Web Design | Programmers Community

Add a Questionnaire to Your Website

April 8, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Adding a survey to your website gives you vital information as to how your site is working well for you, what may be wrong with your site and what your customers are looking for. Surveys can be added to your website using HTML code which is short for Hypertext Markup Language. Putting a survey onto your website is a fairly simple process, but you will need to have some basic knowledge of computers.

Your first task will be to find a survey generator website. These companies offer survey software directly on their website to construct a survey to meet your needs. You will need to decide what types of questions you want answered, how many questions you will have and what visual style you are looking for. Most companies will need a username and password and some additional information to get you started.

Once you have created your profile, you will need to create your survey. You will want to choose how your customers will answer each question. Will they have multiple choice answers or a form to input their answers? Not all survey companies give you these options, so you will want to check before you begin the process. Some companies will also let you enhance your survey with pictures and will even email you when someone participates in your survey.

Once your survey is complete, save it. You will either be given the HTML code at this point or you may have to click “get code.” Copy the HTML code and paste it into the proper place on your website. If needed, contact your website publisher for assistance.

Filed Under: Programming, Web Design Tagged With: Character encodings in HTML, HTML, Website

When to Turn to a Pro

April 4, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Are you considering putting up a website and perhaps building your online presence? If so, there are some excellent ways for you to do this. The key is to know what your own limits are. For example, if you are not familiar with PHP or how to use software, it may be best to turn to a professional to handle your website design. Doing so could save you money in the long run and it may help to make your website easier to manage.

Image by martymadrid via Flickr

When a Pro Is Best

There are some instances when you need to turn to a professional web designer to handle the creation and management of your website, blog or operating system. Any type of web-based or software-based program may need this type of attention.

If you need a complex e-commerce website for your business, turn to a professional who can handle the security and intricate details of putting up such a site.
If you are looking for a website that will perform in a specific, unique way, you likely need a professional to help you. Programming languages can be hard to learn and use unless you have the information you need.
In some cases, you will want a flawless website that runs properly and performs impressively. If you just want a quality site that uses the best software and hardware, turn to a professional.

You can learn website design on your own, but doing so requires time. More so, this area of technology continues to change on a regular basis and thus, you will need to plan on updating your education on a regular basis, or turn to a professional.

Filed Under: Programming, Web Design Tagged With: PHP, Web design, Website

Choose a Color Palette for Your Web Design

January 22, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

As you design your website, whether you are paying for a top-notch design or are simply doing your own with a WordPress theme that you upload via File Zilla FTP, you will run into colors. Colors can easily make or break your website, causing visitors a sharp feeling of pain as he or she squints trying to read the text, or a squeal of delight brought about by attractive the colors are. Considering this, an attractive color palette for your website is essential.

A color palette brings a level of consistency to the design of your website. For instance, the primary colors of your website will be copied to your toolbar or the borders used within the site. Hyperlink colors, as well as the text of titles and body text of articles, will be coordinated accordingly.

However, the color palette doesn’t just bring universal colors to your website and make it consistent through different sections. Creating a color palette uses complimentary colors that work well together, taking advantage of color theory for the use on the internet.

There are plenty of websites that you can find that will create a color palette for you. When you create one you like, try it out. Also, be sure to make a copy of your palette, noting the exact colors, in case you need to recreate it in the future. Or you could use something like FileZilla to upload the file you have created to your website.

Once you go through these steps and find something you like, you will have a consistent color palette. Ideally it will blend perfectly with any header graphic or logo you use, creating something that looks sharp and appealing. In time, it will be something that is distinctive to your website, bringing visitors to your site something that they come to expect. Because of the attractive and easy to read design, your audience will be able to fully focus on the content of your website.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: FileZilla, palette, Primary color

Educational Requirements for a Web Designer

January 12, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Web design is a very good business to be in, but is also brutally competitive. Only those who have the best understanding of the web design business will be able to find employment as a web designer at a top firm, or even get enough jobs to work freelance. Although there are certainly people who have learned about web design on their own, most of those who are out there getting the best jobs have gone to school and gotten a degree in computer information systems and web design. Many web designers are able to work remotely on their desk tops using Tight VNC and Putty, freeware programs that allow them secure connections and remote capabilities while trying to keep abreast of this competitive field.

A degree in web design can be obtained at a traditional university, but is also a very common degree offered at technical schools or community colleges. A student who is interested in obtaining a degree in web design can expect to take a full range of courses to prepare them for a career in the field.

The student will generally have to take some general education classes, even at a technical school. The student will likely have to take a basic English class, sociology or psychology, college algebra, and maybe a few other classes like speech, history, or chemistry. After they have taken their core classes, the student will have a wide range of computer classes to take. The first classes will teach the student computer basics. Learning to use common programs like Microsoft Office is very important for anyone who may work on computers. Other common classes will include teaching the student basic computer repair and learning the basics of a programming language or two.

