Web design is a great way to make money. When you know how to make web pages, you have the power to create them for yourself or even for others. You can make them when you get a chance, which can help you make some money easily.
Choose the right graphic formats for your site. PNGs work much better than bitmap images, which are huge. Use PNGs for images over 256 colors for text buttons and the like or use GIF files for images smaller than 256 colors. When using photos, make them JPEGs.
Join online forums to learn even more about web design. Everything is right there on the world wide web. You simply have to take the time to look.
Always look over your website in many types of browsers, as you are designing it. What you see on your screen may be different from what others see. Research all the commonly used browsers and design accordingly. Also, have others check your site.
Ensure your site can pass the NoScript test. Download the NoScript extension on the Firefox web browser and activate it to see if your website can still be read. Certain content cannot be read unless scripts are present. A blank site without scripts can create big problems.
A successful website needs to work for visitors using any browser, so it is important to test your web pages to make sure they display properly in different browsers. A page that works well in Firefox may display improperly in Safari, Internet Explorer or Chrome. Visually test your website in every browser you can prior to launch.
Web Browsers
Do not overuse JavaScript. While it may offer many different ways to create a more transparent and responsive website, it can pose difficulties for some visitors. Web browsers have different capabilities, and they all have new versions that come out regularly. Many visitors use outdated versions of various web browsers, which means your code might not be supported. Also, some people browse with scripting turned off. Your website may not have any functionality to offer these types of users as a result.
The use of JavaScript should be kept at a minimum. While Java opens many doors towards an interactive website experience, a lot of Internet surfers are going to have difficulty with it. Each web browser is different, and each has a new version on a regular basis. Many of your viewers won’t have the most up to date version of the web browser they use. Keep in mind that not every users keeps JavaScript enabled while they browse. In either case, you are preventing your visitors from using all or some of the features of your website.
Make sure all topics are clearly divided. Separate topic of discussion throughout your site by putting them on separate pages. This will help your customer quickly find the information he or she requires.
Your front page should be simple and inviting. People looking around will decide right away if they wish to use your site just by how your homepage looks. Be descriptive, but try to do so in just a few words.
Do keyword research. Though your primary focus is on supplying proper content and information to your customers, you need to build a customer base. You need to understand the proper keywords that will attract visitors to your website.
Free software is great to start with when you’re getting into web page design. Investing in powerful software packages like Photoshop is only worth it if you think they’ll pay off in the end. Just perform a simple search and you’re sure to find some wonderful tools.
Search Engines
Content is the most important aspect of your site. The design of your website is important, and the content is too. Visitors are more like to return to a website that offers useful, pertinent information.
If you want your site to reach search engines, ditch frames. While they improve your site’s looks, any information contained in a frame is not indexed by search engines. If your important content isn’t visible by search engines, you won’t achieve a high ranking. When that happens, not many people will see your site.
Make sure you are prioritizing your user’s needs. As a web designer, it is your job to always keep your attention tuned to the needs of your user. Think about how a user will find information and navigate your site. These are important considerations to make. You need to look through the eyes of the visitors when you make a website.
Build websites with fonts that are easy-to-read, professional-looking, and widely available. The quality of a professional website is measured by it’s fonts. Comic Sans and fancier fonts may not be available on a lot of your users’ computers, so don’t use them. A font can be subset to the default font on your user’s computer if they don’t have it. Try to use common browser fonts so your users don’t see unexpected type layouts.
Meta Tags
Meta tags used on each page of your site, can increase visitors to your site. This is an important design consideration. Your site can show various search engines exactly what your site is all about when you have meta tags. If you use meta tags that do not correspond to your content or to your target audience, do not expect to get a lot of visitors.
One thing you want to think twice about is a website counter located on your page, as they have more negatives than positives. Take it off of your site if you want to look contemporary. Find another way to track your traffic.
This article has given you an idea of what goes into designing a website. Use this new knowledge to become a real pro.