|
|
Why Less Is More From A Business Perspective - 5K Just An Exercise In Size?
By Pamela Heywood
Expert Author
Article Date: 2000-03-27
I just entered a contest! Don't expect to win, but it has raised some interesting points of design that are particularly relevant to anyone doing business on the net.
Contest description:
Are you up for a bit of a challenge? Here's a design contest that all can enter, have a bit of fun, and probably learn a lot about webpage optimization in the process. Sylloge.com presents The 5K -- design a webpage in 5120 bytes or less. See if you can manage some innovative simplicity of design inside a very small box. http://www.sylloge.com/5k/
Getting your web page down to 5K isn't a useless novelty. There are some very good reasons why "less is more", so this contest has given me a great opportunity to practice what I preach and at the same time, hopefully help you - by showing you WHY?
Design, like everything else, is best when used in moderation. Flashy animations, dancing 3D graphics, banners, embedded gadgets - are all very well. They are cute: they are even impressive, but are they a good idea?
Your web page has to have a purpose, which should be to inform and maybe secondarily to sell. People want information: they don't want to be sold to. They want FREEBIES: the first thing they want to know is "What's in it for me?" and that isn't a huge wait at the door or a bunch of distractions.
Your first priority is to give them what they want - and FAST! Surfers are impatient. Some of them are in foreign countries, paying by the minute and running steam modems (well, near enough).
Various experts have their own estimate, but the worst case scenario is that you've got 15 seconds!
Curb your creativity, and you'll reap benefits:
Visitors will actually see your site, not get fed up waiting
=> They will surf to other parts of your site - they'll stay
=> They'll get good information and thus learn to trust you
=> If you are selling, this means they will be more likely to buy from YOU
Actually, I believe it is possible to make an attractive, informative site, entirely without graphics! Have a look at the entry: http://www.tucats-design.com/5k.html
About the Author:
Copyright © 2003 Pamela Heywood
Get All Good Things for Your Personal and Business Success
My short, weekly, newsletter brings you help & resources you can use today ... Subscribe mailto:allgoodthings@sendfree.com
Or visit: http://www.pamela-heywood.com
|
|
