There should be a tagline for each page in your site, that is clear and easy to understand. Use large or bold font so that your visitors notice these taglines right away. The tagline informs of the goal of each page, and can retain or repel your readers.
Don’t rely on JavaScript too much. While it may offer many different ways to create a more transparent and responsive website, it can pose difficulties for some visitors. The major web browsers differ somewhat in functionality, and they are updated frequently. Not everyone will upgrade to the latest version of his browser. You should also be aware that some of your users will have JavaScript disabled through their browser. This means they’ll have difficulty viewing your site because of this.
If your site is larger than a few pages, it should be searchable. Make sure you add a search box allowing your viewers to search for terms in your site. FreeFind and Google can help you install a search function on your website.
Use relevant meta tags to increase site traffic. Quality and relevant meta tags will provide search engines with information regarding your site. If you use poor meta tags, or worse, don’t use them at all, your site will get fewer visitors overall.
While you may wish to play a large role in the design of your site, it is not necessary to undertake the entire project on your own. Web design requires knowledge of many different areas including graphic design, user interface design, web programming, search engine optimization and content creation. You shouldn’t be ashamed to find help when it’s needed. There are plenty of freelance web designers and web design firms who can handle any aspect of the web design process.
Your site should contain certain keywords corresponding to what your target audience needs. Design is about persuasion, rather than expressing yourself artistically. Keep your client base in mind when designing your site. What type of language will your visitors respond to? After identifying a few appropriate keywords, (three to five should be sufficient) insert them throughout your website consistently.
Be an artist if you’re a website designer. Inspiration can strike at any time, so be ready for it! Take notes anytime or anywhere you might have an idea to bring to life. If you get an idea at work, call and leave yourself a message for yourself on your phone, to remember later.
Drop ideas for using Flash from your design plan. Flash can appear high-tech and exciting, but it can make for long load times on older systems. Many tablets and cell phone don’t have Flash installed on them, meaning your visitor will just see a blank spot where it should be.
Hosting your own site may not be a wise idea, regardless of how much money you have to invest. Design as much of the site as you are comfortable with, then allow someone with more experience to handle the rest. This maintains the overall quality of your site, but also gives you the opportunity to focus your attention elsewhere.
While making your website, remember that you don’t need to use all the available space. Making use of all the pixels and space makes the site look cluttered and feel overwhelming. When you space things out in an appropriate way and have a sense of organization, this will make users feel like they are in control. Even empty space in some areas serves just as good a purpose as content.
Steer clear of captchas. This causes your viewers to believe they have to do some type of difficult problem just for viewing a webpage. Only the most dedicated and interested visitors will continue through an unnecessary captchas; many will simply abandon the page.
Draw a favorites icon for your website. A favicon will help users who add your website to their bookmark see your page more easily. When searching through a visitor’s bookmarks, having a favicon that is memorable will cause you to stand out from the pack. Brand your icon to match your logo and website.
Choose a site layout convenient to you and basic enough that you can grasp the fundamentals of website design. Begin with the basics and evolve your site as time goes on and you become more advanced in your capabilities and understanding of web design.
Avoid using a member of your family to aid you in creating a website. Even if a friend or family member has good designing skills, you will find it hard to treat them like an employee and be honest about what you like and what you don’t.
Each web page that is designed should be validated. There are many editors currently available that add excess junk codes to your website. If you use a WYSIWYG editor, go the extra mile and validate your site code through a service. The W3C provides a no cost service that validates web pages.
You will design a better site if you keep learning every step of the way. By diving into another area each time you master one, you’ll never stop improving. While this may take longer, it will ultimately produce better results. Fully mastering these skills will make it easier to achieve your goals.
Designing a website does not mean you have to spend money. For every expensive, useful, and popular web design tool, there is an equally useful tool you can find that costs a lot less. Free software, available online, is often just as useful as its expensive counterpart. You can save lots of money by using open source software.
Now you see that effective web design is really just about the basics. There are various places for you to find basic information, which could lead to difficulties in finding everything you need. This article has provided you with smart, effective tips to begin designing functional, user-friendly sites.
