Welcome
Welcome to Graphic Sites: A Complete Guide! At this magnificent resource, I, Siddey, will teach you how to make a spectacular graphic site! With help from the most elite graphic makers out there, you'll have a site booming with business in no time! After you have made your site, why not apply for a review or submit your sucess secret? So let's get going; I bet you can't wait!back to top?
About the Site
Okay so, you read the welcome message. Yadda yadda, blah blah blah. Now you just want to get started, right? WRONG!
First of all, you are probably wondering why in Neopia this site is here. It is here because many people have graphic sites, but that doesn't mean they are top-quality. Graphic Sites: A Complete Guide aims toward making the graphic sites in Neopia top-quality.
Secondly, who am I to talk? If you didn't know, I am Siddey from Siddey's CSS Help, Empyrean and Golden Neopia. I am pretty good with graphics and I'm a very good coder. I know how to run a graphic site, and I know what a good quality graphic site is. I also know how to be successful with what you do.
Ready to make your site?
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Step One: Your Theme
Before you decide on a name, make a layout, or anything, you have to decide what type of graphic site best suits you. I will go over each different type separately, then you need to decide.
Customs Site
Customs sites. As the name implies, it is where a user requests something and you make it to match their request. There are roughly three types of customs sites: Layout, Button, and Misc..A custom layout site is a custom site where you make layouts. If you are going to make this type of customs site, I suggest you learn advanced coding and CSS. It will help you greatly.
A custom button site is where you buttons for people! It is quite easy, but people always need buttons so you will most likely be very busy. You do not need a strong knowledge of coding but just enough so you can code your buttons.
A custom misc. site can range from custom glitters to custom icons. Depending on what graphics you make your coding knowledge may differ.
Customs sites are ALWAYS good to do since many users prefer custom graphics to premade graphics.
Examples:
Layout Site
Layout sites are very nice to make if you know how to make layouts. Layouts include petpages, petlookups, guild layouts, userlookups and shop/gallery layouts. If you are going to make a layout site, you need to be very dedicated, have a lot of time on your hands and be a good coder. If you make very nice layouts, there is a good chance of great business. The downside to layout sites? It will take a lot of time to get started!Examples:
Misc. Graphics
Because I could not make a ton of categories, the last one is Misc. Graphics. This is anything from pixels to glitters to blogs to banners. These types of sites usually get a lot of business depending on the type of graphics they make and what their site theme is (Video Games, Celebs, NR). They require a lot of hard work and dedication especially because most of these sites have a little of everything. They can be hard to maintain but if you are good at it, you can become very well known. Depending on what graphics you are making, the level of coding knowledge you need will differ.Examples:
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Step Two: Your Name
The name of your site is one of the most important aspects of your site. Without a catchy name, am I going to want to come to your site? NO!
Many sites, unfortunately, have very boring names. For instance, would you rather go to Lemon Head Graphics or Behind the Rainbow. I would rather go to Behind the Rainbow. Why?
Because, Behind the Rainbow does not have the word graphics in it. Just because you have a graphic site, does not mean your name has to have the word graphics in it. I also want to know what's behind the rainbow. Petpages, pixels, glitters, a pot of gold? I won't know until I go there!
Now, I'm not saying that site names with the word graphics, premades or layouts are bad, but I'm saying you need to know when to use them. For instance, names like Jemz's Petpages and Popsicle Premades are not bad. However Express Premades just doesn't sound catchy.
Now let's see what you know. I will give you two name choices and you decide which one is better, okay?
1. Curly Q or Wayside Userlookups
2. Prancing Petpages or Starred Graphix
3. Great Graphics or Peculiar Graphics
4. Final Lap or Final Lap Premades
5. Chocolate-Topped Marshmallows or Magnifique!
The Answers
1. Curly Q. (Wayside Userlookups isn't horrible but it's a long name!)
2. Prancing Petpages (Anytime the word graphics is spelled g-r-a-p-h-i-x it totally turns me off!)
3. Great Graphics (Peculiar Graphics doesn't sound catchy!)
4. Final Lap (Adding the word premades kills the intense-ness of the name!)
5. Magnifique! (Chocolate-Topped Marshmallows is too long of a name. Magnifique is short and to the point.)
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Step Three: The Layout
The layout can make or break your site, so you had better make it good. Your layout should also work in multiple browsers such as Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Opera. There are many different types of layouts you can have and I will go over a couple of common ones.
