A website built by a savvy web designer can be a very beautiful thing. A good design can make the difference between a successful website and an unpopular one. Education is the key to cultivating strong web design skills. Keep reading to learn more about good designs.

If you are designing a website, choose proper graphics. Keep in mind that bitmap images are not usually the best type of images to use. Try PNGs instead. Consider PNG files for non-photographic images, text buttons or screenshots that require over 256 colors. If not, use a GIF. For photos, you can use JPEG images.

Incorporate a site map into your website. Site maps serve several purposes. First, they make navigation throughout your site much easier for visitors. Second, the major search engines can utilize it to index your entire site. This means your search engine optimization improves, and your website receives more exposure, giving you more profit-earning potential.

Have the data that users enter into fields preserved so that it can be transferred over to other portions of the site where the same information has to be filled out. An example of this is if someone fills out a form to register, and then has to fill out other forms for other things. If the person's info transfers from one form to the next, it will be much more convenient and less time consuming for the user. This "sticky" information can make the process easier and smoother for visitors and they'll appreciate it.

When you build a website you need to quit using a lot of fonts that confuse people. Also think about how fonts look for different people. Small serif fonts like Times New Roman can be difficult to read on small screens. Many sites make use of Verdana, as it can be read in many sizes and colors.

A website can be hugely effective, but only if it's designed correctly. It's real easy to spot an experienced or knowledgeable designer from one just taking a stab at it. Putting these tips into practice will lead to effective web design.