Most people don’t have the skill, time, or money to build a custom chopper or car. But all of use can build a custom website. It all begins with grasping the basics of web design and what a website really is. From there, you can research more complex topics. If you are ready to learn more about designing websites, read on.
Be sure you have a search tool that lets others search when on your site. If someone is looking for something on your site, they want to search for a box to help them search. If there isn’t one, visitors will probably leave your site rather quickly. Always place the box at the top right of the page, as this is the first place visitors tend to look for one.
Avoid creating user interface (UI) controls that mislead your visitors. These controls include elements, widgets and more that create an interactive experience, such as a link, drop-down list or button. You do not want to make visitors think that clicking on an underlined word or phrase for example, will lead to a new page if it is not actually linked to something else. When your visitors have expectations of something working a certain way and it does not, they are more likely to assume there is something wrong with your site and leave.
Ensure that you save personal information that the user might need to enter again into your site. Make it easy on your visitors by keeping information that they may need for other forms or orders. This kind of “sticky” information saves your users time and effort, and they will likely appreciate the streamlining this kind of good design provides.
Refrain from the overuse of Javascript. While it is useful in delivering a more interactive experience, it can create problems for various 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, consider that JavaScript isn’t regularly enabled in everyone’s browser. If they aren’t using either or these options, then they will not be able to view your site.
Try the common “newsletter” technique to keep your readers reminded of your services. When a customer can get frequently updated on things, they will keep visiting to see more. Track the number of visitors who sign up, and position the sign-up form in your site’s sidebar. Avoid trouble by only sending the newsletter to people who have signed up for it.
Keep the sizes of your files and images small. Excessive loading times are a death knell for any site. The larger the files are that must load, the longer a user’s load time is going to be. Most users will click away if the page doesn’t start to load within the first few seconds of opening your page.
After reading these tips, you can instantly start practicing by signing up with a free web host or some type of demo service. Playing around will help you learn the basics. Once you get your feet wet, you can begin to create more dazzling websites that everyone will enjoy. Use these tips to find your success.
