Page Design Considerations

The old cliche about first impressions holds true on the Web. The home page is a user's introduction to your site. Make it a good one. When you're starting out and feeling around for the right design to meet your objectives, start with the home page, and keep it simple. Think about what you would want to see at a site like your own, given a specific objective. If you're suffering from a mental block, go back to surfing around to sites with similar objectives. Chances are good you'll find something that lights a fire. You can also review your list of questions from your planning phase. They'll help you focus more objectively on your goals.
Again, the decisions you make for your home page design will depend on your site's purpose, but no matter what the purpose of the site, there are some important design guidelines that generally apply to any home page, including:

• Make sure the page loads quickly.
  
  Don't overload the home page with too many images or other elements that will slow down the page. Users might be willing to wait for something specific they're looking for, but the home page is more of a general request. Keep it light.
  
  

• Don't overload the page with too much content.
  
  A cluttered home page can send the message, "you think this is bad? Take a look inside!" Your site should be easy to read and use, and your home page should set the tone. Again, Keep it simple.
  
  

• Make sure the home page isn't too "long".
  
  Generally, home pages should not involve too much vertical scrolling. Requiring a user to scroll to access content is fine for most internal pages, but the home page is best suited as a jump-off point for internal content, so try to keep it relatively "short".