Finally, the student will be ready to take specialty classes in web design. They will learn HTML and CSS, of course, but there is much more to it than that. The student will have to study graphics programs so they can create graphics for their web sites. Some of the hardest classes will put everything together for the student. When students graduate, they will be ready to design web pages.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: HTML, Microsoft Office, Web design

HTML Can be a Bother

January 8, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

You may see a lot of HTML around on the web, but you’re fed up with some of it. Do you have some pet peeves with HTML? You’re not the only one.

Some people feel that HTML can be a good thing when done properly, but if not, it can be exasperating. For example, when websites collage their sites with large, massive graphics. This not only limits the text which can be an essential component to the web site, but it also can increase the amount of time it takes to load a web page. In a culture where fast food and instant messaging are the norm, no web viewer is going to sit around for longer than a couple of seconds to see the page, especially when there are so many other options out there on the web.

Another annoyance can be overly-decorated backgrounds. Backgrounds with gaudy patterns or graphics completely distract from the web content and make it difficult for the viewer to clearly see the text. Although a background may look appealing in the website-building process, web designers and web developers should view the finished product carefully before proceeding. It may seem cool to have multi-colored text, but viewers do not prefer to read web content in rainbow. Like you, the public has the habit of viewing dark text on light backgrounds (i.e. black print on white or cream backgrounds in newspapers or books). It may seem a step ahead to do the opposite, but in reality, it has to be done right in order to look professional. If a web designer is attempting to join in the fashion-forward color black and apply this to their entire web page background, it can come across as amateur rather than polished and sophisticated.

Although HTML has been viewed as an essential, it can be a bother when applied poorly.

Filed Under: General, Web Design Tagged With: HTML, Web design, Web page

Learning Web Design

January 3, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

According to recent statistics, there are about 16,000 design firms in the United States, earning nearly $7 billion per year. Salaries for graphic designers averaged about $42,000 (as of May 2008). Designers who also work on the web must also have, in addition to artistic skills, computer technology knowledge. You can learn graphic design skills in many different ways. Here are a few of the ways you can prepare yourself for a career in the graphic design field.

Complete an associate’s degree in web design. Check out local resources to see if there is a school near you that offers such programs. These associates programs generally run about two years and require that you have a high school diploma (or GED) for entrance. You will learn typography, digital illustration, multimedia design, and more. You may also be able to find online programs.

Four-year bachelors degree programs include other general classes such as English, math, and psychology, in addition to design classes. You may also be required to take classes in computer programming, ethics, and database design. A high school diploma and various entrance exams are required for acceptance to most four-year colleges and universities.

There are adult or community education courses available as well. These are generally short-term, evening classes. They also do not usually require any prior education or experience. You will generally take one class at a time, such as courses in Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and other design tools.

Use online tutorials on web design. There are many free ones out there; you’ll just have to do a little research. You will have the ability to go at your own pace and at your convenience.

Read books on design. For instance, “Web Design for Dummies” and other such titles are a great way to get a real-time look at design. These books can also help walk you through learning this skill.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: Graphic design, United States, Web design

Increasing Web Traffic

January 1, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Many companies are looking for ways to increase traffic to their website. Web traffic can really make or break your company since many companies want a strong presence on the Internet.

Here are ways to help increase traffic to your website.

A great way to boost up traffic is by writing articles on websites that relate to your company’s industry. Make sure the articles are grammatically correct and are well written. Include backlinks so consumers have something to click that will take them directly to your website. Just by doing this you will notice a bit of a bump in your numbers. If a consumer likes what he or she reads, they can head over to the website right away by clicking the backlink.

It could be beneficial to consider having an e-mail newsletter to help boost up your traffic. Getting weekly or monthly newsletters will help remind consumers about your website. Newsletters will come in handy if you’re having any type of special or sale going on.

If there are books that are related to your company, write reviews on them. This is a great way to interact with other people while promoting your company. When a person reads your review they will have access to your website through your profile or any links you include in the review.

Blogging is huge right now. Whether it’s on your website or a personal site, blogging can quickly and easily help increase traffic to your website. If you don’t have time to blog, hire an affordable writer to do the blogging for you.

Sign up for Google AdWords to keep track of your targeted web traffic. Using a pay-per-click campaign can help increase your traffic. Start with a small amount until your website gets bigger.

Increasing web traffic doesn’t have to be hard. Following these tips can help increase traffic, which will help your business make more money.

Filed Under: Web Design Tagged With: AdWords, Google, website traffic