Lots of things go into websites than you may think. From the start and initial design to the tiniest detail, web design may seem difficult for the uninitiated. Try using these tips to step up to the challenge.

Be careful with the color combinations you use when designing your website. Your content should be read easily without assistance or adjustment. In general, a light background with darker text is much clearer than the reverse situation. Ask someone to look at your color schemes to ensure you are making the right choice.

You want to have a site that is easy to navigate, if you want to attract visitors. Your links need to be prominently placed, easy to understand and functional. Menus can also make it easier to navigate your site. Ensure that there are links to all of your main pages, such as the home and contact pages, in a prominent location on every page.

Your visitors should be able to see your content regardless of the browser they are using. Test your pages with different browsers to make sure it is displayed properly. Something that functions fine in Firefox, might not even appear on the screen of a computer using Internet Explorer or Chrome. Therefore, you should check how all the pages of your website display in all the major browsers on the market, before turning your site live.

Try using readable and professional-appearing fonts. The quality of a professional website is measured by it's fonts. Don't use fancy fonts, such as Comic Sans since many computers don't have them. A font can be subset to the default font on your user's computer if they don't have it. This often looks terrible.

Use shortcuts as often as you can. Nearly all facets of website creation have shortcuts you can take, so the time you take to learn them once can save you time on everything over and over in the future. You can even use HTML codes that let you make quick changes to pages without the need to upload them again.

Don't add any pop-ups to your site. While you might see these as valuable in some form or another, most people find them rather annoying. When these windows pop up on the screen, you are likely to frustrate your visitors to the point that they are determined never to return.

Your site should be optimized to handle older editions of Internet Explorer, such as IE7 and IE8. People usually say they hate Internet Explorer, but many people still use it. These require the use of some workarounds. Make sure you look at the very vexing "box model bug" that IE experienced.

Do not go overboard in using lots of fonts when creating your website. Consider how the ones you choose appear on standard screens since serifs like Times New Roman can be tough to read. A lot of sites use Verdana since it isn't hard to read when it's any color or size.

File types have a lot to do with the speed at which your website loads. Your graphics should normally be GIFs or JPEGs. PNG and BMP files take up a ton of bandwidth. Keep your graphics at a reasonable size to save space.

Find your target audience and ask what they think of your site. You can use this to help with your site's design and to put features on it. Advice from what your target audience wants to see is pertinent to the design of your site.

Practice website development and you will get better. The reason to do this is to ensure that you understand how to apply the information you learn. The last thing you want to do is think you've learned something but didn't properly digest it.

If you want to have videos on your website, you should first confirm with your web host that they will allow this. Some hosts do not permit videos to be hosted on their servers. Do not waste time by building videos to be be hosted on a site that does not allow the space you need for FLV or similar files.

An important aspect of your site is security. For example, if people are purchasing products from you and entering their credit card numbers, you want to get an SSL certificate. You can also consult with the host about security features they may have for the package you choose.

You'll sink or swim based on the quality of your Website creation. If you do it right, it will set you apart and make you stand out and succeed. However, there are things to keep in mind when designing for web application. Asheville Web Design Companies If you utilize the tips from this article, you will be able to design a great website on your own.