It is necessary to use expensive software and specialized templates to create an excellent website? Well, it does depend on your desire to learn. If you don't want to learn a lot of technique, code, and so forth, third party programs or hired web creation companies may be the answer for you. However, this should not be necessary as long as you are able to educate yourself and work hard to improve your skills.
Avoid useless scripts. Scripts like counters and date/time scripts don't really serve any purpose, and since they are all JavaScript, can add a few kilobytes to the page's file size. Getting rid of these elements also frees up space on the homepage. Replace those useless scripts with useful content that keeps users coming back.
To help your web pages load quickly, you should compress all the images on the website page. If you have images that are compressed then pages will load much faster. Nothing is more frustrating to viewers than waiting for a 250k graphic to load when it should really only be 20k.
Speed is everything when it comes to the Internet, so make sure that you keep your website's loading time to a minimum. Realize that visitors to your site have many options and will just go somewhere else if your site does not load right away.
Avoid creating user interface (UI) controls that mislead your visitors. These controls include elements, widgets and more that create an interactive experience, such as a link, drop-down list or button. You do not want to make visitors think that clicking on an underlined word or phrase for example, will lead to a new page if it is not actually linked to something else. When your visitors have expectations of something working a certain way and it does not, they are more likely to assume there is something wrong with your site and leave.
New web designers who are aiming to create an appealing website, should utilize Photoshop. This software will ensure that you have all the effects and tools you need to create graphics which look like they were completed by a pro. If you don't have an easy-to-use tool like Photoshop, it will drastically increase the time and effort required to build a professional-looking website.
A simple to navigate website will retain visitors. Ensure that links are easy discovered and displayed in a prominent location. Another way to provide easy navigation is to incorporate menus. Have links to the main pages available on every page of your site so visitors can always find their way around.
Minimize the amount of clicking or scrolling visitors must do to access information. The more a user has to click or scroll around to find the information they seek, the more likely they are to give up looking for it. Aim for having at least 400 words on every page of your site by combining pages that have content that falls below this number of words.
It's vital that you test your web designs on multiple browsers. Every browser interprets sites in their own way, and sometimes that can lead to drastic differences in the way a site appears to a user, affecting not only visual elements, but website functional elements as well. It is easy to discover the most popular browsers. Try your website out on various popular browsers. Since lots of people surf the Internet on their smartphones, look at your site through a mobile browser or two, also.
As you design a site, look to your target audience. Ask them what is important in the sites they like. This will help with designing your site and features too. Getting input about your readers' interests is essential to a useful site.
Make sure everything is easy to locate on your website. Spend some serious thought on how everything on your site will be laid out. When content is randomly thrown on your site with little thought to the layout, you are making things harder for the people whose use of your site ensures your online success - your site visitors.
To properly design and maintain your website, it is important to have your own office space. Ideally, you should remove any distractions and strive to create an efficient and motivating workspace. It is invaluable to keep all that you need at your fingertips at all times, in order to make smooth and efficient design choices.
If you are looking for ideas on creating your first webpage, it would be a good idea to search for suggestions online. In order to create a good site, you should gain as much knowledge on web design. You can avoid shoddy work by sticking with expert advice.
You should set aside at least one day per week to update your website. If you're not updating it, you should at least check up on it to make sure that it's functioning properly. As a site designer, it's up to you, and you alone, to ensure that your site is in perfect working condition. If you fail to do so, you could lose a lot of traffic.
Avoid every instance of spammy "sell language" that you possibly can. Studies show that users are likely to jump off of a webpage the instant they pick up the "salesman" vibe. This is because it is said to actually trigger a predatory response in human brain function! So next time you want to sell a product, remember that the potential consumer may view you as a predator and run!
You've now learned how web design works and that you can make decent money if you know a lot about it. Remember that making money doing web design does not require performing in only one manner. Keep your eyes open for new ways to profit from your web design skills to make your success even easier.
Katlyn Slocum Design
104 SE 93rd Avenue, Vancouver, WA 98664
360-784-1465