Web design is an ever-evolving and always growing field. As trends change and new technologies are developed, web designers must continually update their skills to stay current. However, there are some basic principles of good web design that should never be violated, regardless of the latest trend or technology. In this blog post, we will discuss seven of those rules.

1. A website should be navigation-friendly

This seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised how many websites are difficult to navigate. A good rule of thumb is that a visitor should be able to find what they are looking for within three clicks. If it takes longer than that, chances are they will give up and go to another site.

There are a few key things you can do to make sure your website is easy to navigate:

a. Use clear and concise labeling: Make sure your labels are descriptive and easy to understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that people might not be familiar with.

b. Use consistent formatting: Use the same format for all your labels and links so people can easily find their way around. For example, if you use capitals for some labels and not others, it will be confusing for people.

c. Use easy to spot links: Highlight your links so they stand out from the rest of your text. This will help people see them and know where they can click to go to another page on your site.

d. Use breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are a great way to help people see where they are on your site and how they got there. They also provide an easy way to backtrack if someone gets lost.

e. Use a search function: If your site is large or has a lot of content, it’s a good idea to include a search function so people can easily find what they’re looking for.

2. A website should be visually appealing

There are a number of reasons why a website should be visually appealing. One reason is that it can help to engage users and keep them on the site longer. Studies have shown that when a website is well designed and easy to use, people are more likely to stick around and explore. This can lead to better engagement with the site and increased sales or leads. Additionally, a visually appealing website can help to build trust with potential customers.

Try to combine videos and images to your site to make it more appealing and informative. If a site looks professional and put-together, it will inspire more confidence in the company or individual behind it. Finally, good design can simply make a website more enjoyable to use. When people have a positive experience using a site, they are more likely to come back.

When it comes to web design, there is no uniform solution. The best way to determine what will work well for your site is to experiment with different ideas and see what works best.

3. A website should be easy to read

You want visitors to actually read the content on your website, not just skim it. So make sure the text is easy to read by using headlines, subheadings, and bullet points. Also, avoid walls of text by breaking up your content into smaller paragraphs.

4. A website should be mobile-friendly

More and more people are accessing the internet from their smartphones and tablets, so it’s important that your website is optimized for mobile devices. This implies that your website should be adaptable, which means that it will conform to any display size.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your website is mobile-friendly:

a. Use responsive design: Responsive design is a type of web design that makes a website flexible and adaptable to any screen size. This means that your website will look great and work well no matter what device someone is using.

b. Use large font sizes: Small font sizes can be difficult to read on a small screen. Make sure your fonts readable even from a distance.

c. Use clear and concise text: Again, small screens can make it difficult to read long blocks of text. Keep your text clear and concise so that it’s easy to read on a mobile device.

d. Optimize your images: Images that are too large or that have a lot of small details can be difficult to see on a small screen. Make sure your images are optimized for a mobile device by using smaller file sizes and avoiding excessive detail.

e. Use touch-friendly buttons and links: Buttons and links that are too small or too close together can be difficult to press on a touch screen. Make sure your buttons and links are big enough to be easily pressed, and that there’s enough space between them so that they can be easily tapped.

5. A website should load quickly

No one likes to wait around for a website to load, so make sure yours loads quickly. A good rule of thumb is that your site should load in under three seconds. Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool will help you determine how fast your site is.

6. A website should be secure

With all the cyber threats out there, it’s important to make sure your website is secure. This means ensuring that your site is HTTPS compliant and has an SSL certificate. You can check to see if your site is secure by looking for the green lock icon in your browser’s address bar.

7. A website should be accessible

Everyone, regardless of ability, should be able to view your website. This means ensuring that your site is compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies. It also means using clear and concise language that can be understood by everyone.

Following these seven basic rules of good web design will help ensure that your website is successful. Remember, a good website is easy to navigate, visually appealing, easy to read, mobile-friendly, fast-loading, secure, and accessible to all.