You have decided to create your site yourself, that is, not to use studios’ services, buy or take free templates and engines – good for you, this article is just what you need.
The article is divided into two parts; the first part will tell you what you have to learn and master, and the second one will tell you in what sequence to use the new knowledge or the one you already possess.
You probably know that all Internet pages are created with the help of a hypertext markup language (html). You should start by learning it. You can either buy a book or find numerous manuals in the Net. Full beginners can start by using visual editors (MS Frontpage, Macromedia Dreamweaver, etc.).
Visual editors simplify the site creation process as you see at once what you have done. Their disadvantage is bad html-code layout as everything is done automatically.
If you know html, you’d better use a simple text editor (notepad) and see the results at once in the browser. If you want to create a good site, you must know html.
Later you can combine the use of visual and text editors.
Determine the subject of the site.
Analyze resources devoted to similar topics: what should be added or omitted, why they are visited. Think how your site will differ from others, it will hardly be interesting for you to use the resources that are the same as far as information is concerned.
Determine what is important for your site. Write the main and secondary sections.
Develop the site architecture.
Determine the number of sections, their content and location.
Determine the main blocks for the main and secondary pages.
Remember that a visitor first comes to the homepage, so it should contain the main information so that he could be interested to explore the site further, but don’t put too much on the homepage or it will be difficult to understand. Write what information you will give on the homepage and what information on secondary ones.
Create a modular grid.
Imagine that a sheet of paper is the page of your site. Locate all the blocks: informational, advertising, news and navigational ones. Not a single block should be located so as to harm another one.
Design and usability.
In design, never follow “the more – the better” principle. Everything should be at measure. Don’t forget to optimize the graphics as no one will wait for the page to download for too long.
Remember that an ordinary visitor should feel comfortable on your site. He must not ask himself: Where am I? How to return? What is it about? How to find it? etc.
Ask your friends and acquaintances to help you at this stage. May each of them say his opinion.
Note that it is only at this stage that you start using the acquired knowledge (use of graphic editors).
Filling, layout and testing.
Lay the site pages out correctly and don’t forget to check correctness of their displaying in different browsers.
It is only here that you start to apply your html knowledge, unlike many others who first lay something out and then start thinking.
Site location.
Surely, it is better to buy good hosting on a paying basis with support of all the features you need.