Website Design Blog of Alfred Fox
I usually don't do this, but in my un-thwarted conquest for "blogdom" without Wordpress, I've lost the ability to do trackbacks. I was never big on them anyway, but I came across some great advice today I wanted to share. This is not my own advice, but the advice of Seth Godin
Here are principles I think you can't avoid:
1. Fire the committee. No great website in history has been conceived of by more than three people. Not one. This is a dealbreaker.
2. Change the interaction. What makes great websites great is that they are simultaneously effortless and new at the same time. That means that the site teaches you a new thing or new interaction or new connection, but you know how to use it right away. (Hey, if doing this were easy, everyone would do it.)
3. Less. Fewer words, fewer pages, less fine print.
4. What works, works. Theory is irrelevant.
5. Patience. Some sites test great and work great from the start. (Great if you can find one). Others need people to use them and adjust to them. At some point, your gut tells you to launch. Then stick with it, despite the critics, as you gain traction.
6. Measure. If you’re not improving, if the yield is negative... kill it.
7. Insight is good, clever is bad. Many websites say, “look at me.” Your goal ought to be to say, "here’s what you were looking for."
8. If you hire a professional: hire a great one. The best one. Let her do her job. 10 mediocre website consultants working in perfect harmony can’t do the work of one rock star.
9. One voice, one vision.
10. Don’t settle.
I agree with every aspect of his post and especially like the first and last points. The first "Fire the committee" Is a necessity. It is a travesty to work with 5 strong minded individuals who all have their own agenda for one website. Keep the numbers small and the success will be great.
The last "Don't settle". I think this speaks for itself. It is your website, it should be everything you want it to be! No exceptions.
Great Post Seth!
Visit Seth's Website. It's great, I go there often.
Comments for How To Create A Great Website
Hey great tips Seth. I like the 7th tips.
Insight is good, clever is bad. Many websites say, “look at me.” Your goal ought to be to say, “here’s what you were looking for.”
I think its speaks volume. Your website could the prettiest of all out there but if it doesn't have the users are looking for then you have lost the game.
nice1.
I think those are some great tips.
Though, personally I would change tip #6 to
Measure. If you're not improving, adjust your method, your approach.
You don't always need to kill it if it's not working, just change some of what you're doing and you'll get a different result.
Good stuff, thanks.
Hi, Nice tips and as well a great blog. M also going to apply these tips. Thanks a lot ....... keep writing dear
It is really great...I think that because of the fact that often is taken for the project for 20-30 people get bad, because Each of them has their opinions, and very often simply impede each other. It is a big mistake
I am a student and the problem is very relevant for me, thank you! I hope that this resource will help me:)
Many websites say, “look at me.” Your goal ought to be to say, “here’s what you were looking for.”
This is an excellent tip.
Definitely agree with firing the committee, to many cooks spoil the broth
I would add consistency. If you do the things right and you are consistent in what you do, you will have results in the end.