Content by-Beier Flood
Beginning web designers often wonder just how many custom templates and special software they need to be successful.
you could try these out depends on if you are willing to take the time to learn and gain actual knowledge, rather than relying on programs to do your job for you. If your goal is to get credit for doing next to nothing, then you might as well continue to use programs and templates to do your work. However, if you want to do it yourself and are willing to put forth the effort, then these website creation tips are for you.
HTML5 video is set to become the next standard for displaying videos on the web and naturally, you should offer both a way in which users can stream your content through an HTML5 format as well as another format such as flash for those who have an older browser version.
Make sure that you use the right anchor text. The anchor text of a link should clearly describe what the visitor should expect to see when he clicks on the link. For instance, if a link leads to your widget ordering page, the anchor text might read "Order widgets." Specifically avoid using "click here" as anchor text.
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 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.
Make your links obvious. Customers do not like spending time wading through your site searching for something they are interested in. Having a site map, as well as providing big, prominent links will help your viewer find what they are looking for without wasting time in a hunt. Lead them to your information.
To help your web pages load quickly, you should compress all the images on the website page. If you have images that are compressed then pages will load much faster. Nothing is more frustrating to viewers than waiting for a 250k graphic to load when it should really only be 20k.
Try to minimize your image usage. Generally, simpler designs are more effective for the user. So keep your site simple, but also neat. Avoid cluttering pages with large, bulky images that have long loading times. Try being creative with the layout and using your "eye."For example, use eye-catching focal points to get a viewer to visit something specific.
Have the data that users enter into fields preserved so that it can be transferred over to other portions of the site where the same information has to be filled out. For example, if someone registers for your site, and some of the same information is needed to fill out another form, make sure data that they have already entered is preserved, so users do not need to re-enter this information. With this "sticky" information, you create a simpler, easier experience for your users, which will prompt them to stay on-site longer.
Part of designing a good website is finding the best website hosting package. You want a package that offers ample disk space, bandwidth, email accounts, and such. If you cannot find a good website host for your project, then you shouldn't start your project. Hold out until
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When starting out, limit your content. Don't confuse, fluster or overwhelm your early visitors.
Do not use blinking, scrolling text or other animations. Also, steer clear of sounds or music that plays automatically. All of these things are distracting to users and provide nothing of value. In addition, connection speeds vary from one site visitor to the next, and everyone does not have the same speed. Those users with slower connections will resent the slow-loading elements of your site.
Do tests on your site to make sure that it's up and running properly on different operating systems and different type of browsers as well. When you do this you then cover all of your tracks and make sure that as many users as possible are able to browse through your site.
An important aspect of your site is security. If you will be handling sensitive data on your website such as PayPal accounts or credit card numbers, you should purchase an SSL certificate. Often times, extra security features can be provided if inquired about, so make sure to ask.
To be updated on the new website creation tricks, you should join an online forum. When joining these message boards you meet people who usually have an understanding of all the new website development technology. Without this new website design technology you could end up with a site that is completely outdated.
As an alternative to Photoshop, you could choose to use the GIMP photo editor. GIMP has practically every single feature that Adobe Photoshop does; and instead of spending hundreds of dollars on a program and using up a few hundred MBs of program space, GIMP is 100% free and runs about 35mb.
Creativity is what separates ordinary sites from the extraordinary ones, so never be afraid to get a little creative. As long as you're staying on topic and are keeping the site functioning properly, you can get a little creative. People visiting your site want to see originality. They wouldn't visit your site at all if they wanted the same old stuff.
Never enter into a website development course unless you already understand the basics. The vast majority of people in these courses are already far ahead of you, thus the material being taught is strictly technical. There is no buffer period. You'll go from to 60 instantly and will be left behind if you enter as a complete novice.
Focus on how you plan to handle interaction as you're designing a site. Do you have a shout box on the site? Maybe you have a forum or some type of chat room. At the very least, however, you need to have some method by which a visitor can contact you. You cannot remain shut-off from communication.
Don't use JavaScript too much when designing your website. Some people do not have java-enabled on their machine, and many are still using out-of-date browsers. Instead of using too much JavaScript and AJAX, make your sites clean and lean a bit more on graceful degradation. Remember, the goal is to make your site user-friendly for all users.
The tips of this article you have read here will help you get started on your layout sketches. Continue learning to find the latest techniques and advancements in website creation, and you'll be able to beat out the Jones'!