LOGO UK-COMMERCE.com

          DESIGNING YOUR WEB PAGE.

          The most important aspect for you is deciding what you want to display on your site.

          In order to assist you in being prepared to explain your concept to us we would ask you to read the following.

          PRINT(Please print this document to allow time for consideration)

          This document will help in guiding you through the process of deciding what features to place in your Web Pages. It will also assist in explaining to you what goes into Web page design.

          The design decisions that you make can then be passed on to us in order that the production process for your Web pages is fast and accurate.

          We will, initially, use our discretion on the overall design of your Web Site, whilst taking into account any specific requirements you may have. When the site is ready for your inspection we will amend the layout to take into account any changes you may require.

          INDEX

          INDEX
          • Why do you want a web site
          • Index Page and General Layout
          • Site Names
          • Main Graphic
          • Background Colour or Texture
          • Basic Page Elements
          • Other Options
          • Photos and Graphics
          • Forms to Get Customer Response
          • Promoting Your Site
          • Maintaining Your Site

          • E-MAIL TO SITE

          • RETURN TO HOME PAGE

          Please refer to the details of the various Web Site packages, that are available, to find which of the options, discussed here, are relevant to the package you are considering.

          Section 1.

          WHY

          Consider your primary reason for wanting a Web site.

          • To allow potential customers to learn about our company, and gain a favourable impression of it by providing an Internet version of your company literature.
          • To assist you in obtaining potential clients for your goods and services.
          • To sell products directly from your Web pages.
          • To use the Web site to distribute information such as Technical Support
          • To provide visitors with an information service relating to your products.
          • To be a site that provides entertainment
          • To distribute software or digital files.
          • Other reasons
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          Section 2.

          LAYOUT

          Index Page and general layout.

          This is usually referred to as your "home page."
          It is normally the first page a visitor sees when he visits your site.
          It provides an index to the other pages, which contain the primary information you want visitors to see.

          Other Pages.

          There are a number of options for the main sections available on the site:-

          * Details about Your Company. You might include a mission statement, a short history of your Company, an outline of how you do business, etc. Describe why the visitor should do business with you rather than with a competitor.

          * Describe your product Range. Photographs and text can describe the benefits to your visitors of your goods and services.

          You can also show features and applications. Each main product range can be in a different section.
          You may also consider using use your Web site as a product catalogue, which can be updated easily, inexpensively, and frequently.

          * A Technical Support section is useful if your product demands it.
          You may find it helpful to your customers to provide technical information, specifications, frequently asked questions, parts lists and diagrams.

          * Use the Web site to take orders. You can include a form which will e-mail your customer's information to you.

          * Information Section. This could be free information of interest to your potential clients that will keep them coming back to your site for another look.
          It might be news of your industry, of a related field, or something of exceptional interest.
          Give some thought to what service your Web pages will provide to draw customers to your site again.

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          Section 3.

          SITE NAME

          Site Name

          Now you need to determine a name for your Web site.
          It will be used in the style of:- "uk-commerce.com/yourname".
          It should be short and must either be a single word or two words separated by a hyphen.

          You may want to use your existing business name. But the aim of your Web site may be narrower than your organisation name implies. In that situation, choose a name that is descriptive, unique, short, and memorable.

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          Section 4.

          MAIN GRAPHIC

          Main Graphic to Highlight Your Site

          Your "home" page should have a graphic or logo in order to look interesting. Consider this as a sign over your premises that invites your customers inside.
          If you have no graphic or logo and just use headline text it is an easy answer, but it will look dull.

          Clip art computer graphic.

          You probably have access to black-and-white or colour clip art from a program such as Corel Draw, Word for Windows, or Microsoft Publisher. Make sure that the image is copyright free.

          Scanned-in graphic.

          You may already have a company logo or an artist's drawing. Also you may want to use images from photographs. (not transparencies) We can scan these in and convert them to GIF image files. We have a large selection of Bitmaps/Icons that we will select from to use on your site.

          If you wish to use a specific Type Font for your Company title please advise us of the name of the font and we will endeavour to use it or find one of a similar style.

          Please note

          * Graphic images consume large amounts of storage space compared to text.
          It is advisable to limit the size and number of images in each section so that the visitor does not become bored waiting for it to load.

