Learn the skills you need so that you don’t need to outsource the web page design needs of your company. This is a simple website skill, although it looks complicated. Follow the advice within this article to see how easy it can be.
Try using fixed-position navigation to let your users navigate with ease. This involves locking your site’s navigation panel as visitors scroll down. You can use this both to allow your visitor to navigate more easily, and to keep your call to action in view.
Don’t use frames. It isn’t the 90’s anymore. Frames were terrific in the burgeoning website creation days, but they had their problems too. Frame designs are harder to bookmark, and they make scrolling a chore. Use a different technique to help visitors organize information.
Users can navigate your site easier when you have fixed-position navigation. This keeps the site menus in place as visitors scroll through your site. This is convenient for the user and for Internet marketers since it lets users perform desired actions like signing up for newsletters or buying products.
In order for your website to be successful, it must work properly regardless of the browser that is used. You should therefore make certain that all of your web pages are thoroughly tested on a variety of browsers. If something works in Chrome it might not work in Firefox, for example. Before you website is launched, test the display of each page in all major browsers.
Website Visitors
Do not use JavaScript more than you have to. Some of your website visitors may not have JavaScript, and others will not want to update it on a regular basis. There are many different web browsers that people use and they are constantly being updated with new features. Your goal is to have as many website visitors as possible. Also, people sometimes don’t have JavaScript enabled in their browsers. In either case, you are preventing your visitors from using all or some of the features of your website.
Always check your website from a variety of browsers in different areas of the country or world. You have to make sure that you’re seeing your site through the eyes of all customers. Make changes to your site to make it look good on all popular browsers. You may also want to view your site using a different computer operating system to make sure that everything is compatible whether they are using Windows, Mac, or Linux.
To get repeat visitors, use an e-mail newsletter. By giving your visitors an opportunity to keep current on your site offerings, you increase their loyalty. Put a form for registration on a sidebar or somewhere visible, yet not interfering with the page’s purpose. Send your newsletter only to those who have signed up; doing otherwise is considered spam.
Always implement powerful site-searching capabilities when designing a large website. Try having a search box in the upper-right of your homepage that allows searching for terms on your site. You can find viable search features through companies like FreeFind or Google.
Don’t use frames. Information within frames cannot be read by search engines. That means you won’t show up when people search for your content. This will lead to a reduction in visitors.
Make sure your website passes a test by NoScript. The NoScript extension can be downloaded for Mozilla Firefox; doing so will allow you to be sure your site can be read. Some content is unable to work without the proper scripts.
Alt Tags
Put ALT tags on your images. Tags such as these are key because for those who browse without graphics or who are vision problems, the tags provide descriptions of the images. Using ALT tags also help to explain what clicking on the link will do. Lastly, search spiders use ALT tags, so this can help you in the SERPs.
User experience is the most important aspect of any website. The design of the website must be centered on the end user at all times. Examples of this would be user interaction, accessibility, usability and the users overall experience. It is essential that you don’t drop the ball on this. Look at the site through the eyes of a user as you design.
Include an easy way for visitors to search your site content. Visitors may look for something specific, and that box will be the one of the first things they look for. Without this tool, the visitor might leave and go searching on another website. Place the search box in the top right corner of the page since this is where most people look for one.
Be sure to always look at the links on your site, and make sure none are broken. Do this often, and especially before uploading any of it to the server. Broken links are one reason for web visitors to leave a site. To keep this from happening, check everything to make sure that it works.
Go ahead and sign up for a newsletter that can inform you about website design periodically, so that if you ever lose sight of your website creation goals you have a place to come back to and begin once again. These are great for both pros and beginners.
Use good looking graphics throughout your website. You might like images with text wrapped around them, which will keep the site from looking bland. You are more likely to gain and keep loyal visitors if your site seems professional.
JavaScript is a great tool, but don’t overuse it. It provides many ways to develop an interactive experience for your audience, but it can also stop some visitors from accessing your content at all. The major web browsers differ somewhat in functionality, and they are updated frequently. All visitors won’t have the most current version of the particular browser they’re utilizing. You should also be aware that some of your users will have JavaScript disabled through their browser. Both of these factors can determine whether a user is able to access your site.
Always include a clearly visible tagline on each webpage in the domain and sub-domains. They should be bold and large so that the viewer can see them. The tagline informs of the goal of each page, and can retain or repel your readers.
Building a website does not dictate you need to purchase books. Although you may think it is a wise idea, it isn’t. There is a lot of accurate information to be found in books and magazines. However, this information can actually be found for free. It can be a silly thought to believe a retail book has better information than most that are offered for free.
Web Designer
When designing your site, use ALT tags when adding images. There are a few core reasons why ALT tags should be used, including helping the visually impaired, providing indexing possibilities for the search engines and also for description and translation purposes. Using ALT tags also help to explain what clicking on the link will do. Lastly, ALT tags offer search engines a target that will help in boosting your rankings in searches.
To become a great web designer, take advantage of all the resources you can. A good web designer is a master of many trades and can work on most any kind of website for any potential client.
Utilize a website map when you design your site. A site map has two main purposes. First, it enables visitors to find their way around more easily. They are able to find the information they need, and they know what else you have available. It is also great for SEO. This allows search engines to crawl your site more easily.
People who have never done it falsely believe that website development is hard. It does not have to be complicated. Follow the information that you have just learned and you will be able to design a site in no time.
Optimize your site for older versions of Internet Explorer (IE7 and IE8). Everyone loves to hate Internet Explorer, but the sad fact is that a large minority of internet users still use these old versions of IE. Workarounds are needed for many elements to be visible in IE. In particular, learn about the famous “box model bug”, an old thorn in IE.