11) Try to keep the number of clicks required to get from your main page to any other page on your site down to four. Keep in mind, your visitors may enter your site from pages other than your main. Always have good navigational links on every page and place your company logo on each page.
12) If you must use Java on your site, use it sparingly. Offer your visitors a choice. Java verses No Java. Java can be slow and has a tendency to crash browsers. Try to avoid using those pop up boxes asking for your visitor's name, etc. Those pop up messages are very unprofessional and can be very frustrating to your visitors when they're trying to view your site.
13) Do not set sound to "autoplay" when someone visits your site. This can be very distracting.
14) All web browsers are not created equally. View your site through different browsers and screen resolutions so you will see how your visitors will view your site. Visit:
- Site Inspector - Check your web pages for HTML validity and browser compatibility.
- http://www.siteinspector.com/
- NetMechanic - Provides a variety of free services for your web site including; browser compatibility testing, graphic file size reduction, link check, HTML check, load time check, spell check and more.
- http://www.netmechanic.com/
15) Continually add new content to your site. Give your visitors a reason to keep coming back.
* Design a quality e-book to give to your visitors. It's not as difficult as it sounds. If you can create a web page, you can create an e-book. The focus of your e-book should compliment your web site. Simply write about your passion. If your passion is sales, then you could share some of your knowledge and experience by designing your e-book to provide a complete sales training guide. If your passion is home based business, you could write an e-book about how to start your own home based business. If you're writing about your true passion then you shouldn't have any trouble coming up with something to write about. For further information on e-books, read the article entitled, "How to Create an E-book and Drive Massive Traffic to Your Site by Giving It Away."
- http://www.web-source.net/ebook_creation.htm
If you'd rather not write your own e-book, here's a list of sites where you can pick up some free e-books to add to your site.
- Web-Source.net
http://www.web-source.net
- Book Locker
http://www.booklocker.com/
- LD Publishing
http://www.ldpublishing.com
* Provide your visitors with quality, informative articles. Everybody loves free information. It's the top-selling product online, so use it to your advantage. Write your own articles or you can pick some up at the following sites:
- Article Announce - Writer & Publisher Exchange
http://www.web-source.net/article-announce.htm
Subscribe: mailto:article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com
- Marketing & Advertising Supersite
http://www.drnunley.com/
- BizWeb2000
http://www.bizweb2000.com/articles.htm
- Success Doctor
http://www.success-doctor.com/archive.htm
Before using any articles, make sure you view the author's copyrights and make certain the article may be published. If you're not sure, contact the author and request permission to publish their article whether it be on your web site or in your e-zine. Most articles for publication can be used free of charge as long as the authors credits or resource box is included.
The best advice I can offer is to Keep It Simple. The simple, well-designed, professional looking web sites make the sales.
Always strive to learn. Knowledge is the key to success.
About the Author
Shelley Lowery is the Webmistress of Web Source - Your Guide to Professional Website Design and Development. Join The Syndicator, our new, free article syndication program and display complete articles w/photographs on your website that are automatically updated each week.
http://www.web-source.net
