Keeping in mind....

These hints assume that you have an understanding of HTML.
I am providing these hints as a supplement to any HTML experience that you have. I cannot provide support for HTML related questions.

These hints are provided in no particular order, based on what I consider as good HTML.. enjoy...

• General
  • Turn underline links OFF on your browser.
  • ALWAYS use default colors for links, text, etc in your browsers' settings.
  • ALWAYS enable view pictures during download.
• Frames
  • Nope, don't use 'em.
• Java
  • NEVER use it. Why make something that is designed to run on only 10% of the software and 5% of the browsers on the market?
  • IF you must... keep it small...make the code tight. Test it vigorously, get friends to test it on their machines.
• VBscript/Vjava
  • Nope. Again, it is very platform specific. If you must, make it small, and test it, over and over again.
• HTML pages
  • As a whole, keep your page and content, under 75K bytes TOTAL.
  • Remember, most of your target audience is based on 28.8 or 33.6k modems. If you get tired of waiting for a page to download, chances are they will too.
  • Busy background graphics are BAD. Keep them simple, keep them modest. A background graphic should enhance a page, not be the page.
  • BGCOLOR and TEXT colors should also accentuate the page. It is a nicer looking page as well as easier to read page when the colors compliment each other.
    Example:

    This is a bad choice	So is this
    A better choice	Alot nicer

• Graphics
  • Keep your graphics small. By small I mean Byte wise.
  • When using graphics, stick to a known format, such as .JPEG or .GIF, all browsers support them, but only a handful will recognize a .TIFF or .XPM file.
  • I personally recommend .JPEG or .JPG formats.... Utilites such as Adobe Photoshop 4.0 ® can reduce your images to a web compliant pallete of colors. This is a good thing.
  • Also, when saving an image... NEVER select MAXIMUM quality, especially for a page graphic. Select a lesser quality for your pages. Again, if you must put HI-Quality Graphics...make it a relative link, let your viewers choose if they wish to wait the extra time to see it.
• Sound
  • LOUD .WAV files are a no-no. I can't tell you how many times that I, as well as others have been startled at 3am by a bgsound that scares the begeezers out of you...Keep them modest.
  • MIDI's and .MID files are nice... again, keep them small to quicken the pages load time. Also, consider using the REPEAT option in the bgsound HTML tagline.