Simple Elegance . Elegant Simplicity
A List Of Basic Web Site Design Facts
There is no "magic" involved in a good web site, nor is there a need to spend a great deal of money. Certain basic principals, and good common sense, are the guides. Then, add patience; the hits will come, the traffic will increase, but it will take time.
Consider the following points to avoid wasting valuable time and money when developing your site:A good Web Host. I choose the server for my clients' sites carefully; a poor host can mean down-time. A web site that is unavailable online will lose surfers and searchers, so a stable, dependable host is essential. A cheap host is no bargain if it fails, so I research the user-reviews and monitor the behavior of the hosts I use, and make a change if the level of service degrades.A good site design. Clean, rich, eye-catching color and an easy-to-use design will win the eyes. My slogan is Simple Elegance, Elegant Simplicity - it works for my clients! A confusing background makes it difficult to read content, and colors that are too brash can be off-putting. I also suggest fewer clickable links: one tidy page, replacing many linked pages, is more efficient - something that appeals to the busy viewer these days. For the same reason, I do not recommend flash introductions, which take time to load and play, especially on a dial-up connection. Carefully chosen photos and images are very appealing as well.Good code. This means META Tags on the Main page, invisible to the viewer, which are the coded words that allow search engines to find you! Code is what makes a web site work. Writing, improving, tweaking and maintaining proper code is the "tech stuff" behind every good web site. Without these, you are the Lost Tribe - your site scarcely exists. META Tags are important, as are other optimization methods, which will increase your rankings and visibility. You are competing with countless other sites and need tools to improve your odds.Good maintenance. This means that changes to your menus, your calendars, your inventory, and your data are done promptly. That is one of my specialties. I try to deliver service quickly to my clients. Out of date sites are discouraging to prospective clients. I also include a modification date on each site, which tells viewers that the information on the site is current.
Quality links, traded with appropriate sites. I believe in being selective about your traded links - bad company reflects badly on your site - and on you.
Reasonable charges. My fee for building or redesigning a site includes one year of total maintenance...all changes and updates are included. Thereafter, I charge an hourly fee or a flat rate, whichever will be more cost-effective for my clients. I try to maintain very reasonable prices - I support small businesses - like mine.
Linda Worthington
Owner, Low-Tech Web Designs.
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Low-Tech Web Designs
P.O. Box #1020 . Cascade, MD 21719-1020 . USA
Phone: 301.241.4040 . Mobile: 301.471.1834