Fine Tuning Your Website
Checking your website
You've organized your files, created the directories and uploaded your web pages. Once your site is online, the first thing you should do is go through each page as a visitor would, checking to make sure all the graphics are displaying and the links work. Every page on your website should have descriptive names rather than just page 1, page 2, etc. If you have a page of links, name that file ''links.html''; if you have a FAQ page, it should be named ''faq.html'', etc.
It is imperative that you check and double check the spelling and grammar on all your web pages. Web users have less tolerance for misspellings than any other consumer and tend to base their opinion of your whole site on that one typing error. Believe me, even when you are careful, it's easy to overlook some of the most obvious errors.
Note: It is a good idea to get in the habit of using lowercase letters to name files, graphics, directories, etc. Again, some web hosts require you to use all lowercase. More important however, is that it will help prevent errors in coding. If everything is lowercase, you will not make the error of not capitalizing the name of a directory or graphic.
Loading times
Take note of how long it takes your pages to load; if it is over 30 - 45 seconds, you need to remove or shrink the size of some of your graphics. Optimize your graphics for the smallest file size that will still maintain a clear image. This is accomplished with the use of a graphics program such as Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. Use flashy technology (Javascript, Flash, Streaming Audio/Video, animation) sparingly and only if it is important to your presentation.
Navigation
Now look at the navigation system...is it easy to find and to understand? Will it take visitors where they expect to go? Does every page have a Back, Next and Home link? Be sure to check your navigation. Have a friend or colleague proof read your web pages. Get their opinion on whether your site is easy to navigate and easy to read.
Overall design
You should also Iook at the overall design of the site. Will visitors know what type of website this is? Are the pages consistent so that your visitors will always know they are still on your site and where to find the navigation links? Do your message board, order form, survey and e-mail links all function properly? Have a friend look at your site now that it is online and listen to their comments.
View your web pages in both Internet Explorer and Netscape and at different resolutions and browser font sizes. Check it in every possible way you can; whether there is enough white space or objects are too crowded; and whether the graphics relate to the content.
Be sure to use directories to organize the different components of your website. If you are going to design/create more than one website, have a separate directory folder for each site. Within each website directory folder, create a directory for each section of your website and within those folders, separate directories for graphics, photos and/or other subsections such as message boards.
Gene DeFazzio is the author and webmaster of the Rocketface(R) Workshop. http://www.rocketface.com/
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