Big or small, businesses must be able to harness the potential of websites. Regardless of the industry, websites offer a different way of reaching out to potential clients. While it has its strengths, it certainly has its own limitations.

So if you want to harness the potential of websites, read these few basic tips for website and application design:

1. Speed. Target clients will not wait for your site to load if it takes longer than 10 seconds. Studies reveal that 'surfers' have little or no patience when it comes to loading websites. If your website takes hours and years to load, you will lose them in a snap of a finger. Needless to say, your website pages, including your homes page should be quick to download. You can do this by keeping your graphics smaller. Besides, too much graphics make your website appear cluttered.

2. Content Design. The basic rule is to keep it short and simple. It's important that your site not only contains relevant information but it is also laid out in an easy to understand format. Most print brochures follow this rule.

3. Navigation. It is absolutely necessary that every page in the website allows visitors to easily navigate. Don't make your website a labyrinth. There is nothing more annoying than to go to a website that is as confusing as maze.

4. Updating. A website that is constantly being upgraded gives the semblance that is active and that the company cares about its business. People like to see new information whether it be new information, news brief, offerings, photos, etc.

Most importantly, and this is true for any advertising materials like print posters, print brochures, print flyers, etc.- you have to make your material or website error free. There is nothing more irritating than to read through a website full of errors -- whether grammatical or spelling. Errors make your website look amateurish and this reputation will not get you the effect you have always wanted.

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