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(by DoKK)
We're going to take a look at the 10 most common mistakes free site and pay site operators make setting up new sites. Cool sites, crappy sites, goofy sites, ripoff sites. You name it, someone has probably put it together. This can serve as a real quick checklist to see if your site is on the right track with it's construction and layout.

1. No ICRA Tag
Okay ya say ya wanna keep out the kiddies..well...do something about it! The ICRA rating is enabled in the new netscape and IE browsers..it can also help you get listed and catalogued faster on some engines..plus it's free..what a deal! Pick one up at ICRA

2. Title Has No Value
Choose your page titles carefully..home page..warning page index page.. no title at all..lots of webbies forget this most critical component of page description and SE value. Make your title up out of key phrases and have it relate to the actual content on your site..keep it under a dozen words.

3. Counters At Top Of Page
Move the counters down ya hoser! The top of your web pages is the most valuable real estate you have going..seperate your counters with several page breaks and move them down on the page..yes you won't get quite as accurate count if there are a lot of graphics and pics between start of page and counter but you'll still get a good idea of what's up.

4. Spam Text
I can't believe people are still doing this after so long. Folks..the SE people got hip to the trick of putting same color text against a background for spamming up a better SE listing. Most of you that commit this error also put it at the bottom of the page..where..if it was going to do any good...wouldn't do much at all..since SE will rank the relevance of text on a page from the top..not the bottom. Forget it.. if you're that behind..read up on new info about search engines.

5. No Link on First Viewable Screen
I see this one over and over folks..you build out a site then don't provide people who are "scroll challenged" any way to navigate your site..no visible link within the first screen..those that never scroll will back button on you and they're gone..accomodate all users with an easy to navigate interface and give 'em a link they can click on to continue. It'll pay off.

6. Fuzzy Graphics
Over compressed fuzzy graphics look like crap. If you're working with text graphics, try to export as a gif file..they're usually crisper than jpegs..if you're doing pics don't compress them so much they look like a fuzzy tennis ball..opt rather to reduce the size of the pic (width, depth) rather than it's quality.

7. King Kong Logo
I know ya love your site..and you've got a kickass logo that takes up most..or all of your page..and squeezing out any links or banners that might take the surfer into your site or a banner..you opt to let 'em stare at that big ol' picture that you already showed em once on the main page.. back off on it..reduce the size after you make your point..make money with that space.

8. No Links Page
Yes Martha, links trades are still alive..if you're kicking yourself for not having any traffic..you're not trading links buckwheat..get busy and set up a nice links page that's no more than 2 clicks in from the main page. If you get good traffic checking stats, move that site on out to a main page. Your traffic counter will thank you for it.

9. Pay Site Blues
Okay..ya didn't make any money with free sites..so you're gonna put up a pay site cause you think if you make people pay for that shitty site you're gonna make mucho bucks..it's back to school with you because if you haven't mastered the basics of traffic control, optimization of banners and links with a free site ..and you don't have a staff on payroll..you're SOL. If you're advertising for sites that have hard pulling polished well done tours..and you can't make a sale.. rest assured you won't be generating many for your own site.

10. Laziness
Yep..that's the last of the big ones we're covering..some of ya'll are just butt-ass lazy and find it easier to beg for this and that rather than to seek your own solutions and get busy doing what it takes to be successful.. studying..working..re-studying..finding all the parts and pieces that make a great site..and putting them together in a package that works..People don't mind helping ..but don't forget to help yourself. You'll thank you for it.


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