Young Jedi searching for answers

[Kn1ghT]

Hey all

I have a few questions to ask. I would be very greatful to each of you who can give some constructive answers.

1) Do you believe content makes the greatest piece of a website?
2) In a scale of one to ten, how much do you care about the looks of a website?
3) Would you prefer a plain site which loads fast over a pretty site that takes more time to load?
4) What do you think of adverts on a website? Do you mind Google Ads and a few banners on a web page?
5) To you that has created website, how imporant do you consider SEO?
6) Also to webmasters, where does your main group of visitors come from? (Search engines, links)
7) What dou you think of a free domain versus a paid domain?
8) What makes you return to a website?

It would mean a LOT to me if you guys would answer these qustions for me. And please if you can add ANYTHING else that would be useful to know when I create my website, do tell me.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

 

[Ou grote]

You're making up the Jedi part aren't you?

 

[Techrat]

1) What else could a website have besides content?
2) 10, but my opinion of what looks good probably differs greatly to most others. It need not have fancy tricks and flash etc to look good.
3) A balance, but towards faster loading, see 2.
4) They are utter crap, and to me make a website seem cheap, but I realise it's got to be done sometimes to raise funds. Prefer Google text ads, banners worse, flash ads horrible.
5) Haven't created a website and don't know what SEO is.
6) I'm not a webmaster so I won't answer this one.
7) Free is ok, but paid looks more professional, a business should not use a free domain ideally.
8) It has something that interests me, not a lot of help I know.

 

[James]

1) Do you believe content makes the greatest piece of a website?

Yes, of course, you can have all the eye candy but if the content is worthless so is the site

2) In a scale of one to ten, how much do you care about the looks of a website?

It all depends on your target market and the type of content but in all cases I think it is safe to assume that your site must always look good. So in answer to your question 8 but looks are very subjective.

3) Would you prefer a plain site which loads fast over a pretty site that takes more time to load?

A slow site is a bad site. Any site regardless of looks should always be responsive and fast. This is where you need to become creative and learn performance and optimisation tips that will achieve this.

4) What do you think of adverts on a website? Do you mind Google Ads and a few banners on a web page?

Adverts are fine, as long as they are never intrusive.

5) To you that has created website, how imporant do you consider SEO?

SEO is very important, for a site to be a success it is going to need organic traffic generated through search.

6) Also to webmasters, where does your main group of visitors come from? (Search engines, links)

Uniques from search more than links

7) What dou you think of a free domain versus a paid domain?

You get what you pay for. I personally would never skimp on such a small cost as a domain.

8) What makes you return to a website?

Difficult question to answer, in short they need to have what I want. If it is shopping, they need to be trustworthy, secure safe, fast and I also base much of these on social opinion. If it is something like news, it needs to be fresh and upto date.

Those are my brief humble opinions.

 

[dequadin]

1. Mostly, but accessibility to content is just as important. If I have to scratch around navigating the site just to get to the content, I'm most likely to get bored and move on.
2. Looks? I like simple clean designs.
3. Plain.
4. N/A I block ads
5. No/bad SEO = no traffic, so rather important.
6. N/A
7. I'm a web "user" so don't really care.
8. Difficult one, definitely content, frequency of updates & style.

 

[acidb]

You're making up the Jedi part aren't you?

+1, lol

 

[Chelle]

1) Do you believe content makes the greatest piece of a website?

We visit sites for the content - no other reason.

2) In a scale of one to ten, how much do you care about the looks of a website?

Depends what you mean by "looks" -- there are things that will immediately turn me off - like plenty of flashing ads, bad colours that make my eyes hurt, and poor layout where I can't find what I'm looking for.

3) Would you prefer a plain site which loads fast over a pretty site that takes more time to load?

Yes, but plain must still be nice and show some class - but of course, that depends on what my specific purpose for visiting the site is.

4) What do you think of adverts on a website? Do you mind Google Ads and a few banners on a web page?

I don't mind some advertising as long as it's doesn't dominate the site, and as long as they don't try and trick you into clicking an ad. aWhat I hate are adverts that flicker and flash constantly.

5) To you that has created website, how imporant do you consider SEO?

It's no use having a website if a search engine can't find it. So SEO is a must! But SEO is sometimes taken to the extreme and too much money and effort is spent just to move up one ranking. Make sure that if you use an SEO expert they're concerned about targetted traffic, and not focussing on Page Rankings for example.

6) Also to webmasters, where does your main group of visitors come from? (Search engines, links)

Search Engines (Google) and secondly, some directory links.

7) What dou you think of a free domain versus a paid domain?

If you're referring to the za.net domains, then I'd prefer to go for a paid domain, but if you're referring to free domains offered by hosting companies, then there is no reason not to get a free domain - just make sure it's registered in your name. If you're referring to webhosting rather than the domain cost (which is minimal), I go for paid, but with a reputable company.

8) What makes you return to a website?
It has the information I'm looking for and is updated regularly with new content. For me, the site must be easy to use and navigate.

 

[Kaufies]

I think 1-7 have been covered so I'll just answer 8.

When I find a new website that is good (in categories 1-4 and 7) I bookmark it and return three or four times. If there is little to no new content I give up on the site and never return. So I think content is king!

 

[Raithlin]

I'm not your typical user, so some of the other responses may be more important, but for completeness...

1) Do you believe content makes the greatest piece of a website?

Yes. Content is king, as already said. Fresh content ensures regular traffic and returning visitors. Content also helps your search engine ranking if done properly.

2) In a scale of one to ten, how much do you care about the looks of a website?

