Best practices for your website
Since the earliest websites were built, new techniques, ideas and methods have been created, added, tried, tested and used to make sites more appealing and interactive. While many of these methods have been abandoned, or at least determined not to be beneficial, there are many techniques and ideas that still should be used or considered for your website. Although not a complete list, here we suggest many areas that you should consider implementing into your website for maximum benefits for you and your visitors.
As mentioned elsewhere, use HTML to deliver your sites content, and CSS to style your pages. This separation makes your page size smaller, more efficient, and allows for sitewide visual changes by editing only one file.
While many sites don't need updated and fresh content to be successful, most do. Visitors usually don't want to see the same thing every time they visit a website, so it's important to keep your content current and updated to ensure your visitors keep coming back.
Errors in your coding may cause issues in different browsers, as well as be antiquated by current coding standards. The W3C Validation Service can point out where your code can be corrected to avoid problems for your visitors when viewing your web site.
Keep your website and it's navigation easy to follow and use. Frustrated visitors won't stay on your site very long if they can't get around and find what they want easily. Often times, simpler is still better.
Many people use huge image files on their pages and display them at a smaller size. This is extremely inefficient, uses extra bandwidth, and is frustrating for users with slower internet connections. Whatever size your image will be displayed at on your page, make sure the image is actually that size to start with.
It is important that visitors understand what your site is about as soon as they first see it. Make sure that your introductory message, site name, tag line and other information relate what your site is, what it does, and why it's helpful to your visitors right away, so they know whether or not your site is going to be helpful to them.
Your site may not help you or anyone else if it can't be found in the search engines. Follow the easy-to-implement basics of SEO so that your code can effectively help you rank higher in online searches.
While you may love your website, it is important to know what others think about it and be willing to listen to their suggestions about changes from time to time, as they may be able to offer ideas to make it more effective and appealing to your audience.