Instead of outsourcing your web design duties to some company out there, you can instead learn the exact same skills and become the person that other people seek to help them build websites. It really is one of the easiest web skills to learn, even though it seems like one of the most complicated on its face. F
ollow these tips to see just how simple it all is.
If you plan on having a commercial site, you should seriously consider buying your own web hosting. Most free host sites force you to display their advertisements, which is counter-intuitive if you are attempting to sell something as well. Purchase your own hosting to avoid this advertising hassle, so that you can choose your own ads.
Do not use blinking, scrolling text or other animations. Also, steer clear of sounds or music that plays automatically. All of these things are distracting to users and provide nothing of value. In addition, connection speeds vary from one site visitor to the next, and everyone does not have the same speed. Those users with slower connections will resent the slow-loading elements of your site.
Keep user interface tools consistent and user friendly. Keep all underlined text clickable and allow for a change of color of links already clicked. If your site is user friendly and consistent throughout all the pages, people will be more likely to remain on your site for longer periods, as well as visit your site more than once.
Try using fixed-position navigation to let your users navigate with ease. This technique involves locking a site's navigation panel in place as the visitor scrolls down the page. This is not only convenient for the visitor, but can also be useful for internet marketers, is this makes it easier for visitors to take some desired action (e.g. buy a product, sign up for a newsletter).
If you find yourself stuck in the design process, remember that you have the entire Internet at your disposal to look for examples. There are literally millions of websites that you can browse to find the inspiration that you need. Find a website that you like, identify what makes that website appealing, and determine if it is an idea that you can borrow and improve upon. Keep in mind that in order for your website to be truly successful, it is not enough to simply borrow ideas. You must also improve upon them.
Be sure your website works both with and without the "www" prefix. Some people will type this in before they head to your site as a force of habit, and some may not. You should make sure that customers will be directed to your site either way, or you may have some confused people on your hands.
Because of the coding involved with site design, there is a misconception that designing is very difficult. As you can tell from these tips, though, there's really nothing to it. Just follow and apply the information as you read it and you should have no trouble at all designing a site that will impress anyone.
