Using some of the excellent tutorials linked here will give you a basic understanding of HyperText Markup Language (HTML). HTML lets you mix graphics with text, change the appearance of text, and create hypertext documents which interact with the user.

One of the key strengths of HTML is that a webpage written in standard HTML can be understood no matter what sort of software or computer the reader has; it's a universal way of viewing information. For example, the same page can be interpreted by someone using Netscape on a PC or Mac computer, or someone using on UNIX, or even a blind person using a text-based browser like Lynx.

HTML is based around the use of "tags". A tag looks like this <> Most HTML functions have an opening and closing tag - the tag applies to all text in between. For example, b or strong are the tags for "bold" type. Any text between a b and /b or strong and /strong will be displayed in bold type when the document is viewed by the browser.

The HTML language has a number of different generations. More and more browsers support the HTML 3.0 specification. Most all support the HTML 2.0 specification. New features added to HTML allow authors to create fancy graphical effects. Unfortunately, if you're using a text-based browser or one that doesn't support some of the special tricks involved in these pages, they won't display properly or at all. If you use them then not everyone will be able to see or read your web pages.

It takes more work to create webpages which most everyone can see and read; it's up to you to decide to put this extra effort in for the benefit of all Internet users. The pages of this website are "user friendly", which means they are written in standard HTML, they are not graphically heavy and care was taken to "alt tag"; everything as clearly as possible.

Once you understand a little about how HTML works, we recommend browsing good web pages. Study the source codes. A visual example is an excellent way to learn. Download some pages, learn and understand how tables work, colors, font types, the different generations of HTML. What the codes do and how they work. This was an invaluable resource during the development of this site; one which I, as its designer, continue to use as I advance my website development learning curve.

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Content: Design your website for your visitors, your targeted audience. Provide information, interaction and entertainment. Good content aimed for your viewers is critical;

Make sure your website is clear, concise and focused, has purpose. Tell, entertain, interact, give. Involve your visitors in your page, build community. Produce a site that viewers can actively participate with, be part of.

Forget the "bells & whistles" and "glitz & garbage". Make your page load quickly, the layout and design crisp and fresh, the text well-written;

Don't use heavy graphics as these tend to slow down the load time of your site drastically.

Use links in context. Mix them into your content/text. If you design a page of links, make sure it's just one part of your whole site,has a purpose, a theme which is in context to your site, and describe the source of each link;

If you use CGI, forms, a guestbook, chat room and other interactive tools and utilities, make sure you offer "user friendly" programs, and an alternative method to enable visitors to communicate with you - email, for example - for those browsers unable to handle forms;

Make sure navigating your pages/site is easy. Visitors should be able to get to the homepage, and most pages, quickly and easily from any page on the site.

Always use META tags. The information in your META tags is absolutely critical for many search engines to be able to catalog and list your site;

Take the time and effort to include image size and ALT tags. ALWAYS Spell Check. Test your coding on HTML review utilities, and check your pages on different browsers for appearance.

Maintain, update, edit and change your page constantly. Once you've built it, start changing, growing it, updating it. Fresh content gives your visitors a reason to keep returning.

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At Common Web Terms, we've put together a short list of typical web nomenclature. Here you'll find out what "CGI", "ISP", "FTP", "Email", and other web terms mean.

At Design Tips ~ Part 2, you'll find a "Q & A" tutorial with answers to: if and why you should have a website; what makes a good website; what websurfers look for; what to look for in a website developer; and more.

At Design Utilities (still under construction) you'll find links to free utilities to test HTML, build tables and frames, test and determine colors, and create graphics. These utilities are very valuable to novices, or "newbies" as novices are called on the Internet. Later on as you progress as a website designer and developer, you may not use them as much or at all, but in the beginning, they help a lot.

Many of the resources we've listed at Design Tools (under construction) cover the whole spectrum of the website development process. All of the links to the resources have been tested. The majority are linked to colleges, universities and businesses. The list is not rated; all of these resources are helpful. However, we have included comments and opinions.

Once you've created your Website, you will want visitors to the Internet to find it. In order for this to happen, you must advertise and market your Website. All that's required to link your site to the major engines and listings is time, patience and lots of data entry.

In addition, continuously link your site to other sites. Make sure your URL is included in your email signature, on your business cards, letterhead and other business promotional information and advertising. Tell everyone you know about your site. Unfortunately, if nobody knows it's there, you won't have anyone visit your site to enjoy the fruits of all your hard work. Promoting your site is as important as creating it.

Please don't get discouraged while you learn. This may all sound confusing and a bit like reading a foreign language. It may be difficult at first, like any new process, but, little by little, it will become easier and understandable. Persevere, and before you know it, you'll be coding HTML like a pro.