Getting Started With Websites

[justinOrel]

What is a Website?
A website is the entire collection of web pages and other information (such as images,
sound, and video files, etc.) that are made available through what appears to users as a
single web server.
As the internet has progressed, websites have gone from standard text with limited
capabilities to a place where one can purchase their groceries, watch movies, read the
news and the funnies, and video chat with their friends.
To business owners, the internet can provide an incredible place to advertise and sell their
products.
However, good websites are challenging to create, and can pose a problem.
When a user navigates to a website, they generally will stay there for 10 seconds. If the
site doesn’t capture their attention, they will navigate away immediately.
Therefore, website administrators need to carefully design the website to instantly grab
the attention of the user.

Types of Websites
There are two types of websites, and to have a good website you need to know what type
applies to you.
Type 1: Content-based websites
A content based website is a website that is driven by news, articles, data, tutorials, etc…
Type 2: Presentation-based websites
These websites are geared toward showing something off.
Content based websites should be fast, without too much graphics and should be full
screen.
Presentation based websites should be built 90% on looks and 10% on usability– don’t
go to far with your graphics, it will slow down your site. How many customers want to
watch the loading screen for 10 minutes?

Designing Websites
Website design is a complex process, but we are going to share a basic summary of the
steps you should go through.
1. Visualize the Site –In a photo editing program, draw out your website.
2. Style the site –Using CSS, and your site image as an instruction, use Cascading
Style Sheets to format links, headings, forms, etc…
3. Create the Layout – Using CSS or layout tables, create a layout for your site. For
example…
4. Add Content!- Add you website content, for example text on the homepage.
5. Add Dynamics, DHTML, and Flash – Add dynamics (PHP for example),
DHTML (rollovers, etc) and Flash movies.
6. Debug – Make sure your page looks right, and that it looks the same in all web
browsers.

Website Advertising

In order to drive people to your website, you will need to advertise on two fronts – locally
and worldwide.
Worldwide:
∙ Via Google Advertising – pricing as low as a cent a click.
∙ By putting the link on your signature on forums you like
∙ By adding your site to directories like Yahoo Directory.
Locally:
∙ In the Yellow pages (phone book)
∙ Put fliers around town
∙ Billboard ads
∙ Give business cards to everyone you meet

Tools and Resources

Software for Designers

In general, you need 2 programs to create websites - HTML editor and Image editor.

Big Budget:

*

Macromedia Studio MX - Fireworks, Dreamweaver and Flash are 3 incredible pieces of software.

Adobe Photoshop and Golive - I personally prefer Macromedia but some do prefer photoshop\imageready and golive.


Low Budget:

*

Microsoft Frontpage - It does the job.

Jasc Paint Shop pro


No Budget

*

Nvu - Made partially by mozilla, this is an excellent free open source HTML editor.

The GIMP - it takes some getting used to, but is a fully featured and free image editor


More Resources

http://www.w3schools.com/ - CSS, HTML, everything... countless tutorials. Wonderful.

http://dynamicdrive.com - Your source for DHTML effects

Google. Its your friend.