CSS Layout
A CSS layout is normally a fast-loading layout that is designed with CSS (DUH!). An example of a CSS layout would like the one this site has. I highly suggest CSS layouts as long as you have a banner with your site name. CSS layouts are very quick loading so they are perfect for sites with lots of graphics so the layout loads fast and doesn't hold up all the images from the graphics.Tips for a CSS Layout
1. Have at least two, but no more than three columns.
2. Make the colors match!
3. Be creative with the different aspects of CSS to spice up your layout.
Blog Layout
A blog layout is another good choice for a graphic site. Normally they are quick loading and with the right images and blog size, they can look very nice. The only problem with blog layouts is that if you have a lot of graphics, and I were to click on a navigation link, it might be a while before I get there because all the graphic previews have to load up. Tips for a Blog Layout
1. Make the background image quick loading!
2. Make sure your CSS matches the color(s) of your background image.
3. Don't make uber-small blogs.
4. Remember to include your site name somewhere in the layout.
Example:
Heading Layout
I really don't know if this type of layout has an "official" name but I will try my best explaining it. This layout tends to be slow loading, especially if your site is image-heavy, but it can look very nice if you do it right. These layouts are slightly hard to code but easy to make. Tips for a Heading Layout
1. Make sure you have the coding down pat.
2. Pick colors that are easy on the eyes.
3. Make your text blogs big enough.
4. Make the background color match.
Example:
Now you know some different types of basic layouts. If you need any more help with the layout feel, free to neomail me. Otherwise, on to the next step.
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Step Four: Counters & Buttons
If there is anything many graphics sites need to work on, it's getting a counter and a nice looking button. Honestly, it isn't that hard. Let's go over the button first because I think it is the more important of the two.
The Button
Your button is what catches people's eyes on another site. You want it to be creative, easy-to-read, and have your site's name on it. Bad Button Examples:
The Custom Designs button isn't just bad, t looks as if the person didn't spend any time into making a great button. The gradient also doesn't look very good. The Xero! button is slightly better but, the transparency messed up the font and the glitter of the image isn't very visible.
Good Button Examples:
Both of these buttons are for my CSS site Empyrean. Anyways, the first button is a non-animated one. It still looks good because I outlined the site's name so you could see it better and the border around the button really completes it.
The second button is an animation. I used a subtle animation effect that isn't bad on the looker's eyes. I also added a border and outlined the text.
Button Rules
1. It is best if your button is 88 pixels by 31 pixels.
2. Make sure it is easy to read.
3. If you have an image in the background, make sure the text is readable.
4. If you have a blinking button, it shouldn't be obnoxious.
5. Have a 1 pixel border.
6. Take your time while making the button. It will make your site seem more professional.
The Counter
Counters galore! Counters are sometimes quite important because they let you see how many people have actually visited your site. A lot of review sites look to see if you have a counter. Therefore, I suggest you get one. The best place to go for a counter is boingdragon[dot]com. Remember to add the date you started the counter to your site!back to top?
Step Five: The Content
The content. This is why people come to your site. Good graphic sites have good quality content. Most review sites have the most points riding on content.
Good Content = High Popularity
Bad Content = Low Popularity
Graphics
It is called a graphic site for a reason. You make graphics, CSS, layouts for other people to use. So let's go over good vs. bad graphics with these two similar banners I made. 
COMPARED TO: 
Honestly, I could probably do better than that. *looks at banners* But for the purpose of this guide, this is what we are using.
Okay so look at the top banner compared to the bottom banner. If you were at a graphic site, which would you choose? I would pick the 2nd one. Why?
First, let's go over the text. The top banner's text is plain and there are way too many exclamation points. The bottom banner's text is an interesting font and it has two colors for a shadow effect. It also looks neater with the use of one exclamation point.
Second, let's look at the muffin pictures. The first banner has the same picture repeating the whole time. Can you say boring? There are white pixels around the images that make the banner look un-neat and ugly. The second banner features two different muffins and the maker decided to take the time to get rid of the ugly pixel whites! It's very pretty!
Third, let's look at the credit in the bottom left hand corner. On the first banner, it is very long and font isn't a pixel font, which is the best font for credits. The second banner, however, has a small credit and the font and color look great with the rest of the banner!
Layouts & Color Schemes
Now we are going to over good vs. bad layouts and good vs. bad color schemes.The layouts we are going to be analyzing I made and used them for a site. Which is now closed. xDD
Drag & drop into the address bar to see the full-size!
Okay, here are two layouts for the same, now deceased, site. They are similar is design but the one on the right is better. Why?
First, the header (very top part) of the layout is easy to read and more well designed than the layout on the left. The layout on the left is just colored boxes with some text slapped on. Not very attractive.
Second, text would be easier to see on the right layout because the place where the text goes is white. The place where the text goes should either be black with white text or a very light color and a darker color for the text itself. On the left layout there would have to be two text colors because the two content sections are different colors.
