There is much to be gained by learning how to design websites. If you are interested in this topic then this article is something you should definitely read. The ideas provided in the following paragraphs can guide you to web design success.
Don’t use frames. Frames were popular back then but created a lot of problems. A website that uses frames can cause trouble for visitors when they try to bookmark a site, and no one wants to spend their time scrolling on a website needlessly. There are easier ways to give seamless flow to your site.
Your website needs to function properly for visitors who use any kind of browser, so be sure to test out your site for browser compatibility. A page that works well in Firefox may display improperly in Safari, Internet Explorer or Chrome. Therefore, check to see that all pages display correctly in all the large browsers prior to your site going live.
Fixed-position navigation is useful to visitors. This technique locks the navigation panel on the site in place whenever the user scrolls on the page. This is convenient for visitors and helps frequent visitors quickly find what they need.
Try learning about and using shortcuts as much as you can. In website design, there are lots of shortcuts that will decrease the amount of time it takes to do things. You can even use HTML codes to help make changes quicker so that your pages don’t need to be uploaded again.
Avoid the use of pop-up advertising. There is nothing worse than visiting a website and getting assaulted by tons of pop-up ads. Many visitors to a site will just click away from a site with pop-ups, even if the site is a popular one. In addition, many people now have pop-up blockers anyway. It’s best to stay away from this type of ad to keep your visitors happy. If your web host forces you to have pop-up ads, try to find another web host.
You always want to have a maximum page load time of ten seconds. A website that is designed well should load up very fast no matter what browser the visitor uses. Most visitors want things to happen quickly and easily. If you don’t offer that to them, you will lose many opportunities.
Go easy on the graphics in your web design. They are good for making your site more professional, but too much looks messy. Don’t just use graphics to decorate the website; they should be used to make it better. Using an adequate amount of graphics keeps clutter away and helps you focus on site usability.
Anything published on your site needs to be something that you know and understand well. If you’re planning to use your website for blogging or something similar, make sure to thoroughly research the subject prior to posting. The last thing you want to do is distribute incorrect information. Having a good blog involves having an education on your subject.
Use Photoshop if you want to create stellar websites. Photoshop is a program that individuals new to web design can use to quickly create professional level pages. Without a useful photo-editing program, you may have difficulty creating attractive, crisp content.
Older Versions
A great way to get repeat visitors to your site, is by having them subscribe to your newsletter. Let your customers sign up for important events and updates so that they return to your site. Have a signup form in one of your sidebars, and document everyone that signs up. You should then only send your newsletter to people who have requested it, or individuals could sue you for unsolicited emails.
Optimize your website to handle computers that may be running older versions of programs like Internet Explorer 7 and 8. Most people have a love-hate relationship with IE; however, many people are still using it, including older versions. Workarounds are needed for many elements to be visible in IE. Make sure you look at the very vexing “box model bug” that IE experienced.
Website development becomes much easier in time. So, start a few pages with C++ and HTML to check whether you understand the basics. Practice, as they say, makes perfect!
Get a professional mentor. Even if you want to tackle most of the site building yourself, having professional advice can greatly ease the process. That way, you ensure you won’t make beginner mistakes, and you also have a greater chance of becoming a professional yourself since you continue to learn.
Learn more about keywords through research. Your customers should always be the top focus, but search engine optimization is still necessary to bring those customers to your pages. You need to understand the proper keywords that will attract visitors to your website.
Keep the literacy level of your audience in mind when writing content. Some of your site’s visitors may be quite young, and they will not have a college-level reading skill yet. This means using concise, easy-to-understand content will help grow your visitors.
Learning through practice helps you in designing your website to the best of your ability. You should try to learn new aspects of web design all the time. While this can make building your current website more time consuming, it can be a very rewarding experience in that your newly gained knowledge will enable you to create dozens of websites quickly.
Having some unused space within your site is an excellent design feature. Do not fall under the illusion that your site should be completely filled with information. White space helps people to clearly see your site, which in turn allows them to read and absorb the information much better than a site that is packed with too much stuff.
You never want to use too many fonts when it comes to site design. Also think about how fonts look for different people. Small serif fonts like Times New Roman can be difficult to read on small screens. Most sites use Verdana, which is easily read in different colors and sizes.
When it comes to posting important information on your website, place it high and far to the left. People read from left to the right and from top to bottom, so positioning important information at the top left helps ensure it is one of the first things visitors see.
Now you can understand that designing websites is a viable income source, as long as you do your homework. The world of website creation is forever changing with technology, so make sure that you are moving forward and adapting to that change.
