Many people dive head first into website without knowing what all is involved. Do you wish to start your own web design career or re-design your own site? Use the following suggestions as to what is required to make a great website.
A site that is going to be successful must work with all browsers. This is why it is vital that you test all your pages to ensure that they properly display in all the various browsers. What works in Chrome might not appear the way you want it in Firefox, Internet Explorer, or Safari. Before you set your site to go live, look at how every page shows up in all the major browsers.
Pay close attention to the background of your pages. Some sites use moving GIF images in the background which may at times be good, but mostly it just makes the text hard to read. In order to preserve your website’s focus, and make it easy for your visitors to comprehend, you should choose a background image that harmonizes well with your site instead of clashing with it.
Pay attention to the colors on your website to make sure they match. You have to be certain that your text will be readable on top of the background colors you use. There is data that shows that people have an easier time reading dark text on a light background. The opposite is still readable, but not optimal. If you are not sure whether or not your chosen color scheme is user friendly, ask for some feedback from some of your friends.
Educate yourself about shortcuts, then make a habit of employing them. In web page design, there are lots of shortcuts that will decrease the amount of time it takes to do things. HTML codes are one shortcut that allows you to fix things on your pages without the need to re-upload them.
Web Host
Do not use pop-ups. Many consumers are bothered when they visit a site and are suddenly bombarded by pop-ups. It does not matter who or what the website represents, most visitors will not hang around if they are bombarded with pop-ups. Avoid those annoying ads to keep your customers content. If your web host forces you to have pop-up ads, try to find another web host.
By testing the way your website will work in different browsers, you can ensure that the maximum number of visitors see your site they way you want them to. Even though your website may display perfectly on Internet Explorer, this doesn’t mean that it will look the same on Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Go through every page with each browser and correct mistakes for a user-friendly website.
Be sure that your website has small files, no matter how aesthetically designed your site is. This is because the size of your website’s files directly affects its loading time. You want your site to load as quick as possible. Remember that not all people who visit your site will have a high-speed connection to the Internet. Try to test your site regularly, especially with a slower dial-up modem. This will help you to know for sure that it will quickly load in every situation.
Do not add pop-up windows to your site. Even if you believe it is a good strategy, most visitors will be annoyed by them. Many visitors to your site may simply exit the site when faced with a pop-up. If this happens, they are unlikely to return.
White can be a smart and effective choice when you’re contemplating which color should be the background for your site. Having a white background tends to make the website easier to view and read and it also gives it a professional look that makes it appear more trustworthy. Complicated, artsy background designs look cool, but they can often be distracting to the reader. It is usually best to keep a simple background.
Ensure that you save personal information that the user might need to enter again into your site. For instance, if someone filled in their name and address when creating an account, pre-populate this information when the customer fills out an order form. If you use this data to your advantage, users will be able to save time as they navigate your site.
It’s vital that you test your web designs on multiple browsers. Each individual browser will interpret your site differently, and sometimes, the user experience varies dramatically between each browser. There are now many websites that you can visit to find out which web browsers are most commonly used by internet users. Make sure your website works in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and the major mobile browsers.
Website design is a field that will become easier with practice. Start with simple pages of HTML until you have a handle on the fundamentals. Proceed with what you know about it soon, because you may need more practice than you initially think you will need.
Buy books about web design so that you can maximize your education, and become as successful as possible. You don’t want to pick books about specific software versions as they’ll become outdated quickly, but style guides and even SEO information will last you a long time.
There are a lot of web design programs available for sale, and they can help you create a great website. Pro designer programs are easy to learn and use and can have you creating sites quite quickly. Having an attractive site is crucial for drawing in traffic.
You should now understand what is involved with creating and profiting from websites. Apply what you’ve learn and get new information where you can.