The Top 10 Things I’ve Learned While Working on My Web Site

Originally Submitted on 3/27/2003.

Many people are intimidated by the idea of developing a web site. They need not be. If I did it on my own, then anyone can! Some things I've learned in the process:

1. Creating a web site is not rocket science, but it does need planning, patience and persistence.

2. Web site work can also be a major source of flow, an exciting and rewarding way to combine creativity and logic.

3. Do not think about content and design at the same time.

You may decide to change your content many times, but the design may remain the same. Both design and content are simpler if you separate them in your thinking.

4. Tables are your friend.

They can help to solve many, many of the problems of spacing that face us.

5. Whether you are seeking a web site development program or a host for your web site, to a very large extent you get what you pay for.

This is probably not the place for excessive penny pinching.

6. As far as color is concerned, remember that your monitor is, as to use the words of one graphics instructor "a dirty, rotten liar."

What shade of color you see may not be what others see, depending on settings.

7. Do not worry about whether or not you use capital letters in your domain name.

Before the suffix (.com, .net etc), upper or lower case makes no difference. After the suffix, it may. (In other words, www.choicecoach.com and www.ChoiceCoach.com will get to the same web site equally effectively.)

8. If you have someone do the development for you, unless your budget is large, be sure you know how to make minor content changes yourself.

There may be times when you need to make changes promptly, and preferably with little cost. If you cannot do them, your updates are at the mercy of your budget and your developer's schedule.

9. On page size - most people don't mind scrolling down a bit, but prefer not to do it a lot.

Most web surfers detest having to scroll sideways at all.

10. You need a website for your business.

You do not need make launching your business dependent upon your web site being perfect.

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