If your website is offering the high quality content that it should in order to attract visitors, then many of those visitors will probably want to print some of your pages. Or you may have forms or other documents on your site that are expressly intended for printing.

In such cases, you may need a website redesign with printer-friendly pages. In some instances, the main page can be designed as printer-friendly, while in others you may want to have a special link to a printer-friendly version of the same page. The main idea in designing such pages is to create a document that prints quickly without wasting ink or toner. All items that do not make sense should be removed from the printer-friendly page.

For example, since the user will not be able to click on the printed page, all the navigation objects like sidebar links, menus, etc., should be removed. Animated images, videos, audio files and other content that can only be accessed while online also do not belong on the printer-friendly page.

If your business website design has a black or other coloured background, then it will waste a lot of ink on the user’s printer. Provide a printer-friendly version with a white background and black text. Remember that not everyone may have a coloured printer, so you should only use coloured text or images if necessary. Use sensible font size and avoid massive headers as these waste ink/toner. Also keep in mind that not all web fonts may be supporter for all printers. Use standard fonts like Arial and Helvetica, rather than fancy designer fonts.

If your web pages display ads from AdSense, Yahoo Publisher Network or other sources, these should be removed since the visitor will not be able to click on the ad.

Always include the original URL on the printer-friendly page along with any other reference material that you wish, so that the user can find the page and site again easily if they wish.