Our virtual world is not immune to the virus of Comic Sans and Royal Blue. Both have there place in the cannon of aesthetic history, but currently, I suspect satire is where they are best relegated. Here are five simple and effective ways to help improve the design of your website:

1) Solid typography. This is the simplest way to improve your website, and the easiest way to decipher a decent designer from a good one. Try introducing a serif font for your titles and sans serif fonts for your body copy, or vice versa. Take it one step further and use webkit fonts and you'll look like gold. Don't only pay attention to the size of your fonts. Line height is equally important.

2) More white space. It's a cliché for a reason: Less is more. The more white space you have on your site, the easier it is for people to navigate. Negative space is a design element that is often overlooked. You can use negative space to frame elements, create unique shapes, or provide a sense of order. Using more white space will provide a soothing experience for people.

3) Grid structure. I support asymmetrical design, but for the inexperienced, starting with a grid template will help you layout your design in a methodical manner. The economy of structured space will become a limitation you must adhere to. Consequently, you will design a site that is easier to decipher, and easier for your development team to implement.

4) Use colour sparingly. Orange, cyan, and magenta are my three favourite colours. That doesn't mean I should mix them all together. Using colour sparingly can highlight elements on your website that are more relevant than others. Having a Sign Up Now button lost in a camouflage of conflicting palettes will give you much lower interaction rates, and annoy everyone.

5) Cut copy. This may be news to you: nobody reads your website. In place of massive blocks of text, use professional images, or nothing at all. Keep your sentences short and informative. Tell the user the least amount of information he/she needs to know in order to understand you.

Well, that's all for now. Do you have any suggestions?