The Best Tips for Web Design

Content rules. The most important thing to remember about popular web sites is that they are always rich in content and are updated daily.
Stick to what you know. Don't try to be all things to all people. Keep your goal in mind. Creating a web site can be challenging but it can be fun. The temptation to put as many bells and whistles as you can on a page is almost overwhelming. But unless your site is involved with bells and whistles, don't do it! A good site to check for sites that follow this simple rule is Top Site
First impressions count! Think about the message you are sending to your customer. The first page of your web site should be a concise description of the website. Don't make this page too busy - entice visitors to dig deeper into your site through the use of inviting text and interesting graphics. If you are serious about your business, buy your own domain name and don't use a "free" hosting service.
Care About Your Design. Your primary concern should be the site's overall design. The consistency of design of a site is one of the factors that differentiates amateur sites from professional ones.
Make Navigation A Key Ingredient. Your customer should be able to easily navigate to any page in your web from any page in your page. It's important to link in a consistent, well thought out manner that users can learn to navigate. Have clear links to your pages and, if are selling a product, make it easy for people to buy it! Show your business name, address, phone number and E-mail address on each an every page.
View your site through the eyes of a stranger. Once you have completed you site outline, view it in other browsers. Does it look like you wanted it to look? Is it buggy or is it just the way you invisioned. A good idea is a review site that can pinpoint flaws etc. that can help you out.
Don't forget to tell the world about your new site. Make sure that your URL is on all your company business cards, letter heads, brochures, phone systems, etc. Swap links with other related web sites and consider banner advertising. and make sure you list your site with the major search engines!
Keep your site current. Come up with a reason for people to visit and revisit your pages and recommend them to their friends. This could be a series of articles giving tips, a daily cartoon, or other attention catching event. If you run a good site, you can offer a contest. That works for return visits!
Survey says... Ask users about your site. Create a survey and give a reward for responding. Ask friends to check out the site, then grill them on what they thought about it. This can be valuable input on what improvements are needed. Often, users can be thrown by things a designer might never see as a problem. Don't ever stop looking for ways to improve your website.

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