To Frame or Not to Frame?
By: Susan Palmquist

One of the main reasons you create a Web site is to get you and your business noticed.  Whether you’re creating one yourself, or working with a Web designer, your main goal should be to create one that’s pleasing to your visitor’s eye and also easy to navigate.

A method that’s often used in Web site design is the use of frames. You’ve probably visited a site where the heading of the page remains still, while the inside frame of the page moves its content as you move the cursor down the side bar.

While frames are most often used to ease the navigation of the web pages, if used incorrectly they can sometimes ruin the appearance of your site and end up frustrating the visitor.  Before considering using frames here are some major disadvantages to think about-

• Frames divide a web browser’s windows in sections that can reduce the viewing area for each page.
• Web pages that are designed to be displayed in an entire web browser may not fit efficiently into frames.
• Sometimes it’s difficult to calculate the best size for each frame and potential customers can often get irritated when they have to keep scrolling for the information they specifically came to your site to look for.
• You can overcome design problems by having the same information at the top and bottom of your Web site, but you have to be careful with how this is designed.
• It’s often impossible to accurately predict how the frames will appear on your customer’s computer.
• Search engines will have a tougher time with frames and sometimes they even prevent them from finding pages within your Web site.
• It’s more difficult for a customer to bookmark your site, which may reduce the number of visits they make, or worse still they might even forget about your business.
• Sometimes it’s difficult for others to link to your Web site, which can also result in loss of cross traffic and referrals.

After you’ve weighed the pros and cons, most Web designers will tell you that it’s very outdated to use frames in Web site design and will probably recommend that you never use frames in your design. There are better ways to achieve the look you’re after.

Susan Palmquist is a freelance writer who specializes in food, health, and money saving topics. Prior to writing she worked in public relations and was a publicist for three years. She currently writes two columns, Eating Well on a Budget www.gardenandhearth.com/EatingWellonaBudget.htm and Budget Smart. She can be reached at themediatrainer@yahoo.com.

© Cataluña 1999