Welcome to the Web - Rocketface(R) Workshop Webmaster's Tutorial - "How to Design a Website"


How to Design a Website
About Domain Names
About Web Hosts
Free Web Hosts
Private Web Hosts
Types of Websites
Building a Website
Analyze Website
Analyze Audience
Analyze Content
Website Design Tips
Website Journal
Effective Communication
Target Audience
Demographics
Website Goals
Organize Website
Website Basic Layout
Webpage Design
Website Navigation
Website Structure
Website Sections
Website Theme
Webpage Layout
Website Content
HTML Editors
White Space
Develop Website
Sitemap Construction
Webpage Construction
Website Assembly
Website Construction
Typography - Fonts
Typography - Style
Typography - Layout
Website Graphics
Website Templates
Implement Website
FTP Website
Fine Tuning Website
Upload Organization
Ftp Checklist
User Interaction
Maintain Website
Website Promotion
Marketing Website
Viral Marketing
Content
Product Sales
Affiliate Programs
OnLine Services
Optimize Website
Keywords
The SEO Process
Website Traffic Analysis
Increasing Website Traffic
Links Tracking
Link Baiting
ROR RSS Sitemap Generator
Summary
Resources
Types of websites
Hex codes
Toolbox for webmasters
Free template downloads
Optimize your website
Resources
Glossary
Newsletter
Feedback
Main Site Index
Article Archive
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Website Goals
Deciding on your website's objective

The primary goal of any website is to communicate.

In order for webmasters to convey their message effectively they must have a clear idea of what they wish to communicate. Through the establishment of clear and focused goals you make the designing of your website much easier.

Also, you must be able to evaluate the effect that this information is having on the website visitor. Feedback and tracking data should be analyzed regularly. Make sure that you are hitting the mark and that you are communicating your message effectively.

See: Effective Communtcation for Webmasters

A website should serve as a means to an end rather than an end in itself.

Lack of clarity, poor grammar, or lack of organization will mar its effectiveness. A website should serve the useful purpose of communicating ideas and emotions which in turn should evoke a positive and specific response from the visitor. No matter how great the graphics might be or the navigation scheme or the flowery words, the success of your website will depend on how concisely, clearly and effectively you present your ideas.

To become an effective webmaster you must understand some basic concepts.

1) The mechanics of creating a website.

How to understand and write the HTML code for internet web pages, creating and optimizing your website graphics and understanding webpage layout and website navigation. These are the nuts and bolts of website design.

See: Easy Website Construction

2) The ability to express your ideas well.

Organize your material for presentation, this is the backbone of a website. Analyze the audience and adapt your ideas and the arrangement of information in a way that they will understand. The clearer you present your ideas the more of an effect they will have.

See: How to Organize a Website

3) Constant study of the feedback from your visitors.

Listen carefully and appreciatively to the things that your visitors are saying. Remember that your website is intended for them. Your personal feelings should never take precedence over what your visitors are looking for.

See: Connecting with Visitors

Summary

Just as in music a knowledge of the technique of playing an instrument may deepen ones appreciation, so, too, in website design a knowledge of the tools used to produce the website is essential to the constant improvement of ones skill as a webmaster.

Equally important is learning the skills necessary to drive your ideas home. After all, your website is a vehicle for expressing information in such a way as to persuade the visitor to respond in a certain manner.

Wether it is the dissemination of information or the selling of a product, the way your ideas are expressed will make or break the success of your website and it's message.

Your visitors will tell you things about your website that might have eluded you.

That great navigation scheme you conjured up may not be as user friendly as you think. Maybe some ideas that you are trying to convey are really not as clear as they should be or worse still not targeted to the type of visitors coming to your website.

Listen to the feedback. It can mean the difference between success and failure.

See: Zeroing in on Your Target Audience

Starting a Website

Understanding the Basics of Owning Your Own Website

Even in this day of technology there are some people who do not understand the fundamentals of owning their own website.

Registering Your Domain Name

Registering a domain name is a quick process that often seems complex. It is far easier than most general web surfers suspect.

How to Choose the Right Domain Name

Your domain name will be your “Internet identity,” so it will be helpful if it closely matches the name of your business, product, or service.

What Do I Need in a Web Hosting Package?

If you are buying web hosting for the first time, you may have some questions about what you need and what you don't.

10 Key Tips on Choosing the Best Hosting Package for You

The overall "tip" here is that you need to get accurate information to make comparisons among hosts.

Don't Get Burned By Web Designers

If you bring up the subject of web design with small business people, it wouldn't take long to find someone who has been burned by a web designer.

Types of Websites

There are several types of websites on the Internet each specializing in a particular service or use.

Website Goals

No matter how great the graphics might be or the navigation scheme or the flowery words, the success of your website will depend on how concisely, clearly and effectively you present your ideas.

Designing Web Pages

Designing good webpages begins with good webpage layouts. Good webpage layout is not rocket science.

Your Website from the Ground Up in 10 Steps

So, you have finally decided to build yourself a website, but really have no idea where to start. The following 10 steps will give you some insight into what you need to address when creating a search friendly website from the ground up.

Promoting Your New Website

If your new website has not been properly optimized for the search engines, then this is a necessary first step you must take.