1. Using Frames
Frames have been around since the early days
of HTML. They allow you to load individual pages into different
sections of your browser window. In theory, sounds good
enough. However in reality, there are serious drawback to
using them. Printing is usually a problem since the browser
has to ask you what do you want to print, individual frame
contents or the whole frame set as it is displayed. Another
noteworthy problem is that search engines tend to have trouble
indexing them. And when you are trying to reach your target
audience through the search engines, you don't want
anything to get in the way.
2. Not Using Tables
Tables are your friend. Keep saying it. They
are a fantastic HTML resource for laying out your individual
web pages. If you find a site with everything centered in
the middle of each page, they are not using tables. Tables,
as in other software packages, help you place items with
precision (like headings, navigation bars, and footers).
The settings for each column, row and cell are all somewhat
involved, but it is in your best interest to learn them.
Software like Macromedia Dreamweaver™ can make the
process easier.
3. Forgetting About The Search Engines
What good is a web site if people can't find
it? Ninety percent of the time, your target audience is
using Google or a similar search engine to locate web sites.
So make sure your site has gobs of useful content on your
subject matter and a rock-solid navigation scheme (see
#6 above) . If you can get other web sites to link to
your site (not link farms) then that helps too. Lastly,
include the phrases your target audience is likely to enter
in the search engines within the text of your site.
These tips are part of what's called Search Engine Optimization
(or SEO). It is critical to a web site successfully reaching
its target audience.
4. Using Animated Gifs
Just
like Flash, these are those little graphics you see that
move or change over and over. A spinning envelope is one
example used for a link to someone's email. Or a flashing
hot-pink arrow to help you find, oh, God knows what. They
are a dead giveaway that the site was built by an amateur.
Steer clear of them. It's about the content after all.
5. Thinking Flash Is "Where It's
At"
Those flying, spinning, cool animations you
see on the web are usually Flash. Flash is a technology
developed by Macromedia, Inc. In its place, it can add an
interesting accent to your site. But some folks overdo it,
especially with the "splash screens" that visitors
see when they first get to a web site. Think of it this
way, people come to your web site with a purpose, and it
is rarely to see stuff blink and swirl. They come for content.
Recently there has been less fuss over Flash. Unless there
is a real reason to include it, focus on your content.
6. No Consistent Navigation Scheme
It is important to allow your audience to
move around within your site easily. The best way to assure
this is to have a set of navigation links in the same location
on every web page. Having to search through a page to figure
out how to navigate is a quick way to wave goodbye to your
audience. The best places to anchor your navigation bar
is along the top left or along the top of your of your pages.
A large percentage of web sites out there use these two
positions. Why? Because they work. Also consider a set of
text-only links at the bottom of each page. The more ways
you can help your visitors navigate, the better.
7. Clicking On A Link Brings Up A
New Window
There's a setting in HTML that allows a new
browser window to open when you click on a link. This can
be a good thing if the link is to a web site outside the
scope of your site (for example, a link on a car dealership
that goes to a transmission repair company). If it is overdone,
however, it can be a real annoyance as well as confusing
to your viewers. If you have ever tripped across a site
that keeps opening windows as you try to close them, you
know what I am talking about. So use this technique with
discretion. It is rarely ever needed.
8. Turning Your Text Into Graphics
 |
This is plain
text. Notice how you can swipe and copy it if you wish. |
Do not make your text into graphics. That is, don't use
software like Photoshop or Paint to turn your text into
GIF or JPEG's. The problems it causes are twofold. One,
graphics take longer to download than straight text, and
two, when the search engines index your web site, they can't
scan your images to read the text. This can really hurt
when it comes to your search engine rankings. How can a
search engine understand what your page is about if it can't
read your text? The short answer... it can't.
9. Big Does Not Mean Better When It
Comes To Text
Your body text should stay on the small side.
Not tiny small, mind you. Most professional sites have smaller
body text, around 10 points. This allows for more content
per page and it just looks more professional. For headings
and subheads, you can have more fun with sizes. But also
keep in mind that using more than two font types on your
site will work against a sense of consistency. Arial, Verdana,
Times Roman, and Geneva are widely viewed (no pun intended)
as easy to read on web pages.
10. Using Too Much Color
When it comes to adding color to a web site,
it's easy to go overboard. You may have always liked dark
brown, but on a web page, it has to be added carefully.
Generally, pastel colors work best for backgrounds. These
kind of colors (along with the old standby, white) are the
best choices. Why? Text has good contrast against them.
As for the colors of graphics and so forth on top
of your background, it is important to realize that certain
colors go well together while others do not. A helpful approach
is to surf the web to see how professional sites use colors.
Then it's a matter of trial and error as you learn how colors
can help the effectiveness of your web site and your message.
