nzwebs.com coaches you in web making

So you want to design your own web site?  nzwebs.com would love to help.  We are happy to brainstorm with you to help plan your pages, and we are very happy to answer any questions you have - feel free to call Julianne and pick her brain about anything related to web design, web hosting or domain names you are not sure on. As well as that, we can give you some design tips besides the instructions following on this page. Can we help you with this?

The following suggestions are not Urgent, but they are Important.

Step 1: Planning the content of your pages

Most web site designers begin with a basic design of heading - text - (image - optional).  Not just because simple web pages are easier to make, but because they are easier to read.  Sitting in front of a computer monitor isn't as comfortable as being curled up on the couch with a good book.  Make it easy for people, you want them to stick around.

For the same reason, avoid frames and tables, they slow your web page right down.  Another good reason to avoid frames and tables is that search engines hate them, and all your hard work could receive a low ranking in search engine results.  So after all that, hardly anyone will get to see it.  Besides, frames are passé already.

The purpose of your page is to let people read what they want to know, so use black text on white background.  Research shows that this is most effective and easy to read.  And use small blocks of text, and short paragraphs, they're much easier to read.  Avoid the use of busy backgrounds as they only detract from the content.  Also, if you use a light colour for your text on a dark background and your reader decides it is too difficult to read on the screen, beware.  If they print it out, it will barely be readable, as the background won't print and the text will be too light to read.

The best way to get people to return to your page is to use helpful content.  Include valuable information about your topic of expertise.  Don't be afraid of giving your knowledge away for free, that needs to be part of the service you offer.  This may not seem commercially sensible but it gives you credibility.

Step 2: Getting more visitors to your web site

Okay, so you want your web pages to stand out from the billion or so others are up there on the World Wide Web.  There are lots of ways within your control to make your web site more findable by the search engines and web spiders and robots.

Search engines scan the "meta-tags" to find information relevant to someone's search inquiry.  Meta-tags are in the source of the web page, put in at the web page-making stage.

Use lots of relevant keywords in your web pages.  There is no point just listing your keywords in your behind-the-scenes meta-tags unless they are in the content of your copy.  Some search engines think you're spamming them and they penalise you.

Name your web pages with keywords.  If you specialise in manuka honey moisturiser, don't name your product page "product.htm", name it "moisturiser.htm".

Avoid having lots of images and tables high up on the web page.  This hinders the web-bots in their ability to scan the page easily.  Or it gives the impressions that your copy which has real keywords amongst it are less relevant because they appear lower down on the page.

Go back to free stuff page.

Click for more search engine and internet marketing resources.

Step 3: Getting a web site address

There are places on the World Wide Web where you can host your site for free, well, not exactly for free, because they include advertising banners on your pages.  These are fine but I wouldn't recommend them for business sites if you have to have an address like http://members.tripod.com/~not
_easy_to_remember.htm

If possible, get your own domain name.  If you are serious about using the Internet to reach more customers, don't use www.franciszalowskiltd.co.nz unless you enjoy spelling your name out slowly all the time.  Better yet, if Francis Zalowski Ltd happens to be a carpet cleaning business, try to get a domain name like www.cleancarpets.com or www.carpetcleaning.com.  That way, there are also keywords in your domain name.  We can register your domain name for you, just call Julianne on (03)3317022 and if you mention you have been reading the Web Coach page, remind her about this offer which is only available for readers of this page, and you will get a second domain free for the first year.

You can also get a great deal on webhosting if we design your website. At these prices, lack of money is no excuse for not having a business web site.

Step 4: Marketing your web site

Now your own web page is up on the World Wide Web and you want everyone to see it.  May I suggest you refrain from spamming?  It's okay for you to send an enthusiastic advertisement by email to all your friends in your address book, but refrain from doing the same in any large discussion list you happen to belong to.  It will only turn people off.

However, there is nothing to stop you creating your own 4 line Signature* with all the information you would include about your business in a classified ad.  And don't feel you can't change it later.  *A Signature is a short, pre-written text message which automatically gets included at the end of every email.  For example, at the moment any email that leaves the nzwebs.com office has the following attached at the end of each email:
--
ASK ME HOW TO USE THE INTERNET TO REACH MORE CUSTOMERS.
Telephone Julianne: 02747 66 33 4
http://nzwebs.com/

If anyone is interested they can click on the link.  If not, fine.

You can make your own signature up in a notepad file:
(Start button/Programmes/Accessories/Notepad)  Type out your signature, make sure you include a link to your web site and save the file as signature.  Then in your mail preferences (under Options in Netscape Mail, under Stationary in Outlook Express) browse and select your signature file where it has the option to include a Signature.

For more Internet Marketing ideas and resources, click here.

CONTACT ME

Julianne of nzwebs.com
Em: j@nzwebs.com
Tel: +64 3 331 7022
Mobile: 02 747 66 33 4
PO Box 30-048,
St Martins 8246,
Christchurch,
New Zealand.