WEBSITE TIPS
So, you've read my "Building a Site" guide and want to get traffic? Well, here are some things that you need to avoid, first off. Mainly because nobody will go further than your home page if you have these annoying things.
WEBSITE CONs
Cursor Tails - I think I speak for everyone when I say take off the cursor tails! You know, when someone has the little clock, or the images that trail after the cursor when you move it along the page? It is mesmerizing, and they might forget why they came to your page. Or, it might freeze their browser and they will never come back.
Flash/Random Animated Junk - I know, we all go around to the little Myspace add-on sites and put a bunch of animated things on our sites. Well, one or two is okay, but if you have more be sure the viewer knows beforehand. That way, they can choose not to click if they have a slow browser.
Do Not Click Games Without Warnings - If you have a link that says "Limited Edition: Win (insert rare item here)", and it is really a Don't Click game, get rid of it. Let people know that they are about to be bombarded with annoying popups. Some people really enjoy going to every website and finding Don't Click games, though I don't know why.
Layouts that make Eyes Bleed - There will always be those people out there that are new to websites, and they make those really bright layouts. Please don't be one of them. Your layout shouldn't be bright red, or bright blue, or [heaven forbid] neon yellow. You may use shades of the colors, but please stay away from the primaries.
WEBSITE PROs
So now that you know what to do, you are wondering "Well, if I can't do any of that, what am I supposed to do?". That's what I'm about to tell you. The following things are good things to have on a website.
Spicy Content -Yes, spicy content. Your site should have personality. Viewers want to be reading what a person wrote, not what a robot wrote. You can put side notes in [] or () if you want. Just, please, make it fun to read!
Honesty - All of the information on your site should be the truth. Test your cheat codes, write guides based on the games instead of copy and pasting from another site [that's illegal] and claiming it as your own. Make your own pages, images, and writing. Nobody loves a dishonest content-thief.
Appropriate Materials/Warnings - Keep all of your content appropriate for your audience. If you have a Pokemon site, a lot of the viewers are between the ages of 8 and 12, so have a PG-13 rated site! Control the language, and the references in your site. If you have a section with some cursing, or some kind of slightly overrated material, make a warning at the top of the page. [that does not mean make a page for extremely rude material and make a warning]
COPYRIGHTS
I know that half of the people that make Pokemon fan sites are under 14, and they don't really know about this. Some people, though, are older than that and do this because the are lazy. If you go in either category, or you would rather not be in the categories, keep reading.
Copyrights are little bonds that gives ownership of something to it's creator. For example, if I drew a picture and posted it somewhere, along with a little note that says "Copyright Azumao", then I have posted that I own that drawing. That means that anyone who uses it without permission or claims it as their own is in big trouble.
So, if you go to a site that has a lot of cool pictures, then you need to check the copyright. Some people let you use their images if you give credit, and some people flat out say no. Never, ever, ever, ever, ever x 1010 say that you made something, or use something, without obeying the copyright rules. M'kay?
