| Projecting a professional image is paramount to your | | | | visitor interaction and will give your site a boost in |
| website's success. It can make or break your online | | | | the |
| business. Use this handy article and links to improve | | | | ratings. (Use the link at the end of this article if you |
| the professional look and feel of your site.First, take | | | | need |
| a general overview of your site. What is | | | | help with setting up a blog.)It will also give you a |
| subject matter of your site? Define it down to a | | | | RSS Feed which will allow you to |
| particular topic -- your niche.For instance, you can | | | | syndicate your site's information or content. Place an |
| have a website on Sports. | | | | orange |
| You may have narrowed it down to a particular | | | | RSS or XML button on your site. Since RSS is |
| sport; | | | | somewhat new - |
| say baseball. You may have narrowed it down even | | | | you might want to place a little note explaining xml |
| further, a particular baseball team.Whatever the | | | | or the |
| subject matter of your site, keep the | | | | rss feed. Always place your visitor's comfort in the |
| content within your site on topic. Obvious, but | | | | forefront.Send Them to the Doctor6. Doctor HTML. |
| important. Someone coming to your site to check | | | | Check the html code and spelling of your |
| out | | | | site. Sites like this one are great. They will give you |
| the Yankees -- don't want to find material on | | | | a |
| 'how to hook a rug'!Make sure that you 'keep your | | | | tune-up for free! I have used this one and it's |
| site on topic'. This one | | | | excellent. |
| thing alone will improve the professional image your | | | | What you're really checking for is browser |
| site projects.Next, consider your audience, who is it | | | | compatibility and |
| aimed at? Who are | | | | broken links. It will also squish your html to save on |
| you targeting? For instance, if it's a general news | | | | your |
| site, | | | | load time. It will check the coding and any spelling |
| it may be the whole world. Everyone is interested in | | | | mistakes |
| the news.If it a website on breeding dogs -- your | | | | on your site.Correct any blatant 'faux pas' in your |
| audience is | | | | site's coding.You can find the html doctor here: |
| probably other dog breeders or those interested in | | | | can also go to NetMechanic to reduce the graphics |
| dog | | | | on your |
| breeding. Someone visiting your site will expect to | | | | site. As the net goes broadband, this is becoming |
| see content/information on dog breeding.Keep your | | | | less and less |
| site's audience in mind at all times.Now consider the | | | | a problem but it's always better to have a fast |
| layout and design of your website. Is it | | | | loading site.GifBot by NetMechanic |
| appropriate for your topic and for your audience. | | | | Them Browsing7. Next check your site in all the |
| Does | | | | browsers. You might be |
| the color scheme and design suit your subject | | | | surprised how your site looks in a different browser. |
| matter? | | | | |
| Does the design and layout suit your audience?A | | | | Firefox is increasing it's users, check your logs, see |
| website catering to young visitors, offering online | | | | which browsers your visitors are using. Make sure |
| role-playing games is not going to have the same | | | | your site |
| layout | | | | looks and operates perfectly in these systems.If |
| or color scheme as a conservative business site. | | | | you have a lot of friends with computers, check your |
| Appeal to your audience and subject matter; again, | | | | site |
| keep them in mind at all times.In your site design, go | | | | on their operating systems and see how it looks. |
| for simplicity. Don't complicate | | | | Make any |
| them with too much flash and dazzle. Provide your | | | | necessary changes. You can also try Screen |
| visitors | | | | Size Tester below. Them Spider Food!8. Spend a day |
| with what they're looking for -- and make it quick. | | | | or so, checking all your keywords. List |
| Don't | | | | down your site's major keywords. The ones you're |
| have your visitors jump thru hoops to get what | | | | targeting. |
| they're | | | | Optimize for the search engines. Most of the traffic |
| searching for. Have an 'easy to navigate' linking | | | | on the |
| structure.Keep the overall design within two or three | | | | web come from search engines, so make sure your |
| colors. You can | | | | site is |
| even try an old artist's trick, make it almost | | | | optimized for them. Make sure you have submitted |
| monochromic | | | | your site |
| with a complimentary color split to bring focus to | | | | to all of these engines.Double check your 'title' and |
| your | | | | 'description' meta tags for any |
| points of interests. Make sure your fonts are | | | | obvious mistakes. These get indexed and are often |
| consistent and | | | | the first |
| easy to read in all the different browsers. Keep the | | | | line of contact with any potential visitors to your |
| same | | | | site. |
