Clickable image maps must be designed with care. Users may not understand that an image is clickable unless there are clear visual cues. Also, it is difficult to tell from looking at an image map which links you have already visited. Finally, image maps cannot be viewed by users with non-graphical browsers. If you do decide to use an image map on your page, plan to have a text-based partner page, so that all visitors to your Web site have access to the information there.
Usability testing is a critical step in Web page design.
It's easy to create home pages that suffer from visual overload - with boxes, graphics, and buttons that compete for the viewer's attention. Only through tests with users can you be sure that your Web pages are effective. Their feedback can help you refine your design so that the information hierarchy is well-defined, navigation aids are easy to use, and icons clearly represent the concepts they stand for.