Here are some pointers on how to design a good website.

Before you start, give your website a lot of forethought.
Plan ahead! Make a sitemap, plotting out your perspective pages and how they will be linked together.

Make sure you follow all the HTML Standards.
Remember: Browsers are more efficient when the proper HTML code is used. For a list of HTML tutorials available online, click here.

Try to make your site relatively quick to load.
Generally, a main page should not be much more than about 50K. This size page will normally load within a few seconds. If you can't reduce the size of your page, consider making seperate pages. Remember: waiting for a site to load is very frustrating and browsers lose interest fast.

Be consistent with your layout.
Consistency will make readers more comfortable with your pages and gain familiarity with your site. Readers can thus find the information they need and navigate with ease, without having to stop at each page to figure out where things are.

Proofread your writing!
Be sure to check your grammar and spelling for silly mistakes. These errors are very distracting and annoying to readers.

Make your page easy to read and understand.
Use headings, lists, proper spacing, etc...so that people can scan your page quickly and get a feel for what it's about, the information that they can expect to find and where they can find it.

Looks count!
Appearance is everything when you are surfing the web!
Shoot for good design features and try to avoid bad design features.

Graphics quality can be a key factor in improving the appearance of your web page.
Try to find a good graphics package, such as Adope Photoshop, which allows you to give images a smoother, more professional look.

Every link should serve a purpose.
Use links that are relevant to your page. Also, always provide the browsers with the ability to find their way out of your laberinth of web pages. Navigation bars with options such as HOME and PREVIOUS for example are a very useful tool for readers.

Sign your documents.
Each document should contain some basic information that can act as your "signature." Such information includes: contact information, the status of the document (work in progress? finished?), date of creation, date of the last update, copyright or trademark information, and the URL of the document.

Read up on different Web Design techniques.
Read online tutorials (click here for a list of Web Design tutorials we recommend), books, and/or magazines about different web design tips, technques and advice. As with most things, the more you learn, the more you realize how little you know.