The Tricks Every Web Designer Must Know
Making a website can be both scary and exciting! Sometimes you may not know where to begin, what to look for and what is expected of you. Read on to learn some principles of basic web design planning so that you can do things the right way from the beginning.
If you want your site to bring in more visitors, you should ensure it’s simple to navigate. Important links should be highly visible on every page. Menus will make it a lot easier to navigate around your site. Have links to the main pages available on every page of your site so visitors can always find their way around.
You should update your content and get rid of expired content regularly. If you have something on your site that lists an event that happened months ago, chances are you have lost some readers. The average online user values fresh content and attention to detail. Create a schedule that will help you manage information and specials, and remind you to take down useless items.
Be conscious of your background. Some websites have backgrounds that make the website’s text hard to read, while other websites have backgrounds that contain elements that annoy visitors such as gif animations. Chose a background that complements your website’s content, rather than a background that clashes with your website’s content. Your website’s visitors will then find it easier to read your website’s content.
It’s a good idea to set up your site so that it can retain a copy of user information that must be entered repeatedly. For instance, if a user registers at your site and another form requires the same information again, be certain your website preserves this data to prevent them the useless and annoying hassle of filling it in again. With this “sticky” information, you create a simpler, easier experience for your users, which will prompt them to stay on-site longer.
Be careful with your use of JavaScript. JavaScript is helpful in the development opportunities it provides, but some users may experience problems with it. Each web browser is different, and each has a new version on a regular basis. Not all of your visitors will have the most recent version of the browser they are using. Also, consider that JavaScript isn’t regularly enabled in everyone’s browser. This means that a portion of your visitors won’t be able to use your website.
To help new web designers make good sites, use Photoshop. Using this type of program will help a website look more professional in a short amount of time. If you try to skimp on price by using a generic program that doesn’t do a good job, you may find yourself spending much more time than necessary to finish your website.
You should test your site on multiple browsers. Different internet browsers can display the contents of your website differently, which can sometimes dramatically alter a visitor’s experience. There are many resources available where you can find out which browsers are currently popular. It is very crucial that you test your website with all of the browsers, and that will include all of the main mobile web browsers.
Double check to make sure that all your links function properly. Do this often, and especially before uploading any of it to the server. You want to make sure everything you put up is working as people become deterred when they see content on a site that is faulty, this can make them choose to never come back. Give all of your links a double check before uploading in order to prevent this problem.
Now that you’ve read this, you should be prepared for moving ahead to tackle your own website design. Develop a budget, get some good advice, and start drawing up your plans. It’s possible to put together a website that does what you want for a reasonable cost, but you must get started.