10 Advantages to Simple Web Layouts

Posted on Sep 01, 2010 in Articles

While we can’t deny that artistic web pages are nice, and images sure are appealing, there’s also the other side of the argument.

Here are 10 reasons why it may be a good idea to keep your web pages simple, if not minimal.

1. It just doesn’t work for some sites

No matter what you do to the site, there’s some sites that just would never work on a fancy layout like many new popular ones.

Corporate sites especially tend to lean towards clean, plainer sites, mainly because it’s the product or service, not the site design, they need to advertise. Keep your purpose in mind.

2. Ease of Use

I’ve said this many times before, but it just doesn’t seem to stick. Cleaner, simpler sites are easier sites to use. Just look at Google.

3. They Load. Fast.

iPhones, PalmPre’s, Smartphones, Blackberries. What do they have in common? No, not that they’re overpriced. All of them are internet-phones, and while they do an excellent job of web browsing, image-heavy sites don’t load well on them. They’re just too slow.

4. Cross-Browser Compatibility

If you’ve ever sat at 3 a.m. pulling out your hair trying to figure out why your site looks completely different in Firefox and that dog Internet Explorer, you’ll know that images can be a real hassle. Simplify with less and that’s a great deal less struggle for you.

5. You Can Do It Yourself

Yes, who needs those pesky web designers [me]. With a simple site, someone who’s far less experienced and savvy in web design can reorganize, add, change, and maintain their own web site without the need for extra help.

6. Quick Development

For those of us who need a site in a hurry, minimalistic sites can be both minimal on time-frame and yet stunning in visuals and usability.

7. Search-Engine Optimization

Simply put, the more of your site that’s made out of text, the better you’re going to come up on Google, Yahoo, and others. Image-based navigation, or even flash don’t work as well.

8. Faster Call to Action

When people are ooh-ing and ahh-ing at your site designs, they take valuable time that they could be spending engrossed in your content or purchasing your product. Before you know it, they might just forget about what they were on your site for…

9. Headings

The simpler, and more minimalistic your site is, the more your key headings will pop out. Have something really important you want to say but aren’t getting across? Try a simpler site.

10. What a Relief

Simple sites are, believe it or not, becoming harder and harder to find nowadays. After all those flashy, popping, noisy, out-of-control pages, readers like to just read a little bit or visit on an easy-to-read, relaxed site.

See similar entries:

Like this post?

Subscribe for more: