Embed Doc
Copy Link
Readcast
Collections

CommentGo Back

Download

HOW NOT TO MAKE MISTAKES ON YOUR FIRST WEBSITE PROJECT

Tips for building a successful website andalso the things to make sure your webdesigner is doing to max. Your chances ofgetting the word out!

STEP1It does not matter if you're designing a web site yourself or paying a designer toput it together some points are common to all projects. The basic - page design(colour, logo, fonts/ text format etc.) are important as it is a visual media. Peopleor website visitors can make their mind up to read on and go further into the sitefrom how the site looks, first impressions are important. However, when startingan online enterprise it is important to get the balance right, a web site is like ashop front it will need 'sprucing' up from time to time, like the shop window itsdisplay will require changing every so often - re-development of a site willhappen over time so spending a fortune on graphics on your first site is notadvisable. Make sure they are good and don't skimp on the budget or time spenton how it looks. To quantify the importance of looks / graphics on your first web site I would sayits 25% of the total significance figure, but obviously if you are paying a webdesigner - the quality of graphics should be higher.STEP2When you are gathering the information for your web pages, whatever it isproduct information - spec's, prices, service details, company details it is all'content'.Always make the content relevant and good / easy to read for human web sitevisitors. Not only will it be a better read and more informative, the searchengines won't think you’re trying to trick them by repeating keywords over and

over again. Keep it as simple as you can don't fill the web page up with massesof information that is hard to digest. It is easier for a viewer to take on the detailsin bite sized chunks, so put the outline info. on the page and make a secondarypage with further info. such as the specifications for example to break up a lot of detailed text. The page viewer can simply click on a link to second page forfurther detailed info. etc. if they require it. Remember that the web site visitorsee's what fits on their browser screen when the web site/ page loads up. Peopledo 'scroll' down the page but not always - so if it is important to get across yourpoint make sure it is contained in the top of the page! While I'm mentioning'scrolling' - Never make site visitors have to side scroll your web page to see theinformation on the page.Scrolling up and down is fine and most sites require it, but side scrolling isannoying to a visitor and can make people click off your web site, so in webdesign terms it’s a big no no!!Good, well written informative content is another 25% of the total significancefigure when putting together a web site.STEP3When deciding on the content, its layout and how to divide it up, edit it forrelevance - think long and hard about how the web site functions and how easy itis to navigate. User experience is key in today’s packed web environment - If avisitor arrives at your home page and can't easily see what the sites about within5 seconds - you've lost. Also if they can't easily see the link to move to the nextpage they need then the design or layout is poor. Make sure your menu's areclear - concise and that they can get to every main service / product or categorypage on the site within 3 clicks.For example: When a viewer arrives at the page containing the product theywant, they should be able to make a purchase within a further 3 / 4 clicks - if youover complicate the matter you will surely lose the customer.Remember they found your site on a search engine results page (hopefully!) so if they tire of your sites hard to follow or unclear format they can just go back andpick another site from the list. So many customers do this, and it can be shownthat they are doing this through some analytical codes that can be placed in theback end of your web site. 'Its called a bounce rate' and a high bounce ratemeans a high no. of site viewers leave from the page they entered the site on,without going further in.If you’re doing a DIY job on the web design or paying a professional make sure tohave Google analytics put on your web pages. A great free tool that is like havingyour own marketing department for your web site and company. It can tell youloads about your web site its visitors and how they view your site. How peopleare finding the site, % coming from search engines and from other means, givingyou real-time information that can be brought up over a day, week, month, year