Today I’d like to talk about simplicity in web design, and why you want to incorporate it in your page. Don’t confuse simplicity of design with a minimalist aesthetic, though. While spare, minimal sites do generally fit the criteria for a simple site, there are plenty of sites that don’t look simple, but really are. That’s because the definition of “simple” when it comes to a website is removing all unnecessary elements from the content, code and design.

Simple websites are easier for your visitors to navigate. Without all that extra information, they have fewer pages, fewer sections, and a less cluttered look that makes it much easier to find navigation elements.

Stick to just one navigation menu and make sure you use consistent methods through out the site. To simplify the main menu, try using sub-navigation sections while avoiding dropdowns. Incorporate the navigation right into the site design. It may be harder, but the end result is much higher in quality.

A simple design will also load faster. That’s because it results in files that are smaller and easier to process. They load faster and more cleanly, with no need to operate lots of JavaScript, call on multiple stylesheets, or do anything else that increase the number of requests you need. A faster site is one that a user won’t navigate away from because it’s taking too long, so that means more eyes on your content.

Simple content scans well, too. Since more than three quarters of test users give all new sites a quick scan, with less than twenty percent reading the whole page one word at a time, this is important. Put your content up front, where readers can find it fast. Don’t block it with unnecessary design elements. That results in a site that feels more user friendly and is more likely to bring in visitors.

Want to design your site quickly? A simple site will help you. That’s because these simpler designs are generally built on lighter code. Use just one or two page templates and create relatively simple typography to create a site that will go together much more quickly than one with lots of fiddly sections.

Just make sure the simplicity is more than skin deep. Some people can create minimal looking sites that are actually complex underneath. Keep code bare bones if you can for the best results.

Debugging goes faster when you do this. After all, the more complex your code, the easier it is for a bug to hide, and the more bugs you’ll encounter. Combine files when you can, and use automated programs to pull out all unnecessary information from your files before you upload. Just make sure you give the site a once-over afterward to make sure it still works. These smaller files will take up less space on your server, and they’ll save you money on bandwidth, allowing for much more traffic.