note: This is The Column, a part of Apolyton where primarily Markos and Dan write whatever we want :). Well, not just the two of us. The Column is open to everyone. If you feel like writing submit your article to civ2@gamestats.com

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#26 STILL SOME LIFE IN THE GAME... A story showing the greatness of civ... #27 READING BETWEEN THE LINES DanQ takes aim at those who don't think before they speak -- but he's not bitter. COLUMN ARCHIVE

I've been doing websites since August 1996, so I guess I have the experience to give some guidance to people new in the field of web site building. Here we go (in no particular order, and no, I don't know why I ended up with the number 13 :)):

1) Updates: Simply, more updates, more visitors. Better updates, more visitors. Don't update just to update. Have a "update history" to show to your visitors that you really work on your site (of course if you can show the opposite if don't work on your site! :)) and to make access to new content easier.
2) Content: Simply(again), better content means more visitors.
3) Be modest: Don't brag about your site, especially when it's mediocre :) It doesn't look good.
4) Links: Exhange links with other sites of same subject. The more people link to you, the better.
5) Feedback: Ask for it! Listen to your visitors. And not just a guestbook... go get one of these free forums just for your site feedback.
6) Advertise, no, publicize, yes: Don't go around to forums and newsgroups, posting "hey check out my site, it's great". You could do something like that if you have something really great, like a Brian Reynolds interview :) Instead, simply post as you would usually do in forums or newsgroups and include the title and url of your site in your signature. A good post is better than a silly ad.
7) Easy navigation: Ease of use is important. Frames, bottom menus, navigation drop down menus are some of the ways...
8) Graphics: Have, at least, decent graphics. Great graphics will make people want to come back. Same goes with javascript trivks, but be careful of the load time. Also, it's important to match your text, links, etc colors. There are guides for it on the web, look out for them.
9) Credits: Give credit where you must. Don't copy info without permission. Someone else worked hard to find that info. Special note: give credit to people who sent you news. You'll discover that they will do it again! :)
10) Low expectations: Don't expect to be succesful the next day you open the site. It takes months of continuous work to build a respectable site. And dont expect visitors to keep coming if you stop working on your site.
11) Helpers: Share the fun, as a TV ad says :) Finding people to help is not always easy, but if you have the right people you can do miracles. Be careful if you want to allow to your helpers to edit pages.
12) Mergers: Generally a good thing, in the case of equal size sites. Be sure to clear out each one's place on the new site. Who does what, who has which responsibilities, who has access to what, etc.
13) Retiring: So, after years of service to your community, you're rich from your ad income (yeah right!) and you decide to retire. Don't let your site die; pass it to someone. It will probably be difficult to find someone you can trust, someone who will continue the legacy (yeah right again!) you have left, but it would be a shame if all your work is wasted.

So, that's. I guess I could have added some more things, but I would've have to cut it into two columns. Anyway, I hope that you found it interesting to read, and perhaps some of you will get something out of it :)

P.S. Oh yes, FSC is short for Fan Site Creators! :)

The opinions expressed on this page do not necessarily reflect those of Apolyton CS or GameStats. They are just the personal opinions of the writer.