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What
makes a good website?
This
seems a simple question with a simple answer, yet the more you
think about it the more there is to say about websites. They exist
for a variety of reasons but a good website must hold interest
or the visitor will soon move on somewhere else.
There
are many factors that affect the appeal of a website. The main
one's are:
1)
The website has good content. This is all-important and visitors
will forgive much if the website offers the content that they
seek.
2) The appearance of a website is important. No two visitors may
agree on exactly what appeals to them about the look of a website;
only that they know when they see it, and it makes them want to
stay. Good use of space and color is important and a website that
is too 'busy' is annoying
3)
Easy reading. Some websites use font and background colors that
are too close together, making reading difficult.
4)
A few cartoons and animations are fine as long as they don't interfere
with the message that the website is hoping to put over.
5)
Navigation. It must be easy for the visitor to find her way around
the website. A good website of any size should have a 'contents'
page from which any section or page can be accessed.
6)
Simplicity. Often we see a home page that is absolutely bristling
with links to other pages and other websites, usually not very
well described. Visitors like to have choice but not to be overwhelmed.
7)
Consistency. The website should have a consistent look throughout
by the use of templates. Otherwise visitors may be confused.
These
are some but not all the elements of an attractive website, but
the most important of these is content, content, content and this
will obviously depend on the type of website.
A
good website will always be changing, either by adding fresh content
or updating the existing content. People will not return more
than once to a website that doesn't change. Many websites issue
a newsletter so that visitors can be informed of changes to the
website.
Websites originate on a computer in the office or home. They are
then 'uploaded' to a hosting company's computer that has direct
access to the internet. When you 'surf' you're connecting your
computer to that of the hosting company.
If
you want to make your own website you can build it on your own
computer, test it, and when you are satisfied with your creation,
upload it so that all the world (or only a select few) can see
it. If this is maybe what you have in mind, we'll tell you how
to get there later.
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