A successful Web site doesn’t just happen by accident. To create a Web site people will want to visit over and over again, keep the following time-tested guidelines in mind.
1. Offer something useful on ever page
Too many websites are filled with fluff-pages that don’t have any useful content. Avoid creating pages that are just steps along the way to truly useful informations. Instead, strive to include something useful on every page of your web site.
2. Check the competition.
Find out what other Web sites similar to yours have to offer. Don’t create a “me too” Web sites similar to yours have to offers nothing but information that is already available elsewhere. Instead, strive for unique information that can be found only on your website.
3. Make it look good.
No matter how good the information at your web site is, people will stay away if your site looks as if you spent nomore than five minutes on design and layout. Yes, substance is more important than style. But an ugly website turns people away whereas an attractive Web site draws people in.
4. Proof it carefully.
If every third word in your Web site is misspelled, people will assume that the information on your Web site is unreliable as your spelling. If your HMTL editor has a spell-check feature, use it. Otherwise, proof your work carefully before post it to the Web.
5. Provide links to the other sites.
Some of the best pages on the Internet are links to other Web sites that have information about a particular topic. In fact, many of the pages I have bookmarked for my own use are pages of links to topics as diverse as hobby electronics, softball and backpacking. The time you spend creating a directory of links to other sites with information similar or complementary to your own will be spent.
6. Keep it current.
Internet users will not frequent your site if it contains old, out-of-date information. Make sure you that you frequently update your Web pages with current information. Obviously, some Web pages need to be changed more than others. For example, if you maintain a Web page that lists the team standing for soccer league, you have to update the page after every game. On the other hand, a page that features medieval verse romances doesn’t need to be updated very often, unless someone discovers a previously unpublished Chaucer hidden in a trunk.
7. Don’t tie it to a certain browser.
Exploiting the cool new features of the latest and greatest Web browser, whether it’s Microsoft Internet Explorer or Safari, is a good idea. But don’t do so at the expence of users who may be using the other browser, or at the expense of users who are still working with an earlier version. Some people are still using browsers that don’t even support frames and other css tags. Make sure that any pages in which you incorporate advanced features of the newer browsers work well with older browser as well as testing your pages in as many diffirent browsers as possible.
8. Don’t make hardware assumptions.
Remember that not everyone has a 21-inch monitor and a high-speed DSL connections to the Internet. design your Web site so that it can be used by the poor sap who is stuck with a 14-inch monitor and -gasp- a 28.8kbps modem connection to the internet.
9. Publicize it.
Few people will stumble across your Web site by accident. If you want people to visit your Web site, you have to publicize it. make sure that your site is listed in the majoy search engine such as GOOGLE. Also you can promote your siteby puting your anchor text and links on template sponsorship, advertisements, link exchange, business card, offline advertisements and so on.
Thank you and God bless.
2 Responses to “9 Elements of a succesful website”
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February 15th, 2008 at 5:18 am
I need some help if you could. I downloaded your wonderful EnchantedCreations template for Wordpress and it’s a little buggy. I was wondering if you have an updated version. You can view my page at: http://barnettwebsites.com/wp02/ when you try to make a comment you will see the title tag. I fixed it on the Index page but was unable to figure out how to fix it anywhere else. Thanks for your time.
It’s a beautiful design and I found it on http://www.fresheezy.com/
February 15th, 2008 at 5:36 am
Sorry, I guess I should of posted the code that I changed.. on the index page it read: <a href=”" rel=”bookmark” title=”Permanent Link to “>
I changed it to read: <a href=”" rel=”bookmark” title=”">