More free tips to remember when creating a website.

1. Use Adobe Flash sparingly
I am a huge fan of Adobe flash, but agree that it can destroy a website very easily. It gets a really bad rap due to its annoying use with banner ads, but when used correctly, it can really enhance a website.

And that is what I like to tell clients. I use Flash to enhance a website, never to hinder it. If I think Flash is not needed, I will not use it. If I think it can be subtle, and help enhance what the client is trying to convey, I will use it. Never use Flash just to have it on your site. It will annoy the viewers and they will move on. Trust me.

2. Keep paragraphs short and concise
While reading long paragraphs in the newspaper or in a book or magazine is OK, it is not strongly recommended to use in websites. People generally just skim pages looking for the info they want, so keeping paragraphs nice and short makes it easier for them to skim it and see the info they want. I usually recommend to clients keep paragraphs no more than 4 or 5 sentences.

3. Bullet points are a good thing
In the same vain as #2, bullet points make it even easier for a viewer to get the info they want quickly and easily. While bullet points are usually frowned upon in virtually every other medium of information, they are generally accepted (and often appreciated) on a website.

4. Don’t Hotlink pics or video unless allowed
Bandwidth theft or “hotlinking” is direct linking to a web site’s files (images, video, etc.). An example would be using an <img> tag to display a JPEG image you found on someone else’s web page so it will appear on your own site, eBay auction listing, weblog, forum message post, etc.

Bandwidth refers to the amount of data transferred from a web site to a user’s computer. When you view a web page, you are using that site’s bandwidth to display the files. Since web hosts charge based on the amount of data transferred, bandwidth is an issue. If a site is over its monthly bandwidth, it’s billed for the extra data or taken offline.

A simple analogy for bandwidth theft: Imagine a random stranger plugging into your electrical outlets, using your electricity without your consent, and you paying for it. Download the image or video and upload it to your own site.

5.  Stock Photography is your friend
To help break up text, it is recommended that each page should have at least one image on it. While pictures of your company, products or people are best, Stock photography works wonders in a pinch. There are sites on the web that you can get Stock Photography pretty cheap as well.

One great place I use all the time is istockphoto.com. Just create an account and for a small fee (MUCH smaller than most other site), you have access to thousands upon thousands of stock images. Go search for free and check it out.

That’s all for today.