3
Site Production For Dummies: Quick Advice When it comes to website creation, you will find it important to ensure that you are reading the best advice around. Use the advice provided here if you want to make your website look great and compete with other professional ones. There is quite a bit to learn, and this article is a perfect way to start off. If you're designing a website, make sure the code you write has a valid HTML+CSS. Although most browsers can make sense of code that isn't valid, it could be rendered correctly or incorrectly. Valid code will render the same way most of the time in modern browsers. You can check the validity of your HTML code with an HTML validator. Avoid creating user interface (UI) controls that mislead your visitors. These controls include elements, widgets and more that create an interactive experience, such as a link, drop-down list or button. You do not want to make visitors think that clicking on an http://thrivenetmarketing.com/ underlined word or phrase for example, will lead to a new page if it is not actually linked to something else. When your visitors have expectations of something working a certain way and it does not, they are more likely to assume there is something wrong with your site and leave. If you have several pages on your web site, use a navigation bar at the top to help visitors find the information they need right away. Include contact information, so they can speak with you if they'd like. Headings should be clear and visible, and paragraphs should be concise as well as easy to read. Always ensure you are giving meaningful feedback, as this is what creates the communication between a website and its visitors. For example, if an action taken by a visitor results in an error, do not simply display "error occurred."� Instead, provide a message that explains what happened and how the visitor can correct the error by taking a different action. Without this feedback, visitors are more likely to grow frustrated and just give up by leaving your website. Give your visitors the ability to search your site so that they can more easily find what they are looking for. If someone cannot find what they are looking for right away, their next thought will be to look for a search field. Put this somewhere obvious and include a search button. Include a links page for your site and use it to provide a variety of resources related to the site's purpose. You should also include a variety of links, including links to sites that are offering backlinks to your site. If related sites link back to your site, your site ranking will move up in the rankings on search results pages. Watch the amount of flashy multimedia that is on your site. Don't overdo it with a bunch of "extras". Flash graphics and multimedia may appear enticing, but these may make it difficult for visitors to find the desired information from the site, particularly if they're viewing your site from a non-Flash compatible device.

Site Production For Dummies: Quick Advice

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Site Production For Dummies: Quick Advice

Site Production For Dummies: Quick Advice

When it comes to website creation, you will find it important to ensure that you are reading the bestadvice around. Use the advice provided here if you want to make your website look great andcompete with other professional ones. There is quite a bit to learn, and this article is a perfect wayto start off.

If you're designing a website, make sure the code you write has a valid HTML+CSS. Although mostbrowsers can make sense of code that isn't valid, it could be rendered correctly or incorrectly. Validcode will render the same way most of the time in modern browsers. You can check the validity ofyour HTML code with an HTML validator.

Avoid creating user interface (UI) controls that mislead your visitors. These controls includeelements, widgets and more that create an interactive experience, such as a link, drop-down list orbutton. You do not want to make visitors think that clicking on an http://thrivenetmarketing.com/underlined word or phrase for example, will lead to a new page if it is not actually linked tosomething else. When your visitors have expectations of something working a certain way and itdoes not, they are more likely to assume there is something wrong with your site and leave.

If you have several pages on your web site, use a navigation bar at the top to help visitors find theinformation they need right away. Include contact information, so they can speak with you if they'dlike. Headings should be clear and visible, and paragraphs should be concise as well as easy to read.

Always ensure you are giving meaningful feedback, as thisis what creates the communication between a website andits visitors. For example, if an action taken by a visitorresults in an error, do not simply display "erroroccurred."� Instead, provide a message that explainswhat happened and how the visitor can correct the errorby taking a different action. Without this feedback, visitorsare more likely to grow frustrated and just give up byleaving your website.

Give your visitors the ability to search your site so thatthey can more easily find what they are looking for. If someone cannot find what they are looking forright away, their next thought will be to look for a search field. Put this somewhere obvious andinclude a search button.

Include a links page for your site and use it to provide a variety of resources related to the site'spurpose. You should also include a variety of links, including links to sites that are offering backlinksto your site. If related sites link back to your site, your site ranking will move up in the rankings onsearch results pages.

Watch the amount of flashy multimedia that is on your site. Don't overdo it with a bunch of "extras".Flash graphics and multimedia may appear enticing, but these may make it difficult for visitors tofind the desired information from the site, particularly if they're viewing your site from a non-Flashcompatible device.

Page 2: Site Production For Dummies: Quick Advice

YouTube is a great resource to learn a few things about site design. The best part about checkingout YouTube is that you're able to watch the design in action. You're not simply reading about it.Visual aid like this can help you get the hang of site building a lot quicker than reading about it.

Always make sure that the navigation on your website is clear, user-friendly and easy to maintain.Navigation links are very important for any site and controls how much time a visitor spends on yoursite. The navigational part of your website should allow users a great experience.

Always use the same type of fonts so that guest to your site don't become agitated by readingdifferent types of fonts. You want people to browse through the site with ease so that they can justconcentrate on the material on the site and what the site has to offer.

Best practices in web page design are constantly evolving. What was standard a year ago could bedeprecated today, or even be completely unusable. This is why it is so important to stay up to date,and also crucial that you verify everything you learn. Make certain that the information you acquireis current and not outdated.

Don't use too many different fonts or text colors on your web pages. Word processing or webauthoring software may present a dizzying array of specialty fonts or wacky colors, but if you use toomany, the text on your website may become unreadable. A good practice is to use just one or twofonts per page and avoid excessive use of bold orhttp://www.jenius.com.my/ecommerce-website-solution-malaysia/ italic text.

When you are choosing a web host, make sure that you understand what the service packageincludes. You should understand the issues relating to bandwidth, CPU usage, disk space and otheraspects. Know what you'll end up with, if you decide to go forward with it.

Make good use of white space. This is blank space on the website. Visibility is essential online, sowhen creating a site,m try to avoid cluttering the screen with images and text. This will helpcustomers read what you want to get across to them more quickly and keep their interest.

You must always keep site security in mind. For example, if people are purchasing products fromyou and entering their credit card numbers, you want to get an SSL certificate. You also want tocheck with your web host to see what types of security they offer.

If you keep learning as you are designing your website, it will help you. Once you understand oneaspect of website creation, you should move on to another. By doing this, you may create additionalwork, but the reward will be increased knowledge and skill that will make the next site designeasier.

Page 3: Site Production For Dummies: Quick Advice

Build a visual sitemap for your website so that you can plan your site architecture efficiently. Avisual sitemap gives you an open view of the progress being made with your structure. From here,you will be able to pinpoint any area that needs some improvements, or any area you may haveneglected. There isn't a substitute for a concise, clear visual map of your project.

When designing a website, make sure a direct link is included to your blog. You need to have a blogthat shows you're an expert on the things you do when it comes to your business. Make it easy tofind and easy to read to be sure that your visitors get the most out of the time spent reading yoursite and your blog.

Obviously the tips above don't cover every single aspect of web page design. You will have toresearch further if there is more you need to know about the subject. As you can see, though, thetips provided here will help you get and stay on the right path. Use these tips wisely to build a greatsite.