3. Image Resolution Monitors typically display data at 72 dpi (dots per inch). Therefore, always save your files on Web at 72 dpi. Always resize your image in your graphics software before you insert it onto your web page. If you resize its dimensions when it's already on your site, it will look distorted.

6. Browsers Someone viewing your site is subject to a completely different result depending on which browser he is using. Your images may appear harmonious in Internet Explorer (IE) but may be broken up in Netscape Navigator (NN). Therefore check your image for differences with Internet Explorer (IE) and Netscape Navigator (NN) browsers. Your images should appeal to all users.

Unfortunately AOL has its own browser, which filters sites through its own AOL proxy system. This means all graphics are converted from JPEG and GIF to ART format.

Most AOL users also use their browsers with default "compressed graphics" checked, so what normally looks good in IE or NN, will look blurry or distorted on AOL. To change

this, AOL users need to go to preferences and check "never compress graphics".

7. Caching This is a temporary storage area of your hard drive where browsers keep files while they display them. You can create a consistent look and feel to your Web Site, by reusing another graphic on another page. You will be retrieving it

from cache. The more graphics that you reuse, faster your pages will load.

Testing To test load times of your pages you need to first publish them and then clear cache in your computer before loading them, and timing them, from Internet. Put url in your browser address box, start timing when you hit Go and stop when word 'Done' appears in your status bar.

Images are main factor that contributes to slow loading of your web pages. By implementing these techniques for optimizing your images, visitors will have a far more pleasing experience.

Part 3 of this article will discuss other methods for creating fast loading images when creating a professional web site.

Even if you're willing to accept above side-effect, it is doubtful whether pop-ups can be used as a long term solution for falling response rates to Internet advertising. As we remember from past, banner ads had splendid click-through rates when they were introduced. Over time, novelty wore off and click-through rates began to deteriorate. It is likely that pop-ups are doing so well partly because they've been used on a large scale for a relatively small amount of time. When pop-ups keep on spreading, users will eventually learn to ignore them as well.

The third problem with using pop-ups is born out of two previous ones, hatred users feel towards them and fact that they are spreading like wildfire. Even now, a wide range of software that prevents pop-ups from being displayed is available for anyone to download for free. The use of such software isn't very common at moment, but if pop-up advertising continues to grow, it is reasonable to assume that users will begin to install countermeasures at an increasing rate.

Some may doubt that software that removes pop-ups will never become a major concern, no matter how widely pop-ups are going to be used in future. Software that removes banners from web pages has been out there for a long time, but it has never really "catched on". Why should this situation be any different?

The difference is that as stated in Statistical Research report mentioned above, users find pop-ups to be more intrusive than banners. If each of sites you visit displays two banner ads, you'll probably feel a bit annoyed, but put up with it. However, if they'd all launch two pop-ups, what would you do? I myself would be scrambling to download a copy of Pop-Up Stopper or PopUp Killer.

What's point? =================

If your alternatives are to either close your site or install pop-ups, choice is not a hard one. But if your Internet business is doing fine and you're thinking about adding pop-ups to make it do even better, beware. Pop-ups can create profits, but they can also create trouble. Look before you leap.

[1]: Statistical Research: "How People Use (tm) Internet 2001", http://www.statisticalresearch.com/press/pr050301.htm