part iii: html 
Content
A webpage is nothing without content.  A few pages and a bunch of links do not constitute content.  Create content before you go about promoting your site.

Visual Appeal
You want your page to look nice.  You can have all the content you want, but if it looks like crap, it doesn't matter too much.  The suggestions below will help you with both of these key points.
images
  • images should be small.  I do not have the patience to sit around waiting for a 200K image to load, especially if it on your index page.
  • use height and width tags.  This ensures that the page loads faster, and allows the viewer to read your text while waiting for the images to load.
    html:  <IMG SRC="images/myimage.gif" height="50" width="50">
  • use the border=0 tag for images that are linked to other pages.
    html: <A HREF=link.html><img src="image.gif" border="0"></A>
  • if you are using a background image for your page, ensure that it will load within a reasonable amount of time.  Be certain to specify the background colour of your page as one that ensures the readability of your text even before the background image loads.
  • save all images to your own server.
  • if at all possible, make your own images instead of using the same free ones as everyone else.  Be original and don't steal the work of others!
  • text
  • the text, link, and visited link colours must contrast with your background colour.  If I have to highlight your text in order to read it, I will likely not stay very long on your page.
  • specify the font that you wish your page to be viewed in.  Try and use common ones that most people have on their computers.  Your site may look best in crazygothicfont.ttf, but if you are the only one who has this font, it really isn't too effective.
  • make use of font size tags, as well as bold <B> and italic <I>.  Use <blink> sparingly.
  • incompatability (or your computer vs everyone elses)
  • netscape vs microsoft internet explorer?  Whichever one you choose, make sure you view your webpage in the other to check for browser incompatability.
  • look at your webpage in as many different computers as possible.
  • if you are using an old browser, get a free update to the newest one.  Pages will look better, and many features are not visible in older browsers.  New browsers enhance your security as well.  Leave old browser versions on your computer so that you can still view your webpage in it, and make adjustments to it for all the people who are out of date.
  • misc
  • not only do you want to keep images to a minimum, you also want to avoid having too much text on one page.  Divide up your pages into relevant sections in order to decrease waiting time.
  • put the the date of your last update on your main page.  People like to see a page that is maintained, and to know that it wasn't abandoned in 1997.
  • if you have a lot of subsection pages, be sure to include a link back to the main page on them.  This way, if someone finds your page thru a searchengine or link, they will beable to navigate easier throughout your entire site.
  • links:  it's nice to have a links section, but try not to put up links that everyone already knows, like yahoo or thecure.com.  If people aren't aware of these sites, then it's not likely they will have managed to find your page also.  Instead, use interesting links that people might not have seen before, such as links to your friends sites, or unique pages you've come across.
  • use a title for all your pages.  The HTML for this is placed within the <head> and </head> tags.  <title>Gloomy blue gothic website</title>
  • If you have a webpage online, you probably enjoy getting some sort of feedback from your visitors.  Guestbooks, online forms, and an email address are all useful for this.
  • be unique!  Try to make something different from the oodles of other pages out there.
  • not meaning to contradict the previous point, but I might also suggest that you look at other webpages for ideas for your own.  But don't steal their html, graphics, or ideas.
  • visitors (or, how to lure people to your site)
  • the easiest way to let people know about your website is to join webrings.  Search for ones that are compatable with the theme of your site and sign up  for them.  You can also create your own webring, but be sure it is different from the million ones already in existence.  No use reinventing the wheel.
  • submit your site to search engines.  It isn't necessarily easy to get listed on them, but they seem to beable to find the good sites on their own anyway.
  • trade links with people.
  • visiting other sites and signing their guestbook may entice them into visiting your site. please avoid saying something like "please visit my site and sign my guestbook to let me know you were there." also avoid visiting a series of websites, skipping right to the guestbook, and signing the same generic message without having any idea what is on the site.
  • comments?
  • these are just my suggestions, and are by no means comprehensive or absolute.  As a ring mistress, and online addict, I've had the chance to see a great many pages, mostly personal home pages in the "gothic" genre.
  • by no means do I propose that the glitter has faded to dust is the absolute with reference to design, but I do know what I'm doing, and know what mistakes are often made and need to be avoided.
  • email me or submit a form to make comments on these suggestions or my website in general (I welcome both criticism and compliments).

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    winter