Believe you have a thriving website? You might, but there's a good chance it could use some fine-tuning. Here are some straightforward tips to keep in mind when striving to create a user-friendly, valuable website.
Most websites fall into two categories: informative but lacking a user-friendly and attractive interface, or visually appealing but devoid of useful content. While I can't provide a one-size-fits-all solution for creating a website that's both visually stunning and informative (as that would result in a sea of identical websites), I can offer some advice. First, steer clear of single-page websites and the default black-on-white, cluttered look. Inject your own creativity into the design. Ask yourself, as a user, would you find your site visually appealing? However, before considering aesthetics, you should determine what information you'll include. Ideally, it should be a topic you're knowledgeable about and have a valid reason for creating the site. If you can achieve this, you're on your way to creating a successful website!
Your visitors may appreciate the information you provide, but will they stick around for more than a few minutes or return for future visits? This is where interactive elements like forms, Java, DirectX, Dynamic-HTML, and Flash come into play. If you're familiar with any of these, there are effective ways to incorporate them into your site. Just remember to avoid overuse. Consider adding search forms, a discussion board, a membership sign-up page, or a contact page. It's crucial to provide users with ways to interact with your site in a meaningful way.
In today's digital landscape, it's virtually impossible to have a successful website without some form of graphics. They're a necessity. If your site lacks graphics, it's akin to reverting to Telnet. Title graphics, colorful bullets, explanatory images, buttons, etc., can all enhance your site's appearance, and they're surprisingly easy to add. Not adept at creating your own graphics? No worries! There are countless individuals who enjoy creating graphics and will do so for your site free of charge. You can find them in chat rooms or even ask me—I'd be happy to help!
While this may not be a significant concern for text-only or low-graphics sites, if you want to attract visitors, your servers need to be reliable. Even if your site is more visually appealing and informative than your competitors', if your servers are frequently down or slow, you'll lose business to your competitors. Reliable servers are easy to find and sometimes even free if you know where to look. If you can afford it, it's almost always better to pay for hosting. Paid services typically offer faster, more reliable service, an easier-to-remember URL, and no ads on your site. Free services are improving, but you'll have to tolerate some form of advertising on your pages.
Many people create a website and then sit back, expecting the hits to roll in. Unfortunately, with potentially millions of other sites covering the same topics, this is unlikely to happen. The solution is simple yet complex: GET NOTICED. Submit your site to search engines, advertise as much as possible, use word-of-mouth, promote your site locally at school, work, or even at the bar. Just make sure people know about your site! Unless your site is truly exceptional, you can't rely solely on visitors' friends to increase your traffic.
This guide assumes you're familiar with the basics of web design, such as basic HTML and adding graphics. If not, or if you'd like to learn more advanced techniques, consider checking out tutorials from reputable sources like Webmonkey or PC Show and Tell. They can provide invaluable assistance.
