The main purpose of HTML is to enable web authors to specify structural information about their web pages.For instance tables, paragraphs, images and so on. However, HTML also provides a way of adding information about the page and its content. Such information is known as metadata, and it is added through the use of the tag.
This metatages can also be used to create HyperText transfer Ptotocol(HTTP) headers whi can provide instruction to the browser.
Metatags are placed inside the HEAD sections of web pages. The general syntax of using a metatag is as follows.
In the aove line, the dataname is a specific identifier for the information you are providing.The browser dediced how to treat the data after looking at the name. The datavalue is the information itself.
Description
Easy put, it is a basic description of the page's content, in a few sentences. Search engines often use it to display a brief page summary in the search results. An example might be:
Author
Another self-explanatory one; this one is usually used to display the name of the person who wrote the page's content (or, in some cases, the designer of the page, if this is different).
Keywords
This is one of the most popular metadata, although in reality its effectiveness is overhyped. The Keywords item allows you to specify a number of themed words and phrases which may be associated with that web page in some particular way. For example, some keywords associated with this article might be: metadata, META tag, search engines, HTTP, HTML, etc.
When you search for something in a search engine, you generally type in a few words (or perhaps a phrase) related to what you are looking for. The engine then matches up the keywords you have entered with the pages stored in its database. This is why people have been going nuts over the META keywords tag; they think that if you don't have it on each page, and don't have an extensive list of words, then you won't get very good search engine results.
In fact, the major search engines give any importance to META tags - the others base their results upon a page's actual content. However, it is still worth adding META keywords to your pages if you want good results in those engines. Words and phrases are treated differently - so for example, you would need to include the phrase "web authoring" as well as the two individual words "web" and "authoring" for best results. Here's an example tag:
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
4 Basic tip to creating killer websites.
Let's focus on the four elements that will enable you create a killer website and improve your visitor's web experience. We'll explore how graphics, fonts, pictures and videos can create an atmosphere that will be enjoyable to your viewers and you. Finally, we'll touch on the importance of consistency and how consistency can influence your personal brand.
Graphics
When creating web graphics, determine what you want your site to represent. If you're representing you, in your business, you may want to focus on graphics that reflect your personality, like your site is geared towards a product you sell or a service you provide, you'll want to choose graphics that is not distractive to the viewer, so the emphasis is placed on the products sold or services offered.
When choosing your color pallets, try limiting the color choices to no more than three and keep them congruent with each other. For example, if you're the outdoors type or your products serve those who enjoy the outdoors, you'll want to use more subtle tones such as variations of beige, brown and green.
If you're a professional web grapher or your product or service is geared towards business, you will definitely want to use shades of blue and white. If you're the assertive type or have a product that needs to stand out, use brilliant or vibrant colors. A word of caution here...don't over use these colors and limit your scheme to just one brilliant and vibrant color...you don't want people to jump off your site due to color riot.
Fonts
This may not sound important, but fonts are more important than you think. After all, people don't read your graphics they read your content. Recommended fonts include Verdana, Helvetica and Arial. Why? Because these fonts are easy to read, are available on most computers, and don't appear outdated.
When creating a killer website keep your font types consistent, bolding only words and/or sentences where necessary. Pay attention to font sizes. For example, the body of your site would typically be a font size of 10 to 12 pt, whereas your titles and sub titles would be larger.
Pictures and videos
Ok, so you have great graphics and good content, the next step would be to incorporate pictures or and/or videos. In some cases "too much" of something can be more detrimental than "too little." Don't place pictures and videos all over your website like it was a scrap book. Use pictures sparingly, in support of your content, products and/or services. The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" is relevant here. If your website is filled with a random assortment of pictures, it can become distracting to the viewer, thus pulling their focus.
When incorporating videos, relevancy is the key. Ensure the video is relevant, in size, to the overall page layout as well as relevant to the content of your site. For example, if you're selling auto parts, your video shouldn't be about dog training. (ok...that example was a little extreme, but I'm sure you get the point) Additionally, where possible, keep your videos under 3 minutes...be concise and to the point. Videos should support the written content not replace it.
Consistency
Remember to create a consistent and cohesive look and feel across all of the pages of your website; this will help to keep your viewers oriented and comfortable. For instance, you may want to keep your font type the same across all pages. Consistency is the key to building a successful brand. If you keep your message and the look and feel of your site the same, people will begin to associate with you and your brand. For example, when you look a can of soda, whose primary color is red, do you instinctively associate that can with Coke?
Lastly, you should consider split testing, commonly known as a/b split test, to test variations of your pages. This will help you to determine which backgrounds, graphics, fonts, etc. convert better.
In closing, always remember to keep your visitor's experience in mind when creating your killer website, doing so will turn shoppers in to buyers and buyers in to lifetime customers.
Graphics
When creating web graphics, determine what you want your site to represent. If you're representing you, in your business, you may want to focus on graphics that reflect your personality, like your site is geared towards a product you sell or a service you provide, you'll want to choose graphics that is not distractive to the viewer, so the emphasis is placed on the products sold or services offered.
When choosing your color pallets, try limiting the color choices to no more than three and keep them congruent with each other. For example, if you're the outdoors type or your products serve those who enjoy the outdoors, you'll want to use more subtle tones such as variations of beige, brown and green.
If you're a professional web grapher or your product or service is geared towards business, you will definitely want to use shades of blue and white. If you're the assertive type or have a product that needs to stand out, use brilliant or vibrant colors. A word of caution here...don't over use these colors and limit your scheme to just one brilliant and vibrant color...you don't want people to jump off your site due to color riot.
Fonts
This may not sound important, but fonts are more important than you think. After all, people don't read your graphics they read your content. Recommended fonts include Verdana, Helvetica and Arial. Why? Because these fonts are easy to read, are available on most computers, and don't appear outdated.
When creating a killer website keep your font types consistent, bolding only words and/or sentences where necessary. Pay attention to font sizes. For example, the body of your site would typically be a font size of 10 to 12 pt, whereas your titles and sub titles would be larger.
Pictures and videos
Ok, so you have great graphics and good content, the next step would be to incorporate pictures or and/or videos. In some cases "too much" of something can be more detrimental than "too little." Don't place pictures and videos all over your website like it was a scrap book. Use pictures sparingly, in support of your content, products and/or services. The phrase "a picture is worth a thousand words" is relevant here. If your website is filled with a random assortment of pictures, it can become distracting to the viewer, thus pulling their focus.
When incorporating videos, relevancy is the key. Ensure the video is relevant, in size, to the overall page layout as well as relevant to the content of your site. For example, if you're selling auto parts, your video shouldn't be about dog training. (ok...that example was a little extreme, but I'm sure you get the point) Additionally, where possible, keep your videos under 3 minutes...be concise and to the point. Videos should support the written content not replace it.
Consistency
Remember to create a consistent and cohesive look and feel across all of the pages of your website; this will help to keep your viewers oriented and comfortable. For instance, you may want to keep your font type the same across all pages. Consistency is the key to building a successful brand. If you keep your message and the look and feel of your site the same, people will begin to associate with you and your brand. For example, when you look a can of soda, whose primary color is red, do you instinctively associate that can with Coke?
Lastly, you should consider split testing, commonly known as a/b split test, to test variations of your pages. This will help you to determine which backgrounds, graphics, fonts, etc. convert better.
In closing, always remember to keep your visitor's experience in mind when creating your killer website, doing so will turn shoppers in to buyers and buyers in to lifetime customers.
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