2 - Typos and Spelling

Typos and misspelled words can severely undermine an otherwise great site. Check and recheck every page for these errors.

3 - Navigation

Broken or missing links are all too common on many sites I visit. So, double-check all your links and make sure they are functioning properly. Those 404 messages are a big-time turnoff, plus it means part of your site is inaccessible.

If you have a lot of links on a page, arrange them in neat rows with uniform spacing between each.

It is critical to have all links clearly identified.

4 - Design

Your color choices are a matter of personal taste. But try to avoid using too many colors. This can give your site a carnival-like effect that leaves your visitors tired and dizzy. As a general rule you shouldn't use more than four colors.

Too many different fonts on a page can also have a negative effect on your design. When I look at a page that somehow just doesn't look quite right, but I can't put my finger on problem, it usually turns out to be font(s).

Animation is great, but too much movement is distracting. Don't load your pages with too many banners. One or two at top or bottom should be limit.

This concludes your web site's tune up. These guidelines are by no means an exhaustive list of all problems and errors that can plague a website. But, it is an effective checklist of more common flaws, and it will serve to greatly improve performance of any web site.

Too often, having a Web site built turns into a nightmare of additions here, tweaks there and eventual rejection of work done so far. You and your developer go back to drawing board feeling resentful and angry -- and you may feel a lot poorer.

I suggest that you get clear away from your computer and sit down with pen and paper. Write a business plan then after you have a clear goal and clear objectives in mind, go to a site such as Morebusiness.com , that have business plan forms and put it in writing there.

Sites such as HowtoAdvice.com offer sound advice on how to start any business. Download some free ebooks written by established internet marketers and read them. There is some powerful information in them that can save you a lot of money and a lot of time. The small business administration is another good source of information on doing business both online and offline. You can read their startup guide online at Empowerment Zone .

One must decide where they are going before they can get there. It is important to do planning *before* you even begin to build your site. If you want to go to Seattle don't get on a plane for San Francisco.