5 Ways to Create a Unique Website
| Category: Website Design and Development | Date: 2003-10-15 |
(Note to editor: Email me for HTML version, its much nicer for the web.)
Internet users have no doubt seen several websites of identical design. This is often because webmasters do not have the ability or time to design and create unique websites. These five points will help you come up with a one-of-a-kind design for your website.
1. Navigation System
Deciding on a navigation system should be one of the first things to consider when designing your website. Visitors usually look for a way to get to the information they want before reading anything else. I would suggest putting your navigation system in two areas. Look at WebmasterBase (http://www.webmasterbase.com) for example. There is a list of categories on the left, and information about the network on the top bar.
It is not recommended that you place your navigation at the bottom of the page because:
* People see the top of the page first
* If you have a lot of content on one page, the navigation gets pushed to bottom of the page...away from the visitor.
2. Color Scheme
When you are choosing colors, make sure they contrast. For example, do not use bright green and florescent pink. Some colors that are often used are white on black or black on white.
A wonderful utility that is web-based and free is Color Schemer (http://www.godigitalstudios.com/www/color/), created by Aaron Epstein. Many other programs exist that can assist you in choosing colors. Try doing a search on FreewareFiles (http://www.freewarefiles.com), Tucows (http://www.tucows.com), or Download.com (http://www.download.com) for "color schemer."
3. Content Window
This is the brain of the website. Make sure that the text here is easy to read and understand.
Also, provide your own original content. People do not want to hear what somebody else has to say. They want to hear what Iyou/I want to say! While it might be time consuming to write your own content, it sure is worth it.
To find content for your website, try searching at EzineArticles (http://www.ezinearticles.com). Other people may have used the articles, but if you become good friends with the authors, they may send you new content as they write it. Be careful though. Do not use too much content from other authors, as mentioned above.
4. Font(s)
Several types of fonts exist. The first one I will discuss is fixed width or monospace, similar to Courier or Courier New. Fixed width fonts are good for displaying code (like HTML.)
Another type of font is called sans serif. It is similar to Arial (Windows) or Helvetica (Macintosh). This font can be used for long pieces of text.
The final type of font is called serif because it has serifs, or curves, in each letter. Often, this font is called Times (Windows) or Georgia (Macintosh). This font, like sans serif, is often used for long blocks of text. It is preferred because its rounded edges lead the reader to the next letter, making it easier to read.
5. Advertising
Ah, everybodys favorite...advertising! This is one of thing that almost every website has. The most common type is what is known as "banner" advertising. It is called that because it is long and thin (like a paper banner.) How long you ask? The generic kind is 468 pixels wide by 60 pixels high.
New sizes however are being used. Take for example the new style called "skyscraper" -- so called for a reason: it looks like a skyscraper. It is tall (about 425 pixels) but not too wide (about 100-125 pixels.)
Finding a way to place advertising can be tricky. Banners used to be placed (and still are) only at the top of the page. Nevertheless, banners are starting to be placed in the middle of the page, at the bottom, or along the side.
Conclusion
These are only five things to consider when designing a website. There are many others however. Let me know what you find that helps you create a unique website. My email address is corbb@justforwebmasters.com.
About the Author
Corbb OConnor. Corbb is the Webmaster of justforwebmasters.com, a website that focuses on teaching Webmasters how to create, gain traffic to, and make money from their own websites. He is also the editor of a FREE bi-weekly newsletter entitled, "The Guided Webmaster." To subscribe now, send an email to: subscribe@justforwebmasters.com?subject=article-subscribe. Information about this newsletter can be obtained from his website.
:To contact see details below.
corbb@justforwebmasters.com
http://www.justforwebmasters.com
Internet users have no doubt seen several websites of identical design. This is often because webmasters do not have the ability or time to design and create unique websites. These five points will help you come up with a one-of-a-kind design for your website.
1. Navigation System
Deciding on a navigation system should be one of the first things to consider when designing your website. Visitors usually look for a way to get to the information they want before reading anything else. I would suggest putting your navigation system in two areas. Look at WebmasterBase (http://www.webmasterbase.com) for example. There is a list of categories on the left, and information about the network on the top bar.
It is not recommended that you place your navigation at the bottom of the page because:
* People see the top of the page first
* If you have a lot of content on one page, the navigation gets pushed to bottom of the page...away from the visitor.
2. Color Scheme
When you are choosing colors, make sure they contrast. For example, do not use bright green and florescent pink. Some colors that are often used are white on black or black on white.
A wonderful utility that is web-based and free is Color Schemer (http://www.godigitalstudios.com/www/color/), created by Aaron Epstein. Many other programs exist that can assist you in choosing colors. Try doing a search on FreewareFiles (http://www.freewarefiles.com), Tucows (http://www.tucows.com), or Download.com (http://www.download.com) for "color schemer."
3. Content Window
This is the brain of the website. Make sure that the text here is easy to read and understand.
Also, provide your own original content. People do not want to hear what somebody else has to say. They want to hear what Iyou/I want to say! While it might be time consuming to write your own content, it sure is worth it.
To find content for your website, try searching at EzineArticles (http://www.ezinearticles.com). Other people may have used the articles, but if you become good friends with the authors, they may send you new content as they write it. Be careful though. Do not use too much content from other authors, as mentioned above.
4. Font(s)
Several types of fonts exist. The first one I will discuss is fixed width or monospace, similar to Courier or Courier New. Fixed width fonts are good for displaying code (like HTML.)
Another type of font is called sans serif. It is similar to Arial (Windows) or Helvetica (Macintosh). This font can be used for long pieces of text.
The final type of font is called serif because it has serifs, or curves, in each letter. Often, this font is called Times (Windows) or Georgia (Macintosh). This font, like sans serif, is often used for long blocks of text. It is preferred because its rounded edges lead the reader to the next letter, making it easier to read.
5. Advertising
Ah, everybodys favorite...advertising! This is one of thing that almost every website has. The most common type is what is known as "banner" advertising. It is called that because it is long and thin (like a paper banner.) How long you ask? The generic kind is 468 pixels wide by 60 pixels high.
New sizes however are being used. Take for example the new style called "skyscraper" -- so called for a reason: it looks like a skyscraper. It is tall (about 425 pixels) but not too wide (about 100-125 pixels.)
Finding a way to place advertising can be tricky. Banners used to be placed (and still are) only at the top of the page. Nevertheless, banners are starting to be placed in the middle of the page, at the bottom, or along the side.
Conclusion
These are only five things to consider when designing a website. There are many others however. Let me know what you find that helps you create a unique website. My email address is corbb@justforwebmasters.com.
About the Author
Corbb OConnor. Corbb is the Webmaster of justforwebmasters.com, a website that focuses on teaching Webmasters how to create, gain traffic to, and make money from their own websites. He is also the editor of a FREE bi-weekly newsletter entitled, "The Guided Webmaster." To subscribe now, send an email to: subscribe@justforwebmasters.com?subject=article-subscribe. Information about this newsletter can be obtained from his website.
:To contact see details below.
corbb@justforwebmasters.com
http://www.justforwebmasters.com
Copyright © 2005-2006 Powered by Custom PHP Programming