How to Start a Web Design Website

Want to have great content? Here are some general tips for your newly-created website.

1. Don't steal.

Stealing includes (but is not limited to): copying someone's layout, copying someone's graphics style, using someone's css, using someone's exact color scheme, taking the source code from a music preview and giving it away on your site, copying someone's tutorials, redistributing fonts you didn't make, using celebrity images, and saving someone's graphics to your own host and claiming them as yours.

2. Be original.

A little originality can go a long way. For example, say that someone is walking along (even though you can't really walk on the internet..) and they've been to 40 sites already, looking for one with original graphics. All they've seen so far are graphics that look like everyone's been copying from everyone and the site layouts are all the same three-column style. If, on the 41st website (which is yours), has an original layout, they will probably think, hmm.. if this site has an original layout, it probably has original graphics too. Then they'll look around your site and maybe even favorite it and come back daily. If your site has a common-looking layout, they will probably X out and never come back.

3. Avoid writing long instructions.

If you want a single line of text for instructions, that's fine, but what isn't good (and won't be read) is two fat paragraphs of demanding instructions. If someone comes to your website on a daily basis, they will probably eventually read it, but if you want something to be read right away, make it short and simple. (this doesn't include tutorials or articles, though; be as wordy as you want for those).

4. Don't excessively use chat speak or have poor spelling.

If writing has good spelling and isn't full of abbreviations, it is much easier to read and can be scanned easier. For example, which do you think is easier to read?

WeLCoM 2 my sit. its kewl n we hv ToNs ov grephics n junk
Welcome to my site! It's cool and we have tons of graphics and stuff.

5. Don't have 'dead' links or pages with no content.

Dead links are links that go to error pages, and pages with no content are pages that sometimes have nothing but the site layout and other times have an 'Under Construction' sign. Both are bad, and the way to prevent this is 1. Go through all your site links at least once a week and 2. Don't link to a page until you are finished with it.

6. Have fast-loading pages.

Many times, I've clicked on a link to a website I've never been at before and if it takes more than three seconds to load, I'll open a new window and go to some fast-loading website while I wait. If after about ten seconds, if the other site hasn't loaded yet, I'll X out of it. If your pages are really fast, people will get to go to more of your site. If it's slow, they can't just click around like a maniac until they find something they like. And clicking like a maniac is something everyone wants to be able to do.

7. Your color scheme should not burn your visitors' eyes out.

Any color like hot pink, lime green, or cyan blue is a color that equates to eye burning. Also, colors like the standard red and blue, when used in massive amounts, can burn your eyes. Muted or subdued versions of any color are fine, though.

8. Keep a consistent layout.

If you have five bajillion layouts for one site, people are going to get confused and think they're at a new website. If you still want to add some change on every page, you can have a top banner with a character or photo in the corner that varies for each page. The banner is the same, but the character can change. If you really want to have different layouts for your main site and graphics or whatever, you should only have 1-3 layouts total.

9. Navigation is better left conventional

Even though I said that you should be original, the navigation should not be. If you have some new navigation that your visitor has never seen before, they might not be able to figure it out and then they'll just leave your site. Your links should be on the left or top, but you can get away with having it on the right, or if you have a small frame or blog layout, the bottom. You have to decide if you want to have buttons or links that link to a page full of more links or if you're going to display all of your links at one time.

10. Splash pages are unnecessary

Splash pages (the page that has an enter button) are usually more annoying than helpful. If you are going to display all of your affiliates, referring sites, fan listings, AND you plan on changing your layout a lot (and you aren't using something like php includes that makes changing the layout a lot easier) a splash page would be helpful. But if you aren't, then before you decide to make a splash page, remember that it's just one more link for the visitor to click. A splash page doesn't really give any useful content.