If you want to learn about web design, this article was written for you. This article features enough information to help you learn about web design, and how to start a site from the ground up. No matter what your level of experience, there is always more to learn.
If you are designing a website, choose proper graphics. Remember, bitmap images can get quite large and often don't work very well while PNG images work fine. PNG should be used for buttons with text and screenshots that have 256 colors or more. JPEG images are good for pictures.
Always mark files that must be opened in an external program with an icon. Many sites host PDF files, and less commonly, DOC files, that must be opened in Foxit Reader and Microsoft Word/OpenOffice, respectively. These files should be marked with an icon representing the file type, and a link to download the appropriate viewer if the user does not have it.
Don't keep outdated content on your site. If you have a page that is promoting some type of special event that already went on six months ago, then you have lost readers. It is an expectation from users that you maintain the site and keep your information fresh, or else they think your site is ill-kept or abandoned. Put removing outdated content on your to-do list, to do every 2-4 weeks.
If you have several pages on your web site, use a navigation bar at the top to help visitors find the information they need right away. Include contact information, so they can speak with you if they'd like. Headings should be clear and visible, and paragraphs should be concise as well as easy to read.
To help your website function the way it is intended to, make sure all your links are working. If you have broken links then your visitors may get frustrated when they try to click on something that interests them. Frustrated visitors is not something you want because they end up leaving your site mad.
Make use of your grammar and spell checker. Yes, some mistakes may get passed some of your audience, but it will not get past everyone. You could lose some of your audience because of this, particularly if you make mistakes frequently. Do your best to correct your grammar and spelling on your site.
If the design of your website needs to be mobile friendly, keep in mind that mobile devices have smaller screens and limited bandwidth. To account for smaller screens, you should try to design your website as a single narrow column so that the user only needs to navigate vertically, as opposed to both horizontally and vertically. Limited bandwidth means that you should be extra concerned about your file sizes. You can also opt to create a separate version of your website specifically for mobile devices.
Selecting the right server to upload your files, it is important for site design. You want a file server that is reliable, secure and fast. The pros go with FileZilla because it fits the bill in terms of speed and reliability. You can choose this or something similar; what's important is that you have a reliable file server.
Get help from a professional -- a seasoned veteran of web design can help you get past a lot of rookie errors. This virtually guarantees that you will improve, so long as you put in the effort.
If you want to host any type of video on your website, make sure to first check with the web host to be positive that this is something that is allowed. Some hosts do not permit videos to be hosted on their servers. FLV files usually take up more than their fair share of space, so check before adding videos to avoid wasting your time.
Use time management skills. There are many small tasks involved in web design. This makes procrastination very tempting. However, these minor tasks can add up quickly. You will have the most success by managing your time.
Be sure that the content on your page isn't overwhelming for guests when they come to your webpage. You don't want to overload a page with a bunch of images or videos that can slow people's computers down. You want people to enjoy the experience they have on your site, not be frustrated.
Don't overuse graphics. Pictures and other interesting graphics can be fun and visually pleasing, but keep in mind that those things take a long time to load on a site visitor's computer. Opinions are also different, so what you think is a great visual touch might be unattractive to someone else. Keep graphics simple and site visitors will better concentrate on your products, services, and content.
Make sure you work on your design every day for a few hours. Make sure that you schedule out larger blocks of time during your day, so that you actually make some real progress rather than trying to work on tidbits here and there. As you progress, you'll find that working for solid chunks of time on your personal sites will also help you remember information that you need to finish your projects.
When you decide to build a site, make it revolve around the needs of your target audience. You want things like your font, layout and overall theme to align with the interests of those who are going to visit your site, so that they are interested in coming back to your site after their initial visit.
A great web design tip with regards to choosing your domain name is to choose a domain name that does not contain a dash (-). Sites with dashes are often not entered when people are trying to visit your site so try and avoid them at all cost so you don't lost any traffic.
With the useful web design tips you have acquired from this article, you should now have an understanding of how you can improve your skills, and also be more confident in your ability to eventually create fantastic websites. Be sure to always watch for new sources of knowledge, as the more you learn the more you will perfect your web design skills.
Orignal From: Get The Skinny From The Professionals On How To Do Web Design Right
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