People often think that flashy websites are important, but they only work right with a fast Internet connection. Successful sites make sure that site design and navigation is kept simple. Read on to learn how to design a clean, simple, and very appealing website.
Test your site to ensure it passes a NoScript test. Firefox has a simple extension called NoScript that will perform the test. There will be content that needs scripting like order systems. However, if the site is blank when the scripts are off, you have a problem.
The 90s called. They want their web frames back. Frames were in heavy use during the beginning days of the Internet, but they were very flawed. Frame-based designs cause readers to have trouble bookmarking your site, and scrolling can also prove burdensome. Use a different technique to help visitors organize information.
Keep finding fresh information all around you to boost your knowledge of web design. You can find the answer to almost any web design question by simply searching with your favorite search engine.
Keep your topics separate. Be sure to use different pages if your site includes more than one topic for discussion. This will eliminate visitor confusion and make it easier for search engines to gain a clear and broad view of the site and help you build traffic.
Alt Tags
Use ALT tags for your images when designing your site. These tags can describe pictures for people who cannot see them for one reason or another. ALT tags can also help out if your images link elsewhere. The last thing is that ALT tags attract search engine crawlers, so you can get a better ranking by using them.
Remember, frames are a thing of the past and while revisiting past memories can be fun, adding outdated frames will only make your designs appear to be zombies from the world wide web graveyard. The popularity of frames declined as the more obvious problems became apparent. Frames make it hard for visitors to bookmark and scroll through the page. Use other ways to make your site easier to navigate instead.
When you are choosing your background color, white is an effective choice. White backgrounds not only make the text easy to read, but also make your site appear more professional, as white is the standard background color for corporate sites. When there is a more complicated design in the background, it can be very distracting, and make your website look less professional. When choosing a background for your website, a simple background is better.
You need adequate meta tags on every page to attract more site visitors. High-quality meta tags will let the search engines know what your website is about. Well-written meta tags will garner the most visitors to your site.
When you make a page that has links, be sure that each link is accompanied by text content. Links with content are easier to view for your visitors and help them know exactly what they will be clicking on. If you have hidden links, users may mistakenly navigate away from the page they were on.
Make sure the color combinations that you use on your site don’t hinder their ability to be read. The text needs to show against the background easily so your site is easily recognizable as yours. Choose a dark color for your text, and use a lighter color for your backgrounds. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or colleague for their opinion of the color scheme.
When you are facing a block in your design process, you have the Internet at your fingertips for help. The Internet has millions if not billions of web pages you can draw inspiration from. Find one you like, write down what appeals to you and then figure out what you can mimic on your own. Be sure not to plagiarize ideas, of course. Make sure you improve upon the ideas that you like.
As you are designing your website, keep in mind that you are not required to utilize all of the space available. By insisting on utilizing all the available tips and tricks, you can make a site that is not friendly to your users. However, leaving just a bit of space between all the different aspects of the webpage will provide a much more comfortable experience. White space is often even more valuable than a flashy design and layout.
Custom Options
You want to have a site that is easy to navigate, if you want to attract visitors. Links should be highly visible and easy to locate. Menus can also make it easier to navigate your site. Have links to the main pages available on every page of your site so visitors can always find their way around.
Basic design tools will get you started on your website, but you will want to add some custom options. You want a site that truly reflects your personality and business image, and that requires some custom options not offered by these tools.
Try using time management when you build websites to get work completed on time. There is a lot to get done, and it is easy to procrastinate. Before long, however, those smaller tasks have multiplied, and they may become overwhelming. Take care of each small task as it comes up.
If you are designing websites, you truly are an artist. Act like one. Take inspiration from all areas of your life, and allow it to shine through in your work. If a great idea comes your way in your favorite restaurant, grab a napkin and write it down. Make sure you always write down, or draw your ideas, so you won’t forget them later.
If you want to maximize the potential of your website design, ensure that your pages appear correctly on all web browsers, so any visitor can view them. A site that works on Internet Explorer might not display right in Firefox, Google Chrome, or Safari. Therefore, check to see that all pages display correctly in all the large browsers prior to your site going live.
“High and far left” are words to live by when you build your site. Because people read from the left to the right, placing key information on the top left of the screen makes it more likely that users see this first before going on to the rest of the information on the site.
Search Box
Make sure that you place a search box at the top of each of your webpages, and ensure that the input field is at least 26 characters. Be sure that the search button is labeled “search”, rather than “go or “submit.” These things will cause your search box to be easily seen and it will help the visitors on your site to find the things they are searching for.
Your background is the keystone of your design. While some websites utilize moving GIF backgrounds, opt for simple background since these moving backgrounds can make text hard to read. Choose a background to work with your website, not conflict with it, and your visitors will be able to better read and understand your site, and your point of view.
Now that you read the above article you understand how important it is to keep flash to a minimum, because it may causes issues with loading. If you have a good understanding of what it takes to create a site that looks nice without being overly flashy, then your site will be successful. Using these tips will help you better your site immediately.
