Introduction
WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS
MARKETING IDEAS (ATTRACTING VISITORS)
KEEPING VISITORS
Users will not wait. You have about 10-seconds to catch and keep a visitor. Your home page should load quickly. Ensure this by keeping graphic files small (optimize all graphics with "Gif Wizard" at http://www.gifwizard.com), backgrounds simple and by using height and width tags with every graphic. The height/width tags will force the text to load first giving the user something to read while the graphics load. It is also a good idea to use ALT tags with the graphic tag so that the graphic is identified to the user while it loads.
There are many different browsers in use. Ensure your home page is friendly to all of them. Do this by keeping your page simple and if you are using frames, tables, image maps and other enhancements, ensure you have an alternate page available for browsers that cannot display the
enhancements. For example, we use frames so we provide a "non-frame" gateway for those users with older non-frame friendly browsers.
The user should be immediately presented with a description of your site ... what it's for and what's in it. Also, make it easy for the user to navigate your site. For example, make certain there is always an obvious way to return to the home page from anywhere within your site.
These html tags are used to define the name and content of you site. Proper use of META tags will ensure that some important (large) search engines can find and properly index your site. Also ensure each webpage is property "titled" within the header tags. Learn about meta statements at http://www.metatag.webpromot....
Ensure that visitors will return to your site by constantly updating its content. This cannot be stressed enough - a static site will not grow.
Make it easy for a visitor to e-mail you comments.
Dr. Robert Sullivan
www.isquare.comBrought to you by: World Wide Information Outlet - http://certificate.net/wwio/, your source of FREEWare Content online.
This article is an excerpt from "The Small Business Start-Up Guide" by Robert Sullivan, which is available in many libraries and bookstores or may be purchased from the publisher, Information International, Box 579, Great Falls, VA 22066, at $16.95 plus $3.50s/h. 800 375 8439. Visit "The Small Business Advisor" at http://www.isquare.com