LinkBidScript Resources

When designing a layout for your website it is essential to check it in multiple browsers.

Few years back over 90% of web surfers were using Microsoft Internet Explorer but nowadays other browsers fast gaining share of the market. Most popular are Mozilla Fairfox and Opera.

Even Internet Explorer has released new version (IE7) which works much different from the preceding version (IE6).

Layout and styles configured to work fine in IE may appear all broken or not readable in other browsers. I can guarantee - no one will open another browser just to see your site, so you will loose potential customer.

Multiple browsers can be easily installed on your computer without any interference with exception of IE versions - you can have only one version running.

This is even more important if your site has anything to do with web design services. I know a pretty good graphic designer whose site is all messed up when viewed in Fairfox and he refuses to fix it. Than he is wondering why there is no new business and no one wants to advertise on his site…

So… Take your time to make website multi browser compatible or hire someone to do it for you - you will appreciate it later.

When you visiting some websites with lots of graphics you probably witnessed how it is loading piece-by-piece especially if your internet connection is not too fast…

The website may be gorgeous but if it takes forever to load there is a good chance than the visitor will be gone before it opens.

The problem is that graphic files are usually the largest ones and if not optimized properly will take long time to load. This is why I said many times that great graphics designer may not be your best choice for website design.

If you experienced similar problem with your own site here is a little trick how you may be able to speed-up page loading.

Open your slow loading image in Adobe Photoshop. Click on the “file” tab in the top menu bar and select “Save for web” option.

On the next page in the right column you will have drop-down box:

on the bottom of the page in the left corner you will see size of the file and aproximate time it will take to load on the slow internet connection:

Try to change file types in the drop-down box and see how size of the file and loading speed will change with it.
If you select JPEG you will also have an option to choose image quality. Try move % slider to the lower number until you can see image destruction.
When you find the option with minimal file size without loosing too much image quality - save it and replace existing image on the remote server.

Keep in mind that highly optimized JPEG images and PNG images may not display properly on colored background especially in IE.

Same way you can decrease size of digital photo when trying to send it to friends or relatives as an email attachment.