Web users 'only scan pages'

The process of building a website can be quite straightforward, but people often struggle to make it look half decent, it has been suggested.

Rhodri Marsden writing for the Independent explains there are a number of content management systems (CMS) available to make the task in hand simpler.

A Wordpress hosting provider – which is often associated with blogging but is "an incredibly powerful tool" that can be used for a range of websites – is one that he recommends.

When using the templates it provides to design the site, Mr Marsden suggests a number of factors to consider.

He advises people not go overboard with colour and to keep the fonts simple.

A further recommendation is to not make everything symmetrical as this will "make things even more difficult to read".

Images should be saved as 72dpi to avoid the frustration of having to wait for large files to upload on the page.

Finally, check how the website works with all browsers, including Firefox and Google Chrome.

In other related news, a survey by Lightspeed Research on behalf of New Media Age today revealed that more 36 per cent of people intend to do more online shopping this week.