Hi,

Welcome to all our new subscribers that have joined us in the last week.
Today, we will continue on the getting started aspect of the business. One of the key decisions to make is whether or not to have a website. One of the worries with this item is that you have no knowledge of HTML, the websites written code, or of what to do in layout of the site, and many others I'm sure.
With regard to the HTML code, there are many free resources on the Internet where you can learn the code.  It is very simple and easy to use once you understand the few basic principles.  You can find one of these resources at http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_primary.asp - this is where I learned the basic HTML and started to use it.
Our article today gives out a few ideas of what to do in laying out your website - simplicity is the key.

This week’s content:

1.  This week's Article entitled "Clean and Simple Web Design Secrets"
2.  Something for the Newbies
3.  Something for the Oldies
4.  Recommendation of the week

1.         This week’s article

Title:     Clean and Simple Web Design Secrets

We live in a technologically-exciting world. Even brand new webmasters today can make use of easy to master web design tools that add functionality only a web programmer could have dreamed of just a couple of years ago.

And that is great, right? Wrong! Quite the opposite is true.

The accessibility of such web mastering tools has resulted in hundreds of "junk" websites that have so much going on at every page that the web surfer is completely overwhelmed.

Some of these web pages have as many as 7 or 8 distinct content areas contained on an 800 by 600 pixel screen... a flashing header graphic, several paragraphs of text, an opt in form, Google ads, Amazon ads, affiliate links, audio and/or video buttons to push, and sometimes even more.

Don't be tempted to make such glaring mistakes. It is unlikely that most web visitors will successfully navigate such a site. There are too many decisions to make, too many distractions. And the content is completely lost among all the technology and advertising.

So, what is the answer? Most successful webmasters today--that is webmasters who have visitors coming back over and over to their site and who are making money and/or getting some other desired response--will tell you that the answer is clean and simple web design. Usability is the key.

Great website designs focus on 3 basic values: simplicity, clarity, and speed. In other words, you need a site that is visually appealing, but at the same time downloads quickly and is easy to navigate.

To design a site that has visual appeal, you can make use of simple graphics, color, and graphical text. At all costs, stay away from flashing animations and busy backgrounds. In fact, a white, cream, or light yellow background with black or dark blue text is best, if you want the majority of visitors to be able to read your text easily.

It isn't necessary to be an accomplished graphic artist to design a visually pleasing content site. Grab a photo or two from a free stock photo site such as www.sxc.hu, add some colored text and a tagline using a graphics program like Windows Paint or Paint Shop Pro, and that's all that is needed for a header.

Navigation should be simple text links or buttons, either across the top, right under the header, or down the left or right side of the screen. Make sure the text labels clearly indicate what the user will find when he or she clicks on them.

An opt in form and one or two simple ads can also be placed in the left or right panes, with your content in the main center panel. Your content pane should be the largest area on the screen, so that it draws the reader's focus.

Clean and simple web design extends to the layout of your content too. Text is most readable when it is in "chunks." This means short sentences and paragraphs of no more than 2 to 4 sentences each. Make liberal use of colored subheadings and bullets. Sprinkle a graphic or two per page to break up the text and add visual interest. Use margins (padding) around your text, so that it doesn't bump up against the edges of your navigation and ad panels. Lots of white space is crucial.

In summary, many beginning webmasters (and even some more experienced ones!) think that squeezing as much functionality into every page as possible is the right approach. It is not. What will keep people on your site and keep them coming back as well, is a clean, simple, easy to navigate design.

2.         Something for the Newbies

Do you need to design? -  Web sites - Sales pages - Mini sites - Blog graphics - Affiliate pre-sell pages - Landing pages.
You point. You click. You follow the big blue numbers. What could be simpler?  Are you a little frightened about setting up your website, or modifying graphics for your website. This program is the A to Z -  All step-by-step screen captures, supported by videos where needed. It's a massive time saver and literally takes the pain out of the learning curve.  I have tried it and learned quite a few tips that I did not previously know and am now using.  Take a look:

http://newbieshelp.com/Recommends/WDD/

Amazing Web Design Secrets Revealed. Web design expert and author Shelley Lowery reveals all of her professional web design secrets in her latest book, Web Design Mastery. Finally! A COMPLETE web design system that makes professional web design easy...with 100s of copy and  paste codes. Web Design Mastery is quickly becoming known as the "Bible" for professional web design…check it out:-

http://newbieshelp.com/Recommends/SL/

If you are just starting your business and are looking for some basic guidance as to how to go about it, I strongly recommend that you visit Michael Cheney's site and look at the videos he has on offer.  The program is called "11 days to List Profits" and is a set of videos where you can look over Michaels shoulder as he goes step by step in setting up the basis of a business and create a subscriber list.  There are 40 videos to watch, and there is a task list provided at the end of each video which gives you the actions you need to take to keep up to speed with the lessons. Since this program was issued, I have heard many comments from successful Internet Marketers that they had also learned something from these videos.   I would strongly recommend that you take a look.

http://newbieshelp.com/Recommends/MC/11days.html

The subject of web site design is very important and if you are thinking about it right now, the above resources are well worth checking out.
I hope you found something of interest in today's issue and I would love to here from you at [mailto:newsletter@newbieshelp.com].

Sincerely
Derek Jones
Newbies Help Newsletter - Editor

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