements and flashy gimmicks are trashy. Yeah, I said it – TRASHY. Your website should not assault visitors at first glance; its purpose should be clear, the navigation should be concise, and graphics, for the most part, should be complimentary to the content, not the main attraction. If you want to make a strong first impression, present your site visitors with a clean, simple, design with minimal dynamic effects. Otherwise, your site will be the equivalent of applying a quality paint job to a home with cars still on cement blocks in the front yard.
More is not mo’ better! Select two or three complementary colors to use across the entire site. This repetition of your chosen color scheme will create a sense of uniformity and professionalism.
Don’t get tricky with background colors, images or patterns. White text may stand out against a black background, before long your readers will want to dig their eyes out with a spoon. And? Any colored text against a patterned background is a lesson in endurance. A white background with black text is the absolute best choice, but if that contrast is stronger than you desire, be sure to use a dark text on a light colored, preferrably solid, background. There are no exceptions to this rule, in my opinion…no, not even digital scrapbooking sites.
Save your readers’ time – reduce site visitor clickage. Think through the organization of your content. If your readers have to click more than 3 times to get to the information they need, re-think the navigation. If you don’t? They’ll click off.
Make your logo point home. No matter where a site visitor is, they should be able to click on the logo and get back to the home page.
Reduce Clutter. Whenever and wherever possible, reduce clutter. Everything should serve a purpose – if it doesn’t, leave it out. The less your readers’ eyes have to skim, the more likely they’ll see what it is you want them to see.

Sometimes you get ONE CHANCE to draw readers into your site; be honest, what response will your site or blog elicit?

Y'ALL APPARENTLY HAVE THINGS TO SAY, CUZ

29 have spoken up.

KT

Hi!

I’m sure you’ve been flooded with this, but are you continuing your blog? I loved reading it! I was home schooled growing up, and I would have LOVED to have the resources your kids have! My parents did a great job, and now I’m going for my Master’s in Sept, and I know it’s cause of the foundation of learning they gave me! Anyways, hope you continue with your blog! I love it!

Natalie

Whoa.
Some. thing. is. different around here.
Now I have another reason to regret that I have been away from my favorite blogs… obviously I missed an announcement.
Of course this new content looks useful and relevant to my situation… a bland blog on training wheels. oh dear.

Mrs. Wilson

Heather, the new site is great! I hope all goes well for you.

ps. got the Christmas card – too cute – thank you!!

Cindy

I came across your site a while ago from The Pioneer Woman’s site (great read, great pics, great laughs), and I’ve been peeking and poking around yours since. I was also eagerly awaiting your new site for days now, and am glad it’s back up … but have you stopped the homeschooling portion? Moved it somewhere else? Just curious …

Cheers,

Cindy

Caron

I’m so confused. I wish I had a blog worthy of your help … :) I love your posts … I hope you keep them up even if it is at another venue …

tHeSocKmOnKeY

tHeSocKmOnKeY *hates* websites that automatically play music or start talking to you. Adding an off button on each page doesn’t make it okay.

But? tHeSocKmOnKeY loves the new blog. Congrats on the new launch Heather!

dianeinjapan

Hey, yeah–things are different here. Good post–I hate auto-music on blogs!

OMSH

tHeSocKmOnKeY – Since when does tHeSocKmOnKey speak in 3rd person?

dianeinjapan – Yes, things did change up at the start of the new year. :)

Anneli

Hey, your website is back up! :D I missed it! Some excellent tips here; autoplay music/video needs to go die. Seriously.

tHeSocKmOnKeY

OMSH – Waiting for the new bLoG caused me to go stir crazy! I’m all better now. I think. Maybe? :)

OMSH

tHeSocKmOnKeY – ¡Eso sí que es!???

Pati

I miss hearing @ your family and homeschooling… is that content elsewhere?

OMSH

Pati – If you would like to read homeschooling posts, you can find me at http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/ on Wednesdays.

tHeSocKmOnKeY

OMSH Took me a little while, but I got it :)

Cool article picture. BTW, I’m the one on the right.

Wendy Ringer

Heather,
I so miss your blog-especially the stuff about homeschooling! Can we contact you personally if we want/need homeschooling advice! I love your creative ideas!

OMSH

Wendy Ringer – Of course you can contact me personally, but also I blog about homeschooling at PW’s Homeschooling Blog on Wednesdays.

Brittany

Thanks for the great article, Heather. I so want to require all of my clients to read it…I’m tired of trying to make them understand that honking cars driving across the page and having the cursor turn into a flower is not “cute” – it’s freaking annoying.

Also, I wanted to pass on something I’ve noticed with PW’s site…the icon (that shows up next to the address, bookmarks, etc.) sometimes switches from her butterfly to your OMSH icon like they might both be saved as icons in the site folder. Definitely a tiny thing, so feel free to ignore me, but I thought I’d let you know in case you care.

Thanks again for the articles! I miss the blog, but I love seeing your design work – always inspiring. :)

OMSH

Brittany – “Honking cars?” Eeek!

About PW’s site – that is odd as there has never been a favicon.ico of mine anywhere on her server. I’ll have to dig and learn a bit about computer caches.

Liz

Heather,
Thank you for offering your service. I would love to discuss hiring you, but I can not seem to connect with you via your contact icon on your site.
Your service is an answer to prayer and I would like to begin a relationship with you soon. Please help me contact you!

Liz

OMSH