Web design is not just about the aesthetics of the site. Although how it looks is a big part of it, there are other aspects to consider. Behind the design on the front end, there is whole lot going on at the back end.
If there is a technical problem, even the prettiest website will not benefit anyone. If you want some advice on how to minimize technical glitches on your website, read this article for some helpful suggestions.
Your website files live in the server of your web host. Your web host has a big responsibility in taking care of your files. In fact, it is an important business partner of your company. Your host is responsible for making sure that your website is up at all times.
That means the web server needs a near 100% uptime. When the server is down, your website is down, and no one can access it on the Internet. If your host has frequent server outages, you may want to consider changing web hosts.
If you have major changes to make on any part of your website, set up a sandbox to test these changes before making them go live. This give you the chance to iron out mistakes without the public seeing.
If you are implementing something like a shopping cart, you should be sure that all configurations are done properly so that data transmission will go through without a glitch. Do repeated tests until you are satisfied with the results.
Browsers do not all render a web page the same way. Formatting may look fine in one website, but it can be off in another. Therefore, you need to test your website on multiple browsers and platforms. Make sure that your website displays properly and that all the elements align properly. If you see something that you need to change, you can tweak the style sheet to fix the display discrepancies.
Routinely check your website for dead links. Nothing frustrates a web visitor more than to click on a link, only to find it leading him to nowhere. This just tells the visitor that you do not upkeep the website and that your content may be outdated. Do not give that impression about your website. Make sure every link works, and change or remove the ones that do not work.
Keep in mind that more and more people are web browsing using their mobile devices. Your website needs to display on these devices as well. You may need to create a mobile counterpart to your full-screen website.
Due to the small screen size, you should limit your mobile content to just the most essential pieces of information. Avoid the use of images because they load slower. Test your mobile website on mobile emulators that you can find on the device manufacturers’ websites.
If you take time to make your website user-friendly and attractive, your visitors will enjoy their visit and come back. Remember these tips to keep your website operating smoothly.
