Web Usability - Web Usability 'Rules of Thumb' relevant to human vision capabilities

This is my top 20 list of web standards you should follow if you wish to create a usable and accessible website that is aesthetically pleasing and cross browser browser compatible

Avoid:

1) Non-standard GUI use (scattered navigation)

2) Headlines that make no sense out of context

3) Anything that looks like advertising

4) Using icons that aren't global

5) Gratuitous use of animation or sound

6) Labeling site elements with cute or metaphorical names - use 'standard' labels

7) On text: don't overuse bold, don't use underline, don't write in solid linear blocks, don't use italics except when grammatically necessary

8) Using 'click here' - link text should make sense read out of context

Aim to:

9) Keep the most important information 'above the fold'

10) Keep consistent standards and conventions across the Web site

11) Design left, top navigation

12) Design pages easily readable in grayscale

13) Use Alt tags on all images

14) Use Meta tagfor every page - make them useful out of context

15) Keep the number of fonts low - aim to use one throughout your site

16) Go easy on highly saturated color and background images

Top Web Accessibility Tips

17) Provide text equivalents for all non-text elements (including audio & video)

18) Ensure that information conveyed with color is also conveyed without color

19) Organize documents so that they can be read without style information

20) Write links so they make sense out of context - don't use 'click here'