In part 2 of my introduction to accessible web text, I explore the issues surrounding text size; explain what all the fuss is about; and suggest some useful approaches you can adopt to ensure the text on your web pages will be readable to your visitors.

Several years ago, at the beginning of my Internet career, I asked someone if HTML was an abbreviation for Hotmail. Yes, I really was that naive. Since then, I’ve learned a fair bit about HTML coding. I had to.

As a writer, I needed an online presence for my web content services; and as an ornery, mule-headed, cheapskate writer, I was determined to build it myself in spite of those who said I should leave it to the experts.

Sure, making money online with tons of traffic is easy.

But what if you don’t have much traffic? Is it still possible to make a good income online?

An English-language site is fine for attracting Web visitors from English-speaking countries (only 5.6% of the world’s population), or from the sporadic English-speakers in the other countries. But the need for a second (and third) language on your site comes when it becomes obvious that you are missing out on sales to another country.

There’s a simple explanation for poor web site sales conversion. The biggest reason visitors don’t buy anything is because the site isn’t designed to sell – it’s designed to give information. Think of your web site as a Virtual Salesperson, like many sales people, it talks too much. Dazed and confused, the visitor floats around from section to section in the site with no set destination.

Lets face it. Marketing is a challenge. You wouldn’t be reading this article if promoting your business online was just an easy walk in the park under a warm afternoon sun. The reality of it is that marketing could be called a walk in the park, but the sky is filled with nasty looking storm clouds. While there are millions of “marketing methods,” only a few work. Of those few, one of the least known is the concept of seeking customers where they congregate. And customers congregate at Community Websites.

I bet you think building a business on the Internet using free web hosting is smart? I mean, after all, you save yourself $500-$1,000. You probably don’t understand why someone in their right mind would spend money for something they can easily get free. What I’m about to tell you isn’t actively publicized. So listen very closely. Very often there is a hugh price to pay when you totally rely on free stuff you find on the web. “FREE”, really isn’t so free. Especially when you use free web hosting to run your Internet business. There are several problems with free and budget website hosting that you probably aren’t aware of.

The process of updating your website may seem like a fun task at first. You may feel as though you’re really accomplishing a lot by working with your code and images everyday…getting things just right. But believe me, it’s gets old quick.