Keeping it simple: Take an example of successful simplicity from the most popular site on the Internet - Yahoo! Many large, well known web sites keep it simple - Ebay, Microsoft, and CNET - they concentrate on the content first, simple graphics, and a standardized easy to use navigation system.

Simplicity will increase the value of your site and ease the frustration level of your visitors. Simple navigation can consist of plain text hyperlinks, or very small graphic buttons arranged in an easy-to-follow way.

Be consistent with the way you have people navigate your site. Use the same format for all of your pages when possible. Visitors like to be able to figure out a site's navigation system quickly. If it takes too long for them to figure out how it works, they will look for an easier web site to navigate. Some other guidelines to follow...

Go easy on the graphics:  Unless it is absolutely necessary to the presentation of your information, avoid complex graphics and Flash presentations. Not everyone has high-speed cable Internet access. The vast majority of web browsing is done at 56kps, and many people browse at much slower speeds.  For every graphic you add, ask yourself how much it really contributes to the site and if it's necessary to make visitors wait the additional time for it to load.

The first page of your site should load very quickly - preferably in under 30 seconds - and tell visitors exactly what your site is about. Most people don't enjoy waiting 2-3 minutes for an elaborate graphic or a Flash intro that really wasn't needed.  They may look once but they won't return and wait through it again and again.

Ditch the "Under Construction" signs: If you don't have a section of your site completed yet - do NOT have a link to that section. It's like inviting someone to your office for a meeting and when they arrive, telling them they'll have to come back another time because you're not prepared. It gives the message that you don't care about your website visitors or their time.

Content Counts: Content is the heart and soul of your site. Create your content first. Know what your visitors are coming to your site for. The Internet is an information medium and your knowledge is your power!

Do Regular Updates: You must continually add new content to your site. You can't just post some information and leave it there forever. Your visitors will stop coming because there is never anything new for them. Try adding a "What's New" section or at least having a date notation on your first page saying something like "Site last updated on March 1, 2001". Let visitors know you're on the job!

Express Yourself: Let people get to know you. What experience do you have? What benefits can you give your visitors? What was your objective in building your site? How are you and your site unique?

Get Testy: Your site will never look and function the same for everyone. It is dependent on many variables you have no control over. For this reason it is imperative that you test your site on several different computers, in different browsers, at different screen resolutions, and at different speeds.  Get as many people as possible to test your site and give you frank and honest reviews of its performance.