You must incorporate strong site design for a business website if you are going to be successful. A degree is not required for you to be able to make an effective website; instead, you just need to know some helpful tips on how to get started. Read on and you will be given the advice you need to take your skills up a notch.
Look at different forums for new information. An Internet search on your computer will give you access to a lot of info.
Include search elements that let visitors search site content. A simple tool such as a search box lets the visitor easily a specific piece of information on your site. If you don’t have one, they may go to another site which does. Always put the search box near the top-right corner of your pages.
Be sure to select the correct graphics when designing your website. PNGs work well, but bitmap images may be too big. Use a GIF instead if the image contains over 256 colors and PNG for test buttons and screen shots. JPEGs are good to use for photographs.
Consider your website’s background carefully. Animated GIF backgrounds and complicated patterns on your website can be very distracting to viewers trying to absorb your content. Choose a background that is not too distracting for your readers, and that goes well with the rest of your design.
Be sure your site can be scanned by visitors easily. Tests have shown that the majority of online readers avoid reading everything on a page; instead, they just scan it for information that is of importance to them. Text that is easy to read will ensure you have visitors that come back. The top of the page is the correct placement for your highest quality information. This ensures your site is user friendly.
Add pictures to your site to make it look better Putting pictures on a website adds a more personal touch and helps the user relate better to your information. People always like to look at interesting pictures that they have never seen before, and many times will spend hours on your site looking at them.
Always look for broken links prior to publishing pages on the web. The worst experience for a visitor is to have interest in learning more only to click the dreaded dead end link. You can also check the links yourself or use a program to look.
Photoshop is a good program for creating great content for your new web site. It is also novice friendly. Programs like Photoshop are great for new web designers, because it allows them to quickly create professional websites. Although a copy of Photoshop represents a significant investment, the time it will save you and the improvement it will make in your results can easily justify the program’s cost.
You should always make sure to implement a way that users can submit feedback to you about your website. You will find out if a link is broken or if a page is not loading properly. This lets your visitors feel like they are actively involved in your site and will want to visit again.
Search Engines
Use shortcuts. Almost everything has a shortcut in web design, and if you take the time to look them over, you’ll find quick ways to do almost everything. You can even find HTML codes that help you make quick changes.
To create a site that is well optimized for most search engines, don’t use frames. While they improve your site’s looks, any information contained in a frame is not indexed by search engines. The search engine will give your website a lower ranking if it can’t see the great content you are providing. You won’t get many visitors that way.
If you are agonizing over what color your website’s background should be, don’t be afraid to go with plain, effective white. White backgrounds give your site a professional look, as well as make the content easy to read. However, intricate designs on your background can distract users and give your site more of an amateurish look. It’s usually better to keep your background simple.
Test early and test often to maintain accuracy. It is essential to do usability tests early in the developing phase. Keep testing and improving as the design nears completion.
Create an opt-in newsletter to entice your visitors to return often. By giving your visitors an opportunity to keep current on your site offerings, you increase their loyalty. Add a signup bar on your site and use it to track the number of visitors who do so. Stay on the ethical path and only send newsletters to users who request them.
A well-written “About Us” page is worth the effort. Many websites contain very uncreative and dry pages for these areas. Make it a little more exciting! Provide some insight about your own story. How did you get inspiration? What are your goals? What led you to website design?
The tips and tricks from this article will help you build a great website that will engage and keep visitors. Once you have the knowledge you need, you will be astounded at what you will be able to do. So, apply what you have learned from the above article to create a website that is well designed.