Before you design a website, be crystal-clear about what you want to achieve. With so many types of websites out there, you should start by deciding which kind will help you meet your goals:
The first thing to consider is your user flow, or the path by which the visitor will navigate through your website. After all, web page design isn’t about creating a collection of individual pages; it’s about creating flows.
Information architecture (IA) is a discipline that allows you to organize information clearly and logically for your visitors. Information architects analyze how users structure information and create a hierarchy that aligns with the user’s expectations. Good IA is a result of solid user research and usability testing.
Navigation is a cornerstone of usability. If visitors can’t navigate your website, they will most likely leave.
Links are a key element in web navigation. Their visual and functional design has a direct impact on usability.
The “back” button is perhaps the most used button in the browser, so make sure it works according to user expectations.