Post by JS98, Kuby & Maybe TVOR on Dec 3, 2006 0:13:30 GMT 10
This is probably the best advice I have ever given.
Here's my advice.
I have done a web design module as part of my course at university so trust me I KNOW what I'm talking about.
. Back up everything. Not just onto the internet and your computer but keep a printed copy of all important text and store everthing else on CD/DVD-Rs. Viruses can wipe what's on your computer and the data from an RW disk so be careful
Get the best protection against hackers and viruses you can. Hackers can steal your product, alter the copyright and claim it as their own. Keeping a file on CD/DVD-R is absolute proof that can be used in court.
. Get a good supplier of webspace. If someone reads "geocities" in the address, they will most likely run like the wind. Working under a famous name can get you popularity.
. To keep a forum going you need a product but don't stick to one thing unless it's a hell of a lot better than anyone-elses.
Online games & RPGs go down a treat. A monthly poll is also a good idea but make it about a very popular topic.
Always, always, always reinvent the product.
My forum has review but it also has many other things like online games for example.
But don't try to do too much to soon. Make one good product and work on a second one immediately after so that the moment they get tired of the first, you will have a second product to hand.
And for God's sake, don't make a website based off a craze. You never know whether it's a short-term thing. Even the big buisnesses don't know, they usually have another product ready and waiting just in case.
. Don't break the law, especially copyright. Even if you have removed what had breached copyright law, when your website becomes popular, they will find ways of knowing.
. Get copyright on everything. Pictures and text can be copyrighted by adding the © symbol but not all products can.
. A well designed website will draw people in, even if you haven't got anything decent on the website at all. Try to use the color wheel system, garish colors scare people off.
. Advertising is everything. Find a popular website/advertising website to post your advertisement. This is the one thing that draws in most people to your website.
Also, if your website is good, you can get a good review from a review website.
. Cater for disabled people. Read up on how to make a website "accessable". The disabled people make the majority of the people who use the internet. It might be a bit difficult to do this with a well designed website so weigh it out, which is more important.
. If users can contribute to the website, like with a forum for example, put a disclamer on your website. If someone breaks the rules you can ban them or even take them to court if need be. Having no disclaimer means that anyone is allowed to do whatever they want.
. Try to keep the certificate of the website low. Not many websites are suitable for children and they are spoilt internet brats and always want more. There is potentially a large market there.
. Remember the 4 click rule. If a user can't get to any one page within 4 clicks they are likely to leave.
. Be courtious and respectful to your visiters unless they break the rules and then come down on them like a ton of text books. Charm is a very easy way to get people to view your site.
. Kiss the ass of the people who supply your website with decent products, popularity, advertising, the webspace, etc.,etc.
. If you can, cater for other languages. The most popular languages are English, French & Japanese. Be careful with Japanese though as they tend to have high standards.
In fact it's probably better to get pally with a Japanese web developer and then ask them to do it for you.
That's all I can remember right now. I'll update this as I think of some more
excerpt from ******** © John Samer 2006
I have had a popular computer games website also but I haven't mentioned that here.
Here's my advice.
I have done a web design module as part of my course at university so trust me I KNOW what I'm talking about.
. Back up everything. Not just onto the internet and your computer but keep a printed copy of all important text and store everthing else on CD/DVD-Rs. Viruses can wipe what's on your computer and the data from an RW disk so be careful
Get the best protection against hackers and viruses you can. Hackers can steal your product, alter the copyright and claim it as their own. Keeping a file on CD/DVD-R is absolute proof that can be used in court.
. Get a good supplier of webspace. If someone reads "geocities" in the address, they will most likely run like the wind. Working under a famous name can get you popularity.
. To keep a forum going you need a product but don't stick to one thing unless it's a hell of a lot better than anyone-elses.
Online games & RPGs go down a treat. A monthly poll is also a good idea but make it about a very popular topic.
Always, always, always reinvent the product.
My forum has review but it also has many other things like online games for example.
But don't try to do too much to soon. Make one good product and work on a second one immediately after so that the moment they get tired of the first, you will have a second product to hand.
And for God's sake, don't make a website based off a craze. You never know whether it's a short-term thing. Even the big buisnesses don't know, they usually have another product ready and waiting just in case.
. Don't break the law, especially copyright. Even if you have removed what had breached copyright law, when your website becomes popular, they will find ways of knowing.
. Get copyright on everything. Pictures and text can be copyrighted by adding the © symbol but not all products can.
. A well designed website will draw people in, even if you haven't got anything decent on the website at all. Try to use the color wheel system, garish colors scare people off.
. Advertising is everything. Find a popular website/advertising website to post your advertisement. This is the one thing that draws in most people to your website.
Also, if your website is good, you can get a good review from a review website.
. Cater for disabled people. Read up on how to make a website "accessable". The disabled people make the majority of the people who use the internet. It might be a bit difficult to do this with a well designed website so weigh it out, which is more important.
. If users can contribute to the website, like with a forum for example, put a disclamer on your website. If someone breaks the rules you can ban them or even take them to court if need be. Having no disclaimer means that anyone is allowed to do whatever they want.
. Try to keep the certificate of the website low. Not many websites are suitable for children and they are spoilt internet brats and always want more. There is potentially a large market there.
. Remember the 4 click rule. If a user can't get to any one page within 4 clicks they are likely to leave.
. Be courtious and respectful to your visiters unless they break the rules and then come down on them like a ton of text books. Charm is a very easy way to get people to view your site.
. Kiss the ass of the people who supply your website with decent products, popularity, advertising, the webspace, etc.,etc.
. If you can, cater for other languages. The most popular languages are English, French & Japanese. Be careful with Japanese though as they tend to have high standards.
In fact it's probably better to get pally with a Japanese web developer and then ask them to do it for you.
That's all I can remember right now. I'll update this as I think of some more
excerpt from ******** © John Samer 2006
I have had a popular computer games website also but I haven't mentioned that here.