WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS: HTML, JAVASCRIPT

WEBSITE DESIGN TIPS: HTML, JAVASCRIPT

CODES, TIPS, TRICKS AND TECHNIQUES - 13

Web Source Web Design Tips

by Shelley Lowery

Java Anyone?

When designing a new website, you'll probably be tempted

to use all of the fancy techniques to create special

effects, however, try not to go overboard. With each effect

you add to your website, it will take that much more time

for your website to load.

Select your scripts carefully. Most browsers now support

JavaScript, so using this type of script will probably be

your best choice. Keep in mind, JavaScript and Java are

two totally different languages and are not in any way

connected.

If you must use Java on your site, use it sparingly. Java

can be slow and has a tendency to crash browsers. It can

also add a lot of time to your websites load time.

Scripts to Avoid When Designing a Professional Site:

- Pop up boxes asking for your visitor's name

- disabling the browsers back button

- continuous alert messages

- scrolling messages in the status bar

- large scrolling text

- fancy cursors

- cursor trailers

- automatic transfers on mouseovers

This list represents only a small portion of the types

of scripts you should avoid. These scripts are not only

very irritating, but they're a big waste of your visitors

time. If you want your visitors to return, use scripts

that will compliment your website.

Tip provided by: Web Source: Your Guide to Professional

Web Design and Development. http://www.web-source.net

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Web Source Web Design Tips

by Shelley Lowery

Make Sure Your Website Looks Great to Everyone

When designing a website, your first consideration should

be browser compatibility. Your website may look great

when viewed with Internet Explorer, but when viewed

through Netscape Navigator, everything may not be formatted

properly.

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.

A good way to see how your website will look through

both browsers, is to download and install a copy of both

Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

Netscape - http://www.netscape.com/download/

Microsoft - http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp?

Visit the following websites to view your website through

different browsers and screen resolutions:

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/

Make sure you view your first web page in different

browsers and screen resolutions. Once you get it looking

great for everyone, you can use it as a template for the

rest of your website. This technique can save you a great

deal of time.

Tip provided by: Web Source: Your Guide to Professional

Web Design and Development. http://www.web-source.net

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Web Source Web Design Tips

by Shelley Lowery

Selecting A Quality Web Host

When selecting a professional web host your first

consideration should be the company. Check out their

background. Talk to some of their customers and ask

them if they've been satisfied with their service.

- How many customers do they serve?

- What is their uptime percentage?

- Do they require you to make payments in advance?

- Do they charge set up fees?

- How is their customer support? Test them.

- Do they offer fast connections?

- Do they offer shopping cart software to process your orders?

- Can you upgrade free of charge?

Web hosting prices vary greatly. When selecting your

host, make sure you're getting exactly what you're

paying for. Keep in mind, a lower monthly rate will

not benefit you if your site is down a lot, slow, or

customer service is poor.

-> Basic Criteria for selecting a host <-

Selecting a professional web host is a very important

decision. Make sure you do your homework and insure

the host you select offers exactly what you need.

- Your own domain name (www.yourname.com)

- Your own True POP email account - name@yourdomain.com

- Fast, low overhead, Multi-T3 access

- Your own unrestricted cgi-bin

- Access to SSL Encryption for secure transactions

- Java, C, C++, Tcl support

- Autoresponders

- htaccess Password Protection for your files

- At least 1 GIGABYTE (1024 MB) of Daily Transfer

- Design (and upload to) your site using Netscape or other HTML

editing software

- Microsoft Frontpage (98) Server Extensions for those utilizing

Frontpage

- Unlimited free access to your server via Telnet/FTP

- Online invoices, account tracking, and payment history to enable

you to check your account balance, monthly invoices, past payments,

etc.

- Complete daily server backup

- Easy access to your log files

- Statistics on visits to your site

Free web hosts are great for hosting a personal web site,

but not recommended for a business site. If you're really

serious about your business and want to establish your

Internet presence, I highly recommend Virtualis. Their

tech support is the best I've seen.

http://www.virtualis.com/vr/slowery

Tip provided by: Web Source: Your Guide to Professional

Web Design and Development. http://www.web-source.net

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Web Source Web Design Tips

by Shelley Lowery

Registering Your Domain Name as a Trademark

If you have a registered domain name that doesn't infringe

upon any trademarks, you may be able to register a trademark.

Registering a domain name as a trademark isn't easy, but it

can be done. Although you can't register the http://www.or

the .com, if the use of your name fits the laws criteria,

it can be registered. You should consult with an attorney

familiar with the Internet, trademarks and the laws prior

to registering your domain name as a trademark.

For a complete explanation, visit:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/tac/notices/guide299.htm

As stated by the United States Patent and Trademark Office,

http://www.uspto.gov/ "A mark composed of a domain name is

registrable as a trademark or service mark only if it

functions as a source identifier. The mark as depicted on

the specimens must be presented in a manner that will be

perceived by potential purchasers as indicating source and

not as merely an informational indication of the domain

name address used to access a web site." In other words,

the use of a domain name must not be used simply as an

address to direct customers to your web site, but must be

used to identify the products or services of the business

claiming the trademark, which provides products or services

via the Internet.

If you're in the market for a domain name, you may want to

consider searching the Trademark Electronic Search System,

http://tess.uspto.gov/bin/gate.exe?f=login&p_lang=english&p_d=trmk

prior to registering a domain name. By researching the

trademark regulations and knowing your rights, whether you

hold a trademark or a domain name, you may be able to avoid

the possibility of litigation.

Tip provided by: Web Source: Your Guide to Professional

Web Design and Development. http://www.web-source.net

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Web Source Web Design Tips

by Shelley Lowery

Ditch Those Banner Ads

If you're designing an ecommerce website, instead of

displaying banners ads, write a review.

On your main page, display a short intriguing paragraph

with a link to your full review.

Write your review like an outline of the product. Pack

it with all the benefits the product has to offer and

provide your personal endorsement. Keep in mind, you

don't want it to sound like a sales letter.

The last line of the review should lead your visitor

to the affiliate website.

Once you've gained your potential customers trust, your

personal recommendation will carry a lot of weight. Keep

in mind, you should only recommend a product that you

have actually reviewed and truly believe in. Never

recommend a product without putting it to the test, as

your professional reputation is on the line.

Tip provided by: Web Source: Your Guide to Professional

Web Design and Development. http://www.web-source.net

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