Website tips for newbies and also for some more experienced web developers

These website tips is mainly for web developers new to the many things they can do on a website and without the knowledge of what not to do.
The two main criteria for websites which I teached to students in the late nineties, still apply today. ONE is too make sure your pages load fast and TWO is to make navigation easy and simple for your readers.
Fast loading pages do not have many large images which has not been optimised for the web, do not have unnessary videos and flash movies, do not have excess scripting code.
Good navigation means that your clients can go from A to B with the minimum of clicks and that they can get back to your home page from every page on your site, and that they always know where they are on your site. Make sure the layout of your site is organised and logical.

Now a list of what NOT TO DO when you meet someone new you want to do busines with, left is online mistakes, on the right in brackets in brown font is an analogy to real life:

Write dribble, content that does not fit what the reader is looking for. ("Hey, I know you good people are here, giving up some of your valuable time to hear about design tips, but I'm going to discuss the situation in Ebolia if you don't mind").
Spelling mistakes. (Wear a dirty suit).
Writing in CAPS, use it sparingly if you must. (Shout instead of talking).
Write looooong and/or wiiiiiide sentences spoiling readability. (Talking too fast without taking a breath).
Write looooong pages forcing readers to scroll down past 3 full screens. (Talking too much at each meeting).
Make your text difficult to read; too small, no contrast with background and in a weird font. (Talking Ebolian at the business meeting).
Use many images on a page; which is not optimised for the web and therefore slow your loading times. (Showing the clients an oversized portfolio and keeping them waiting).
Use clashing garish colours. (Wearing a purple suit with a red shirt and a green tie).
Change links from the usual blue underlined format, confusing readers who do not expect links to look different from most pages that they see. (Confuse your clients).
Not explaining where the link is going to, not describing your links. (Giving your new client instructions to go to some unknown destination. "Hey man, I want you to go to this place, but I'm not telling you what it's all about").
Use moving images and scrolling text and flashing banners and auto-starting sound with no way to shut it down. (Walking into a business meeting with a boom box on your shoulder playing YOUR favourites loudly, while your mate has set up a disco globe and some heavy coloured light display).
No contact information and/or contact forms that do not work or do not thank and confirm when the submit button is clicked. (Do your spiel to the client and leave without giving them your business card).
Load your page with as much information as possible, don't leave any white space. (Show your client your product that is stacked away in a small overcrowded room so that it is quite difficult to get a proper look).
Don't worry about browser compatibility. ("Oh, I'm sorry, you will have to buy a Ford motor car as our little products does not work on any other make of car. Hope you don't mind").
No need to check if your pages are working. ("Look, We haven't checked our product, but I'm sure it will work for you).

There is a lot more website tips to look at, but you should rather concentrate on the content of your site than spend hours tweaking your pages to perfection.

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