7. Looks are not as important as content, and if the page contains information I'm looking for then I'm willing to overlook the design. That doesn't mean I will refer others though.

3) Would you prefer a plain site which loads fast over a pretty site that takes more time to load?

Your site design depends on the product you are pushing. Yes, I like a fast loading site, but that doesn't mean it has to be plain.

4) What do you think of adverts on a website? Do you mind Google Ads and a few banners on a web page?

I ignore Google ads, and most of my browsers have ad-blockers. That said, too many adverts are going to slow your page down and irritate users.

5) To you that has created website, how imporant do you consider SEO?

Very Important. As mentioned, SEO = traffic to a large degree. You can have the best content out there, but the adage "If you build it, they will come" doesn't necessarily hold here. SEO is your best friend.

6) Also to webmasters, where does your main group of visitors come from? (Search engines, links)

Search engines and links from forums that I frequent (signature containing link)

7) What dou you think of a free domain versus a paid domain?

As a webmaster I know the difference, and I look down on free domains that don't host non-profit organisations.

8) What makes you return to a website?

Fresh content, unless we're talking about a reference site (connectionstrings.com, for example).

It would mean a LOT to me if you guys would answer these qustions for me. And please if you can add ANYTHING else that would be useful to know when I create my website, do tell me.

Use a spell checker when you write your content. Based on your post, I'd get a second pair of eyes to give it the once-over. You wouldn't believe it, but people get upset over bad spelling, etc.
Design for your content. Don't make it simple if you are selling something that needs a flashy site. You can make it flashy and fast-loading - it just takes a little more work.
Design with SEO in mind. It's much easier than tacking it on at the end.
Trust the Force. Feel it flow within you. :erm:

 

[guest2013-1]

1) Do you believe content makes the greatest piece of a website?
2) In a scale of one to ten, how much do you care about the looks of a website?
3) Would you prefer a plain site which loads fast over a pretty site that takes more time to load?
4) What do you think of adverts on a website? Do you mind Google Ads and a few banners on a web page?
5) To you that has created website, how imporant do you consider SEO?
6) Also to webmasters, where does your main group of visitors come from? (Search engines, links)
7) What dou you think of a free domain versus a paid domain?
8) What makes you return to a website?

1) Content is king baby
2) 6 out of 10
3) Plain GOOD LOOKING sites (with CSS and sprites helping it along). Good looking does not always mean slow-loading!
4) I don't pay attention to ads at all and/or block them entirely. Ads are overdone IMO, you need to source a different income if you want to go that way (sponsored competitions perhaps)
5) Semi-Important, I'd say a 6 out of 10. If you have good content and people want to come back (and/or link to you... as in go viral and popular) then SEO doesn't really help the cause a long. But if you're unknown with crappy content it might help getting there. Remember, SEO isn't just "keywords" it's the layout of the page ("hot zones" where people tend to look at first) etc
6) 60% from Search Engines, 40% from direct (or referral) links
7) Paid domain for sure. A free domain cheapens whatever you'd like to do, especially considering you're asking about putting advertising on the site. What kind of CHEAP ASS MOFO are you that you'd like to leech off of advertising money but not pay for decent domain and/or hosting? Most people put up websites because they have something to share with the world (like Lazygamer) and don't even think about advertising before they're even remotely popular.
8) Good content. Content IS KING

 

[Kn1ghT]

Thanks a lot guys. This will surely help me!

To the guys who asked about the Jedi thing, yeah its true. Just need the force to be with me....

 

[guest2013-1]

BTW, to the uneducated, there is no such thing as a "young Jedi" (meaning inexperienced). You're a Padawan before you "graduate" and become a Jedi.

 

[Techrat]

If you're a newly graduated Jedi, surely you can be called a "young" Jedi?

p.s. My lightsaber's bigger than yours! Plus it's one of those double ones.

 

[crazy_cat]

BTW, to the uneducated, there is no such thing as a "young Jedi" (meaning inexperienced). You're a Padawan before you "graduate" and become a Jedi.

i sense wisdom here

 

[Raithlin]

BTW, to the uneducated, there is no such thing as a "young Jedi" (meaning inexperienced). You're a Padawan before you "graduate" and become a Jedi.

If you're a newly graduated Jedi, surely you can be called a "young" Jedi?

I 'm with Techrat. I distinctly remember Palpatine using the phrase when referring to either Anakin or Luke (I forget which)...

 

[Techrat]

LUKE: How did my father die?

BEN: A young Jedi named Darth Vader, who was a pupil of mine until he
turned to evil, helped the Empire hunt down and destroy the Jedi
Knights. He betrayed and murdered your father. Now the Jedi are all
but extinct. Vader was seduced by the dark side of the Force.

/end massive thread derailment, and my 666th post!

 

[Optimus01]

@Kn1ghT, are you planning on doing a website?

 

[mcryan]

There are many answers here, and I think you need to study some web development first. It counts as an overall package, no I don't want a site to load slowly, neither do I want a bland site that bores me to load fast. It should be attractive, simple, and effective.

Your content is very important, without it, what is the purpose of the website? The content IS your website, it SELLS your services and brings people back to the site.

A site has to be updates and changed, otherwise there is no need for anyone to ever return. But again, this depends on what the purpose of the site is.

No, I don't mind banners and advertising. This is how a website can make money unless the site is selling a service for revenue.

Get a paid domain, you can get them from R50.

SEO is very important - end of story. A lot of visitors will come from searching google for something that your website offers, and if you are on Page 9 of the results, not many people will go that far to find you.

Thast's my input. Best of luck.