Long download times cause users to lose interest. Before constructing a web page, one should have a clear idea about what one intends to communicate. Put yourself in the shoes of a visitor to your site. Prioritize your information in a easily comprehended hierarchy. Backgrounds should never be so busy or so vibrant that it obscures the text of the page or makes a printout of the page illegible.
Structure is important.
Always leave a trail, like Hansel and Gretel, so users can return to where they came from. It is a good idea to plot the structure of your site before linking pages. One might do well to envision a website as spokes radiating from a center hub, which is the home page.