How about some tips regarding web design? This is something that you probably will always be able to use for a very long time. You owe it to yourself to take a few minutes and read this article in order to get the best advice on web design in order to improve yourself.
When you are working on your web design, use the proper graphics needed for the task. Do not use bitmap for your images as they take up too much space. Use a GIF instead if the image contains over 256 colors and PNG for test buttons and screen shots. For photos, you can use JPEG images.
Avoid using so-called "mystery meat navigation". This involves using unlabeled images or other elements for the site's navigation. In many cases, the visitor has to mouse over the buttons to even see what they do. Navigation is best kept simple. Use text links across the top or along the left side of the page.
Include a search element that allows visitors to search within your website content. For people who look for specific things, they'll look for a search box first. If your site is not equipped with one, visitors may go to an alternate site. Always place the box at the top right of the page, as this is the first place visitors tend to look for one.
Use images wisely. Bitmap images do not tend to fare well for internet use, and some GIFs do not work well with lots of color. Image size is important as well, as larger images may make your viewers have to wait for them to download. Choose smaller images, and use them sparingly to make your site more manageable.
Try to make sure that any music or pictures that you're linking to is hosted on your own web server. Do not hotlink to any other website images. This can be construed as bandwidth theft and it could put you in violation of a copyright too. It's not worth the risk.
Be sure you're using ALT tags for the images while you design a website. ALT tags are used to provide a description of the images on your site, which will help any visually impaired visitors. When links are used for images, having an ALT tag lets you describe the link's behavior. Finally, search engine crawlers like ALT tags as they are useful. So, your search rank might improve as a result.
If the site you are designing is large, make sure to include a search option. The best place to put your search box is on the top of your homepage. Shoot for the upper right corner. Users often expect to see a search box in this area and may want to search your site for the information they are looking for. You can find search functions to use for your site on sites like Google.
Be sure the websites you're designing are cross-browser compatible. You must check your site in the most popular versions of every top browser. Some examples include Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari, Mozilla Firefox and Opera. Many users use these browsers for surfing online, so you need to be sure your designs are being seen correctly on whatever they use.
Always proofread any information you put up on your website. People should be able to read through the content quickly and easily. A site with errors is not very professional and it will make people want to stay away from your site.
When designing a website, you want to keep the privacy of your customer's information in mind. Set up proper encryption for submitting data, and never store customer passwords and such in a text document. Make sure you set up your website properly so that your customers know that visiting and interacting with your site is safe.
Be sure there are no broken links on your website. Do this often, and especially before uploading any of it to the server. A visitor who comes across a broken link will question how dated all of the content on your site might be. Therefore, you want to double-check that everything is working as it should so you can avoid this from happening.
Everyone wants to generate as much traffic as they can to their site as possible. Once you have all of your content up on your site, then you want to try your best to invest into a good search engine optimization tool that can help your site go up in rank amongst its competitors on search engines.
Once your site is published online, you don't get to stop working on it's design! Always update your site and remain active to maximize your results. You won't need to update it constantly, but regular updates are a must. That is particularly the case if you host videos or deal with current events. Luckily, keeping website current isn't as overwhelming as tending to a blog. There is a lot of work involved.
Focusing on your target audience is important even for website design. For instance, if you're designing a site in order to sell winter coats, you're not exactly going to have a beach themed background with Joe Strummer tunes playing upon entry. Keep your site closely related to its targeted audience.
You should just pick up the main points of web design read more here since you cannot become a professional in a single night. First learn some basic techniques and then apply them. Before you know it, you will see your design ideas manifested. Reflect back on the information you've read if you run into problems.