Building a Web site is now feasible for the millions who browse the Internet. There are plenty of Web authoring tools that are easy to use on the market, with more surely to be developed. To build a satisfactory Web site, however, a designer, whether professional or amateur, must follow basic rules of design. The important components of a successful design include navigation, presentation, content, and interactivity. Unfortunately, most of the Web authoring tools that are easy to use do not have design rules built in, either as part of the help function or as tutorials. In most cases, formal training in Web design is necessary to produce a professional looking and navigable Web site, one which conforms to established standards.
Computers and the Internet are now a pervasive and essential part of our lives: we use them at work and at home to gather information, for entertainment and, increasingly, to do business. As e-commerce evolves as a significant and growing segment in the economy, a successful Web site is crucial to a firm’s success. The characteristics of a well-designed e-commerce Web site include functionality, security, and privacy. Easy navigation, fast downloading, ease of transaction, and ease of submitting shopping items affect consumers’ overall satisfaction with online stores. Although there are visual and audio effects including flashing text and animations, which increase playfulness on Web sites, designers should use such elements with caution. These Web elements can increase page-loading time and therefore lose potential customers. E-commerce is a new shopping channel, but the basics of good business remain unchanged: understand the intended target audience and design the Web site accordingly. Finally, the Internet faces the challenges created by an unregulated environment. In the spirit of its origins, some argue that it should remain unregulated. Others, concerned about invasions of privacy, loss of copyright protection and intrusive advertising feel that rules and regulations are needed to ensure the healthy development of the Internet.