Multimedia Web Site Design

Chapter 13

13Building an Effective Web

SiteCreating a Web site is easy, but creating one that is useful and attractive takes knowledge, practice, and skill.

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Web Site OrganizationThe organization of the Web site is important. The site’s home page:

May be the only page on a site

Often introduces the Web site’s theme and provides links to the site’s other pages

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Web Site FilesEach web page is a file stored on a Web server, and has a unique URL which:

Distinguishes it from the millions of other Web pages on the Internet

Enables browsers to find it

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Web Programming The files for a Web site are created

with programming languages:Most Web programming uses HTML or other markup languages

Web design software lets you create a page, and the software then generates the HTML code

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Web Site GoalsThe most important consideration in the design of any Web site is the objective of the site. These goals reflect the goals of the site’s publisher.

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Business Site ObjectivesA business site might have these goals:

Publicizing products or services and providing a way to purchase them

Publicizing job openings and providing a way of applying for them

Providing financial information for investors

Giving contact information for offices or stores

Providing other information about the business

13Noncommercial Site

Objectives Organizations and individuals develop

Web sites for a variety of purposes:Schools and colleges provide distance learning and other information.Professional and trade organizations publish announcements and other information.Public interest groups offer information or organize volunteer efforts.

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Design Considerations Once you have determined the

objective of the site, you must consider its design:

It must be designed to appeal to its target audience.Text and graphic hyperlinks must be well-designed.Layout, color, text formatting, graphics, videos, and special effects provide the visual design.It must be designed to view well in all browsers.

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Web Page Design Guidelines

Meet the objectives you have set for the site.

Use short amounts of text. Group sets of text on one page.

Be careful with text color and background color.

Be sure content is accurate and spelling is correct.

13Web Page Design Guidelines

(continued)

Graphics and special effects should add interest, not distract.Navigation should be friendly, consistent, and useful.Name sources for information on the site if necessary for copyright.Colors, text formatting, navigation, and layout should be consistent throughout the site.