By now, you've probably settled on a design, site layout, and theme for your project. The last, but most important subject to consider is content. Some might argue that content should be the first thing you decide on. I disagree. If you've decided upon a general site design (page template if you will) you can then fit what ever content you have to the layout of your pages. You will have already established the consistency of your site. You should however, have some idea, before starting, as to what kind of information you plan to present but it isn't necessary to finalize the material before beginning any other aspect of your site design.
So what constitutes "content"? A great web site design is nothing if you have nothing of value to present to your visitors. Content is something unique or original to your web site. At the very least, your content should reflect some aspect of your creativity and talents. A list of links is not content... A page full of of banners and buttons is not content... Your guest book is not content... "Well, I'm just an ordinary person interested in learning HTML! What do I have to offer"?
Consider these approaches...
Focus on topics that interest you most. Do some research on them and present your findings in a clear and understandable format. We all have hobbies and interests. You can expand upon your natural interests to provide something interesting and useful for others. Many sites offer original writings and graphics. They represent the interests of the designer and provide something worthwhile for the rest of us. If you're a civil war buff, present your wealth of knowledge to the masses. A word of warning though... 12 pages of photos of your cat and it's complete life history are probably not a good idea. You'll want to choose something that OTHER people can relate to and enjoy.
Fill an information vacancy. Anyone who has spent a lot of time on the net will notice that some topics have much greater coverage than others (Do a search on Leonardo DiCapprio and Titanic some time...). Find an interesting subject that is NOT covered in depth elsewhere. even if it is a pretty common subject, endeavor to provide something that the other sites do not yet offer. As extensive as the Internet is, there is always room for more information... As long as it is credible and accurate. If you are covering a subject and have done research elsewhere, don't forget to credit your sources. It's courteous and in many instances required by law.
Design for a friend. Maybe you are drawing a blank as to what topic you'd like to address. Consider designing a site for someone else then. Perhaps you have a friend who makes toys or crafts. Design a web site that highlights those talents. You learn HTML and site design... your friend gets a little "public exposure" (ahhh, not THAT kind of public exposure!). More often than not, some of the best web sites are a group effort by several people. It is generally a more rewarding experience when you learn in the company of others.
Take on a community project. Once you become comfortable with the elements of design and HTML technique, consider taking on a project for the community, a professional organization, or a non-profit group (a volunteer organization such as a shelter or humane society can always use your services). This not only builds your experience base but you may find "volunteering" to be a rewarding and informative use of your time.
When you have your main content established, you can enhance it with some of the following... People are always curious about other people. I consider some information about the designer to be a plus on every site. The key word here is "some". Short of an autobiography, too much personal information can become tedious and you'll loose the interest of your visitors. If you have settled on a subject, offer additional resources to your visitors. As I mentioned earlier, a list of links is not content but a list of resources (with your analysis of each source's contents and usefulness) is both beneficial and a reflection of the time you have devoted to becoming a "subject matter expert".
Well, that about wraps it up. As they say, practice makes perfect and we all can use the practice. there is no substitute for researching techniques, applying them, and learning from your mistakes. You'll be surprised just how quickly your talents will develop if you keep at it. Learn from the design and efforts of others (both in appearance and content) and apply what you find useful to your own site. Last but not least... If you don't know...Ask! There is a great wealth of information available to those that truly want to learn. Gazoo's site and others like it, were established to help the aspiring designer learn how to improve. Who knows, maybe some day you'll be the one helping out someone else. After all, we all had to start somewhere! As always, good luck with your web projects!
Tom Speer
tomspeer@mediaone.net
http://www.jacksonville.net/~tomspeer
