| Well, without getting product-specific, that's about all the instruction I can give you for building your own Web site...except these few words of advice and reminders. Words of Wisdom from Someone Who's Been There In 1995, I was a freelance writer and Macintosh consultant with a few good clients . When one of them decided to build a Web presence, I had a choice: learn about the Web so I could provide a new service or lose the client to another consultant who could do it all. I decided to learn about the Web. Here are the things I learned about Web authoring when I first started out: -
Use Web site design aids. Many Web authoring programs include templates or assistants for creating Web pages and sites. Use them as a starting point, then customize the pages to fine-tune them for your needs. -
Browse other sites and sources to get ideas. (I can't stress this enough!) Maybe you're not in the design business, but that doesn't mean you don't know what looks good. Check out other sites and take notes about the things you see that you like. Then incorporate them into your site. -
Study up with reference guides. If you skipped Chapters 5, 6, 7, shame on you! They offer a lot of useful information to help you plan and design your site. But this book shouldn't be your only reference. I mention other books throughout this one ”check the Reading List in Appendix A for a complete list. Some of those books may also help you get the job done. -
Be legible. Busy background images make text difficult to read. Text and background colors should contrast well to be legible. Avoid teeny tiny print. Use font styles, headings, and lists to increase legibility and set off key points. Don't Forget To... I've said these things elsewhere in this book, but they're important enough to repeat here: -
Use existing company logos and graphics. Company design elements like logos, graphics, and text set in certain typefaces can extend the company identity to the Web site. If these elements don't already exist in electronic form, they can be scanned in and coverted to GIF or JPEG images for use on the Web. -
Keep graphic file sizes small. Remember, not everyone wants to wait for your images to load. The Back button, Address bar, and bookmarks menu are well within mouse pointer reach. You've got less than ten seconds to attract and keep the attention of a site visitor. Don't blow it on big graphics! -
Provide valuable content. If you don't provide the information that visitors want, they won't come back for more. Include product, service, and company information. Look in company catalogs and brochures for ideas of what to include. Remember, if 1,000 people get this information from the Web, that's 1,000 fewer catalogs and brochures you'll have to print and distribute the old fashioned way. -
Remember the Three Click Rule. All important information on your Web site should be within three clicks of the Home page. Don't bury the information that site visitors want! -
Be tasteful. Your Web site is like a virtual place of business. Would you paint your walls lime green and put up day-glo orange signs? Don't use irritating colors and tasteless graphics ”unless they're part of your company identity. (And, if they are, perhaps it's time for an identity change?) -
Test your pages. Preview your completed Web pages with a variety of Web browsers ”including older ones ”with a variety of screen widths. Preview them on other computer systems, too, if you can. That's the only way to know for sure what your Web pages will look like in visitors' browsers. -
Keep your site up to date. Old news is bad news. If visitors see the same old information each time they visit the site, they'll stop visiting. Update the Home page regularly. Prominently display news and valuable information so visitors immediately see the value of visiting the site regularly. |
