First off, how many of you like Bill Gates? Me neither !-)

Well I'm not an expert at this Web larky, but I have seen a few sites and seen some splendid Flash'y graphics. Shame, I never bother to let it finish downloading. ;-).

I've been using the 'web' since '89 when I used to have access to the ancient uunet. and alt. in the evenings at Intergraph UK.
I actually got a raise due to using the web. One afternoon I emailed a serious problem mentioned to me by my Boss, off to a girl in America at 5PM. Then I went home to a party which got boring around 11PM and I walked back to work to chat to the guys online (no girls online in them days:-(
Around 11:30 the 'Boss walks By'! Arrgh!! Quickly, I switch to a terminal session in the background displaying a reply email containing the solution and explaination of the afore mentioned serious problem mentioned by my Boss. I printed it out for him and 2 weeks later got a £1000 raise, he didn't notice me 'surfing' using the company's network.

Anyway, I digress!

Some tips about designing your home page? Well, first off get hold Frontpage Express, Netscape 4.5+ and a good text editor (I use pfe32).
The Freeserve CD and a AOL CD have most of what you need. You only need to upgrade your Internet Explorer using the Freeserve CD if you have been using an earlier version, then look on the AOL CD for Netscape and install that too, but don't make it your default browser.
Most of the Free CDs contain utility shareware software like ; Paintshop Pro, Gif Animator, WinZip

Then get a book about HTML and Javascript. Maybe Java too if you want but Java isn't always installed and isn't what its hyped up to be for homepagers. I nick most of the Javascripts I use anyway and would use PERL or PHP if I could (anyone know of a free server that allows either one?).

If you are really poor and can't afford books then learn about JavaScript! and take classes with HTML Writers Guild from these links.

Next, look at some sites and decide what you want on your page.

How about ;

An email list, a calender, a reminder service?
try www.egroups.com

A chat page, a guestbook or a forum?
try www.egroups.com, www.icq.com, www.worldcrossing.com, www.guestworld.com

A search engine?
try www.atomz.com, www.beseen.com, www.ask.co.uk

Visit www.freeserve.net, and some other portal sites most have Web Wizards to create homepages. Maybe one will suit your needs.

Here are some more helpful hints about web page design.


HIGH-TRAFFIC HOW-TO

This week we propose five unconventional ways for you to get more traffic to your home page

1. Place your home page address on the next batch of checks you order.
2. Put your home page address on a T-shirt and wear it in public.
3. Have pencils made that have your home page address on them.
4. Make bumper stickers with your home page address on them and give out to people you know.
5. Include your home page address with your signature when you sign receipts.
6. Join a Webring

Fix up your metatags with the Meta Tag Wizard 
Then submit your site to the search engines! http://www.bravenet.com/searchsubmit/
 


Well thats enuf for now.

Good luck

Karsten

Send FREE virtual cards at Wicked Moon!