Web Site Usability: Take Control Over Your Web Site
Posted Under: Website Usability
The online availability of cheap design resources now allows you to easily take control over your web site and even build your own new web site if you care to.
Many people who outsource the building of their websites, later decide to build their own site, even when they don’t know the first thing about website design.
Although outsourcing is usually a good idea, especially if you don’t have the technical expertise; it is a good idea to learn as much about web design as you can in order to take control over your web site.
You should try to learn enough basic HTML to make any necessary updates to your website by yourself.
When you learn enough HTML to take control over your web site, you will be saving yourself a lot of time and a ton of money doing your own updates and site modifications.
It’s a great feeling knowing that you don’t need to hire a contractor every time you need to make a change or update your site.
Fortunately, most of the popular design tools that are now available online have been designed for novices and provide users with great tutorials that will walk you step by step through the site building process.
It’s no longer necessary to spend weeks studying how to use the tools.
Here are some resources you can use to take control of your website or help you build a new one.
Most of these resources are dirt cheap or free, so check them out.
Domain Names
Choosing the right domain name for your website is critical. Your domain name is your business address on the Internet and in order for the search engines to easily index your website, the keywords you use for your website should also be in your domain “address”.
These tools can help you with your domain and keyword research.
Wordtracker at http://www.wordtracker.com/
Domain Tools at http://www.domaintools.com/
Nameboy Domain Search at http://www.nameboy.com/gen.php
When you decide on your domain, you can check it below:
If your hosting site is always down or if your site takes an unusually long time to load, You will soon find yourself losing money; so it’s important to choose website hosting you can trust.
Although there are many others; these hosting sites will ensure that your web site stays up and running at full capacity.
Go Daddy at www.GoDaddy.com
1and1 Internet at www.1and1.com
Although there is a ton of software programs available that allow you to build your website without knowing anything about HTML code; it’s still a good idea to at least learn the basics.
The following sites offer some free HTML tutorials that will get you started.
PageTutor.Com at http://www.pagetutor.com/index.html
Webreference dev the web at http://www.webreference.com/authoring/design/tutorials.html
HTML GOODIES, The ultimate html resource at www.HTMLgoodies.com
Dave’s Site Millions served at www.Davesite.com/webstation/html
w3school.com at http://www.w3schools.com/default.asp
Some simple design tips and information can be found at these sites.
Jakob Nielsen’s Website at http://www.useit.com/
Builderau at http://www.builderau.com.au/
Sitepoint at http://sitepoint.com/
All In One Website Builders are usually provided with your hosting account. This is one of the better ones.
http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=19229231
HTML editors allow you to design a webpage even if you have limited HTML knowledge. They are easy to use and work like a word processor.
Here are some you can try.
KompoZer at http://kompozer.net/
NVU at http://net2.com/nvu/
Dreamweaver at http://www.adobe.com/products/dreamweaver/
The following resources can be used to help you design your website navigation.
Web Site Optimization at http://www.websiteoptimization.com/services/analyze/
WebDeveloper.com at http://www.webdeveloper.com
Webmonkey at http://www.webmonkey.com
Browser Compatibility Verication @AnyBrowser.com; http://www.anybrowser.com/
If you choose to add automated extras to your website like shopping carts, content management systems or forums; check out these sites.
ScriptSearch.com (your programming directory) at http://ScriptSearch.com
Hot Scripts at http://www.hotscripts.com/
The CGI Resource Index at http://www.cgi.resourceindex.com/
Although this is only a partial list of resources, they are for the most part free for the asking. You can find additional help by doing a Google search if you feel the need for additional resources.
However, if you use these resources to learn the basics of HTML and website design, you will soon be able to take control over your web site and save yourself a ton of money.web
Reader Comments
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