Is it possible to create a well-designed, effective website without templates or software programs? This solely depends on if you are willing to take the time to learn and gain actual knowledge, rather than relying on programs to do your job for you. You could go about things the lazy way and hire a third party to do the design. However, if you are willing to spend some time and effort, you can build an awesome site on your own.
Try to keep current with information related to webdesign. Internet forums are a great place to visit for this information. A Google search should reveal a wealth of good sites that can help.
This isn’t the 90’s, so avoid frames. Frames worked well in the earlier days, but there are too many flaws in the design. Designs on frames can make it hard for people to get your site bookmarked and they won’t like scrolling either. A number of better ways exist that make it easy for users to navigate your site.
Broken Links
It is very important that you double-check your website for broken links before you publish the pages. Error pages only cause visitor frustration. Either use a program to check for broken links or check each link manually.
Be aware of the background you choose. Backgrounds that include animations or intricate patterns often make it very difficult to read important text content. Your audience will have a more pleasurable browsing experience if your background is conducive to reading your text.
Pop-ups should be given a wide swerve. There is little worse than visiting a site and being attacked by pop-up ads or newsletter sign-up boxes. This often causes people to leave a site, meaning they never take the time to get to know your product. You can avoid losing customers and visitors, by simply refusing to allow pop-up ads on your website. If your host forces pop-ups on you, it may be time to find a new one.
Utilize newsletters if you want repeat visitors. Let your customers sign up for important events and updates so that they return to your site. Stick the sign-up form in a spot that’s out of the way, such as in a sidebar, and keep good records of those who sign up. Make sure to only deliver the newsletter to people who have requested it!
Have a simple front page. People surfing the web will quickly decide if they are going to delve into a website based on the front page. Provide a good description of your business and its function. Minimize other information. This will reduce distractions.
Add a link where your visitors can send you feedback. That will allow you to fix any problems that you may not otherwise notice. Letting your visitors get involved helps to ensure they will come to your site again.
Look for, and remove, broken links regularly. Complete your error check before uploading your site and going live. This is important, as visitors who click on your links expecting useful information, only to find a 404 page, will leave your site in disgust. To maintain your site integrity, test it every time you make a change.
Resist the urge to use pop-ups ads on your site. Although it is important to include PPC ads on your site to help generate income, ads that pop-up can be very distracting and cause your visitors to quickly leave. It will cause people not to want to come back. Use simple ads and skip the wild and intrusive pop-ups.
Double-check content on your website to avoid having your content look and feel rushed. It should be easy for people to read. Errors in written content not only cause a site to look unprofessional, but it also slows down readers and causes them to lose interest.
You need to get familiar with HTML5. HTML5 will help to improve your chances of success.
Target Audience
When designing the site, ask or poll people in your specific target audience what they’d like in a website. This provides you better focus with site design and a better understanding of what features to include. Taking the advice of your target audience is crucial if you want your design to be successful.
Allow “site searching” on all of your pages. By doing this you will help to increase your site’s usability, and allows easy access to any information that a visitor might wish to see. This search option is surprisingly easy to add, and will greatly improve navigation throughout your site.
Avoid the use of CAPTCHAs whenever you can. CAPTCHA are a complicated method of proving a person is human, not a spam bot. However, humans can dislike these immensely when browsing a site. Except for devoted members, most people will likely leave your site and look elsewhere.
Designing a website is easier than most things in life. You don’t need a formal education, and you aren’t making any life or death decisions. If you put the advice you’ve read to use, you can be on the road to designing an amazing website in no time.