| logo or brand name on all your pages -- don't | | | | Professionism here could have a significant influence |
| confuse your | | | | on |
| visitors.Now, lets get down to some specific | | | | the amount of traffic your site receives!Find some |
| changes or additions | | | | great Search Engine Optimization Tools here: Them A |
| that can 'tune-up' your website. These should | | | | Gentle Reminder!9. Make sure you have a Bookmark |
| improve | | | | link. Simple, but many |
| the professional look and feel of your site.Give | | | | websites don't actively encourage visitors to |
| Them Something to Remember You By!1. Make a | | | | bookmark |
| 'favicon.ico' file if you don't have one. Look | | | | their site. Have a bookmark logo or link on all the |
| down at your computer's task bar, you should see a | | | | pages |
| version | | | | of your site. Remind your visitors to bookmark. It's a |
| of a favicon of the programs on your computer. | | | | |
| These are small | | | | great source of free traffic.You can get a free |
| '16x16' icons or symbols for your site or product. All | | | | script from Michael Bloch: |
| major | | | | Them Some Jazz!10. Jazz up your site! Try to find |
| sites have them. Here's how you can make | | | | things that will |
| them:Use a photo or paint shop program like Adobe | | | | make your site more interesting. Give your visitors a |
| or Paint Shop | | | | reason |
| Pro. Just take your logo or part of it and reduce it | | | | to visit your site other than the great content. Offer |
| down | | | | a free service, like the one the doctor uses above! |
| to a 16 x 16 image. Adjust the resolution and play | | | | Run a contest! Give away free stuff or extra |
| around | | | | bonuses if |
| with it. You can just use a single letter from your | | | | they visit your site. In whatever way you can, make |
| site's | | | | your |
| name and jazz it up a bit. You need to upload this | | | | visitor feel special.Maybe try a headliner from for |
| image | | | | your rss feed. |
| to your website's directory in an ico file named | | | | This will display all your headlines. Add audio and |
| 'favicon.ico' | | | | video |
| -- very logical Mr. Spock!Extra help here: | | | | "testimonials". Add other graphics like the ones |
| Them Eye Candy!2. Make a logo. Or have someone | | | | mentioned |
| design it for you. Nothing | | | | here: favicon, bookmark, sitemap, etc.But don't |
| says professional than a cool looking logo! A really | | | | overdo it with the graphics, but add a few to |
| good | | | | make your site visually interesting. Even a visually |
| one will brand your site in the minds of your visitors. | | | | bare-bones site like Google does this with their logo |
| Have this logo on all your web pages.Logo building | | | | on |
| help here: | | | | special occasions. It adds a touch of style.It is |
| Them on the Map!3. Make a Sitemap for your site. | | | | estimated that over fifty percent of net users |
| Extremely important, make | | | | now have broadband so the use of a lot of graphics |
| sure you have a sitemap for your website. Place all | | | | is not |
| the links | | | | as detrimental as it once was. But again, don't over |
| (if possible) to your site on here. It will unify your | | | | do it, |
| site | | | | a little spice goes a long way.But don't put style |
| and be of tremendous benefit to your visitors. It's a | | | | over substance. It all boils down |
| common | | | | to content. Give your visitors good valuable content |
| courtesy you cannot, must not ignore. Ideally, you | | | | or |
| should | | | | information and your site will improve faster than |
| have a link to your sitemap on all your web | | | | with |
| pages.Redirect Them!4. Redirect Page. Create a | | | | all the points mentioned above. Don't forget that |
| redirect or error page if your | | | | basic |
| web host doesn't provide one. This is a catch-all | | | | ingredient while you're fine tuning your site.And don't |
| page for | | | | forget your site's visitors. Make their visit |
| the '404 Not Found File' that pops up. It will make | | | | to your site as pleasant and comfortable as you |
| your site | | | | possibly can.Always keep your visitor in mind.Each |
| more professional; plus, you won't lose all those hard | | | | one is a special guest. Each one deserves the best |
| fought | | | | site |
| for visitors. Make sure your Redirect Page has a link | | | | you can produce. Each one is ...A VIP with a cursor! |
| to | | | | Give them the Royal Treatment!Your site will reap |
| your Sitemap.Try this link for help: | | | | the benefits and look good |
| Them!5. Start a Blog and RSS Feed for your site. If | | | | while doing it!To Create a blog within minutes - visit |
| you haven't | | | | this link: |
| placed a blog on your site -- do it now! This is one | | | | RSS Report and Create Blog Guide. |
| addition | | | | Copyright © 2005 Titus Hoskins of |
| to your site you should have. Start a blog on the | | | | This article may be freely distributed if this resource |
| subject of | | | | box stays attached. Visit |
| your site or something complimentary to it. It will | | | | for more simple solutions to your online marketing |
| allow for | | | | tasks. |