Dreamweaver CS4 For Dummies®

Chapter 17. Ten Timesaving Tips

In This Chapter

• Design for your audience

• Create a consistent design

• Follow the three clicks rule

• Get a head start on your designs

• Split the view

• Design in a flash

• Find functional fonts

• Keep frequently used items handy

• Be prepared for fast updates

• Back it up

All good Web sites grow and evolve. If you start with a strong design and pay close attention to some basic rules about interface, navigation, and style, you'll have a better foundation to build on. The following design ideas and Dreamweaver tips can help you save time as you create Web sites that look great for all your visitors.

Design for Your Audience

No matter how technically sophisticated a Web site is or how great the writing, most people notice the design first. Make sure that you leave plenty of time and budget to develop an appropriate and attractive design for your Web site. The right design is one that best suits your audience — and that may or may not mean lots of fancy graphics and animations.

Think about whom you want to attract to your Web site before you develop the design. A gaming Web site geared toward teenagers should look very different from a Web site with gardening tips for the semiretired or an online investment site for busy professionals.

A great way to find ideas is to visit other sites designed for your target market, even if they don't offer the same content, products, or services. As you consider design ideas, keep in mind your audience's time constraints, attention span, and goals. ...