Website Design - To Frame or Not to Frame

Website Design - To Frame or Not to Frame The use of frames in the design structure of a website has been debated for a long time now. A number of experts insist that they are of no use, and instead cause trouble in the site's functioning. On the other hand, many claim that frames can be used to a site's advantage.

It is important to remember that frames should be used in designing only if there is a genuine reason for doing so. These reasons are determined by the overall needs of a website and issues like navigation, accessibility and search engine spidering. The use of frames also depends on the kind of budget you are capable of shelving out for your site.

Framed websites are not entirely troublesome. In fact, there are a few cases wherein such sites can help your business. Listed below are some advantages of frames:

You can keep company logos, messages and other vital information in one frame. This will make sure that this part of your site is constantly visible to visitors.
Frames can be used to provide navigational convenience. They help making static navigation visible on your site all the time.
As far as design is concerned, a number of issues can be resolved with the use of frames. They improve accessibility, thus bettering the prospects of your website.

Despite all these advantages, most developers hesitate to use frames for their sites. This is mainly because of the following disadvantages that they carry.

It becomes very difficult for a search engine to crawl a framed website. The whole purpose of search engine marketing is too appeal to search engines and make money through their traffic. The use of frames prevents search engines from finding pages within a website. Even if such pages are indexed, they will be without any reference or link to your main site, which will hamper your chances of making sales.
Bookmarking a framed pages within a website is not going to help your site's design and use.
A number of Internet browsers do not support framed sites. Therefore, in case these browsers are being used by your potential customers, you stand no chance of being visited by them.
If you have a framed website, it is very likely that you will have a non-framed website too (for convenience). This will raise the website design expenses of your online business.

When it comes to the use of frames, disadvantages definitely outdo benefits. However, they can be used only if they do not negatively impact the smooth running of your website, and your business at large.

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