[Introduction] Every week I receive an overwhelming number of emails from people who ask me to critique their Websites for design and usability flaws. Hopefully though, if you use a sound process to develop your site, you won’t need a critique. Here are the basic elements I consider each time I design a site — using these as a checklist, I can be sure I’ve covered all the Web design essentials in each design I complete. Try these tips and check off each point in the list when you create your next site! [#1: Select a color scheme and stick to it] One day while surfing around, you decide to check out a new link. When it loads in your browser, you notice that the home page is colored in red, black and gray. Then you click on a link to, for instance, the About Us page, and you’re greeted with a yellow and green page adorned by blue text. This sort of inconsistent coloring is enough to deter visitors from ever coming back to a site — not only is it hard on the eyes, but it…