Many people go online each day, and if you don’t have a functioning website that looks good, you will lose out on a lot of business. This article is going to teach you how to build an effective website that keeps those customers coming.
Make sure you put your website through the NoScript test. The NoScript extension that is available for Firefox can be used to see if the site can still be read. Some content, such as ordering systems for products, can’t work without scripts, but if your site is simply blank with scripts turned off, that’s bad news.
Good websites must function with all browsers, and therefore you need to test each page so you know they work correctly under all circumstances. A site that works on Internet Explorer might not display right in Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari. Therefore, you should check how all the pages of your website display in all the major browsers on the market, before turning your site live.
Pay careful attention to which colors you choose to use together in your web page design. Choose a font and color that will help your words stand out from the background. Using dark colored text on a light colored background generally ensures that the text is easy for visitors to read. If you need help determining weak points of your website, show your current version to a friend for feedback.
You want to ensure that your site is easily able to be scanned. Studies have shown that people usually quickly scan a website rather than thoroughly read it over, as they try to find the stuff that might be interesting to them. Emphasized text is more easily scanned and helps readers along, also better ensuring they return. Put your most vital information near the top. This can help you make sure your visitors have a better experience since they can easily find what they’re looking for.
Minimize the use of JavaScript. It has several useful benefits, but can also be problematic. Each web browser is different, and each has a new version on a regular basis. You can’t expect that your website visitors are going to have the most updated versions of their browsers. Not all computer users keep JavaScript running on their internet browsers. These two things mean that some users won’t be able to use your site.
Your front page should be simple. People surfing the web will quickly decide if they are going to delve into a website based on the front page. Make sure that you provide a very clear description about your business or other purpose for your site. Other information on your site should be minimal, but still clear, so that you don’t overwhelm your visitors.
Serif Fonts
Do not use many different font types when creating your website. Also consider how the fonts look on a regular screen. Small serif fonts are harder to read. Most websites opt for sans serif fonts, like Verdana, that looks fine in different sizes and colors.
Conditional loading and independent CSS pages are important when you design your website. These two things make maintenance and testing simpler. All websites will have to be maintained, and this will help make it easier to change things.
Be certain to have a way to receive feedback from site users. This lets you see if anything is confusing, or if you’re missing something on the page, so that you may fix it as you can. If a visitor feel involved, he or she will want to see your website again.
Be sure there are no broken links on your website. Do this from time to time, before uploading it to the server. You need to check links frequently because visitors will click on your links. If many of your links are broken, visitors will give up on exploring your site. You can prevent this by frequently checking that all links still work.
If you are stuck when it comes to designing your website, remember that the entire Internet is at your disposal. There are thousands, if not millions, of websites waiting for you to browse and wait for inspiration to strike. Find an interesting site and borrow features that will work on your site. Remember that you can’t just steal ideas if your site is to be successful. Make sure you improve upon the ideas that you like.
Avoid using pop-up ads whenever possible. Generally people who use the Internet find pop-up ads annoying, so it is best to stick to more traditional ads on your website. Pop-ups will cause people to go elsewhere. Your ads should be simple, direct and engaging, without pop-ups.
Test your site on multiple browsers, platforms (Windows 7, Windows XP, Linux, etc.) and devices (Mac, PC, tablets, cell phones, etc.) Because different browsers render websites differently, the visitor may not have the experience you intended. You can do a little online research to discover which web browsers are most popular at the moment. Make sure your website works in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and the major mobile browsers.
Invest in some books on the topic of web page design. Make sure that you start out with books that are around your website design level. You want to progress, but not skip any information along the way, so you can be great at designing websites.
Now you’re aware that site design doesn’t have to be overly difficult. When you know how to make a website, you can create one that looks good. Keep these tips in mind as you carry on.