There are a lot of people that are becoming more and more interested in website design. This means that more and more people are building their own website. In order to best the competition, read on.
If you want your website to cater to the needs of visitors, it must be user-friendly and simple to navigate. Display links prominently so that they can be easily found. Menus can make navigation on your site easier. Make sure each page has a ‘home’ link.
Put in a search box that lets visitors search through your site content. If visitors to your website are searching for something in particular, they will immediately look for the search box. If you lack one, they may just move on to another website immediately. Always put the box somewhere near the right page’s top because people will look for it there.
Do not overdo the graphics on your site. They are good for making your site more professional, but too much looks messy. Do not use graphics simply for decorating; utilize them for true improvement. Having enough graphics that don’t clutter the site will make your site easier to use, as well.
Minimize your page sizes. Some users have slower connections and will lose interest if a website takes too long to load. If the wait is too long, your visitors may give up and leave.
Broken Links
Always double check pages for broken links before publishing a page. There is not much that is more frustrating for visitors than to click a link and get an error page. Use a program or check links manually to be sure you have no broken links on your site.
Avoid overusing JavaScript. While it is useful in delivering a more interactive experience, it can create problems for various visitors. Each web browser displays content differently, and your visitors will be using many different versions of each software platform. Some people accessing your website are going to do so with a browser that is not fully updated and compatible with your JavaScript. Also, some people browse with scripting turned off. These things prevent users from making use of your website.
It’s a good idea to set up your site so that it can retain a copy of user information that must be entered repeatedly. For example, if someone registers for your site, and some of the same information is needed to fill out another form, make sure data that they have already entered is preserved, so users do not need to re-enter this information. You streamline the process when you create “sticky” information, and your visitors will appreciate you not wasting their time.
You must always include the capability to search if you are working on a large website. This is commonly located in the topmost-right corner of the screen as an empty bar, which users can insert a search term or phrase. Google and FreeFind both offer search functions for your website.
Stay away from pop-up windows as part of your design. Pop-ups can disturb your clients and will distract them when they are navigating. Internet users will be more likely to leave your site and not find it trustworthy if you use pop-ups.
Regularly distributing a newsletter can help to secure repeat visitors. Letting customers subscribe to updates and new information can keep them coming back. Stick the sign-up form in a spot that’s out of the way, such as in a sidebar, and keep good records of those who sign up. Just send your newsletter to subscribers.
Alt Tags
As you go about setting up your website, make sure that you add ALT tags to all images on the site. Tags such as these are key because for those who browse without graphics or who are vision problems, the tags provide descriptions of the images. If the images are links, the tags let you describe the link as well. Also, search engine crawlers use ALT tags, so your site is going to rank higher.
Use fonts that are both easy to read, and professional. Fonts say a lot about the professionalism of a site and the business it represents. Don’t use fancy or non-standard fonts. Some people may not have these fonts installed on their computers. If a visitor doesn’t have a font on his computer, his browser may display a default font that doesn’t look right. When the font defaults it can tend to make your webpage look much worse than it really is.
Keyword research is important. Although content is important, you must develop a customer base using keywords. To ensure your site is successful, do your keyword research.
It’s important to keep your learning moving forward all the time to become the best designer possible. Use the tips and suggestions from the above article, but always be on the lookout for new ideas about website creation so you reach the success you have been looking for.