          * The best combination is a single, high quality, graphic combined with text.

          * The overall look of your "home" page needs to be graphically balanced, pleasing, informative.

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          Section 5.

          BACKGROUND

          Background Colour or Texture

          If you want to individualise your Web site one way is with a background texture and/or colour.

          Plain grey. This is your normal background colour scheme. All browsers can display it.

          Coloured background and lettering cannot be seen on all browsers.
          Netscape Navigator 1.1N and a number of others can see it.
          It is normal to make the letters a contrasting colour in order to maintain resolution.

          Textured and coloured backgrounds are becoming more common on the Web.
          This is similar to the tiled wallpaper effect used in your Windows.
          Texture and colour combined will make your site stand out.

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          Section 6.

          PAGES

          Basic Page Elements

          When a large amount of information is to be displayed a decision is needed to choose between a smaller number of long pages or a larger number of multiple pages

          Long pages.

          These are best choice if you anticipate that people will print out or download your pages for future reference.
          They can be indexed, to internal hypertext links, to help your customers find their way to the information they require. It is not advisable to have long pages of more than 40K.

          Multiple short pages.

          The hypertext links allow visitors to jump to many shorter pages that relate to a single subject each.
          The main advantage is that it doesn't take as long to view, but printing a number of short pages can be tedious.

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          Section 7.

          OPTIONS

          Other Options

          Page title which displays on the top line of your Web browser help to integrate the site.
          They need to be descriptive, using key words that people might think of in order to find your page.

          Top-of-page graphic. A small graphic placed at the top of each of your pages will help to consolidate your Web site. Normal practice is to use a smaller version of your main "index page" graphic. Do you want this top graphic: centred, upper left, or upper right? It is normal on a site to have one or two word descriptions which will allow your customer to easily jump to another section of the Web site.
          The most common of these is a "home" or "top of page" jump,

          An E-mail address, which when clicked transfers your customer to a "mail to" form which allows them to send you e-mail.

          Horizontal Rules can be varied in length and width and are used to section a page.

          Coloured Lines can improve the view of the site if used instead of the Horizontal rule lines.

          Bullets will be used to indicate list items.

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          Section 8.

          GRAPHICS

          Photos and Graphics

          You'll want to illustrate your products or services to help tell your story. Or you may want to put your whole catalogue online.

          Black-and-white images can easily be tinted slightly blue or brown to give an antique flavour.

          Colour Images.

          Colour attracts people. Support your site through a few pictures.
          Obtain professional-quality photos of your products. ( not transparencies)

          Limit the size of these so that your does not have to wait a long time to be able to see them. Between 20K to 40K is the normal size range .

          It may be necessary for us to resize or crop the image as needed so that your photos are sized appropriately for the page, and don't take too long to download.

          If you want a large number of graphics on one page the use of clickable thumbnail images is one compromise.
          You show the picture in a thumbnail size image and if the customer is interested they can click on it to display the larger photograph.

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          Section 9.

          FORMS

          Forms to receive Orders or Customer Response

          You may need to allow the visitor to communicate with you.
          These are options which return information from your visitor to you by e-mail.

          The client can make a requests for Information.
          The form would have a place for name, address, phone number, e-mail etc.
          You can have direct, typed, response or check boxes to request information on certain products or services .

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          Section 10.

          PROMOTION

          Promoting your Site.

          Arrange for your Web Site address and E-Mail address to be added to your advertising copy.
          Don't forget to do the same when you reorder your Business Cards and office stationary.
          Add the information to your fax header sheets.
          Use all means available to let the world know that you are on the Web.
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          Section 11.

          MAINTENANCE

          Maintaining Your Site

          Once the site is operational, you will need to keep the information current. You will need to consider:
          • * Price changes of your products.
          • * Product changes
          • * Adding pages to describe additional aspects of your business
          • * Updating images
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          The Webmaster would be happy to chat with you.
          Please send any comments, suggestions, or problems to
          E-MAILmstone@uk-commerce.com.

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          WEBMASTER:- Michael Stone

          UK-COMMERCE.COM

          BAUGH FARM. CHURCH LANE. DOWNEND. BRISTOL. BS16 6PX. ENGLAND.
          TEL + FAX. (0) 117 9560775

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