When you create a new website or if you are looking for a revamping your original site then it is must for you to create a web page which gives easy navigation and also looks good with the eye soothing composition. In short what you need is a good web page design.
How you would measure the qualities of good web page design is also a necessary aspect. Many different thought schools are there which gives different ideology for that as it varies as per the business type. The corporate look gives good effect for finance and accounting sites. Dramatic look with artistic look will serve the purpose if your site works with artwork. The sites which designer's product or links with any designer products need designer touch in its appearance. Homely look with comfort works best for the interior designing site. When you think of your site at that time think on a way that it is some shop and you are designing a website like a window display which attracts the consumers to come to your shop and to shop more. The site should be attractive in a way that it should encourage them more to visit your site.
Website design speaks a lot about your business and your products like if you visit a stock brokers office you never expect frilly curtains and kind of dreamy artistic look. Same applies to the website also. Decorated gift shops give nice feeling and gives you urge to shop more. Thus, it is a signature step that you should design your website and web pages which goes well with your business type. The first impression creates a lasting impression in both the aspects negative and positive.
When you make a new web page design try to experiment with that but do not make it very much different or else you will end up confusing your visitors.
The basic page layout contains the right and left margins where you can put the different search tabs like newsletters, free offers and other search boxes. As per the typical layout all these tabs appear on the left hand side while ads appear on the right hand side margin. The top quarter of the website is for the photo or banner advertisement. To run banner advertisement is the latest trend. On the few websites those banner advertisements are on the right hand side also. Few banner advertisements of discount sale which consumes large space on the home page gives a strange look to the visitors and they thinks in a manner that you have diverted from your business. Your company logo with a nice photo on the left margin gives a nice appeal to the visitors.
You can also add flash displays to make it more attractive. Search boxes will also make it user friendly. Always make your site Google friendly it will give more searches on the Google and you will end up having more visitors.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
The Best Software For Creating a Website
Most people don't realize that they already own an acceptable piece of website design software. If you have Microsoft Office Word you can create a document and save it as a web page which can then be uploaded to your hosting site. Of course this is probably not the best alternative, but if you are familiar with Word, you may want to explore the possibilities here first.
Free options abound online and you can locate them with a simple search for "free web design software" but then what. How do you choose which software is right for your needs? You don't want something that is complicated with a high learning curve. You just want to make a quick website to promote yourself or your business. But you want it to look professional.
There are many options but two of my favorite are "PersonalWebKit" and "Kompozer".
PersonalWebKit is a FREE software program that is one of the easiest to use, especially if you plan on developing an image heavy site. Complete with a few included templates this program allows you to add or remove pages with a few clicks of your mouse and it will auto-link all your pages for you. Just a few clicks allows you to customize or change your design, import, edit, and add effects to your photos, Including those you load from your digital camera. You can type and edit text as easily as in a word processor, import videos and sound files as well as office documents and when you are satisfied with your site you can publish, or upload it with a single click. The down side is that the Free version only allows you to build one website. After the initial site you must purchase the full version in order to continue to use it.
"Kompozer " is a FREE full featured website development software with all the bells and whistles of many of the higher priced programs such as Dreamweaver. You have all the options of importing images or text, formatting, editing, and design control in a 'what you see is what you get' (WYSIWYG) interface as well as the option to hand code using html or java. You can view the source file of your WYSIWYG page and even insert special coding as with opt in forms or affiliate links. There are no limitations on the software and it is FREE to use without any advertising or invasive links appearing on your published pages.
I have probably used 15 or 20 different versions of web design software over the years. From early versions of "Frontpage" and "Dreamweaver" to "Cold Fusion", Flash, Adobe and even online software like "Homestead". I even made a site in AOL once using their software. Currently I believe "KOMPOZER" is one of the best of the paid or Free options around. So, now that I am suddenly feeling really old, take it from this old hat and give it a try.
Designing a website doesn't have to be difficult and with the introduction of great software and now FREE great software like Kompozer, there is no excuse not to have your own website. You can see a sample page made using Kompozer
Free options abound online and you can locate them with a simple search for "free web design software" but then what. How do you choose which software is right for your needs? You don't want something that is complicated with a high learning curve. You just want to make a quick website to promote yourself or your business. But you want it to look professional.
There are many options but two of my favorite are "PersonalWebKit" and "Kompozer".
