Planning the Basic Layout.

Now you've got the body text into order you have to start thinking about the basic layout of the page, it needs time, and lots of recycled scrap paper, while you experiment. Remember to keep it simple, always strive to be uncluttered, eliminate the unnecessary, especially unnecessary change. For example, only change the font when you want to attract attention to a change in the content or need to emphasise it in some way. Try to make as few marks on your planning paper as necessary. Respect peoples time, they shouldn't have to puzzle your message out, and if you've planned and prioritised it properly - they won't have to. The tools of design, white space, pull quotes etc. should make the whole thing clear at a glance.

• Remember the 'what's in it for me' principle. People you've never met don't want to read your page because they think you're a really nice person, they want to know how it shall benefit them, what they shall learn that will help them.
• Look at your competition and strive to be different. Let your message determine your layout. If it's something serious, then have a serious layout, professional look etc. If it's avant-guard, them have unusual fonts and visuals.
• The size and placement of everything should indicate hierarchy, and don't forget that one main visual should be dominant over the others, in both placement and size.
• If you have a central massage, repeat it everywhere as repetition leads to acceptance.
• Also, remember to tuck your links away, so they're small and at the bottom or top corner. Don't make them so noticeable that they compete with the body text for attention.
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  The Virgin Page

  This is the page that visitors see when they first load your site, and is of course the most important. Generally it's titled the index page and usually is (logically enough) an index - unless you're using a splash page, that's the type of simple page that first leads and says click here to enter. Many surfers find these annoying if they take more than a moment to load.

       The virgin page is like a book cover. People look at the cover of a book and if it interests them by sight, they might glance inside. That means the virgin page should have certain elements visible on it that the visitor can see without scrolling. Remember, if they can't see something that interests them without scrolling, then there's one thing always visible - the back button.

       So make your virgin page like the cover of a book that will set an image for the rest of the site, which shall be consistent when entered (remember the 'old friend' principle). Use short information phrased and designed as a teaser to encourage people to use the links. At the start of a long page, have a list of internal links to act as an index, that provides an overview of what's to come and invites the reader in.

  
  Things to include on the virgin page:
  
  • Theme - Remember "what's in it for me?' Tell them how they'll benefit of find out something that they didn't know. Make your whole site reinforce this theme.
  • Identification - If you have a logo, use it on every page, if you don't or are simply writing a home page for fun, make one or use clipart. Something artistic that you like, anything in fact. If you love mountaineering and feel that your choice of hobby essentially symbolises who you are - fine, use a mountain. But use it on every page, which reinforces consistency.
  • Position statement - Like a motto, what you do and how it's different from the competition. If it's a home page, then it could simply be a short summery of your philosophy of life.
  • Links - Rephrase all your information to tease people into visiting your links. So rather than click here to see my boyfriend, you could have, click here to see the most stunning male physique on the Internet, if that phrase applies to your boyfriend of course. Tell me if it doesn't and I'll send you a picture of myself.
  • News - keep it current. Perhaps a small What's New section. Just a sentence with the most recent addition to the site with a teasing link.
  • Contact info, If you want people to contact you, for business or fun, you'll make it more likely that they will do so by repeating the request, ask on each page or put an e-mail GIF on. If you want people to come and visit your place of business, then include a map and bus timetable.