Tips on How to Make Your Own Website

There are some simple ideas to follow when you are deciding how to make your own website.

First, it is not a good idea to use flash, blinking, dancing or anything  "showy."  It can be annoying to many, and may drive your visitors away.

Simple is Good

Use a simple design.  You want people to read what you have to say, not get caught up in being "awestruck" by the design of your website.  Make it easy for them to stay focused on the main objective of your site.

Use easy to read text.  Do not use big words in an effort to impress as most internet readers have an average vocabulary.  Keep your text clear and easy to understand.

Use average font size when writing your pages, as people may skip over things that are too small or too big.  Keep your font size consistent throughout your pages, only varying to highlight headlines and sub-headlines, or other items you want to stand out.

Don't Overdo the Graphics

Use graphics to show your products, or to highlight features of your products, but try not to overuse them.  When people look at a site loaded with graphics, they are likely to click away.

Navigation

When deciding how to make your own website, make your pages easily accessible to readers through clear navigation.  The standard is to put your navigation down the left side of the page or across the top.  This is where people are used to looking for it, so stay with what is commonly used, or you will confuse some visitors.  In addition, use a text based menu instead of a graphic based one, as it will give you better results with the search engines.

HTML?  Oh no....

If you do not know html or other coding languages, don't worry.  You can use a program like Dreamweaver or Microsoft Expression (the new version of Front Page) to build your website.

Shopping Cart

If you sell anything, you will need a shopping cart.  You can use paypal (free) or  WAHMCart , which offers multiple resources for your business.

Colors

When choosing colors, pick a pleasant color scheme, with colors that compliment each other.  If you need some help,  you can try a color scheme program like www.colorschemer.com/online.html  (free).

Have fun with your design, but remember to follow these simple ideas to encourage visitors to stick around and to make it easy for them to act on what you would like them to do.