Good Solid Advice About Web Design That Anyone Can Use

By Judie Sollman


You've come to the right place if you're interested in making your own websites. This article is packed full of tips that will help you learn the ropes of web design and eventually create your own full-fledged website. You can attain your goals by following these steps. Don't use frames. It isn't the 90's anymore. Frames used to be beneficial in some ways, but they always had their issues. Frame designs make it harder for readers to bookmark your site and scrolling becomes a chore. A number of better ways exist that make it easy for users to navigate your site.

Make sure your webpages aren't too long. You only get one chance to make a first impression, and if your most important content is "below the fold," it may not even be read. If you have a lot of related content that needs to stay together, consider breaking it up into sections and adding links to each section.

When you're thinking about how to design a website, you need to be sure to think about the navigation. You want your navigation to be easily accessible and easy to use. Put the navigation bar on every page in a noticeable place. Also, make sure that it flows well with the rest of your page and doesn't distract visitors.

Have a site map. These are useful to your clients and the search engines, as they give a detailed overview of your entire website. It can be a guide for viewers searching for a certain part of your site, and also allow you to keep track of its structure and layout.

Keep the sizes of your files and images small. Excessive loading times are a death knell for any site. The larger the files are that must load, the longer a user's load time is going to be. Most users will click away if the page doesn't start to load within the first few seconds of opening your page.

Your site should be able to be scanned easily. Most people do not read all the text on a website; instead, they scan for interesting tidbits. That's why it is smart to break your information into smaller, more easily comprehended chunks. Put important facts near the top of the page. This helps make sure that visitors get the information they need in the quickest way possible.

Keep a simple front page. People will quickly decide whether or not they want to do business with you by how your homepage looks. Be descriptive when you talk about your business and what you offer that is unique, but keep other information minimal to avoid your visitors getting distracted.

Watch the amount of flashy multimedia that is on your site. Don't overdo it with a bunch of "extras". Flash graphics and multimedia may appear enticing, but these may make it difficult for visitors to find the desired information from the site, particularly if they're viewing your site from a non-Flash compatible device.

This advice will get you to be where you want to go. However, it is important to keep learning. Always look for new information about web design. By doing this, you will hone your skills in making webpages that work and look great.




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