Friday, May 25, 2012

What Everyone Needs To Know About Web Design

By Frank Dibenedetti


Many people are interested in web design, but do not try it because they think it will be too hard. If you want to learn more about web design, but are overwhelmed by this subject's complexities, this article should help you to better understand the topic of web design.

It is likely that you are going to run across interesting designs and techniques on other websites, but it is critical that you use your creativity when designing your own website. Come up with features of your own, and enhance ones that you have found elsewhere. By using this tip, your will make the best website design possible.

Get a few books on web design and study them. Start out with selections that cover the basics, and add to your collection as you become more knowledgeable.

Use all the resources you can find. Virtually every detail and sub-field in the world of web design is addressed in depth by different books and magazines. It is a good way to know your craft as well as being a better designer.

Have another person constantly test your website functionality through the entire design process. Have someone test each new feature that you add. For instance, you might not be bothered by a video that loads slowly, but someone else may have a different opinion. Feedback from others will be invaluable to you as you build your site.

If your website is a commercial one, do not use a web hosting service that is free. If you choose to go this route you will run the risk of having a ton of advertisement placed on your site, and this will certainly distract consumers who are coming to view your product. Pay a host for their service, and you will be much better off in the long run.

When considering adding advertisements to your site, be sure that you limit them to a reasonable number. Too many ads will make your website look cluttered and spammy, and you might not be taken seriously. Only keep the ads which are the most relevant to your site.

With every web page that you are involved in designing, take the time to validate them. There a lot of WYSIWYG editors that will add meaningless code to your website design. If you utilize one of those programs, you must go a step further and make sure your code is validated by a validation service. The W3C's web site has an HTML validation widget that will validate your pages at no cost.

Basic design tools will get you started on your website, but you will want to add some custom options. Make sure to infuse your unique personality into your site, rather than just focusing on a drag-and-drop tool that your hosting company might offer.

It is important that any logo contained within your site, links back to the home page. Most people now expect clickable logos that take them back to the main web page. A static logo can irritate your users, because that makes them hunt for a separate "Home" link. Logos that you can click on will make the site more navigable.

Skip the pop-up windows. Pop-ups can disturb your clients and will distract them when they are navigating. When you annoy your visitors with these popup adverts, they will more than likely leave your website and vow never to return.

You'll need some office space to design and manage a website. Remove distractions, to make your office a space in which to work, without interruptions. Have office tools and other things located within easy access, and ensure that you have an excellent space for your own web design needs.

Avoid having pop-up windows on your website. Although you may think they are helpful, many people think they are annoying. Many visitors to your site may simply exit the site when faced with a pop-up. If this happens, they are unlikely to return.

If you are fortunate enough to have the funding for a major investment into your site, this does not mean that is a wise thing to host the site on your own. Design as much as you can on your own, though allow somebody else to do the hosting. This will save you a lot of time, and provide you with the ability to concentrate on other important things apart from the security and safety of your site.

This tip is extremely obvious, but it's vital. Don't upload anything to your website server until you've double-checked it for typos, spelling errors and grammar problems. Poorly written content is the easiest way to make your site seem unprofessional and cause visitors to not return. If your site looks unprofessional, you will lose visitors.

Captchas are wonderful when used for registration, though they should not be used for anything else. Visitors dislike captchas, and dislike the feeling that they must solve a complicated problem just to see a web page. Unless they are already a devoted member, they will likely just leave the page and browse elsewhere.

Building small websites can help you see what areas to get better at. Create the basic pages of a website, such as Contact Us and About Us, and add items as you go along.

On your website you want to incorporate an area where your visitors can provide feedback. This makes it easier to identify problem areas and to create a more user-friendly site. Letting your visitors get involved helps to ensure they will come to your site again.

By now, you should have an idea of what you will need to know in order to excel in the web design industry. Knowing how to design your own website is a wonderful skill that you can use to earn extra money building websites for others.




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