Website creation

I'm not a master on creating websites, but I do know a few tips:

  1. Get a good host. It can be free, but make sure you get what you want. Find what suits you. You'll be more motivated. Of course if you like two hosts for different reasons, then keep them and crate link back to each other.
  2. Elaborating on point one, make sure you like your website and host. It is surprising how much less motivated you are when you don't like your site very much.
  3. Use HTML editing yourself. It's the best way to create a proffessional website, but you have to know your stuff. I'm learning bits. There are several tutorials accross the web. Google HTML editing. I will add some good links I find.
  4. Advertise like mad. And don't worry if your website isn't successful straight away. Be patient and don't abandon your site. Some people just have more luck than others.
  5. Elaborating on that point, even if your website isn't doing well, pretend that it is. Don't look desperate, even fake a few comments if you have too. People are more likely to come back if they think your website is successful. Most importantly, make the website look like people should be involved. The same goes as when adveritising. See below.
  6. Find a theme. I don't think I have much of a theme, but I try and loosely fit everything under the phrase 'free stuff'. Of course my other freewebs site is dedicated to Spongebob Squarepants. 
  7. If in doubt, pack your website with stuff. And not just games: they can be found everywhere and are often put there for entertainment. This implies your website is boring. Put games as a backup, not a 'selling point', because they're not. Find other things. Information is probably the best, especially information that is non-controversial and will appeal to a wide audience.  
  8. Unlike games, chat rooms are slightly different: they give an opportunity for chatting and commenting. You can turn your website into a lounge, but be careful: this can only be done when your website is successful. Otherwise, it is just a plain turn off for visitors. Who wants to chat with nobody except themself? 
  9. Beware when it comes to playing music. I abandoned my music player because it interfered with other playing music. A music player can be nice, but don't put it on automatic. And put it at the top, to make it noticeable. Putting it on the homepage is pointless: the visitors soon navigate away from that page. Put it on a page with downloads, chat or games. It is a little bit of background entertainment and visitors are likely to be there for longer.
  10. Get feedback. Use polls, email forms, rating systems, comments and a guestbook to find out what people think. People like to feel included, and they may give you useful information, too.
  11. Make it look proffessional. Try not to be too chatty. You can address the person, but use formal terms-of-phrase. Do not swear too much either. Also, check your spelling. Get someone else to read it, or use a spell-checker if you need to.  
  12. And PLEASE do not say page/website is under construction, until you are successful. Hide or save the page under draft if you must. It drives me NUTS seeing an empty site that is 'under construction'.
  13. Adding to that point, if you absolutely MUST have an under construction page, put the date next to it. Put the date on EVERYTHING, or have an updates page. Then people can see that your site is old and is being continually updated. ALWAYS update your site regularly. Even add a game or something: it doesn't matter. Just make it look like you're doing something.   

Advertising

No website can do without advertising. Here are some tips to generate instant traffic for your site:

  1. Join a social netwoking site and put your site on there. I have the doll palace and freewebs, which aren't great, but I don't really like social networking sites on the whole.
  2. Join Youtube or another video site. Create ANY sort of video and upload it onto there. Youtube is a great site that has people constantly watching the videos. Of course if you don't want to join, or don't have a video, then you can just post a comment, but it maybe marked as spam.
  3. Advertise in live chatrooms, such as the freewebs lounge. Therefore you are guaranteed that someone will see your comment, even if they don't visit your site.
  4. NEVER say please. It is off-putting and makes you look desperate. Instead say phrases like 'Feel free to sign my guestbook'.
  5. Sign other (popular) guestbooks, with a link to your page. You don't have to say anything; just put a link there.
  6. Submit to search engines. It is unlikely that it will be found, but there is still a chance. Google and Yahoo are the best and most popular.
  7. Find a popular interest, such as Spongebob, and advertise it like mad. It may even be a small part of your site, but aslong as you advertise it, people will visit your site and see the other sections. 

Some HTML tutorial sites

Write a comment

0 Comments

  • loading