PersonalWebKit is a FREE software program that is one of the easiest to use, especially if you plan on developing an image heavy site. Complete with a few included templates this program allows you to add or remove pages with a few clicks of your mouse and it will auto-link all your pages for you. Just a few clicks allows you to customize or change your design, import, edit, and add effects to your photos, Including those you load from your digital camera. You can type and edit text as easily as in a word processor, import videos and sound files as well as office documents and when you are satisfied with your site you can publish, or upload it with a single click. The down side is that the Free version only allows you to build one website. After the initial site you must purchase the full version in order to continue to use it.
"Kompozer " is a FREE full featured website development software with all the bells and whistles of many of the higher priced programs such as Dreamweaver. You have all the options of importing images or text, formatting, editing, and design control in a 'what you see is what you get' (WYSIWYG) interface as well as the option to hand code using html or java. You can view the source file of your WYSIWYG page and even insert special coding as with opt in forms or affiliate links. There are no limitations on the software and it is FREE to use without any advertising or invasive links appearing on your published pages.
I have probably used 15 or 20 different versions of web design software over the years. From early versions of "Frontpage" and "Dreamweaver" to "Cold Fusion", Flash, Adobe and even online software like "Homestead". I even made a site in AOL once using their software. Currently I believe "KOMPOZER" is one of the best of the paid or Free options around. So, now that I am suddenly feeling really old, take it from this old hat and give it a try.
Designing a website doesn't have to be difficult and with the introduction of great software and now FREE great software like Kompozer, there is no excuse not to have your own website. You can see a sample page made using Kompozer
Sample Website Plan
A sample website plan doesn't have to be elaborate to get the job done. It can be as simple as the list below. If you don't know exactly what your website is going to be about you will need to:
1. Brainstorm.
Come up with an idea that suits your taste. Many website builders fail because they don't plan before hand. When you find the idea you want to do, research it by typing the subject in a search engine. Also try Amazon.com to see how many books have been written on the subject. See how various authors outline their books to get some ideas.
2. Decide on the type of website you want.
The type of website you want should come easy if you know what your subject is. Did you write a book that you want to sell from your website? You could setup your website and review books similar to yours. Your review could point out the unique things your book offers that the others don't.
3. Search for a domain name with your keywords in it.
Buy a domain name that has your main keywords in it to help search engines know the clear intentions of your website and help your site get found easier. You will be surprised to see what names are still available.
4. Decide on hosting for your website
Choose a web hosting company that will offer you free e-mail with the service. I like Go Daddy because of the service. They're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. My websites rarely go down and when they do, they're back up and running in no time
5. Decide on the way you want to build your website.
Are you technical enough to build your website from scratch? You really don't have to be to get a website up and running. I recommend using Word Press if you don't have the technical skills. It's free and easy.
6. Decide on the look of your website.
Do you want it to look fun and cheery or dark and grungy? Word Press gives you a ton of open source templates to choose from.
7. Map out the Navigation buttons of your website
Sketch out where you want to place links on your website. Always think of the user and what their experience will be like when they land on your website. Make it easy for them.
8. Research the keywords of your website
Finding and using the right keywords for your website will be one of the most important factors as you build it. When looking for keywords, don't go for the popular keywords everyone is fighting for. Sneak through the back door with low competition keywords. It makes SEO a lot easier.
9. Discover the unique point of view of your website.
Add a little of who you are so your visitors will get to know and like you. Your unique point of view will come from your personality and what you know.
10. Start building your website
As mentioned before, if you don't have technical skills, use Word Press to learn. If you are really serious and need a professional website, check out 99Designs.com. They have amazing artists standing by waiting to compete and win your services.
That's the short and sweet way to make a sample plan for a website. You can always enhance these steps by adding a website story board but these steps should be enough to get you started.
1. Brainstorm.
Come up with an idea that suits your taste. Many website builders fail because they don't plan before hand. When you find the idea you want to do, research it by typing the subject in a search engine. Also try Amazon.com to see how many books have been written on the subject. See how various authors outline their books to get some ideas.
2. Decide on the type of website you want.
The type of website you want should come easy if you know what your subject is. Did you write a book that you want to sell from your website? You could setup your website and review books similar to yours. Your review could point out the unique things your book offers that the others don't.
3. Search for a domain name with your keywords in it.
Buy a domain name that has your main keywords in it to help search engines know the clear intentions of your website and help your site get found easier. You will be surprised to see what names are still available.
4. Decide on hosting for your website
Choose a web hosting company that will offer you free e-mail with the service. I like Go Daddy because of the service. They're open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. My websites rarely go down and when they do, they're back up and running in no time
5. Decide on the way you want to build your website.
Are you technical enough to build your website from scratch? You really don't have to be to get a website up and running. I recommend using Word Press if you don't have the technical skills. It's free and easy.
