How often have you come across a website that looks plain and lacks visual appeal? Maybe not so much anymore, but not too long ago Web developers around the world were whipping out websites left and right as fast as they could without thinking how visual elements play a role in a websites success.

Let’s put your site to the test. Go to your website and take a brief gander. Now, close your eyes for three seconds and then open them. What is the first thing your eyes are drawn to? Whatever the object may be, it is a focal point on your website. The focal point of this blog, for example, is the logo and the dark gray bar that goes across the top. These kinds of visual elements stand out from the rest and lead your sites visitors to different areas.

That’s why it’s important to think about how Web design affects Web usability. Something as simple as an effective color scheme can make or break Web conversions. Here’s a classic example of a website that’s living in the stone age. What I find interesting is that I can’t look at anything else but the moving yellow ad on the right hand side of the page. Every time I try and read something I’m drawn away by the in-your-face ad. These stand-out images and moving objects are very annoying to internet users out there, young and old alike.

Sometimes you get the itch to use that bright neon green and pink, but please I beg you stay away from anything that can be perceived as distracting. Otherwise, it’s almost a garauntee that you will lose potential customers.

Then why are so many people bad at it? Simple, they design their sites around what they want and what they think is best. Animated gif’s, blinking boxes, and neon colored text are older than “old school” Web development methods. We’re talkin’ prehistoric…come on people you can do better than that.

Fortunately for us, there’s a wonderfully odd site out there called Web Pages That Suck which highlights the worst of the worst and gives you a snippet or two as to why their so darn bad. Most websites are built with good intentions, but fail to meet their true objective, increase their customer base. You should take your time and think about what the sites purpose is and then browse around at sites like CSS Elite for examples of unique, high quality designs and layouts.

Not all sites are perfect, so you shouldn’t aim for a squeaky clean design the first time around.

Well crafted lines, objects, and graphical elements help bring each page on your site to life and careful planning of your sites structure will sum up to a great user experience. Object positioning is very very important. Understanding how pieces of the site interact with each other, is vital in developing a well put together website. A search box located somewhere towards the top right corner works better as opposed to being placed somewhere under the logo. Since the Web became public grounds, we have subconsciously decided that particular site elements will always be located in a certain location.

As a Web developer, if you break that mold and try something new, you’re likely to frustrate users. Remember, when you build a website that it’s not just a “website”, you’re building an experience for all kinds of users.

Subconsciously this is what you’re asking yourself when you’re trying to hunt down a link on a site that you just can’t seem to find. It’s ridiculous to spend more than 1 minute to find something that should be very prominent on the page.

For example, last night I wanted to track the status of my income tax refund, so naturally I went to the IRS website. I sat there and stared at the screen for at least 1 to 2 minutes looking for anything related to “track my refund”…and nothing. I could not find it.

If this website were built with usability in mind they would know that during tax refund season everyone’s going to want to track its status. It amazes me that nothing on the home page directs you to the information you’re looking for.

My eyes started in the top left corner and worked their way down the left side because the list of items stood out to me. When I didn’t see it there I looked to the top right corner of the site and then down the right side. It then became a free-for-all as I tried to find what I was looking for. Still, I found nothing. I eventually got fed up with the site and did a Google search which led me to the page I struggled to locate.

I went through all that work to find out they haven’t even received my paper work! So, not only did I have a terrible user experience, but they had nothing on file for my claim as well.

This is a classic example of a site that tries to incorporate what they think is important on the home page. Too bad “tracking your refund” didn’t make their list of important things to include. Structurally and strategically, this site fails to take advantage of Web usability tactics.