Learning how to write and edit HTML code is one of the most important skills any Internet marketer can develop. In fact, it's difficult to market anything on-line without at least a basic understanding of HTML code.
The most common type of editor is the "What You See Is What You Get" or WYSIWYG type editor. Editors like Microsoft's Front Page are WYSIWYG.
These editors are popular because they offer the illusion that you don't need to understand the actual HTML code in order to create web pages. It's actually easier to learn HTML coding than to learn most HTML software packages.
Microsoft, Adobe, and other large corporations want you to believe that writing HTML code is time consuming to learn and too difficult if not impossible for the average person to understand. They remove you from the actual HTML code because they want you to invest your time learning their software packages. However in almost every case it's much easier to learn to code your HTML than it is to learn to use most editors.
The problem with WYSIWYG editors is at some point; you will be forced to deal with HTML. It is the language of web pages, and understanding it is fundamental to sustaining a successful website.
Another type of HTML editor is one that allows you to work directly with the actual HTML code. I feel strongly this is the fastest way to learn HTML. It's faster and a more direct way to learn website design.
HTML In A Nutshell
HTML stands for "Hyper-Text Markup Language". Your browser reads the actual code in order to display a page in your browser. There are perhaps a dozen HTML Tags you need to understand in order to design most web pages and display them in your browser.
Every tag is starts and ends with a <TAG> </TAG> in brackets. The tag describes how the copy within the brackets is displayed. Here are a few examples using common Tags and how the browser will display the text and images.
A browser reads the HTML tags in order as one long line starting from top to bottom, left to right as it processes the HTML code and displays the page. A simple page requires the following sections. Notice each tag is inside brackets.
A Simple Page Contains The Following Tags
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE> Page title here </TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY> - The entire visible page text and images goes inside this tag
</BODY>
</HTML> - this is the end of the page and the last tag that should appear.
Notice how almost all tags end with the name of the tag and end with a slash in front signifying that is the end of that tag.
Most tags and visible text will appear within the <BODY></BODY> tag
<A HREF="index.html">Click Here </A>
This is a simple link; it starts with " <A " then it tells the browser a file to display. The words "click here" are all that is visible in the browser. Note that the file name is in quotes. It ends with a </A> tag signifying the end of the clickable text.
<IMG SRC="logo.gif">
This code displays the contents of an image file; in this case the image file "logo.gif" would be displayed.
<A HREF="index.html"><IMG SRC="logo.gif"></A>
This is an example of an image that when clicked will display the contents of a file (index.html). The image code is contained within the hyper link where the visible text "click here was displayed in the earlier example.
The following tags modify the way the text appears on the page.
<FONT SIZE="-2" COLOR="black" FACE="Arial">text appears here</FONT>
Here the text is modified to display in a specific size and color. There are 7 sizes that text can be displayed "1" being the smallest and "7 the largest size" This tag tells the browser to display text in size "2". Text may be displayed in color as described in the COLOR=" black " tag displays the text in black.
<P> paragraph </P>
The Paragraph tag places a blank line before the <P> tag and a blank line after the </P> tag. Everything in between the actual text for the paragraph is displayed. A <BR> tag will force all text following to the next line.
<B> bold text </B>
This tag displays bold text. Below I'll give you an example of a paragraph of modified text.
How To Learn More
My examples were not intended to teach you how to write HTML code. My purpose is just to demonstrate just how easy it is to learn how to use HTML code to modify the look of your pages. If fact you don't even need a HTML editor to write HTML code. The HTML code can be written in any simple text editor. However, using a HTML editor saves a lot of time by inserting the tags for you yet giving you the opportunity to have as much control of the display as needed. In addition a good HTML editor makes the job a whole lot faster.
If you have been meaning to come to grips with HTML, and just have not gotten to it there is an excellent full-featured shareware program you can download and use free.
I recommend this program highly; it's powerful enough that I use it every day in my business. This program is designed for the beginner and comes with the best step-by-step tutorial I have seen on the subject. In fact you can create your own website using the tutorials and materials supplied with the program. You will be writing good, solid HTML code in a matter of hours, not weeks, or even days.
The HTML Editor is the best editor I could imagine. I just wish it were available when I got started. Even if you are an experienced Website designer this program is worth a test drive.
I joined the beta development team early on with this software and almost every feature I wanted was written into the program. Features like global search & replace, editing multiple documents, built in uploading and the best step by step training I have seen.
Even if you are an experienced designer I think you will like using The HTML Editor as much as I do.
Don't let giant corporations control your design abilities through their rather limited interface; honestly it's not as difficult as you have been led to believe. In the long run, sooner or later you'll need a basic understanding of HTML anyway.
You can learn more and download the fully functional HTML editor at the following URL. I would love to get your feedback.
http://www.smithfam.com/thome.html
I would love to hear your comments.
Best Wishes
Bob
Click Here to Email Bob Smith
