My Web Page Design Center
So, you've been thinking of designing your own website? You're going to need some help!! I'm very new to this myself but have learned a lot so far. The more I learn and find out, the more this page will be updated. If there's anything you have a question about, let me know and I'll post it.
Get a host site - You'll need someone to host your site and publish the pages you make on the internet. You may have noticed, my site is hosted by Tripod, which I've found to be a very user-friendly host. Plus it's FREE! But there are many sites out there allow you to build a free site all your own.
Learn to make a page - Whether it be on your host site's own page-building program or separate page publishing software, learn the ins-and-out's of the program. I use MS FrontPage 98, which is a wonderful program. The new version, FP 2000, has recently come out as well.
Knowing HTML - What is HTML? It stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the language webpages are written in. You can right click on this or any webpage screen and View Source to see what a page of HTML looks like. It is not necessary to know HTML to make a webpage. But knowledge is power and you never know when it will come in handy. Even though I use FrontPage to make my pages, I still have to go in and add HTML for special additions.
Get elements for your page - Surely you don't plan on having a page without pictures, animated graphics, sounds, different backgrounds or other elements that make a webpage fun to visit? (And don't call me Surely!
Decide what you want your site to be - Your site is all your own, you can have anything on it you want. Think of it as your canvas; be artistic about it. I suggest browsing other builder's homepages and seeing what they have done. Take notes on what you liked and didn't like. Most of all, be original and have fun!
Just a few tips.....
o: The more entertaining your site is, the more likely a visitor will become a repeat visitor. Make it fun and interesting!
o: When uploading your pages and web elements to your host, keep all the files for that one page in one directory. Storing your page file, animated gif files, sound files, picture files, etc. in the same directory keeps your files much easier to locate as well as keeping your host site's appearance much neater.
o: When looking for web elements on the internet, if you find one you like, download it. Even though you might not want to use it on the page you are working on, you may want it on another. Remember, the more web elements you add, the more time it will take for your page to download.
o: Use Alt tags for visitors using an image-free browser as well as having mouse-over text on your image. Also, specify the size of your pictures and gifs; your page will load faster.
o: Try and keep it simple. Go with the 'Less is More' theory. Worry about content more than form.
o: Use fonts that clash with your background. There's nothing worse than not being able to read someone's text. Can you read any of this?? Not easy, is it?
o: Try not to make your pages to long. If someone has to scroll and scroll, they might get tired and go elsewhere. Make separate pages and link them together.
o: Make your site easy to get around. Be sure and put links back to your homepage as well as Back or Next links were needed. A 'bookmark' at the bottom of every page to the top is always handy.
o: Surf your site in different browsers.
o: Save often. Hours of lost work really sucks!
o: You can add
a subject to the email people send you from your website. When using the mailto: tag,
include '?=subject' at the end of your email address.
Example: <a href="mailto:
joeblow@notmail.com?subject=anything"> MAIL ME</a>
Have a question you want answered? Mail me
Ready to get started? I've included some links that have helped me out on my journey, feel free to use them as well.