| I've been asked, "How do I design a successful Web | | | | Working things out on paper will give you a much |
| site?" | | | | better idea of how things will work and how to fix |
| I often respond, "Do you know the fastest way to ruin | | | | problems. And, if you have knowledgeable friends, get |
| a new Web site design?" As you might suspect, the | | | | a second opinion. |
| answer is, "Lack of proper planning beforehand." | | | | Once you've completed the on-paper process, and |
| Let's put it another way. In programming, there's an old | | | | you or your web designer is satisfied with the results, |
| axiom, which states: "The sooner you start your | | | | you're ready to translate it into code. Unless you or |
| coding the longer it takes to finish." | | | | your programmer is a pro, I would recommend using a |
| Planning out your Web site before you build it is | | | | "template". These are ready-made Web site design |
| essential. To borrow a technique from the film industry, | | | | formats. You can choose from several templates by |
| I recommend that you create a storyboard, which is a | | | | typing "template source" in most search engines. Many |
| type of a flow chart of your new Web site design. | | | | of them are free. |
| You don't have to be an accomplished artist to draw | | | | Commonly Asked Questions |
| out your idea, but it's essential to create it on paper | | | | Q: For a Web site, do I have to employ a pro, or can I |
| first. | | | | call the guidance counselor at my local high school and |
| On each piece of paper, the goal is to have room for | | | | ask for the names of some computer whiz kids that I |
| an image at the top, plus space underneath for writing | | | | could call to help me out (for a fee)? |
| down information. As you might suspect, the first page | | | | A: It really depends on what you want to do. If all you |
| to start with is your home (or welcome) page, which | | | | want is 1-2 pages , you can learn how to build the |
| will typically have the most information as it will contain | | | | Web site yourself. If it's an intensive site with many |
| the page the people visit before they enter your site | | | | pages, I'd recommend student or a pro (if you have |
| and as people go through your site, the will encounter | | | | the budget). |
| more information (in tiers) as they go down. | | | | Q: I see a lot of photo-oriented web sites that have a |
| Typically, the home page links to 5-15 pages below | | | | black background. Is this the best color to use? |
| that, which we could refer to as Tier 2. Each of those | | | | A: Not necessarily. It's a matter of opinion and personal |
| pages links to another 5-15 pages, which you could call | | | | taste. White can work just as well. I don't recommend |
| Tier 3. | | | | the use of other colors as they can compete with |
| If you use all of these pages, you'll wind up with an | | | | your images. |
| extensive Web site design, of at least 226 pages | | | | Q: Is "Flash" or audio acceptable? |
| (including the home page). | | | | A: If you absolutely need Flash to demonstrate an |
| It's during this process that all sorts of problems will | | | | animation, then by all means use it. If it's for a fancy |
| crop up. But it's much easier to solve them on paper | | | | trick, I recommend leaving it out. It's similar with sound. |
| than in the middle of coding rather than when you are | | | | Unless it adds to your site, don't use it. And if you do |
| finished.. If you don't, you might run into a major | | | | use sound, give users an option to turn it off. If you |
| problem along the way that would require a "back to | | | | don't, you're likely to lose visitors. |
| the drawing board" complete site re-design. | | | | |