There are many tools to help you build websites, but they are not really worth it when it comes to your own vision. Having your vision come to life is the key to building an awesome website. With the correct design tools in hand, this can be easy. The following guide is here to help you learn about basic site design.
When you design a web page, always choose the graphics that are appropriate for your purposes. Keep in mind that bitmaps don’t usually work well, while PNGs do. Use PNGs for images over 256 colors for text buttons and the like or use GIF files for images smaller than 256 colors. When using photos, make them JPEGs.
You should always be on the lookout for new information from various forums that can help you learn how to start out, or gain more knowledge with web design. You can just do a quick google search and find the information that you want to learn right on the web for free.
Make sure that every page on your website loads as quickly as possible. Every Internet user does not have lighting fast speeds. If your site takes too long to load, you may lose visitors. You don’t want people to have to abandon your site because the pages won’t load.
Set up your site so that visitors can cancel actions they initiate if they change their minds. Types of such actions would include registering an email, filling out forms, or browsing your site for archives or topics. When you do not allow visitors to cancel something they do not wish to complete, you are forcing them into something, which can prove detrimental to fostering return visits and/or purchases.
Despite the type of site you are going to have, you definitely want to keep the loading time under ten seconds. Visitors want and deserve a sleek website that slides into their browsers fast. Most people who use the Internet want instant gratification, so it is best that your website provides it.
Your website needs to have easy navigation, if you want to have multiple visitors. Links need to be prominent and simple to find. Good menus make navigating your site much easier. Post links that lead back to the homepage on each page of your website to make navigation easier for your users.
Search Engines
Don’t use frames if you want to optimize your website. Website visitors like framed pages, but the information isn’t easily viewed by the search engines. If certain important information on your site cannot be seen by search engines, then you will not have a high ranking. This can hinder any new visitors.
Remember to utilize ALT tags for images as you design your website. These tags help describe images for those that use graphic-disabled browsers and for those that are visually impaired and who use tools to translate the images to voice. Should your images serve as links, these ALT tags will offer a means to describe the link’s behavior also. The ALT tags will bring up the search rank of your site because search engine crawlers use them as well.
Smaller pages are better. Users with slower Internet connections may decide that the wait is not worth it if your site is slow to load. If the wait is too long, your visitors may give up and leave.
File types have a lot to do with the speed at which your website loads. Generally you are better off using GIFs or JPEGs for your graphics. PNG and BMP may work better for graphic creation, nut they usually have larger files sizes. When you change your images to smaller files, your website visitors will find your website easier to navigate.
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When starting out, limit your content. Don’t confuse, fluster or overwhelm your early visitors.
Make sure you have the right background. While some websites utilize moving GIF backgrounds, opt for simple background since these moving backgrounds can make text hard to read. Make your site easy to read by choosing a background that complements the design of your website and doesn’t overwhelm it.
When you first begin designing a web page you should choose a design layout that’s as simple as possible. This allows you to build your skills slowly and avoid problems you might encounter with more complicated features. Starting out simple and then building your skills into tackling more complex designs is a good strategy as you improve.
When you make a website you should look for a target audience or just ask them what kinds of things you site should have on it. This can help with the design aspect as well as other components of the site. You want to create a site that your viewers enjoy visiting.
You should use a visible tagline for all your pages. You should make them bold and large so that people can see them and follow your links. The tagline for your pages should give the potential customer basic information about what your website is about.
Ensure that the site can be scanned with ease. Usability testing has shown that visitors are interested in scanning the content for items of value, rather than reading every word. You are more apt to gain returning readers if text is broken down and can be scanned easily. Place the most vital info on the top of the page. This can help you make sure your visitors have a better experience since they can easily find what they’re looking for.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to design your entire site yourself. Lots of knowledge from different areas must be known about web design, which includes user interface design, search engine optimization, web programming, content creation, and graphic design. You should not feel ashamed to ask for help. You always have the option of hiring a company or professional that specializes in a particular area that you are not familiar with.
When you have learned about designing websites, you can create sites that use Java, Flash or other technologies that make you happy. Your website can be as simple or flashy as you desire. It only depends on what your preferences are. The tips above can help you build your website.