Building Web Sites All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies®

Chapter 1. Personal Web Sites

In This Chapter

• Self‐promotion on the Web

• Getting your message out there

• Defining the site

• Creating the pages

The Web is accessible to anyone. If you're an artist, author, or musician, a Web site is a wonderful way to promote your skills. Whether you're published or not, a Web site is a way to show your work to the masses. Many personal Web sites, however, are poor reflections of what the artists have to offer. In this chapter, Doug takes the lead and shows you the prototype he's creating — the makeover of a musician's Web site.

Tailoring the Site to Your Client

When you design a site for a creative person, the site needs to reflect your skill as a designer as well as your client's personality and personal taste. Some creative types have a tendency to go over the top. You might end up having to be the voice of reason if you encounter a client like this.

When I first began the task of redesigning a Web site for a busy cello player, my first step was to find out more about her needs and what type of Web designs she liked. She sent me the URLs of a few sites she likes, and we discussed her needs, likes, and dislikes. She wanted

• A site that's easy to update and maintain.

• A site with tasteful colors and graphics.

• A photo gallery she can easily update.

• A page with video and audio clips.

• A discography page with links to sites where people can purchase her work.

• A page with a schedule of upcoming performances.

Creating the Home Page

The home page is the window to every site. ...