Web Site Layout Design
I'm a graphic designer that does some web design work what web services should I offer?
I'm a graphic designer that does some web design work however I want to focus more on the design process. I am learning more about web design and will like to expand my services soon. But until then what services should I offer as a web design service. Basically I don;t want to maintain the site (webmaster work). Many clients seem to think that this is your job when you design the site. I am not interested in that however I will maintain updates that include some design work. I am stuck at deciding if I should just design the layout and be sure they know that is my service or should I design, slice files, upload and intially test?
If you're a graphic artist, you don't want to get involved in site development. (If you were both a great analyst and a great artist, the world would have already heard of you. You remember the last one? His name was Leonardo and he was from Vinci? They called him "da Vinci"?)
Stick with your strengths. Team up with a great developer and offer the services of the partnership to do design and development. (The customer maintains the site - once the customer reads the contract - oh, did I mention that you shouldn't be doing any work without a signed contract - that states that any additional work will come at additional hourly charges, that won't be much of an issue.)
As the graphics person, you start with the client's requirement and you (and the developer) finish with a working site, ready for your client's customers to log in and buy product. But it ends there too, unless they pay for more work.
How do you build an Affiliate web site?
First lets define affiliate web site - For our purpose, it is a web site that earns you money without physically selling something by using techniques such as Google adsense and other advertiser programmes.
Valid web sites.
I have heard it said that anyone can build a web site and this is true. Programmes like FrontPage are ideal for building affiliate web sites. Unfortunately, it is often the case that the web site builder gets carried away and attempts to put every whistle and bell into the site! Affiliate web sites should be clean valid code and not overly cluttered with eye candy. By default clean code equals faster loading pages and better search engine optimisation. Always try and code your sites to be valid web sites.
Using tables in your web site design
Tables have for a long time been the only way to position your content on your web page, however the introduction of CSS and particularly CSS2/3 allows the designer to build sites with out using tables! However the use of tables in web site design is still valid so go ahead and use them.
Page layout
There seems to be 2 types of affiliate web site design logics. On the one hand you have the work from home affiliate web master who is happy to have a sloppy looking site that just has ads bursting out all over the place and the other who still working from home builds a slightly sticky web site. The preference here is to build a sticky web site. Why? Well one its good manners! If you want some one to look at your web site, you have to give them a purpose to do so! Secondly, your user will take a while longer on your sticky site which increases the chance of them clicking on one of your ads which makes you money! And finally, a sticky web site with good content may even entice your viewer back for a second or third time. With a sloppy looking web site, the user will immediately see ads above the fold and will recognise the site as 'spam' type of site - a web site that lacks content and only there to get you to click on an ad. Which type of affiliate web site user are you.
Presentation
Design your affiliate web site to be attractive but not over bearing. The user is there for information. Whilst looking for that information on your web site, your design will attract them to your adverts Graphical use should be kept to a minimum and always use the alt tags to your advantage. Links should be in text format and providing a site map is said to help with SEO. How many pages you have is debatable but 20 to 50 pages would be the minimum starting point - note i said starting point! Your affiliate web site will need to grow in size so be prepared to add addition web pages to your web site, if you made a plan of your web site before starting out, you will understand the web site structure and ad additional pages quite easily.
Running your affiliate web site business from home
Work from home and make money from your affiliate web site, should not be taken literally! A work from home affiliate, can make money, but do not give up the day job. Currently we are testing various methods of how to make money from home using a web site. It is very early days but an income is being generated, don't be fooled, the income has yet to reach a $ a day but I can tell you that you can build a web site and make money!
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About the Author
Jmac is an online researcher of Affiliate Marketing, for more insight on how people all over the world are earning an income online go to
http://www.effiliatecity.info/how-to-earn-money-through-clickbank-marketplace.php
