Top 7 Useful Principles Behind Successful Web Design

With the right mindset and principles of web design, you can enhance usability, influence perception, increase appeal and even teach through design. Sound and successful web design is not only within reach for a small set of individuals. With the right attitude and design principles in mind, it can be achieved by virtually all web designers.

1. Setting goals in your web design early
   
   The first thing to do before going all too far with your design is to set up goals. Might it be newsletter sign-ups, visits to your contact form, incoming leads or any other type of action on your site. Ask yourself: What is the main purpose with this website?
   
   
2. Be aware of the Cost - Benefit rule
   
   An activity will be pursued only if it's benefits are equal or greater than the costs. From a web design viewpoint, the cost benefit principle can be used to assess the financial return associated with new features or design elements. However, it can also be used to assess design quality from a user perspective.
   
   
3. The 80/20 Rule in website elements
   
   80 % of errors are caused by 20 % of the components. The lesson to be learned is to make sure finding the components causing problems.
   
   
4. Aesthetic Usability Effects
   
   Aesthetic designs are perceived as easier to use than less-aesthetic designs and might help to increase loyalty, affection and patience. Try to do usability studies of your website in an early stage, where users can grade your design elements.
   
   
5. Using the Golden Ratio in web design
   
   The Golden Ratio is a ratio within the elements of a form, such as height to width, approximating 0.618. It's also known as golden mean and golden number. In fact, the golden ratio is found throughout nature, art and architecture. Examples include Notre-Dame Cathedral and Apple's iPod and iPad.
   
   
6. Make sure your web design forgives users
   
   Web design should be made to help people avoid errors and minimize the negative consequences of errors when they occur.
   
   Examples: Good affordances in web design mean using physical characteristics of the design that influence its correct use. Another is warning signs and help text which can assist in basic operations.
   
   
7. Describe it with an icon
   
   Iconic representation is when using a pictorial image to improve the recognition and recall of signs and controls. By using icons in your web design, it can be easier for users to find, recognize, learn and remember.

Markus Jalmerot is a London based SEO consultant. He has been involved in creating web designs, handling usability features on websites, doing content writing and search engine optimization for over 8 years. In an attempt to educate buyers of SEO services, Markus created a guide to SEO. The guide covers 50 free lessons to website optimization, which you can do at your own pace.