Things to remember when making a home page -
Titles? Yes. Besure to title your page in the Head so that when you page is listed in a search engine and when a viewer is looking at the top of the web page they get an idea of what your page is about.
Loading time, should you compromise. This may sound cruel, but I don't care. I have a cable modem hookup and can down load quickly, if someone is still using a 14.4 or whatever that was, modem and doesn't want to wait for my pages to download, then go on I say. That's how I feel. I work hard picking the correct pictures, the proper music and I don't want to make a nasty looking pages because someone doesn't want to upgrade their connection. If you are interested you will wait (I used to when I was still a slow loader). I never blamed the web page artist (do you know how big Monet's paintings really are?), I blamed my slow connection. That's how I feel.
Keep two or more broswer pages open, either all in one browswer or in a couple. That way if you want to look at something while working on line on your website, you can, without having to hit the "back" button all the time, or getting lost and forgetting what you do. Also, it is helpful to look around at what you are working on, or what files/images you have uploaded already.
Use subdirectories. I love them. They help you stay organized. I have a sounds and images directory (and if they get big - I make more) and then I also have subject directories, which have their own image directory. I try to keep my sounds all in one general directory - and then you could categorize that if need be. Let's say I have a DECOR directory. In there I keep all my HTML pages and then I have a sub-directory of images - where I keep all the images for those pages. This will make updating and categorizing so much easier. It is a pain to do it later on, so if you start out that way - you will be so much happier.
If you are a Geocities member join different neighborhoods as you make different subjects. It is a lot easier than moving your pages later. You just need a separate e-mail address. Remember it is a no-no to use the new neighborhood as a gateway to your old pages. You must make legitimate pages in that neighborhood and then you may link, like you would to anyother address, you want. Just remember your images, sounds, pages, etc. should be at their own Geocities site, not just a page from one neighborhood taking you to the pages in the other. (i.e., my Gardening pages are at PicketFence, my pet pages are on Petsburg, my Florida tour pages are at TheTropics/Cabana, my tour of New Orleans pages are on BourbonStreet/Delta and my love pages are at Paris/Parc). I still link to common subjects on my original PicketFence pages, but I have many pages up in my other neighborhoods addresses also.
Updating when you have a LOT of pages becomes a pain - do not put a site map on every page - instead make a link to your map and then you only have to update that one page when you add a new page or series of pages.
If you are a Geocities member - click on the watermark to see where the computer has placed you. If you don't like it (I suggest you do this anyway), find out where you want to be listed and copy the code into the appropriate pages. This way you are sure to be listed in the proper category. I am doing this on ALL my pages (almost 200) but I am almost done. From now on, I have copied the various codes I have used into my "Needed Snippets" folder to use on every page I do from now on. Of add it to your style folder. But since I have about 10 different categories, I just saved them all in one spot.
Make sure there is a link back home and back to the page you just came from. Sometimes we forget about the "back" button, especially if you are new on the web.
Keep a template of all the things you use over and over (links back to home, graphics, music, etc) and then you can edit it w/different graphics, but keep somethings the same on EVERY page. I keep mine on a note pad page and everytime I find something that I think I will need many more times, I open that page and copy and paste. This is saves LOTS of time, and also elimiates bad links (as it was only typed once). I call this my "Needed snippets" folder.
If you use a web page editor, I used FrontPage 98, be sure to check all the links. I do not update with the editor and when I up load it likes to change things to suit itself. I have to check my pages and make sure nothing is missing. Especially backslashes.
Do not make a separate page for web rings. It makes people angry to go to a page w/o the ring on it and then to have to go to another page and scroll down. Keep the web ring you joined at the bottom of the page you joined it with. If you have a lot, you have a lot, but it sure makes it easier.
Keep a separate awards page(s), it is just easier and that way people only need to look at them if they want. If it is a special award - then I put it on both pages, but lets face it - most awards are just ways to get people to come to your pages. Also, make a signature that tells the person they have received the award and links them to the page where they can pick up the award - then you just hit reply (after viewing the page) and the signature and you are done.
Although I use frames on some of my pages, I prefer the majority to not have them, as I truly hate it when I get stuck in someones frame. Make a way for them to go to a no frames page.
Home page and map page can be the same or different. Mine are two different pages and the same page, that way when I belong to different neighborhoods I can still link back to my map w/o linking only to the other home page and then getting in trouble from the reviewers of the web pages.
Don't try to start a web ring - most people are whinny and cause problems. Or so I have found and heard. If you want people to come to your site by joining a web page, just look in the web ring index and you will eventually find something - or someone will start one soon enough. It is too much of a hassle to run a web ring - unless you have nothing more to do. Also, if you are in Geocities, get involved with your neighborhood.
I don't always do this, but I was told that if you put height & width for each of your graphics they will load faster. Also, I just learned how to make thumbnails (duh) and that helps with downloading.
©1998,1999 Karrel Buckingham All Rights Reserved.