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Want to build a web page? Before you contact a web designer,
you should make a list of what should and shouldn't be in your web page.
These are some examples of sites we
have designed and/or are currently hosting.
When I come to a website's homepage, I want to immediately know that I belong there. I don't want to have to wonder what it is that this company does, what products it sells, and what the site is all about.
Keep the following questions in mind when you design or redesign your site.
- What is it that we do?
- Who exactly are we targeting? Who are we trying to attract?
- How are prospective clients going to find out about our website?
- What do we want to offer visitors once they get there?
- What is it that makes us better than or different from our competition?
- Have they a reason to return to our site in the future?
- What are our company goals?
- Do we collect information from them so that we can communicate with them on an ongoing basis?
Content is what drives success on the Internet. It is the meat of what you have to offer (fancy design and creative graphics are the dessert). To attract your target audience and keep them coming back, you've got to deliver information-- the right information-- in a timely and organized manner. If you have lots of fancy graphics and no content, you've probably wasted your time and money (and your customers time.)
How many times have you clicked on a link and a blank page appears with a
message at the bottom that says "Downloading, 39 items
remaining"? Time to go get a cup of coffee or cancel the link and
go somewhere else.
Here are some of our thoughts:
- Home page should fit mostly on one screen. Should describe what the site is for, what is
here and how to get there.
- Other pages should be no more than two or three screens long when possible.
- Minimal graphics (pages should load quickly using 28.8 modems)
Try to avoid using so many images that the page takes a
"large" amount of time to download. Remember that many users
are accessing the internet over telephone lines with modems.
- Graphics used should be less than 15K, no more that 4 graphics per page, all graphics
must have <alt> tags. Larger graphic should be through links that tell the user what
it is and how big. (no surprise slow load pages) In general, less graphics is
better.
- Plain (white or light color) background or simple design that doesn't distract too
much from the text. Don’t load a graphic for the background unless the same
graphic is used throughout the site.
- Pages should be designed for 600x480 (but look good on larger formats)
and should print on standard 8.5" paper.
- Text should not extend from the far left to the far right, lines too long (or too short)
are hard to read.
- Use single pane pages. No split screens or frames with multiple scroll bars.
If you use frames, people won't be able to bookmark pages within your
site. A sidebar margin is ok.
- If possible, don’t use nonstandard HTML or plug-ins.
- Any links should be clear as to where they are going (before you select it)
- Each web page should have a descriptive title. If a user adds the
current page to their list of hotlinks (bookmarks), then a descriptive
title is needed to remind the user as to what the page contains.
- Site Navigation on every page (at least a link back to the home page)
- Don’t leave old info on the site. Time sensitive content should be easy to update
with out rebuilding the site. Adding new info should also be easy to
add. (If you have info that may be of interest for a long time,
try not to move it around in your site. If someone has bookmarked it, they may not be able to find it if you've moved it.)
- The viewer of the page should be provided with a method for feedback.
One way of doing this is to provide a feedback email address. A
form that doesn't require email is helpful for those without email or
browsing from a machine other than their own.
- Market your web page so potential visitors
know you're there.
We provide development, maintenance and hosting support to an active
customer base. These are some of the sites we're currently hosting.
How to Market your web page.
Back to Website Pricing
information or contact us if your ready to get
started on your web site.
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