Yet I take a totally different approach - you don't
need money to setup a good website! And that's good, because I don't have much
of it.
I literally invested a few hundreds bucks to get OnlineSpy.com
(www.onlinespy.com) up and running. And within a few weeks, it's become an Internet
hit! It's essentially a start page containing simple 'forms' to the best content
on the Net - allowing you to create maps, play music, read the latest news, research
other Net users, use the encyclopaedia, find pictures or videos, search for lyrics
or download software. And it's all on one singular page.
But, I hear
you cry - why has it become so popular?
Because it follows Moore's Three-Step-Success
Law:
1. Keep it Simple! If a user needs to press a button, tell
them to. Not all users are red-hot surfers! Make it easy to understand and don't
overcomplicate the simplest of tasks.
2. Keep it Cool! Don't fall
behind on the times with that 70's web backdrop. Use something more up-to-date
- and keep a consistent theme. If your site uses pastel colors - stick with it
throughout the entire site. If it uses primary colors, make sure it dazzles the
viewer!
3. Keep it Personal! Whether you're copying someone else's
idea or secretly using their graphic (they'll never know!) - it's no good. Do
it all yourself - from start to finish. Not only will you feel proud of a true
accomplishment, but you'll also know exactly how your site is composed, through
and through. Even down to which graphic package you used to create that fancy
logo. And that's it. Using your original idea and Moore's Law - you'll soon be
black and blue with hits.
KARL MOORE is a technology journalist
from the United Kingdom.
He writes regular columns for Micro Mart http://www.micromart.co.uk,
WinPlanet http://www.winplanet.com and InternetDay http://www.internetday.com.
He also hosts a question/answer slot for BBC Radio http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/
E-Mail: KarlMoore@theoffice.net
Web: http://www.karlmoore.com
