Here are some excellent tips that can help you develop a user friendly site and please your visitors senses. Give yourself a chance before they get away.

1. Use lots of white space. Don't feel that because you have a whole screen that you need to fill it up with stuff. Your page should follow a clean outline. Include your site name at very top. Below that list subject of your page and below that expand on your topic. Leave adequate space between each section. Don't cram a lot of pictures and ads. If you have an ad keep it off to side or subtly intersperse it between your text. The idea is not to overwhelm your reader.

2. Don't use animation and flashing objects. As advertisers we feel need to get our viewers attention. This is important but we need to do it gracefully. Flashing objects and scrolling images distract your visitor and take away from content. If your product is better demonstrated with animation or some other multi-media, allow your viewer to select option. Don't force it on them.

3. Every page of your site should contain an 'about' link. The internet can be a rather cold and quiet environment. If someone can come to your site and find out about who you are and what you are about, they can feel a little better about doing business with you or taking advice from you. Always include your business address and phone number and email address as well. This lets viewers know that you are serious about your business and that you welcome contact. 4. Include a 'Privacy' Link Viewers like reassurance that you have a policy that follows privacy guidelines. They want to know that you will not sell or give away their information. In these days of rampant spam, your privacy policy needs to be prominently displayed. Many viewers and business partners won't do business with you unless you have it.

The golden rule applies to web too! If it frustrated you on someone else’s website - why are you going to put it on yours? Below, you can find some of most common gripes experienced when browsing.

1. I’m lost and I can’t find my way home… Do your site visitors know where they are? It’s important to have a link back to ‘home’ or a site map on every page especially for larger web sites. A search feature would also be helpful if you have a lot of content on your site. If your visitors cannot easily find their way around your site, they will leave and chances are, never come back.

2. Disabled Browser Buttons Taking away your visitors’ ability to use their browser back and forward buttons is not way to get on your visitor’s good side. If you’ve set up page redirection scripts, make sure it does not interfere with browser buttons or ‘trap’ visitors in your site. If they can’t click back or become frustrated, they’ll click ‘x’ in upper right hand corner.

3. What does that say? Reading text on a computer screen is much different than reading text in a book. It is a lot more strenuous on eyes. Keep your font and background colors highly contrasting. If you have a light background, use a dark font, if you have a dark background, use a light font. Your site is no good to anyone if they cannot read your content.

4. It seemed like a good idea at time… Some graphics just look soooo cool - but before you add it to your site, stop, take a deep breath and think about it. Where will you put it and what will it add to your site? Will it cause your visitors to lose focus on content and focus on spinning, flashing, blinking, (you get idea) object? Will it slow down page load time? Keep in mind, average visitor will barely wait 3 seconds for a page to completely download much less 10 seconds for a blinking rainbow.

5. Your page was last updated when? Set your site as your homepage, it will remind you to periodically update it, especially if you see that there is something amiss with your site’s content. Try to update your site at least once a month (weekly is a better option). If your content doesn’t change or get updated, your visitors will lose interest. If you don’t have a lot of time to spare, you may do well to add a blog or forum to your site and allow your visitors to add content for you.