Thirdly, the color scheme on the left layout is blinding. Blinding is not good. It turns people away from your site. The colors don't even match that well. On the right layout however, the colors are easy on the eyes and they are matching and tasteful.
So now you more-or-less know how the content of your site should be.
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Step Six: Affiliates & Directories
Want you site to get many visitors? Well, there is two quick, easy ways to do that! I will explain each way.
Affiliates
Having affiliates is a key-point in your rise to graphic site fame! Affiliates not only help advertise your site, but also are your friends. You should be able to neomail affiliates with questions and ask them what they think of your site. You can also use them to help test different things. Remember, affiliates are friends not just a list of sites.Directories
Directories are also very important. A directory is a list of sites. Sort of like a phone book for all the sites on Neopia. Anyways, there are many directories. Just make sure you read the rules for the directory and link back to them too!Good Directories
So go find some affiliates and be entered into directories!
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Step Seven: Updating
Updating! This is plays a crucial part in owning a graphic site. Without updates, your clients won't know whether you added new graphics or tweaked the layout or anything!
Updates work best in a scrolling box. Copy and paste the code below for an updates box.
What to Update About
- Adding new graphics
- Tweaking the layout
- Winning an award
- Review scores
- Filling requests
- If you changed an open/closed status
- Going on hiatus
- Adding affiliates or directories
- Applying for reviews
Most likely, if it's not in the above list, you shouldn't update about it.
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Step Eight: Pleasing Your Clients
Your clients are the people who will come to your site. Pleasing them can do wonders for your site popularity and traffic. First, it helps to pick a theme for your graphics (Celeb, NR, Video Games, Anime, CSS Layouts). Second, you need to have your graphic theme somewhere on your site so your clients know what they are going to see.
I have a friend, Kitty to be exact, who has a graphics site. She does not like Twilight but she makes Twilight graphics anyway. Why? Because her clients like Twilight. Therefore, if she has Twilight graphics she is likely to get more visitors who like Twilight coming to her site. Now Kitty won't make Hannah Montana or Jonas Brother's graphics. Why? Because her site them is mostly anime/video games/neo-related. Hannah Montana and Jonas Brothers do not fit her theme. However, she does please clients who like anime and video games. This has gotten Kitty's site, Shattered Crystals, over 10000 views.
Having open requests can also help you in pleasing your clients. Let's say your theme is Neopets. You get 50 requests for Shoyru graphics but only 10 requests for Scorchio graphics. Which type of graphic would you make more of? Probably Shoyru graphics because more of your clients want graphics with Shoyrus as opposed to Scorchios. See how this works?
Go find out what your clients want and then make graphics according to that.
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Step Nine: Reviews
Reviewing. Review sites are getting very popular, and this is a good thing for graphic site owners. Review sites will tell you want you need to change and what is good on your site. They are very helpful if you can handle critique.
If you want to get reviewed there is a few things you should know:
Read the reviewer's rules and fill out the form to be reviewed!
Now, reviewing has many upsides. It is a great way to get other people's in-depth opinions on what needs to be fixed. They normally go very in-depth on what is good and what is bad. I've been reviewed and been told my link back buttons are bad looking. What did I do? I took the reviewer's advice and made new link back buttons. I got re-reviewed and my score went up. Reviewers are your friends. They will tell it like it is. Get reviewed!
Being reviewed is also good advertising. If people are reading reviews and see your site's review they might go to your site!
Good Review Sites
So get out there, make your site, and get reviewed! You never know what might happen!
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Graphic Site Certified
Want me to certify your graphic site? Then neomail me with the form below! If I approve your requested certification, then you can take the snazzy button below!
Neomail this form to me:
Take this button if you have been certified!
The Certified
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Get Inspired
Now you're ready to enter the world of sites. It's competitive but rewarding, especially when you see your graphics on display everywhere!
Remember that making graphics takes time. Don't rush your work and don't be too quick to think what you make is perfect. Practice your skills and get better. You'll have an awesome site in no time at all!
Check Out These Cool Sites
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Special Thanks & Notes
This site was created for all those people who want to have a successful graphics site! I wish you luck!
Please please please neomail with any questions or concerns. Alternatively, send me fan mail and hate mail! I read it all!
I got the idea for this site when I saw how many people wanted to make graphic sites and were always asking for help. I thank those of you who inspired to create this guide.
A special thanks to Kitty for helping me throughout the process of creating this site and my many others. Her site, Shattered Crystals, is awesome. Which is why I used it as an example so much.
I also thank the Help Chat for all their input. xDD
Good luck making your sites Neopia!