Discuss your views here:

There are three groups of people in this world –

and if you fall into the middle category how do you distinguish between the other two?

I do my utmost to fall into the last category, and these are some of the reasons for doing things the way I do.

I would love to hear your response, good or bad, to my thoughts on the issues below, so please do get in touch via the relevant link and you may be lucky enough to get your comment listed.

1. Design a site to the lowest common denominator

Now I know this could be a contentious issue, but here is my reasoning –
For a large corporate website that will be viewed by hi–tech companies at the cutting edge of all that is technological with up–to–date systems, it is all well and good to have high–spec websites with large pages and lots of whizzy gimicry.

However, average Jo (or Joanne) is more likely to be using a pc passed on from a well–meaning friend who has gone on to speedier pastures, two operating systems behind, and with less RAM than in an ex–shepherd’s field. Or let’s be honest, with the speed at which the latest changes are occuring, who in their own home, apart from the most geeky amongst us, can afford to keep up with the latest spec?

And how often have you given up while on the Internet because of sites that take too long to load, or with just too much in the way of adverts on them?

Therefore, optimising images, not using large Flash files, and not littering sites with so much rubbish that you can’t see the content you want is, in my opinion, the best way to a visitor friendly site.

Got an opinion? Send your response to section 1 here. . .

2. We don’t all use a mouse

Have you ever tried to navigate with a keyboard?

I am not talking here about throwing out the Satnav, or getting rid of your AA Road Atlas (other good road atlases are available), but navigating a website using only your keyboard.

The issue of accessibility is important to many users. Have you considered how many people may want to view a site and who do not use a mouse for whatever reason?

Having a website built from frames, Flash or with badly coded drop–down menus are all a bad idea when it comes to mouse–less navigating.

There are ways of adding interactivity and movement, and style, without resorting to such measures, and hopefully that keeps more visitors happy!

Got an opinion? Send your response to section 2 here. . .

3. Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3

I am constantly amazed at the web design companies that do not test their sites adequately before going live.

Pages that do not work on a range of monitor sizes, layouts that break in different browsers, even navigation that, yes dare I say it, does not work using only a keyboard.

Now I may be setting myself up for a fall here, but please get in touch if you notice ANY of the above happening with sites created by ‘Your Business Is My Business’. You shouldn’t do, but just in case...

Got an opinion? Send your response to section 3 here. . .

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