subject: Showcasing Yourself As A High Quality Freelance Web Designer [print this page] The freelance web designers goal is to create and deliver a website that is attractive, easily accessible, functional, and user-friendly so that visitors are convinced to stay and more in that website. The general components that a freelancer web designer should focus on are: good graphic design, easy and intuitive site navigation, logical site layout and good copy web. Here are some helpful quick tips to keep in mind:
Neat and Precise Layout
A neat layout is an appropriate blend of images, colors, and fonts. Choice of color should be based on the principle of clean and appealing appearance. Readability of content is of utmost importance; therefore, readable fonts are essential. Another aspect that you have to put weight on is the tangible content of the website. Remember that people use the internet to find information. A good website propels a knowledgeable image to the website visitors; a website that can provide them with a credible source of valuable information for reputable business. Poor grammar and spelling will immediately diminish the websites credibility. This is the primary aim of an excellent website - provide valuable information to the visitor or they will just click away to find another website that can give them what they want.
Intuitive Site Navigation
Beware of the 3-click rule. Studies show that most of the visitors leave the website on if they cannot access the information they want on the third click. That is it, 3 clicks and they are gone. This is NOT what a good web design wants. Site navigation should be simple but readily accessible. A web designer should always place the links on 'reachable' areas of the website. Ideally, links should be placed on the right of the pages and must be consistent through all the pages of the website. Another smart option is the top of the page. If you use anything other than simple text links, be sure to test them first in all major browsers.
Cross Browser Compatibility
There are a number of different browsers in use. An ideal website must be designed to work properly in the most widely used browsers. Good web designs require that the web pages work well in Microsoft internet Explorer 8+, Netscape Navigator 9.0.0.06, Mozilla Firefox 3.0, Opera 9.64 and Safari, at a minimum. HTML validation code may help but in the end, the final test is really to view the website in different browsers running on different platforms. Resolution of the web pages must also be checked; they should be able to function at any resolution from 800 X 600 to 1280 X 1024 and beyond.;Optimized Images, Efficient links and Html Tags;
The images should always be optimized for the web. Web surfers are impatient and often people will click away if a webpage takes longer than 10 seconds to load. Images must in png, gif, jpeg format; use height and breadth attributes on the pictures so that the rest of the page can load while the graphic page is downloading. Fewer graphic, flash and script is a smart way to reduce the size of the web page. The idea is to have as small a size as possible without sacrificing picture quality. When designing a website, test all site links to make sure that they are valid. Nothing chases a visitor off quicker than broken links. Unwanted tags should be likewise checked and modified.
SEO Check
Other ways to boost website rank in search engines is through the use of SEO code, Meta tags, URL. Alt tags and internal links. Site maps can also be added because it helps search engines to understand the website structure; this would definitely increase indexing. A proficient freelance web designer will see to it that the customer can avail of such provisions.
Track W3C Standard Validity
It is vital to create an error free website to maximize it credibility and site visitors. Regularly check on load time, W3C code and CSS validity to ensure the workings of an excellent website.
Summary
Good web design is a combination of common sense and good planning. The site should be attractive and convenient to use; but most of all, it should be able to provide the user with the information or services they want.
