At a high-level, a good website should be useful, usable, credible and accessible. All websites need to work, technically, have a great design and engaging content. Whilst all three are interlinked, the content is arguably the most important element.
Website principles
The aspiration is to have a brilliant website(s). Brilliant, in relation to digital content, is not cute, glamourous or catchy but simply to
- be accurate
- be clear
- be concise
- be honest
- be original
- be considerate
- write how we speak
Content principles
The process of finding and absorbing information on the web broadly follows seven steps.
- I have a question
- I can find the page with the answer easily
- I have understood the information
- I have my answer
- I trust the information
- I know what to do next/my fears are allayed/I don’t need anything else
A good website succeeds if people can find what they need quickly, complete their task and leave without having to think about it too much.
