Web Source

Getting Started

Every new internet or intranet web site starts out as pure possibility. That makes the job of building the site both difficult and exciting. The Web is too diverse, too new and changes too quickly to allow for standard solutions, so creativity has full reign.

Much creativity is demanded of the webmaster/web designer, and requires a variety of technical skills as a basis. But the owners of web sites have an equally daunting but rewarding task: to fashion their personal experiences, knowledge and business services into a home that will be inviting, functional and easy to get to for as many people as possible.  The webmaster can give your idea legs, but ultimately, it's up to you, the owner, to give it some body.

The Web is not like anything else.  If your web site is just like your company's brochure, then it is not living up to its potential. I hope, in this site, to help you with suggestions for moving beyond the static brochure to a dynamic web presence. And I hope, with this page, to prompt you for information and ideas that the webmaster can quickly (i.e inexpensively) incorporate into your web site.

Explore the world

You've probably heard the advice -- usually from settled folk -- that it's good to explore the world a bit before settling down. Well, now you have another chance. The World Wide Web is 'yours to discover,' and the cost is, mercifully, lower than air fares.

So before you stake your claim on some corner of the Web, have a look around. Search for topics and keywords that are relevant to the site you'd like for yourself. Take note of the sites that you like or that appear to be successful. Have a look at the page's HTML code (View | Source on the browser's menu bar, or View Source from the right click menu) and look at the meta tags (close to the top) to see what description and key words are listed.

It takes time to get a feel for a Web Neighbourhood.  But you're the one who's moving in, so you are better able to recognize suitable areas and good designs than the webmaster who builds your home but doesn't have to live in it.

Cut some keys

It may seem a bit funny to get keys made before even the foundations are laid, but these keys can get you into more homes than just your own, and entering other homes before you finish your own can be of great value in settling on your web's content and design.  You're going to need these keys later anyway, so you may as well get started.

Site description

This is probably the most crucial key. It's one of the first things that browsers see when they're searching the web on the main search engines. A description should be under 250 characters, but should not be too brief.  Using good English, summarize the purpose of the web site or the products it features. Use as many key words as possible, and say it so that people can tell that they've found what they're looking for.

Page descriptions

The site description typically serves as a home page description as well.   But other pages in the site will need descriptions too, so if you already know how your site will be organized, write a suitable description for each section. Again, make them 250 characters or less and be sure to include key words. A page's description is not visible to the browser but is catalogued by search engines.

Keywords

It's no use saying things clearly if no one can find what you've said. People surfing the Web look for words or phrases, and if those words aren't featured on your web page you will remain undiscovered.  So take on the mind of a searching surfer and jot down those words or phrases that you would like to lead to your home. Ideally, these words should be used within the text of the web page, but for added oomph they can be listed invisibly in meta tags for the benefit of search engine spiders.

Form a style

You already have a style, of course.  If that style is a successful part of your business or organization, then it should be a starting point for your web site's style.   Gather up as many bits of that style as you can find: business cards, letterheads, brochures, programs, display ads and pictures of people, products and places -- anything that reflects well on your business or organization.

If you can't come up with a style beyond the blue jeans or polka-dot tie you always wear, or if you want to refine or expand or change your style, then you can go shopping for styles on the web. Take note (see above) of those styles that appeal to you and that you can imagine representing you or your business on the web. If you still don't really see the difference style makes, you can leave it to the webmaster to divine the match between your site's form and function.

In any case, remember that function is always more important than form. Style should not obscure what's being said. But, more on that in the next section.

Putting it all together

Say it with text

Flowers are nice, but they can't beat notes for saying what you really mean. It may not be obvious any more, but the World Wide Web was created to share notes, not large bouquets of images. Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) was designed to convey text and its structure, leaving its appearance to the preferences of the browser. HTML has always accomodated image sharing too, but these images were initially considered to be for your information, not as decoration or design. It's the text that should be hyper, not the graphics.

So say something! Introduce yourself, explain things, describe, make lists, create headings and subheadings and sub-subheadings, emphasize, note. These are the things that the search engine web crawlers will look for, not graphics. And these are the things that will determine whether or not the browser buys or comes back.

Well chosen words are still as compelling as ever -- the Web hasn't changed that. And writing them is still as much of a chore as ever. I can't help you with the content of your web site (that's your specialty), but I can polish it a bit for you.

Send flowers too

Most graphics are simply gifts, tokens of your esteem for the viewer and of the pride you take in yourself, your business, or your web site. Such graphics, practically speaking, are not necessary. It's true, a good picture is worth a thousand words, but most web graphics are not pictures, they are just fancified words.

That said, I will be the first to add that good graphics are very compelling too, and that I find it almost impossible not to design and redesign until the words 'look' good. This compulsion is nothing new. It goes way back, past the middle ages when monks illustrated important manuscripts. In fact, it is one of the hallmarks of civilization -- the decoration of functional objects. It makes the world a more pleasing place and it conveys an attitude of excellence.

There are millions of graphics floating around in cyberspace and many of them are free for the taking.  Clip art collections on CD-ROM are inexpensive and readily available. There are dozens of designer web site themes. These stock graphics can certainly be combined in many creative ways to make attractive web sites at a low cost. Original graphics, required for logos and for any truly distinctive look, are more expensive of course.

You have to decide how much you're willing to give. Your gift to the World will be noted, even if it isn't a note. If your budget doesn't match your pride, then you need to be resourceful enough with your time to find and supply graphics in a style that suits you.  Send them as attachments, or send a link.

Make it work

Scripts and forms

Sending it off

Prepare the soil

Keywords and Meta Tags

Sow the seeds

Submitting to search engines and link lists

Bring in the harvest

Monitoring and adapting