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That Darned Content 2: Balancing with Color and Graphics
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| Large type is
hard to read and "weighs" a lot. Even a small amount of very
black text can overwhelm a page. |
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When you have investigated the ways to increase your content, and the
amount of content still falls short of making your page look good, turn
to color and graphics.
The one thing I would like to strongly warn against, is the common
habit to increase the size of your font, or use bold type when you have
too little content. You're not fooling anyone. If the rest of your site
has text that is 11 pixels, and all of a sudden there is a page with
only one paragraph in 18 pixel text ... well, it's not rocket science
to figure out what the designer did.
Boosting font size is wrong in many ways. First, it will not be read
as body text, which can cause a visitor to skim right over it. Large
or bold type is easy to read for headlines, but not for a paragraph.
Finally, almost always the text becomes too heavy for the page. One
paragraph in heavy text visually weighs far more than several paragraphs
in body text weight. See how the sample at the left seems to be "heavier"
than all the words on this side of the page. Stand way back from the
monitor, or squint your eyes to confirm. (See page
2 of this article for balance testing techniques.)
So, if I tell you what not to do, I best be prepared to offer other
solutions. There are several ways you can expand the visual space for
content without turbo boosting font weight.
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| If you add a small amount of text with a background color, you
can often create a space with much more power and weight to balance
the rest of the page. |
| If you add a small amount of text with a background color, you
can often create a space with much more power and weight to balance
the rest of the page. |
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Background color
Look for opportunities to place some of your content in a cell with
background color. You will need to add margins, which takes up some
space, especially if you make the margins generous. The sample at the
left has a margin of 15 pixels, and increases the length of the text
by a full line.
The second sample at the left features exactly the same setup, but
with no margin between text and background. Not only does the first
sample look much better, and present an easier to read paragraph, but
it also takes up a lot more space than the second sample.
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The samples at the right show the same information presented
in two different forms. Note how the first sample only fills about half
the length on the page that the sample with bullets, but the sample with
bullets adds more weight. When you consider that the bullet form is easier
to read, the benefits to using bullets to expand content really add up.
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Use bullets
Wait a minute! Didn't I offer bullets as a way to handle too much text?
Yes, I did, but bullets can also expand the space that is occupied on
the page. Using bullets certainly creates more length to a passage,
but it also adds weight with the bullets. Remember that this is all
about weight and balance.
Using Bullets
Bullets can help to break up long text, but it can also be put to work
disguising a small amount of text. By using bullets you:
- expand the space a paragraph fills on a page
- adds more length to the passage
- add weight with the dark, graphic bullet shape
- remember this is all about weight and balance.
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Contact Us
Please use the following form to contact the Webmaster with comments
or problems.
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Create a form
Many of the pages that are truly lacking content are often contact or
company information pages. Instead of including a simple email link,
why not add a contact form, even on the company page?
Contact the Webmaster with comments
or problems.
The one line above does exactly the same job as the form at the left
(not a working form). Notice the difference in the page space required
for each, however. The form takes up much more space, and is so common
to Web surfers, that nobody would suspect that the page is padded.
There are other scripts that can be added to any page to increase the
content, but always make sure that the addition does something to enhance
your visitor experience. You can even add some bells and whistles that
some visitors may enjoy, but use the page with little content only as
a kickoff page for the special feature. Create a section like a teaser
menu inviting people to visit that area of your site.
Finally, consider whether you should link back to some other pages
on the site from the scanty content page. A list of page links can be
a problem solver, as long as you place it for easy use. While you are
at it, add a paragraph that lets visitors know that you have placed
the link options for their convenience.
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| If you did not
catch the previous article in this series, make sure you visit That
Darned Content. You will find ideas for handling too much content
in the first installment. |
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I hope that the ideas in this article will help to kick start your
idea process for how to handle short pages. As I do with most topics,
I will leave you with a surfing homework assignment. As you visit pages,
pay attention to the amount of content on the pages, how it is presented,
and how easy it is for you to use that formatting. Before long, your
idea base will be large enough to solve any content problem, whether
caused by too much or too little.
And remember ... without content, valuable, enjoyable content, there
will be no Web. It is what it's all about.
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Back to start
That Darned Content 2: Tutorial Index
Thanks for the Mail
Finding the Balance
Mining for Content
Look Outside for Content
Balancing with Color and Graphics
 
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