Random Thoughts on Page Design:

• While browsing the Ad Exchange (www.theseeker.com/ads), it is apparent that many of the sites are run by novices using MS Front Page or some other WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) web editor.

  These editors have one slight advantage: Easier to get started. The major disadvantage: Huge files. One example on this site: On the Belfast articles page Records of an English church began as a 1.5MB html file. It had been typed in MS Word and saved using the "save as html" option. After dropping all the extraneous commands, the file dropped to 172k. Nearly 90% of the original file was extraneous. When you're paying for web space, the smaller the file size, the better. It's also better for visitors since the page loads faster.

  A better option is an HTML editor like HotDog (www.sausagetools.com) or EZpad (www.mmedia.is/ezpad). The programs are similar, however EZpad is free, so if you want to try one out, I highly recommend it. While initially a bit more difficult, they don't take very long to learn and the advantages are well worth the time: smaller file sizes and added flexibility.
  
  

• Slow Loads: Usually as a result of large graphics. I found one page that totalled over 100k (not really uncommon, however.) The entire page was a graphic with a map. Kinda odd.

  To make make graphics smaller:

  • Gif files: decrease size and colors
  • JPEG files: decrease size and increase compression

  Any decent graphics program (I use Paint Shop Pro) can do both of these.
  
  

• Useless pages: You already know what I'm talking about. A page that just says "Welcome to our site, use the links to navigate." Why not drop that page and put something useful up? Change the "About Us" to the index and make it a worthwhile page.
  
  
• "Page under Construction": A variation of useless pages. Why put a link to a page that is still being worked on? Total waste of time. If there is no info, don't put a link.
  
  
• Text problems: including too small, too big   hard to read  ,   annoying color schemes  , any blinking (too annoying to demonstrate). When putting a page together, check it occasionally to make sure it's legible. If you don't have a good reason for it, don't change the font size.
  
  
• Link problems: click on a link and it results in a "file not found" or "server not found." Quite often a result of bad spelling. After setting up a page, click on all the links to make sure they work. There are several free services that check the links for you (www.websitegarage.com is one I've used.)
  
  
• Other Aids: These are just a few things I thought of while writing this page. Here are other places for Good Page Design assistance:
  • CNet.com: Great resource, also on the site is download.com, one of the biggest shareware sites.
  • www.htmlhelp.com
  • www.quik-free.com/webhelp/
  
  There are many more helpful sites, but this is enough to get started.
  
  
• Pop Up ads: Go to a site, three banners pop up. Very annoying. Most of the free sites use pop ups in exchange for the free webspace that's provided. The most annoying one I've seen pops up a full page that covers the real site, and every time you change pages, it pops up again. Great reason not to use free sites. My provider (Pair Networks) only charges $5.95/month for 50MB, and also deducts a percentage for non-profit and prepayment, so total is less than $60 for a year. Quite reasonable.