The first impression of a website is often determined by its visual appeal. As a visually inclined individual, I often find myself incorporating a plethora of images into the website I co-manage with my friend, Mary. However, I recently came across two articles that highlighted the fact that many users disable graphics while browsing. This revelation made me reconsider my approach to website design, emphasizing the importance of optimizing the site for all users, regardless of their internet speed or device.
If a user can't view an image, it's crucial to provide a description of what they're missing. This can be achieved by adding an 'alt' attribute to your image tag, such as alt="Stuffed Quetl Bird, circa 1917". This code can be inserted as follows:
<img src="quetl.gif" alt="Stuffed Quetl Bird, circa 1917" border="0" align="right">
If you're not comfortable with HTML, refer to the help files for your HTML editor to learn how to insert this code.
Without visible links, users will struggle to navigate your site, and search engines won't be able to detect titles or phrases within images. While you don't need to eliminate your stylish buttons, it's advisable to include text links at the bottom of the page. This not only aids navigation but also helps users orient themselves on your site.
Large, high-calorie graphics can significantly slow down page loading times, which can be frustrating for users, particularly those who pay for internet access by the hour.
Web design experts often recommend keeping page sizes under 100k for efficient loading. Ulead Smartsaver is a useful tool for reducing image sizes without compromising quality. You can download a copy of SmartSaver 3.0 from ZDNet. For more information on optimizing your site's bandwidth usage, visit the Bandwidth Conservation Society.
When it comes to color, sticking to the 216 known web-safe colors can yield the best results. You can learn more about this at the Smart Color Picker.
If you're showcasing products on your site, consider using thumbnail images that link to larger versions of the photos. This allows users to choose whether they want to view the larger image, rather than being surprised by a large, bandwidth-consuming picture.
If you have a logo or a top bar, use it consistently across all pages. This can speed up loading times as the user's device only needs to download the image once.
In conclusion, it's time for me to take my own advice and apply these principles to my website. The goal is to create a visually appealing, user-friendly, and efficient website that caters to all users, regardless of their browsing preferences or internet speed.
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