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How long should a web page be? To determine this, you need to take into consideration the following:
- the content of your page
- the bandwidth of your visitors
- the action you desire: do you want them to read onscreen or print the page?
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As a general rule, it is better to contain related contents in a single page as it is more convenient for your visitor. However, it it becomes too long, it is better to break down the information and use hyperlinks instead.
Another point to consider is the bandwidth of your visitor. An overly long page with a lot of graphics can put a strain on the visitor's memory and may result in slow download. As you have learned, the average maximum time a visitor is willing to wait for a page to load is 10 seconds.
Research has also shown that some visitors experience some feeling of disorientation when the page is too long and they need to scroll down the line to read the entire page, especially if the navigational links disappear in the process.
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However, long pages also have their advantages. If the page is designed to be downloaded for paper viewing later, a long page is desirable since it is easier to print and save.
As a general guide, it is safe to have two print pages' worth of information in a single web page. More than this, you may want to use jump links midway to point to the top or bottom of the page.
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Lay-out Consistency and Simplicity
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Because of the flexibility of designing web sites, some sites suffer from having different elements in a single site. Once you have decided on your theme, style, target audience, etc, you must now decide on the lay-out grid for your entire site. You should then apply this style consistently throughout your site. This means that your navigational links must appear in the same style throughout. This gives your visitors more confidence that they can easily find what they are looking for in your site.
Image Source: www.webstyleguide.com
It is also good to keep in mind that your site must be simple to navigate. Using fancy and ultra creative navigational links that leaves users wondering how it works is a disaster especially for a business site. Remember, you only have a few seconds to make a pitch to your visitor. These few seconds should not be used trying to figure out how that button works. Opt for simple, familiar and predictable style.
How wide should your web page be? A general guideline is to design a page that can be seen by most monitors without having to scroll left and right to see the entire page.
When designing a page, keep in mind the minimum screen size that is commonly used and the width of paper that will be used to print the file. The most commonly used screen size in schools, home and businesses is the 17 to 19-inch screen. As for printing, most users own regular printers that can accomodate A4 size paper or 81/2 by 11.
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