Strategies to Developing Websites

There are several strategies to developing websites that webmasters should follow for optimal results. Creating a website is not as simple as just throwing together some HTML and hosting it on the Internet.

The overall aesthetic value, functionality and quality of content on your website combine to create a powerful design that draws crowds. If your strategies to developing websites focus on these elements, you will be successful.

The functionality of a website is dependent upon the programming skills of the developer. In other words, a website built entirely in static HTML will likely have far fewer features and functionality than a dynamic website built with Adobe Flash or PHP. Choosing which platform to use depends on the intended use of the website. The list below outlines some specific uses for which each programming language or development tool is most effectively used.

Best Uses For Web Technology

• Flash: Adobe Flash is ideal to create entire web pages that make up an interactive application, which runs in the Adobe Flash Player browser plug-in.
• Java: Java is used ideally as an integrated web page component that allows a java application to run within the page.
• PHP: PHP is currently the most popular and powerful scripting language. When embedded into HTML, PHP dynamically creates output HTML pages based on user input.
• XML and XHTML: XML is used to easily share data over the internet. XML files can be "read" by XHTML pages, which are identical to HTML but use XML syntax.
• Ruby on Rails (RoR): Written in the "Ruby" programming language, this web framework is used much like Java to create web based applications.

If you are more interested in quickly setting up your website rather than spending countless hours creating the exact layout that you want, you may consider using a free website template.

Otherwise, if you intend to customize the layout yourself, there are some important tips you should follow:

1. Easy Navigation - The website should be laid out with the simplest sitemap possible. A single navigation bar should run either across the top or down one side, and doesn't change from page to page.
2. Ease Off the Media - Video and photos are great, but don't overdo it. People generally visit websites for text content, and too much media can quickly overwhelm a visitor.
3. Too Many Ads - Avoid the temptation to earn more income by plastering the entire page with ads. A clean page attracts visitors (and potential customers), but too many ads will drive visitors away.
4. Flash Intro - Don't use one unless your entire website is created using flash.
5. Verify All Links - Make sure to verify every link on every web page you create.
6. Open External Links - All external links should open up in a new window so that visitors don't leave your website.
7. Clean Text - Avoid attempting to make text interesting by using various fonts or font sizes throughout a web page. Instead, use a standard format throughout all of your web pages.

Once you've designed your website, the job isn't finished. Building a popular website requires constant maintenance and updating. No site loses traffic faster than a stagnant one.

Constantly refresh your links with newer resources and tools for visitors. This will tell visitors that they can expect to find the latest and the greatest information and tools at your website.

Additionally, one of the most important things that a webmaster can do is to constantly update web page content. This usually means adding new articles or newsworthy content to the website every few days or every week. The quality of your content will also impact visitor volume. Simply taking articles from other websites won't work because Google may find the content on the other website first. Ideally, you should either write your own articles, or hire a writer to write unique and fresh content for your website.

One of the greatest developments in web technology was the advent of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Its is to define the style of HTML or XHTML web pages. The beauty of this approach is that by modifying one or two .css files, you can change the style of hundreds of web pages that were built based on that style sheet.

Using CSS greatly reduces the time it takes you to create new content, because you simply need to create a template page that is identical to the rest of your site. All you do is edit the page content, save it, link to the page from your website, and you're done.

An even easier approach to create new pages on your website is to use a Content Management System (CMS).

A CMS is used by webmasters of large websites to manage content, especially when there are several writers producing content. A CMS allows authors of web content to edit and modify web page content without any web programming skills. Using a CMS can save you significant time when you are adding content and expanding your website.

The current most popular CMS applications are:

• Joomla!
• Drupal
• PHP-Nuke
• Mambo
• PHP-Fusion
• Plone
• Xaraya
• ezPublish
• CPG-Nuke DragonFly

Owning and operating your own website can be both exciting and rewarding. If a webmaster follows these strategies to developing websites, the potential for earning income, making new friends, or simply having your voice heard is tremendous. However it also requires persistence, patience, and some hard work. But as you grow and expand your website, in time it will mostly support itself.

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