We’ve been updating the siteIQ client portals this week with an eye on mapping these sites to the new siteIQ.net Website and the Inside Track’s look and feel. My contribution to the madness was deploying a new gallery of siteIQ client home pages in our portal’s Welcome Center – which, in turn, led me to start seeing home page designs through a new lens.

Contrary to some conventional wisdoms, following in Microsoft.com’s footsteps doesn’t necessarily get you to the head of the class.

Needless to say, having the who’s who of IT industry home pages stacked across my screen provided a bird’s eye view of these sites that you don’t get via a browser. I’ve posted some interesting screen shot collages and insights in the siteIntelligence Research Center (siteIQ clients can log in here). Meanwhile, here’s some cut-to-the chase observations.

Most IT Websites play within one of three color schemes. The vast majority use a blue palette – and those that opt for another color (usually a corporate colors issue) liberally use blue in their graphics and photos.

The ‘hip and happinen’ color palette is black – favored by companies like IBM, HP, Adobe and Novell who want to send the message that they are on the technology cutting edge. However, a word to the wise is in order here. Executing these designs with panache is very tricky.

IBM, HP, Adobe and Novell are using a black palette to communicate their cutting edge credentials. These masterful designs are, however, best left to the experts.

Red (yes red) is the third palette — favored by a who’s who of developer portals Read More→