Web design firms are cashing in by doing things you can handle on your own. Don’t fall victim to these semi-scams. Learn web page design so that you can be the one in charge of your website. Get off on the right foot by reading the following tips.
When you are working on your website creation, use the proper graphics needed for the task. Keep in mind that bitmaps don’t usually work well, while PNGs do. For non-photographic graphics choose a PNG if the graphic has less than 256 colors. Otherwise, choose a GIF. JPEGs are ideal for photographs.
Add a prominent tagline to your website. The tagline is some statement or motto that indicates the nature of your business. This can be beneficial in introducing users to your site.
Watch your color scheme on your site. It is important for the text to be legible when set on the background color you have chosen. Using a dark text color on a lighter background is generally easier to read than the opposite. If you don’t know whether your color theme functions well, ask a friend or colleague to provide feedback.
Search Box
A search box should be included on your website that allows visitors to look up information on your site. If visitors are searching for something specific, they should be able to use a search box. If you do not have one, the viewer will find another site. Always put the box somewhere near the right page’s top because people will look for it there.
The use of JavaScript should be kept at a minimum. Despite the advantages of increased responsiveness and transparency, it may be problematic for many users. Browsers upgrade to newer versions regularly. Some of your readers are not going to have the most recently updated version of their browser. Also, everyone doesn’t enable JavaScript on their browsers. Both of these elements can prevent users from fully experiencing your website.
Pop-ups should be given a wide swerve. Most people do not like visiting a website, then having pop-up ads bombard them. A lot people will leave a site with pop-ups, even if that website is a popular one. Stay away from annoying ads to ensure your customers come back again. If your host tries forcing pop-ups on you, look for another one.
Understand what your purpose is. If you will be offering informational content, you need to have a firm grasp of your subject matter. People will not come to your website if you don’t appear to know what you’re talking about. The secret to a goo blog is familiarity with your subject.
Be certain you have a method for visitors to leave comments or questions. When you have this area, your visitors can let you know if something needs fixed or if they aren’t sure how use some of the site’s functions. Giving your visitors a voice makes them much more likely to return to your site and continue the conversation.
Text Content
All links must have text content. This content tells the visitor what the link is. If the links don’t have text content, they may appear as a keyboard shortcut.
If you feel stuck, do some Google searches to find out how others worked through it. Look through the millions of websites online to get great ideas about how to design your own. Find one you like, write down what appeals to you and then figure out what you can mimic on your own. You can’t just copy someone else to be successful though. You must make improvements to those ideas.
If you are looking for a program to help you design a website, consider Adobe Dreamweaver. People of all knowledge levels can understand this program easily. It allows you to create your own templates, save your favorite layouts, add the features you want and preview your site before it is permanent.
Practice each step of web design until you have it down pat. When you practice, it helps you learn more about web page design. Otherwise, you may try to do that step again several months later and forget how it’s done.
If you want to know the effectiveness of your site’s design, consider utilizing task-based usability tests. Basically, these tests determine if pieces of information on your website are working correctly. If the website is designed well, users should be able to easily find what they want. However, if it’s not, it will give you insight into what areas on your website need improvement.
Make sure your domains, as well as your sub-domains, have taglines that are clearly visible. It needs to be the first thing the viewers sees when they follow links, so make sure the text is large and bold. This tagline will quickly inform them as to the page’s goal, offer, reasoning, or purpose and often determine whether they remain or click the “back” button.
It is important that your web designs are not too similar to others which are within your immediate industry circle. You may find this out by look at the competitor’s sites. You will want to stand out in the midst of the crowd with a different style and design. You’ll be the Brand X generic version of the site that was up before yours was.
Avoid using Flash applications when designing your website. Flash can look, well, flashy, but Flash can also be very slow, especially on older computers. Many tablets and cell phone don’t have Flash installed on them, meaning your visitor will just see a blank spot where it should be.
When you have a basic understanding of web page design, you can start practicing what you know. The tips outlined here show that website creation techniques are not hard to apply. Apply them wisely, and you will do just fine.