If you are a business owner, one of the most expensive tasks you have ahead of you is the building of a website. If you are new to website development, hiring someone to do the work for you can be extremely expensive. But, you need to know what you are doing. Use the tips contained here to start creating a website that can rival those designed by the pros.
Refrain from the overuse of Javascript. Although it provides many methods of building a site that is more responsive, this can cause some problems for some visitors. Web browsers are all different, and each comes out with new versions pretty regularly. Keep in mind that not every single person who visits your site has the most up to date browser version. Also, consider that JavaScript isn’t regularly enabled in everyone’s browser. Both of these mean users will be prevented from using the site you made.
Take the time to do keyword research. Your customers should always be the top focus, but search engine optimization is still necessary to bring those customers to your pages. Knowing which keywords will help visitors find your website will help.
Make sure you put your website through the NoScript test. Download and run the NoScript extension on Firefox and find out if the site is readable? Some things, like purchase orders, will not work unless your site contains the proper scripts.
Pop-up windows are one feature you should avoid. Most people will be turned off by a site that pop’s windows up in their face. Every pop-up window you throw in front of your website visitors increases the likelihood that they will abandon your website in frustration. Once they leave, it’s highly unlikely that they’ll be coming back.
Gather knowledge from online resources when making your first website. Learning as much as you can about creating a web page from the people who know the most about it will be the quickest way for you to get your site up and running. Without a working understanding of website creation, your site will look totally unprofessional.
Speak with people you know just to see if you missed something when you learned things like Dreamweaver, Photoshop or HTML. You want to be sure that all the things you have learned so far has been retained in memory, as you never want to be designing a site and then all of a sudden become confused and lost.
Don’t use frames. The fact is that while frames were popular in the past, they were simply one of many early techniques that were necessary then but are not today. They are the stone wheel of the Internet generation and should not be used today. Frames make it hard for visitors to bookmark and scroll through the page. There are easier ways for you to give your users good flow throughout the website.
Allow visitors to search your site from every page. The simple, speedy access this capability gives to visitors will put the information they’re looking for at their fingertips, and make the site highly user-friendly. Site searchers are easy to place into your site, and you will find that the benefits they give you will be worth the amount of time and effort that you put into implementing them.
If you happen to be working with FileZilla, then take advantage of built-in features such as quick menus that immediately pull up your username, port, domain and even passwords. FileZilla will save your settings and let you connect right away thanks to your personalized settings. This can save you a large amount of time.
Search Box
Include search elements that let visitors search site content. If visitors to your site need something specific, they look for a search box first. If you lack one, they may just move on to another website immediately. Put the box on the right-hand top of the page.
Make sure that you place a search box at the top of each of your webpages, and ensure that the input field is at least 26 characters. The button you use to start the search should also say only “search” to thwart any confusion. By following this advice, your website’s visitors will be able to easily find and use the search box effectively.
Do not forget to include a site map. A web site does two things. First, visitors can figure out what is going on at your page. Visitors can see what they want and what is offered through one easy map. Maps are also important because they are needed for SEO purposes. It easier for the search engines to find and “crawl” your site.
When it comes to designing your website, try to find unorthodox sources of inspiration. You can find ideas all around you if you just look around. Always keep your eyes open for new ideas, because eventually you will be inspired and create something unique for your site that your visitors will appreciate and enjoy.
Regardless of your target crowd or your site’s purpose, you always want to aim for a ten second loading time or better. Sites that are well-made and efficient will open in a browser in moments. Most visitors want things to happen quickly and easily. If you don’t offer that to them, you will lose those visitors.
It takes a lot of hard work when you try to go from a beginner at web design to a more seasoned professional. You should expect to have several mishaps during your first web site build. But by using the information shared here, you will have the basic information in your arsenal to create a website that you can begin using to bring in visitors.