Home
>
Web Design
>
Is Your Site Too Slow? Why Image Optimization Is Critical

Is Your Site Too Slow? Why Image Optimization Is Critical

Graphics are fun, but if you put in too many bells and whistles when you create your web site, you may lose a potential audience whose Internet connection can't handle lots of graphics, and that means you'll be losing potential customers.

According to UK website experts Boommm.com, one of the major concerns in website graphical development is what the results will look like on different browsers, platforms and screen sizes.

Efuse.com writer Toni Will-Harris, a website graphics expert, offers nine steps to help you control the graphics on your website:

1 - Keep graphics files small (under 20K) and graphics for navigation under 10K. Your graphics should be saved at a resolution no greater than 96 dpi. Here's how to decide which format to choose:

> If your graphics have many colors, save them as JPG files. > If your graphics have few colors, choose GIF. > When using GIF, try optimized palettes that contain only the colors used because they can cut file sizes in half.

2 - Keep text files small (less than 10K). They should be broken into logical chunks and linked.

3 - Design for easy reading. Make your backgrounds as light as possible. If you use a background image, keep the action on the side, out of the way of the text. Put navigation on the left side of the screen because it's practical and allows you to reserve part of the screen (usually between 150 and 200 pixels) for navigation and identity.

4 - Design for 256 colors (8-bit) and 640x480 resolution.

5 - Use ALT tags on graphics. If you're using a graphic in place of a paragraph or more of text, type the same text into the ALT box because even long blocks of text will appear in the browser so people can read it before the graphic downloads.

6 - Include contact information on every page, including your company name, address, email address, and phone and fax numbers. Every page should have the site's main URL included.

7 - Keep your site fresh. Be prepared to update your site at least once a month, adding new information and discarding anything out-of-date. You want repeat visitors, so give them something to come back for.

8- Be generous. The more detail you provide, the more of a service you offer, and the more reason you give people to visit your site.

9 - Test your site as visitors will see it. Connect to it at 14.4 and 28.8 to see how fast it really is. View your site at several resolutions and color depths, and on several browsers.

Herb and Monica Leibacher operate Web Builder Express. Create a professional web site for your business or non-profit organization with Web Builder Express. At http://www.webbuilderexpress.com, you can request your free Quick Start Guide that tells you how to create a great web site.

weekly home cleaning Highland Park ..

In The News:

Scammers nearly stole an Apple account by exploiting the support system with authentic-looking tickets and phone calls, users can protect themselves with safety steps.

FoloToy restored sales of its AI teddy bear Kumma after a weeklong suspension following safety group findings of risky and inappropriate responses to children.

Threat intelligence firm Synthient uncovers one of the largest password exposures ever, prompting immediate security recommendations.

Viral video shared by Elon Musk shows Tesla's Optimus humanoid robots performing tasks from cooking to construction, garnering over 58.5 million views on social media.

Chinese hackers used Anthropic's Claude AI to launch autonomous cyberattacks on 30 organizations worldwide, marking a major shift in cybersecurity threats.

Apple's new Sleep Score feature gives you a rating for your nightly rest quality. Learn how to set it up on your Apple Watch and iPhone today.

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Is Your Site Too Slow? Why Image Optimization Is Critical

Web Design