I has always been interested in creating my own website. Before I actually did create my own site, I scoured the web to find a company that I may find suitable to assist me with that. I stumbled upon what appeared to be an excellent site. It was set up in an eye-catching manner, flashy pictures arranged in a grid but I couldn't figure out what to do next. I moused over one of the pictures and nothing happened. I moused over another picture and this time some words came up.

I felt like I was trying to solve a puzzle. There was no rhyme or reason to it. I was frustrated. All I wanted to know was how much they charged for designing a web page.

I don't understand why people develop site like that. I believe it is because they don't understand how the web works. The raw truth is people don't care how great your website looks. What they care about is what your website can do for them.

People generally use the web to find information, be entertained, find a solution to a problem, or buy something. Anything that hinders them just causes frustration. People aren't interested in flashy websites. They're interested in websites that can give them what they want.

The key is to be center in on your visitors.

Allow me to give you an example:

Let's say you own a fast-food outlet and you want to put up a website. The question you need to ask is why would people visit your website? Some answers are:

1. They're checking out local fast-food restaurants and want to know what is on the menu and get and idea of what the prices are.

2. They're hungry and looking for a place where they can get some quick food.

3. They're looking for a fast-food restaurant that delivers.

On the main page of the website I would have a catchy headline, menu with prices, an easy-to-find phone number, and a location map. I would put information such as who you are, how long your business has been around for etc, in an "About Us" page.

After you've put up your website you need to try it out. Test it as if you were an actual visitor. Ask yourself, does it give you what you want from a visitor's point of view. If you wanted to know the price of a cheeseburger and fries, could you find out quickly and easily?

Here's another example:

Let's say that after doing some research you discover there's a niche market for people wanting information on picnic baskets - where to find them, how to make them etc. You also discover that there's not that many websites about picnic baskets. So you decide to create a website that's all about picnic baskets. Again, the question is why would people visit your website? The answer is to find information about picnic baskets.

The answer is simple enough, but you'll be surprised at how many people would build such a website with the information on picnic baskets buried in some hard to find place.

On the main page I would have a catchy headline and a listing of articles on picnic baskets with links to other pages on the website. Under each listing I would have a short description to let visitor's know what the article is about. I would also have a search button. That way, if someone was looking for information on how to make a picnic basket they could find the information quickly and easily.

I would no fill up the main page by telling my visitors how great my website is. I definitely wouldn't waste my visitors' time with a flash intro.. They don't care--and neither do I when I encounter that. I immediately look for the 'skip intro' button. Visitors just want to know what

A quick word on flash intros: the vast majority of people skip flash intros. And nearly everybody skips the flash intro the next time they visit the website. Unless you have a strong reason for putting a flash intro on your website, don't. It'll only serve to frustrate your visitors and you will lose potential customers.

Here's an exercise you may like to do. Find two movie directory sites. For each one see how long it takes you to find out who directed the movie "The Departed". Now ask yourself what was the better website. Was it the flashiest looking one or the one that allowed you to get the information you wanted the easiest and fastest?

Don't waste your money and time trying to make your website's appearance be the best. There will always be people with more time, money, and resources to make their website look better than yours. It's enough that your website creates a professional image. Concentrate on being the best website for your visitors. Fulfill the needs of the visitors, not your own.

It's really no different to any other business venture. Those businesses that give people what they want will prosper in the end. Those that don't will fail miserably. Remember, always be center in on your visitors. Focus on giving your visitors what they want.