Web Site Design: Tune-Up Your Website

Summary : You may think your web site works great. What you may not know, however, is that someone out there with another browser, modem, or monitor size, is seeing your site in a totally different way. In fact, they may not see it at all.

You may think your web site works great. It looks good to you. Everything seems to click properly. What you may not know, however, is that someone out there with another browser, modem, or monitor size, is seeing your site in a totally different way. In fact, they may not see it at all.

Of course, the cosmetic aspects of your site are less important than the content. The fact of the matter is if your web site design is not up to par, or it doesn't work, from a user's point of view, your content won't be noticed at all. If your message is lost, so is your sale as well as your visitor. How well your web design functions really determines if your e-commerce efforts succeed, or if that visitor returns..

Testing Web Design

Below are some helpful resources to tune up your web site design, and keep tabs on how well it actually works. These web utilities perform 'house calls' on your site, testing for coding errors and supplying instant results. Basic services are free. To begin the process, enter your URL at each site and submit.

• Any Browser

Browser Compatibility

Any website may have a significantly different appearance in diffferent browsers. Problems could arise in the layout, color, or even appearance of images. Testing may reveal what modifications are needed for better browser compatibility. Inviting feedback from site visitors on this issue is also very helpful.

Since there are several browsers in use, concentrate designing pages to function under those most commonly used by your visitors. If you are unsure which browsers are most common to your audience, check your site's traffic reporting software. Commonly used packages, such as Awstats and Webilizer, gather this information. When browser compatibility has been checked, rescan your code to make sure no new problems developed in repairing your initial issues.

Never assume that your web design looks good and functions well on every platform. You might be surprised what your visitors are actually seeing. Tweak and fine-tune your pages, test, get feedback, and test again. When your web site looks good, and navigates well in the most common browsers, you can focus your attention on the most important aspect of a your site; content.

About the author : Susanna K. Hutcheson operates Powerwriting.com Marketing Tips, offering free information, tips, and tricks on copywriting, marketing, and selling!