Janet Kaiser on tue 10 aug 99
------------------
I have been working on The CoA web site including The International Potters =
Path
for most of this year. It is not perfect, neither does it offer =
state-of-the-art
stuff. It has been lost twice (thanks to PC crashes) which meant starting =
again
from scratch (because of the programme I use and the lack of back-up =
facilities
over 1.4 MB). I am no expert and so the real experts will think this is =
=22the
blind leading the blind=22 but, I have taken a lot of advice along the way =
as well
as learning from experience. I share what I consider the most important =
points
with you. So, here goes for what it is worth...
1. Sort out what you want to put on your site before you start building. =
Like
any good architect start with a basic plan and allow for additions you may =
(or
may not) want to add later. For example, if you produce different kinds of =
pots
like domestic/non-domestic, functional/non-functional,
raku/earthenware/stoneware/porcelain etc. decide before you start on how to =
set
out your =22electronic exhibition=22.
2. Plan for pages which will fit on A4 or equivalent paper when people want =
to
print your web site as a =22hard copy=22. There is nothing more tiresome =
than
printing a page and ending up with text missing or just a single line on a
second sheet. If it does overflow onto a second sheet then make sure it is a
lot... Also make sure images are not split in half by a page break.
3. Keep it simple. Since being on-line I have found a lot of people cannot =
view
images or graphics and get annoyed if there are too many pictures, buttons =
and
stuff. To reduce this frustration, use ALT tags for all images. The space =
where
an image should be then has an =22alternative label=22 or description of =
what they
should be seeing. This is also good for images that take time to download...=
At
least the viewer can then read what he/she is waiting to see and if you run =
the
cursor over the image when browsing, this tag will also appear. Nifty, eh?
4. Keep the size down. Not all users have megabytes of free space to =
download
web pages. Also remember slow modems/transfer rates are the rule, not the
exception. If the image/page does not download in under 20 seconds you will
loose a lot of potential viewers before they see what you are offering. When
scanning images use 100 dpi maximum. It is more than adequate for viewing on
screen and IMHO solves the copyright problem... if printed out it would be =
too
poor to copy or use.
5. Keep to one format. Do not have a different layout on every page. Keep
navigation bars and stuff in the same place throughout.
6. Surf around and make notes on the sites you like, admire and enjoy =
visiting.
What makes them enjoyable? And the same goes for irritating sites... My pet
hates are those wretched banners, etc. and bad colour combinations like =
bright
pink writing on a lurid blue background... They can make me feel sick -
literally=21=21 Sensitive little flower that I am=21
7. LINKS: the web works the way it does, because sites link to one another. =
If
your site does not have links to others it becomes a dead end. It will be
=22invisible=22 to many search engines no matter how often you =
=22register=22. Your
rating will also depend on the number of links to your site as well as from =
it,
so it is vital to get other sites to link to you. However there are ground
rules... when you link to another site, it must be to their home page not =
just
any old page (this is what all the legal fuss is about in the press, not the
fact links were extant per se). Make it obvious from your text it is a link =
to
another site. This is usually from a part of your site labelled =22links=22 =
or
similar. Just remember that once someone uses a link they are usually =
=22lost=22
from viewing your site for the present, so do not place them at or near the
start=21 (Yes, I know this is obvious, but it is suprising how many are =
sited up
front or in the middle of text). Check your links once in a while to make =
sure
they are all up to date and working.
8. Search engines. Most are automatic, but some (like Yahoo=21) are still =
actually
using real people=21 There are lots of sites and advice =22out there=22 =
about this, so
I will not bore you with my experiences. Just see http://www.bruceclay.com =
to
start with...
9. Keep it up to date=21 There are sites on the www that went out of date =
years
ago=21 Whether advertising raku workshops in Florida (1996 - the earliest I =
have
come across to date), or conferences in Beijing(1997) it is frustrating when
they turn up on searches. And do not forget to change any information like =
new
telephone number, address, fax, contact details, names of people involved, =
etc.
Make it easy for people to e-mail any problems they have with your site.
10. Do not wait until you feel that it is =22perfect=22 before uploading. =
Start with
a simple site and build on it... You will find it will never be complete or
perfect=21 You will spend loads of time improving and changing it for your =
own as
well as other users' enjoyment. Check it out using different browsers on
different size PCs. Go round to friends and check your site on their
PC/Mac/Laptop etc. You may be in for either a pleasant or nasty suprise, so =
be
prepared=21
11. Make a back-up at every stage... (enough said)
12. Tell all us clay buds when it is out there and give the complete URL as =
part
of your signature...
Hoping this is of some help...
Janet Kaiser
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters Path
WEBSITE: http://www.the-coa.org.uk =2A=2Aupdated=2A=2A
EMAIL: postbox=40the-coa.org.uk
| |
|
