subject: 22 Tips To Help Build Better Custom Website Design For Small Business [print this page] This page has been recently restructuredThis page has been recently restructured. The content on the World Wide Web is now divided into several pages. The introductory page to the World Wide Web contains an introduction and a description of the items found on Web pages and Web sites. There is also a page with tips for designing web pages (this page), site promotion and publication. The next two pages are for designing web pages using Netscape Composer or Microsoft Word. There are many tips that are included on these pages. The next page contains a description of the elements found in the form of a web page as well as its advantages and limitations. Finally, there is a page that contains the HTML code found on all pages on the Web. By understanding how they work, you can compose better Web pages.
The first question you should ask yourself is to know who is to be arrive to your site? Is it to inform? To educate? For fun or for sale? This will affect the decisions you make for the presentation and design of your website and its pages.
The most important element of your site is, and always will be the content . Make sure you have the information that will meet the expectations of your readers.
Make sure it is easy to navigate your site. Navigation buttons that are easily understood and easily accessible. Do not assume that the user knows the principles of custom Web pages. Remember the KISS rule (Keep It Simple Stupid!). A clear presentation is always the best. Do not overload pages. Leave space between different parts of your text.
Small is beautiful! Keep the content of your custom web pages small. Cut out the content into several pages if necessary. Nobody likes to wait, even on the WWW. Although the lines of communication within companies are fast enough, this is not the case at home. Ksp 28.8 modems, although 56.6 Ksp are significantly slower than the same people in their workplace.
In the same direction, use the smallest possible images to convey your message. The larger the image, the more the reader has to wait to see the picture. Some image editors also allow you to reduce the number of colors in the image. If you need to view large image, give the choice to drive or not to see it by linking to a page containing the image more impressive. The picture does not take up space on the page and is available if needed.
Be consistent! Use the same and the same navigation buttons throughout your website. Always place the navigation buttons at the same place on each page of your site. This facilitates the understanding of readers and also facilitates navigation (moving from one Web page to another) on your site.
Make links to other sites that complement yours. You do not have to put everything on your site if another custom website is already done and better explains a point or a particular theme. In short, do not reinvent the wheel!
In addition to using small picture, reuse the same images. Since they are in the cache of the browser, it does not need them back. This accelerates the display of the page. One can easily reuse the bottom of the page and the navigation buttons.
A Web page is never finished. In fact, we must constantly update the web pages when you have something new to add. Therefore, it is never really over. It is still under construction. No need to inform the world with posters "under construction"! Put the date of the last time the website was updated. Users will know that they have already seen this page in the past or the age of the page.
Other suggestions: inform them in the fun. No need to be serious all the time. Be clear but in a simple and easy to understand.
Do not use large pictures on your pages. This slows down the presentation of information on the page.Separate into smaller tables if necessary.
Check the layout of your text in different browsers (Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer for example) and at different resolutions. A Web page that is beautiful with a resolution of 1024 X 768 pixels can be difficult to read at 640 X 480.
Also check the spelling and grammar of your web page before publishing it to the public. There is nothing more embarrassing for the image of your site to find errors. By the way, if you can find on this site, be kind enough to inform me, after laughing a little.
Check the operation of your links. It is very frustrating for a user to come across a link to a nonexistent page. The Web is dynamic! The page that was only yesterday may have disappeared today. There is software that "validate" the links of a site's pages. Search from a list of shareware sites for "validators".
Do not use specialized commands. These are commands that you will find that work with one browser but not with others. For example, Word offers to insert scrolling text. Although this option is interesting, it does not work with Netscape Navigator. There are also additional modules such as Flash animation to give to your site.
Be attentive to the bottom of the page. It should be clear enough to give good contrast and allow the reader to read the text. Never use white text! The reader will not be able to print white text on white paper.
Before you start designing your own custom Web pages, see what other people have made. You will certainly find good ideas for your pages, whether for styling, images, links or presentation. You can also watch their HTML code to show you how they achieved an effect you like. It is also certain that you will come across items to avoid at all costs. I just hope this page gives you enough references to make a difference.
Your site should have no more than 4 levels deep. This means that the main page is the first level. The links on this page will take you to the pages of the second level. The links of these pages take you to pages of third level ... Do not make it difficult for users to find the information they need.
Plan the structure of your site and how you will divide the content on multiple pages.
Remember to put your email address on your web pages. Readers of the page will then contact you for more information or to inform you of a problem.
Apparently this is one of the most often forgotten by new web designers.
If you receive a message. Try to contact the person as soon as possible with the information they need.Contact the same if you have to tell them that you do not have the required information.
The main page of your site should be called index.html . Otherwise, the server uses it to show you a list of pages, images and other files that are in the space reserved for you.
The name of the web pages of your website should represent its content. For example, a page containing the list of products the company could well be called product.htm. The name of the web pages should neverhave capital letters, spaces or characters with accents (, , , ...).
