10 Tips To
Make Your Website Better Than The Rest
There are just some
things that need to be included in every website.
If you integrate these tips into your site
your visitors will "thank you" for
it later
1) Navigation: Keep it simple
(KISS), and make sure it's consistent from
page to page. No matter where you place your
menu bar -- either at the top or down the
side -- always include a small text menu at
the bottom of every page. If you're one of
those people easily impressed with Flash,
don't design your navigation with it. There
are still some people who don't have or want
the plug-in, so they won't be able to navigate
your site. Besides, search engine spiders
can't read it, so won't be able to spider
the individual pages of your site if the navigation
is done in Flash.
2) Privacy Policy: With all of the concern
over privacy on the Web if you collect any
type of information from your visitors (even
if it's just an email address) you need to
include a privacy policy. There are many online
templates that will help you to create one
easily. Once made, post a link to it on every
page of your site.
3) Contact Information: Nothing drives me
more insane than having to search through
an entire website just to send the owner an
email. Post your contact info at the bottom
of every page of your site, along with your
email address. Don't make me fill out a whole
form when I just want to send a simple comment.
Include your email address, hotlinked and
ready to go.
4) Logos & Graphics: Please keep your
graphics down to a reasonable size. No one
wants to wait two minutes while your huge,
beautiful logo loads onto the screen. If you
must use a lot of graphics to get your point
across, I've got one word for you: Compression.
5) Fonts: Remember if you stray from using
the standard fonts that everyone has installed
on their computers (such as Arial, Verdana,
Times New Roman) the viewer won't see your
fonts as intended. Your users' computers will
display your site in their default fonts.
Stick to standards. If you must have a certain
font used you'll have to turn it into a graphic
to maintain its look.
6) Make It Sticky:
Include interactive features if possible,
such as live news feeds. Use chat rooms, discussion
boards, etc. You want to create a sense of
community where people will want to return.
7) Newsletter: If you're going to have a website
you need to offer a newsletter, even if it's
strictly going to be about sale items, specials
or site updates. You need to start collecting
a list of your visitors' email addresses so
you can keep in touch with them. Ezines help
to keep your site fresh in the client's mind
and helps to establish trust and credibility.
8) Browsers: You'd be amazed at how differently
your website appears in different browsers.
Make sure you take a peek at your site in
Netscape and Internet Explorer. Recent stats
show IE has about 80% of the market share,
but you'll still want to make sure the other
20% can view your site without any problems.
9) Resolution: This is a highly debatable
subject. "What resolution should I design
for?" The norm these days seems to be
800X600 although there are still a small number
of people limping along in 640X480. Look at
your site in different resolutions to get
an idea of what I'm talking about. If you
don't mind letting the small majority scroll
right and left, I say go with 800X600 (that's
what I do) and it still looks acceptable to
those surfing in mega resolutions of 1024
and higher.
10) Index Page: This may seem like a given,
but I'm going to mention it anyway. On the
very first page of your site (the homepage)
the first paragraph should answer the "5
W's"; basically telling them who you
are and what you're offering. You'd be amazed
at the number of websites that leave this
out; making me think "what do these people
do, and what's in it for me?" You need
to answer these questions and do it fast.
Surfers are a very impatient group. Stop them
before they click away.
If you remember the above 10 pointers when
putting together your next website, you'll
create a winning site that visitors will want
to return to, and not run away from in frustration.
Merle www.ezineadauction.com "Where
the Best Deals in Ezine
Advertising are Made"
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