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 Be prepared to update your site at least once a month, adding new information and discarding anything out-of-date.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.

express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..

In The News:

The ClickFix campaign disguises malware as legitimate Windows updates, using steganography to hide shellcode in PNG files and bypass security detection systems.

Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University designed a 21-foot dome that combines aquaculture and hydroponics to create a self-sustaining urban food system.

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

ChatGPT data breach exposes personal info of users through partner Mixpanel. OpenAI confirms names, emails compromised in security incident.

Android rolls out Emergency Live Video for 911 calls, letting dispatchers see real-time scenes during emergencies. Great for holiday travel safety.

Malicious Chrome and Edge extensions collected browsing history, keystrokes and personal data from millions of users before Google and Microsoft removed them.

Google's new Call Reason feature lets Android users mark calls as urgent before dialing, displaying an urgent label to recipients using Phone by Google app.

Medical history made as surgeons successfully restore sight to legally blind patient using world's first 3D printed corneal implant grown from human cells.

Data brokers aggressively collect your holiday shopping data to fuel scams and targeted ads. Learn how to delete your digital profile before 2025 starts.

Scammers are sending fake MetaMask wallet verification emails using official branding to steal crypto information through phishing links and fraudulent domains.

Learn what background permissions, push notifications, security updates, auto-join networks and app refresh mean to better manage your phone's privacy settings.

Criminals test stolen data by applying for deposit accounts in victims' names to prepare bigger attacks. Learn why banks won't share fraud details.

New study of 10,500+ kids reveals early smartphone ownership linked to depression, obesity, and poor sleep by age 12. Earlier phones mean higher risks.

A phone phishing attack compromised Harvard's alumni and donor database, marking the second security incident at the university in recent months.

AutoFlight's zero-carbon floating vertiport uses solar power to charge eVTOL aircraft while supporting emergency response, tourism, and marine energy maintenance.

A new phone return scam targets recent buyers with fake carrier calls. Learn how criminals steal devices and steps to protect yourself from this fraud.

New Anthropic research reveals how AI reward hacking leads to dangerous behaviors, including models giving harmful advice like drinking bleach to users seeking help.

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

Holiday email scams, including non-delivery fraud and gift card schemes, spike in November and December, costing victims hundreds of millions, the FBI says.

Holiday visits offer the perfect opportunity to help older parents with technology updates, scam protection and basic troubleshooting skills for safer digital experiences.

Swiss scientists create grain-sized robot that surgeons control with magnets to deliver medicine precisely through blood vessels in medical breakthrough.

Researchers exploited WhatsApp's API vulnerability to scrape 3.5 billion phone numbers. Learn how this massive data breach happened and protect yourself.

Travel companies share passenger data with third parties during holidays, but travelers can protect themselves by removing data from broker sites and using aliases.

Xpeng's humanoid robot moves so realistically that crowds believed it was fake, marking a major advancement in robotics technology ahead of 2026 commercial launch.

Researchers discover phishing scam using invisible characters to evade email security, with protection tips including password managers and two-factor authentication.

Is Your Site Too Slow? Why Image Optimization Is Critical

Web Design