bannermuseum

You're ready to create your pages. Now what?

Once you've created a diagram, it's a good idea to sketch your individual pages. The first page that will appear in most projects is called the core page, home page, default page, or index page. It should welcome your users and introduce them to your site. This page must load quickly or users will become frustrated and leave. As a result, you need to combine an eye-catching, descriptive title and attractive contents with a fast loading system.

Limit your graphics to those that will have high impact. Carefully select a background, small graphics, and colored lettering to attract interest. You need to begin with an introduction and statement of purpose. These should provide a quick glance at the mission of your project. Next, provide an annotated index. You may wish to include a "what's new" and "awards we've won" section.

Most core pages end with a request for feedback, survey, guest book, or other tool to collect information from users. You may also wish to include links to software that is necessary to run movies or use your pages. Include contacts for the webmaster including name, surface mail, email, fax, and voice mail. Update and copyright notices should come last.

Other informational and instructional pages should also contain an attractive title. This will be followed by text, graphics, sound, animation, and video information. Chunk information so that the text is not overwhelming. Be sure to include spaces between paragraphs and helpful headings and subheadings. Add interaction by including questions, activities, links, and opportunities to input information.

You'll also want to provide other kinds of pages. A review or conclusion page may be helpful. Also consider a credits page. Some projects require a help or map page that can assist users in navigating the project.

Once you've got a draft of your website, review other websites again for additional ideas. Also, ask others for ideas!

readRead Web Style Guide: Page Design for some background information on designing web pages.

readRead the article Once Past the Front Door by Leo Klein in The Library Journal. Learn about designing second tier pages.

As you design specific types of web pages, look for the following elements:

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