The design of your home page should be attractive and it should load quickly. The faster your page materializes on a reader's screen, the better. That means editing out any unnecessary elements. The essentials — like the comic strips, the title, and your name — should appear near the top of the page. Internet readers dislike sites that require a lot of scrolling. In addition to the basic essentials, there are a few elements that you should consider including on your home page.

About This Comic

You should supply a link to a separate Web page that contains information about your comic. Supply the kind of background information a new reader might require to understand your comic. Include character biographies and a synopsis of the current story line, if applicable.

Archives

Your home page should have a link to your archives. Encourage new readers to read back through your previous material. The more they read, the more they are liable to get hooked on your comic and bookmark your Web site for daily reading.

Contact Information

Putting your e-mail address on your home page makes it easy for readers to contact you with feedback, questions, or comments. One of the truly unique aspects of Webcartooning is the relationship you'll build with your readers. The more they communicate with you, the more you'll be able to improve as a cartoonist. Make it easy for them to get in touch.

Copyright

At the bottom of your home page, include a copyright notice. It can be as simple as the following: “© 2005 [Your Name], All rights reserved.” You can get the “©” by hitting Option-g on your Mac or Alt-g on your PC. (Copyright will be covered more thoroughly in Chapter 23.)