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