Web
Design Checklist for the New Year
Use this Web Site
Checklist to Get Your Website in Top Condition for
the New Year!
As you start a new year,
don't forget to take a second glance at your web
page design and your Web business as a whole. The
new year often means new beginnings - even on the
Web!
Depending on what type of
online business you have, you may or may not need
to change products or methods of selling. Is your
business related to the ever-changing market of
technology? Or, is it a business that remains
steady no matter what the technical world does?
Consider these questions and others as you follow
the New Year web design checklist below, and get
your website in top shape for the New
Year!
1. Clean HTML Codes
One thing that will make your
web design life alot easier is to go through the
HTML code of your web pages and "clean up" the HTML
codes. Perhaps there are functions you don't use
any longer, but the code is still embedded in your
web pages.
Or, maybe there are features
you added to your web pages that don't seem to
bring results. This is the perfect time to clean up
those codes and get your web pages organized from
the inside out!
*NOTE: There are
programs available today for HTML Cleanup and
Validation such as HtmlCodeCleanup.com that can
help you find errors in your HTML quickly and
easily.
2. Re-read your Website Presentations
Now's the perfect time to go
through and re-read your website presentations.
Make sure the reading is pleasant, short and to the
point. If you have a long-winded sales
presentation, break it up into short, 3- to
5-sentence paragraphs so it doesn't seem
overwhelming to the reader. Don't be afraid to
leave some white space in your pages.
Remember, website surfers are
usually in a hurry. They want it "yesterday" so
make your products easy to access by offering a
"Jump Here to Order Now" link in several places
throughout your presentation.
3. Renew Expired Offers
Throughout the year, you've
probably offered many "special offers" for various
occasions. Check your web pages to be sure there is
no wasted space with expired offers.
But wait - don't delete these
pages! Simply change them to a similar valid offer.
You might be surprised at the search engine traffic
these pages might be receiving!
4. Check for Broken Links
and Graphics
I don't know how many times
I've went through my own website and found broken
links and graphics that I didn't realize were
there. And, I'm supposed to be teaching web design,
right??? This usually happens when I get in a hurry
and design lots of new web pages at once. I might
fail to go back and check the pages for
errors.
It's a good idea to go
through and check all of your web pages at a
different computer than your own. Why? Because your
browser has a memory "cache" that keeps your web
page images and files so that broken graphics might
show on your computer even though they're not
actually working on your website for other viewers.
Also, be sure all your links are working properly
so your site visitors can navigate
easily.
5. Examine Web Page Layout
While you're checking for
broken links and graphics, examine your web page
layout as well. It's important that the web design
flows naturally. Here are some web design tips to
help with layout:
a. Place your web logo at the
very top middle or left-hand top corner of your web
pages.
b. Avoid placing links on
your main selling pages that go to another website.
If you must have an outside link, use "Java" link
code to open the link in another Web browser. This
way visitors don't have to actually leave your
website altogether to visit another.
See this page for instructions:
Open
a Web Page in a New Window
c. Avoid too many large
graphics. They will slow your web page loading time
- especially for those visitors who still use
"dial-up" to access the web.
d. Make sure your navigation
links are included in the same area on every web
page to keep a uniform design throughout. Visitors
expect your site to be easy to navigate.
6. Create Excitement
Once you make changes to your
web pages, email your clients and let them know of
the changes you've made. This gives you a reason to
contact them, and gives them a reason to visit your
website once again!
Use this New Year web site
checklist to get your website in shape for the new
year. With the right website design, you can enjoy
online success throughout the year!
*Print
this Web Design Checklist to Check Off Your Steps
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