Creating the Page

There are basically three ways to create code for your site:

1. Text Editor with HTML extensions
2. WYSIWYG Editor
3. Have Someone Do It For You

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Text Editor with HTML Extension:

This option is the best of both editing worlds -- you can easily see how HTML works, which facilitates learning, and you don't have to know very much HTML to get started creating your pages -- most editors have basic HTML "templates" for creating your first pages.

Pick a text editor that is extensible -- you won't have to buy a new editor every 6 months to get the "latest and greatest" extensions to the HTML to your pages.

WYSIWYG:

You don't need to learn HTML if you go this route -- but eventually you'll want to if only to fine tune your pages to get the "look and feel" you want.

Don't forget that a WYSIWYG editor requires constant updates to keep up with changes in the HTML standard -- if you use a WYSIWYG editor keep a text editor on hand to add the "latest and greatest" extensions to the HTML to your pages manually.

Have Someone Do It For You:

See my "Web Taming" page for the full spectrum of Web Site Design and Creation Services I offer.

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Web Site Strategy & Design

The World Wide Web is Exploding as a Communications Medium.  Not only is the technology growing and changing, but the number of people using, and publishing on, the web is expanding at incredible rates.  As the Web expands, it is critical that your Web site stands out.  It should be linked from high-traffic locations so it can be easily found.  As a result of the exploding growth on the Web, new directories, search resources, and other listing sites are being added daily.  It is vital that this growth be addressed in your online promotional plan.

Prepare Your Site

Before you tell the world to rush to your site - make sure it's ready!  This is not something to be casually underestimated, as it so often is.  There are several issues to consider, e.g.

• Is your site attractive and interesting?
• Can people find their way around in it?
• Is it viewable on only a small number of platforms?
• Would you come back to this site?

Just because your site looks 'cool' to you, it doesn't mean everyone else will see it that way; e.g. Macintoshes see colors somewhat differently than PCs.  Some other issues are:

• Loading speed: Small graphics, use of height/width attributes on images, intelligent use of thumbnails where appropriate.
• User interface design: Readable color/background combinations, appropriate paragraph sizes, consistent navigation buttons, etc.
• Appropriate use of structural markup: Headers used as real section markers and not for font scaling; links are integrated into text flow (no 'click here'), good use of lists vs. in-text enumerations.
• Support for text-mode browsing: ALT attributes on all images, navigation possible without imagemap access, content all present as text.

I offer a short Tutorial on some of the aspects of Web Site Design if you'd like to "do it yourself."  You might find some of my other Tutorials & Training Outlines of interest also.

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Web Site Marketing & Promotion

A good Web site is worth having only if it'll be seen by the target audience.  The goal is to get them interested and make them curious enough to "check it out"  I cannot stress enough how important the correct kind of exposure is.  Not all directories will be appropriate for your business.

Online Promotion

Each facet in marketing Web sites online should be done with one thing in mind: to get results.  Results can be measured in many ways.  Most people measure the effectiveness of their site by the number of "hits" or people who visit their site.

One way to guarantee more hits is to list with the major search engines.  Listing on search engines and directories requires a lot of time and effort.  You also need to be aware that not only people, but also 'robots' (e.g. from search engines) may visit your site.  I can help you come up with an effective strategy to promote your site on the World Wide Web using the appropriate keywords and descriptions that best describe your business.  And also find, and submit your site to, the correct directories and search engines for your target audience.

Through an intensive email campaign, you can carefully target prospective customers or people who may be interested in your site and introduce them to your company.

Participating in Newsgroups by answering posts asking for help in your area of expertise is a way to get "hits" for your site.

Becoming part of a Web Ring or Banner Link Exchange is another way to get more exposure for your site.

I offer a short Tutorial on some of the aspects of Web Site Promotion for Free if you'd like to "do it yourself."  You might find some of my other Tutorials & Training Outlines of interest also.

Other Forms of Marketing Your Site

Use your current advertising by adding your Web site's URL to all your advertising copy, including Business Cards, Stationary, Flyers, and Newspaper/Radio/TV Ads.

I can help you with putting together Press Releases for your site and finding the appropriate news source to send them to.

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