Ok, I don't claim to be an expert but here goes nothing. Remember
those book reports that you used to do in school? Remember the outlines
you used to have to create? Well, that is exactly how you start designing
your web pages, just like an outline of a book. Or better yet, think
of it as a Generation Report! You have the oldest ancestor (The Main
Page), then you have his children (your sections or other main topic pages),
then you have their children. Ok, you get the picture.
Ok, now some basic tips to think about. Not everyone can afford
the newer high tech computers. Many, including myself (I am running
an old Pentium 100mhz computer with a 28.8 modem and 48 mb ram) still
have the old 14 inch monitors that does not support the real high resolutions
(mine does go up there but I would have to place a magnifying glass in front
to read it). And not everyone is running the newer version of everything,
like Internet Explorer or Netscape or Windows 98 and 2000 ( I am still running
Windows 95a). A lot of older computers have trouble with frames, applets,
java scripts (ok these are some pretty high tech web stuff). Main thing
is, simple and slightly plain is better by far for all. You sure want
that elderly cousin that knows about your family, to find
you.
Frames are another high tech thing that, believe it or not, I will
state that I do not like. They cut down on viewing space and you are
forever scrolling back and forth to read the text. Or you try to print,
and you have forgotten to make sure you have clicked in the right frame and
you print junk you don't want. But enough of my opinions, these are to be
your pages and you are the creator and designer, so you choose what you want
(I will still come visit <G>).
Graphics are another thing to watch for (I know I get carried away
too). Large graphics take a long time to load on older computers. On
mine, I have waited for 3 minutes to load pages, and with some I just move
on. Use the same graphics over if you can, and if not, then try to
keep them small so they will load faster. Keep your graphics and background
compatible. Pages that have a wild background (like this one) need really
not to have alot of graphics. They just need some bars or line dividers,
or maybe a banner at the top of the page. Do try to keep them in a theme
of sorts. A dancing alligator and a basket of roses are a bit much
<G>.
Make your pages easy to navigate in. If you have something that you
really want someone to see, then put a link on the main page. Keep information
or items together, like the Chapter outlines. You don't want to put pictures
of your trip to Florida on the same page as your Great Grandparent's Wedding
picture, that is, unless they were there too.
Title your page well, after all, this is what some of the search
engines look for. In other words, don't just say "Ancestors of Debbie".
Be specific, say your surnames or the Descendants of a particular ancestor.
Place this same Title as the Heading of your Homepage.
Keep an update somewhere on your page so people know you do come
back.
Make sure all links are correct. You don't want to be like me, and
have alot of typo's and broken links. You will have to check your links often
cause in this fast paced life people move their web pages more than they
change their socks.
Make sure your page is "G" rated. If you want an X rated site,
create another one.
Keep things of interest on your pages so people will want to come
back and visit. Make sure all the things on your site belongs to you.
If you include information that cousin Bob worked years on, then please
give cousin Bob credit for his time and money. Don't take full credit for
someone else's work. This makes more enemies in families than anything,
and then they have the tendency not to share.
Do tell a bit about yourself, but don't tell to much, after all you
are still living. This brings up another thing. If you place your genealogy
pages online, please use one of the cleaners and remove all information about
living individuals from your pages to protect their privacy. There
is nothing more shaky than to visit a family page of a distant cousin to
find your SS#, home address, including street and house color, full birthdate,
and even the date of your last surgery, online for all to
see.
Do list contact information, such as email, and if you have a mailing
address with a post office box, then you might list that,
too.
As you get more familiar with building web pages you might want to
add counters, guestbooks, and a few other goodies on your page, but they
need not be there to get your first page up.
Ok, now you do not have to be a computer guru to build a web page.
I have built pages from scratch, this means all HTML code, but now I, too,
cheat and use a Web Builder program. Hey, what can I say, it's easier and
faster. There are some of these builders available on the Web Building
Goodies Page and the one I use the most is AOL Press. No, it doesn't have
alot of bells and whistles, but it does what I want.
When you are all through, then submit your site to a search engine
or two.
Send your web address to me and I will post it on our
site.
I taught Web Building Classes and you will find some of my students
links below. Check them out and let them know how they done. Sign their
guestbooks, if available, if not drop them an email.
If you have any questions, just email me and I will try to answer,
but remember, no promises <G>.