Step 6: Painting and Marking

Painting and marking our lighthouse is the final part of the building process for our structure.  If the marking and painting are not dictated by regulation, we can indulge ourselves somewhat with our paint scheme.  But we must not interfere with the basic function of our lighthouse.  We don't want a boat to be smashed on the rocks because the boat's captain couldn't look away from our paint job!

Uniform backgrounds give a web site a sense of cohesion.  If you change the background of some pages in your site, it should be for a specific purpose.

Sometimes, as you've noted on this site and others, you can't get around carrying some third-party advertising on your site.  It's often a trade-off for getting free web space, software, services, etc.  Within my vision of an Internet Beacon, I see nothing wrong with having a modest amount of third-party ads on your pages as long as you don't go overboard.  To the extent possible, ads should be in-line on your pages and should not draw excessive attention away from your content.  You should be trying to provide information and resources for the Internet community, not retire on the income from your advertising banners.  I become irritated when I have trouble finding the content among the advertisements.  And I have been known to scream if an advertisement tries to load some kind of software on my computer.  (My wife becomes nervous if I scream a lot.)

Pop-up or pop-under advertisements may possibly be the most annoying things ever conceived for the Internet.  I hate them.  I really hate them.  If a pop-up or pop-under ad is required by your web space provider, I won't like it at all -- in fact, I will take away some points -- but I won't disqualify your site.  However, if your site has pop-up or pop-under ads beyond what your web space provider requires, then your site is not eligible for an Internet Beacon Award.  Since my vision of an Internet Beacon does not involve intentionally irritating the viewer, I strongly urge you to find a provider that will allow in-line ads, or better yet, no ads.  (Some free providers give you a choice, some don't.)  

You could, of course, actually pay for a web space provider.  Yes, you could.  Golfers pay for their hobby.  So do boaters.  So do hunters.  So do people who fish.  Those who believe that something is worth doing are willing to sacrifice.

Did I mention that I hate pop-up and pop-under ads?

Almost at the end!  Proceed to Step 7: Extra-Bright Lamp

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