Don'ts for Website Designing

1. Don't use meaningless words: Do you have a cool site with hot subjects? Or a hot site with cool subjects?
On some hype-sensitive sites these kind of words might be useful but on most sites you'd better refrain from meaningless words.
2. Don't write technical: Don't write technical. Your visitors don't care how you created your site and that you prefer Perl over TCL/TK (or the other way around). Instead write about your subject.
3. Don't split topics: Try to write one topic at one page. If your page gets too large, try to rewrite the text in two minor topics. Avoid using pages that force people to read sequential. In that situation the links only interrupt the process of reading.
4. Don't show any page under construction: Don't publish a page that's under construction. People will hate you if you do. If the page isn't finished, it's not ready to be published. In a sense most pages are always under construction because they are updated (more or less) frequently.
5. Don't use jargon: Avoid jargon. That goes for Internet jargon but also for jargon for any other subject. Only if your site is focused on a selective group of specialists jargon might make sense.

Do's for Website Designing

1. Do know your audience: It's important to know your audience. If you write for a site that sells toys you'll use other words, colors, images etc. compared to a site for online banking. Write and design with your visitors in mind. Don't get tempted to write for yourself.
2. Do write about the subject: Write about the subject.
Saying: This page is about breeding goldfish talks about the page.
3. Do use short sentences: Use short sentences. The World Wide Web is fast. Your visitors want to get your info in a snap. So read and reread your text. Then cut out as many unnecessary words as possible.
4. Do use correct spelling: Use correct English or whatever language your site is written in. As a standard routine use a spelling checker but don't rely completely on it. Human proof reading is necessary.
5. Do use the first screen: Be sure to put important text on the first part of your page, the part that will show up first on a screen.