6. Decide on the look of your website.
Do you want it to look fun and cheery or dark and grungy? Word Press gives you a ton of open source templates to choose from.
7. Map out the Navigation buttons of your website
Sketch out where you want to place links on your website. Always think of the user and what their experience will be like when they land on your website. Make it easy for them.
8. Research the keywords of your website
Finding and using the right keywords for your website will be one of the most important factors as you build it. When looking for keywords, don't go for the popular keywords everyone is fighting for. Sneak through the back door with low competition keywords. It makes SEO a lot easier.
9. Discover the unique point of view of your website.
Add a little of who you are so your visitors will get to know and like you. Your unique point of view will come from your personality and what you know.
10. Start building your website
As mentioned before, if you don't have technical skills, use Word Press to learn. If you are really serious and need a professional website, check out 99Designs.com. They have amazing artists standing by waiting to compete and win your services.
That's the short and sweet way to make a sample plan for a website. You can always enhance these steps by adding a website story board but these steps should be enough to get you started.
Things to Do Before Re-Designing Your Website!
Re-designing your website can be a good idea if it has looked the same for years. It can also be an excellent way to reach new markets and attract new customers. We have listed the key factors to consider before starting the process of modernizing your site that will help you increase your chances of getting more leads, increase conversation and overall revenue.
Don't skip the strategy.
Strategy is the foundation and holds all of the pieces of the puzzle together. Ask yourself; What do you want to achieve with the website? What do you want the user to do when visiting the site? No matter if the website is for a company, product, or service, a solid strategy must be implemented prior to design. When outsourcing the website project to an agency, having a deep understanding of the business structure and ability to differentiate the business' value is essential. By uncovering how the primary objective of both your business relates to the new website, the designers will be able to visually translate the business' mission, vision and philosophy.
Something Old, Something New.
Research the latest technology and the potential challenges and obstacles of selecting specific programs and platforms. For example, part of your team may be intrigued by a Flash website. However, what they may not know is that most mobile devices do not support Flash, making your site not easily viewable from anything other than a computer. Luckily, there are alternative solutions that are functional, visually pleasing, and that don't involve loosing any potential new customers.
Check out the current state of your website.
What pages are getting most visits and how long are visitors staying? Do most users leave your homepage after 3 seconds? How can you change this? This is all important information that will be a decisive factor for the success of the website and the business. Look at the analytics of your site. Setting up certain accounts will aid you in tracking analytics, stats and set future goals for the website.
Content audit.
If the site has not been updated recently, there will most likely be some outdated and irrelevant content. See if there are better ways to present your content like video, sliders, and/or in pdf format. Analytics will be beneficial here to understand the user and how you can reach them more effectively.
Make sure you're asking yourself and your employees the right questions so that your site ends up serving your best interests and contributes to the growth of your company.
Don't skip the strategy.
Strategy is the foundation and holds all of the pieces of the puzzle together. Ask yourself; What do you want to achieve with the website? What do you want the user to do when visiting the site? No matter if the website is for a company, product, or service, a solid strategy must be implemented prior to design. When outsourcing the website project to an agency, having a deep understanding of the business structure and ability to differentiate the business' value is essential. By uncovering how the primary objective of both your business relates to the new website, the designers will be able to visually translate the business' mission, vision and philosophy.
Something Old, Something New.
Research the latest technology and the potential challenges and obstacles of selecting specific programs and platforms. For example, part of your team may be intrigued by a Flash website. However, what they may not know is that most mobile devices do not support Flash, making your site not easily viewable from anything other than a computer. Luckily, there are alternative solutions that are functional, visually pleasing, and that don't involve loosing any potential new customers.
Check out the current state of your website.
What pages are getting most visits and how long are visitors staying? Do most users leave your homepage after 3 seconds? How can you change this? This is all important information that will be a decisive factor for the success of the website and the business. Look at the analytics of your site. Setting up certain accounts will aid you in tracking analytics, stats and set future goals for the website.
Content audit.
If the site has not been updated recently, there will most likely be some outdated and irrelevant content. See if there are better ways to present your content like video, sliders, and/or in pdf format. Analytics will be beneficial here to understand the user and how you can reach them more effectively.
Make sure you're asking yourself and your employees the right questions so that your site ends up serving your best interests and contributes to the growth of your company.
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