After years of working with entrepreneurs who developed their first web site using an image-based editor, the new world of internet marketing has placed a stronger emphasis on web development that conforms to technical concerns such as search engine optimization and multi-browser compatibility.
Wigging Out
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get, pronounced "whizzy wig") web site editing programs can allow anyone to develop rich, full-feature web sites without a working knowledge of HTML (Hypertext Markup Language). Many of these programs feature a "drag and drop" user interface, accomplishing eye-catching web site development in much the same way one might perform desktop publishing.
However, many, if not most of these programs generate HTML files that oftentimes results in compatibility issues. A few key concerns in developing web sites using WYSIWYG editors include:
* Text content may not be positioned at the top of the HTML file, which search engines like Google use to determine search engine ranking;
* Font sizes may not be fixed, displaying garbled or overlapping text;
* Content placement may not appear uniformly in less popular, yet fully functional browsers;
* Future expandability of your web site may be limited to the program's design interface.
Although many WYSIWYG programs are capable of developing visually appealing web design, HTML automatically generated by the program for upload to the World Wide Web may limit your web site's compatibility and expandability, long-term.
Coding by Hand
Coding HTML by hand can be a challenging, yet worthwhile endeavor, as the flexibility of hand-coded HTML measurably outweighs the time required to become familiar with the language.
Although a relatively simple programming language, HTML is a diverse subject with many facets that can be used to create a dynamic, rich web presence. There are a number of on-line tutorials offering basic and advanced HTML guidance, as well as HTML's secondary offshoot languages, such as DHTML and XML. A search on Google using terms such as "HTML how to" or "HTML tutorial" will produce a myriad of results for new and advanced programmers.
Coding your web site by hand not only allows for broadenedaesthetic possibilities, but also provides greater flexibility forensuring your site is optimized for search engine results and displaycompatibility.
Additional benefits of hand-coded HTML include:
* Wider range of design options such as of tables and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets)
* Faster page load, by reducing excess code generated by many WYSIWYG editors
* Increased compatibility with future expansion needs of yoursite, including forms, mini-applications (often referred to asscripts), and e-commerce features
On Second Thought
If the thought of developing your own web site soundsoverwhelming, delegating the project to a third-party design firm maybe the best choice. It's okay to stay focused on what makes you money -supplying your products or services - and allow others to complimentyour business with their expertise.
There are many local and national design firms that specializein web design for particular needs, such as small business ororganizational web sites. Hiring the right web design firm can bringyour business to a whole new level; be sure to perform thoroughresearch, and compare service providers before choosing the rightdesign partner for your business or organization.
Related Articles
- There Is Nothing Wrong With Using Wysiwyg Editors, If You Already Know How To Write HtmlThis article is not to persuade anyone to change their existing methods of producing websites, nor is it my intention to offend anyone. I wrote this article to defend people who like to use WYSIWYG editors...
- Dreamweaver Vs FrontPageThere are two major WYSIWYG(What You See Is What You Get) editors available for beginners. These are: Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. So the question is which one is better?
- TEN Tips For Your Web Site Home PageLoading time: try to be below 20kb less number of images specify height and width of images Html with out erros WYSIWYG editors load up your html code. so try using text editor part of your html editors instead of visual editor Images Only home page: Say goodbye to images o...
- Yellow Pages Online versus Search Engine TrafficIs Yellow Pages online advertising worth the cost versus spending your advertising dollars on SEO?
- Bring to Life your Ideal Web PagesPlanning to create and design your own web page? What can we say but - welcome to the web design world!
- Why is Validation Important?Validation in your webpages is very important as proven in this tutorial. In this tutorial youll learn about Validation and how you should be making the effort to get validated!
- How To Choose The Best Web HostingIf youre like me, you have only a basic idea of what web hosting actually is: if you want to start a website, you need web hosting!
- Custom Web site Design StrategiesDiscover the new technologies that have led to increased opportunities to express your personal creativity in web site design.
- Do-It-Yourself Web Design For Home-Based BusinessesHome-based businesses need a strong web presence to combat the inflated advertising and marketing budgets of their larger competitors, but establishing that presence through a professionally designed and developed web site may not be an affordable option. In many cases, the only cost-effective way t...
- Take Advantage of Simple JavaScript OptimizationCoding, anyone? Let Kay Zetkin show you how to reduce redundancies and increase productivity using JavaScript optimization.