Web Site Design FAQs

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What are the basics of a Web site plan?
What are the keys to a successful Web site?
What is Flash and why do I need it?
Do I need a database?

What are the basics of a Web site plan?

The basics of a Web design plan have nothing to do with the development of a Web site. You must first answer a few questions:

1. Who am I trying to reach?
2. What information do I need to convey?
3. What should be the result of someone viewing my Web site?
4. Who is my competition? Do they have Web sites?

After you answer these questions you will know if your site needs to be flashy, useful, highly graphic, or low in graphics but fast to load. You Web designer can make recommendations about where the next steps will take you.

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What are the keys to a successful Web site?

A successful Web site must have consistent results based on #3 in the first question. Not every Web site needs to be in the top 10 search results on Google. Not every Web site needs to sell products or services. Your Web site is successful if it serves the purpose of your company or organization.

Every successful Web site will have these characteristics:

• Easy to navigate
• Easy to find information
• Pages load in a reasonable time frame
• The content is relevant to the viewer

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What is flash and why do I need it?

Flash is a program that allows you to have moving text, moving graphics, rotating photos, and other types of animation on a Web page. Most Web pages are created with HTML. HTML is a static language, meaning it has no movement or ability to change without reloading the page.

Flash is useful for a variety of purposes. You might want include Flash to draw attention to a special offer, or highlight an upcoming event. You can use Flash to display a series of photos. There are other applications for Flash that your Web developer can help you understand.

Keep in mind that creating a Flash object takes more time than straight HTML, so there may be additional costs involved for using Flash. Also, Flash takes longer to load on a page.

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Do I need a database?

A database can be extremely useful for a variety of circumstances. If you have any kind of list of items, names, businesses, etc that you need to display on your Web site, and if this list changes, it is easier to maintain a database of the list so that you only change the items that need to be changed, and the list will automatically be updated.

This is useful for Web sites that maintain a list of businesses, or that have items to sell. If you want to have Web visitors register, or sign up for a newsletter, a database is an important factor.

In order to use a database on a Web site, special programming skills are required. Make sure your Web designer has the skills and experience to setup, manage, and maintain a database for your Web site.

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