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Web publishing
There are many reasons for wanting a web site and many people create their own. But once a web site is found, on the infinite expanses of the Internet, its immediate appeal makes the difference between raising interest for a longer look and closing it to search further. And this is where a good web designer can make that difference. However, there are a few simple rules that you and your web designer should follow. For example: make sure that your web site is clearly labelled and easy to navigate; that it’s simple enough to load quickly – not everyone has broadband; make sure your home page has appeal – you only have about 10 seconds to raise
interest;
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But much like an architect designing a house, the web designer needs your input to understand your needs. What’s the purpose? Who do you want to appeal to? What are you trying to sell? Should the web site be traditional or trendy, functional or flipped out, humorous or serious….? How much text do you intend to include? Do you have pictures? Do you want links to other web sites etc. etc. This information is the framework on which the designer can form the basis of your web site. Like the architect, the web designer will provide an initial draft for discussion and eventually you reach agreement on the final design.
Publishing
Now that your web site is created, your web designer will check to ensure that it functions well on the main computer systems and major browsers and then publish it on the Internet. But that is not the end of it. Site maintenance is also required. For example, periodical link checking to ensure that all links are working and that web sites to which yours is linked still exist. Search engine optimisation (SEO) is an aspect which all who do business on the Internet confront themselves with sooner or later. Most try it themselves, some get professional advice. There are certain basic things which can be done to make a web site more user friendly. For example: avoid using frames – most search engines don’t like them and nor do visitors; give your web site at least 5 pages – a web site needs content for search engines and surfers to find it; link each page to every other page – it’s easier for visitors and search engines; don’t include too many dynamic pages - not all search engines can give you a ranking for them; avoid using a form for the home page – their content is of little or no use to a search engine.
HTML
HyperText Markup Language is a language that provides the structure of documents in order for World Wide Web browsers to retrieve them from the Internet. HTML is an application of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) the International Standard for text markup. Markup language stems from publishing, when an editor used to mark paragraphs with a pencil. Basically, text markup provides the structure of a text, rather than its appearance in order for it to be “readable” by a variety of systems. HTML was specifically developed to be used together with the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP) to encode documents for display on the World Wide Web.
Hypertext
Is really a word which describes the sort of texts found on a web site where you can jump back and forth from one section to another using a link, as opposed to following a text, page by page, as in a book. Or jump from one web site to another located elsewhere on the Internet.
PHP/ASP
PHP is a script language and interpreter, freely available for download online. It was originally derived from Personal Home Page Tools but now stands for Hypertext Preprocessor. PHP is an alternative to Microsoft's Active Servers Page (ASP) technology. ASP and PHP scripts are embedded within a Web page along with its HTML. Before the page is sent to a user, the web server calls PHP to interpret and perform the operations necessary in the PHP script. An HTML page that includes a PHP script usually has a suffix of ".php" ".php3," or ".phtml". ASP and PHP can be looked upon as "dynamic HTML pages," as content will vary based on the results of interpreting the script. PHP is a widely-used general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited for web development as it can be embedded into HTML.
JavaScript
Is a scripting language which enables web authors to design so-called interactive sites. Scripting is basically programming. JavaScript has the ability to interact with HTML in order to include dynamic content in a site. In fact it must be placed within HTML to be read and interpreted by browsers. Use of JavaScript does not require a license and may be used by anyone. Mistakenly, many think that JavaScript is a simpler version of Java. This is not the case. Java is a different language developed by Sun Micro Systems and is much more complex than JavaScript.
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