"Site Graphics and other Jazzy Bits"
by Azam Corry
What's the number 1 reason why people leave web sites?
Do you know? Not sure?
It's slow page load!
Did you get that? Let me repeat it again ... slow page load!
In fact, judging by what I see online, I'd better shout it out so
that everyone can hear me clearly ...
PEOPLE LEAVE WEB SITES WITH SLOW PAGE LOAD!!
"Eh?", you're thinking "What's this guy on about, I've got a
great site, nice layout, well written, interesting ... they'll
wait for my page to load!"
They might ...
IF they've been there before.
But what about all those first time visitors? Unless they're
pretty certain that it's going to be worth the wait...
bye-bye!
They've gone! So has the marketing time, effort and cost it took
for you to get them there! It doesn't matter how good your site
is, if you make a new visitor wait too long, chances are they
won't.
They'll never see all your hard work ... what a waste!
Speedfreaks
The very nature of the Internet adds a sense of urgency to the
online experience of most users. The majority of people online
are fairly new to the net. They are overwhelmed by this exciting
new world they've discovered.
There's so much to see and so little time in which to see it. The
cost of time online contributes to these feelings. This is
especially true for those who live outside the US, where ISP
charges and call rates can be substantially higher.
I usually have two or three browser windows open at a time, so I
always have a fresh page to look at whilst others are loading. If
you get a visitor like me the load time won't matter. But like
many that make their living online, perhaps yourself included, I
am fortunate to have the luxury of a large monitor, most surfers
don't. Also, in my experience, few surfers are comfortable
jumping between windows in that way. Think about the average
user's experience and not your own.
Always keep in mind ...
On the net people want it fast, FAST, FASTER!
Everything on your web page adds to it's download time.
*Everything*. Remember that!
By far the greediest of the byte gobbler's are audio, graphics
(especially if animated) and Java applets.
So ask yourself ...
"Do I really need that welcome voice message?" Or the fancy Java,
or the cool graphics? In fact - excuse me - I'm going to butt in
here and tell it to you straight...
no, you don't!
Not unless you happen to be selling something inextricably linked
to one of these items. This might be the case with graphics for a
graphic design web site, for example. But even then, my advice...
keep it to the bare minimum on your home page.
Get them in the front door first ...
once they're safely inside, then you can show them how
beautifully you've decorated your house!
For the graphics you have to have (and we all need some), make
sure the file sizes are as small as possible by compressing them
to the point that any further reduction would result in
distortion. If you don't know anything about this, don't worry.
There are a few online services that can do this for you.
Alternatively you can buy a software application to help you with
this task. The excellent Adobe Image Ready (you can download both
a Mac or PC version) will automatically do this and several other
things (like making animated banners) for the graphics you use
online.
This latter option may work out cheaper for you in the long term
and saves a lot of time, but as always, decide what would be the
best for you in your situation.
Cut it out!
Don't put anything on your home page that doesn't have an
important reason for being there. You're reading this because you
want to make money online, right? So just take a minute (later...
not now!) to examine the elements that make up your page and ask
yourself for each "Will this help me to make money?" If the
answer is "No", then bin it.
Be merciless!
Only give space to things that will increase your bottom line.
Bear in mind however that some items can add to your site's
success and profitability in indirect ways, depending on your
business. For example, a chat room could be used as a means of
allowing visitors to interact directly with your staff. This may
be with sales or customer support personnel depending on your
product and focus.
Personally I don't subscribe to the generally held view that
visitors don't like to scroll the page and so it must kept short.
In fact, I'm inclined to believe ...
it's a load of rubbish!
People use scroll bars in their word processors and Email
programs every day. And I don't care what anyone says - if you
find the content sufficiently interesting ...
you'll keep on scrollin' down that page!
I hate sites that spread information over many short pages! I
feel like I'm constantly waiting for pages to load. I feel that
the site owner is inconsiderate, or trying to get extra banner
impressions on my time. I often get fed up and leave.
But - and this is a big but - your homepage is different.
It must load quickly and everything on it adds to it's download
time, remember?
For this reason don't make your home page too long. I recommend
you stick to between one and one-and-a half screen lengths unless
the page is almost entirely text, in which case you can safely
increase on this.
© 1999-2000 Azam Corry "Do it Better. Do it Faster. Do it Right!"
Online since 1998, Azam Corry can help you succeed. No-Bull
Marketing Help, Tools & Resources: http://NowSell.com/?Jazzy
Reprint Rights eBooks & Packages: http://eBookSaver.com/?Jazzy
==> Subscribe to Azam's Biz Bits Marketing eZine and get a hot
selling ebook plus other gifts FREE! BizBits@NowSell.com
Back
"Do you wait for pages to load?"
(756 words)
Most surfers wait for pages to load, use these simple techniques to avoid wasting all that time. | 
English 
Français 
Español 
Deutsch 
Italiano 
Portugues 
