I've been running websites since 2001 and have in that time learned a lot about the classic mistakes one does when making a site, some made my me, some merely observed by me. To help you maybe learn from them sooner than I did, I decided to put it all down here.


Site Name:

A trap is to name your site something really unoriginal. This makes it difficult to notice you, many other sites will have the exact or almost exact same name as you, and you will be categorized as a newbie site more often than not.

Ex. on unoriginal names (Buffy/Angel examples):
- Buffy & Angel 4-ever
- The Buffy and Angel site
- Buffy and Angel - forever/always/eternal... etc

Spend some time to find a name that says something about your site without putting you together with 40 other allready existin sites.


Site Splash:

If your site isn't supported by all browsers and the most usualy screen resolutions, you need a splash page to put down requirements to view your site the way it's supposed to be.

Do's:
- Keep it simple and tidy
- List requirements, but don't overdo
- If few: list nominations/memberships/affiliates
- If many: list link to nominations/memberships/affiliates pages
- Hitcounter with no annoying pop-up ads
- Small graphic repressentation of your site or a text link

Dont's:
- Clutter with loads of flashy images and effetcs
- Forget to list links to nominations/memberships/affiliates (pages)
- Too big complex graphic repressentation that takes a long time loading
- Things that makes many pop-ups for no good reason


Site Layout:

Important thing with a layout is to not overdo or underdo. It's always a lot better if a webmaster chooses to make his/her own layout instead of relying on graphics websites to do it for them. A layout should repressent what the site is about, it should be pleasant to look at. If a layout is too flashy then it hurts the visitors eyes, if it's too plain then it makes the visitors impression of the site poor. But one thing even more important than the look is the usability. The navigation has to be visible and stand out, as well as be in style with the layout.

Do's:
- Be bold with color contrasts if you can make it pretty
- Use more than one color, unless he images require just one color
- Border on edges or image edges fade into background
- Css, it's easier to maintain

Dont's:
- Any effects and styles that will hurt your visitors eyes
- Hard edges on images.


Site Navigation:

Have the navigation clearly visible and be obvious on how to use. If there's a slightest chance someone can missunderstand, have some sort of explanation on the main page.


Site Content:

Quality and Originality before Quantinty. Make it yourself, if not get permissions to use it. Make your site offer someone others don't have. Give them a reason to stay and return later on.

What's the point for a visitor to go to your gallery of selected borrowed images when they can visit a site spesializing in gallery that has everything you have an more? Why read your three line episode summary when they can read pages long ones at another site?

If your site doesn't stand out and offer someting different, why should people visit? Remember that when you decide what to put up and not put up. Also don't piss other webmasters off by stealing their very original ideas. Better be safe than sorry and ask a webmaster if what they offer is something very one of a kind. Some might say yes, some might say no.


Site Quality:

Do regular check-ups on your site, a webmaster is never through with improving their sites. In three to six months you might think the things you like now to be plain or bad. Some things might need upgrading, some things might need removing, some can stay as they are. Only important thing is to make sure check it all. And to do something about the things you feel could be better.


Updates:

Better little updates often than big updates more rarely. Show your visitors that there is activity at the site, that you still care for it. Real life can be exhausting, try the best you can to not let it interfere too much with your sitework.


Site Promotion:

Site engines, link database, affiliations... just make sure you get yourself noticed, otherwise it will result in less people coming to visit.


Nominating for awards:

Be honest with yourself on which awards you feel you deserve, be too cocky and you might be in for a surprise. If so don't let that surprise break you. Learn from it and work to get better. Don't be too modest either, one thing I hate more than most others is false modesty. Be proud of what you do, just as long as you don't think you're the king of the world after a month of webmastering. Pride can stand for a very long fall.


Applying for reviews:

Make sure you're ready to hear whatever it is the reviewer has to say about your site. Don't break at critisism, they aren't there to be mean to you, but rather to help you realize your mistakes. A good tip is to read through what's said in a review and then look at what it is they are critisising. Some times the reviewer may have a good point and you will look at it a different way, other times it's a matter of taste and in those times let yours decide before the reviewer. It's your site, your choice.

Just as with awards, you need to be with reviews. Don't let it break you, don't be too modest or too proud, be real.