tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39197379101625441632024-03-05T03:40:25.706-08:00A to Z Website CreationTo Create a Website is easy but To expose your business need to see exactly what you need and how to do to be successful from A to ZFraudOn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733886223197466920noreply@blogger.comBlogger450125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-70856063856060846702015-12-07T23:22:00.003-08:002015-12-07T23:22:21.235-08:00Why and How to Use Templates Effectively<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTJ2ETPFr4y5HlCQcUVEkUYTKXA1WzsvYLgA3ub7RmLz03o9NV-F3-uldgou8M0_o9LYF6lbSmq7-r_mE8WUtLzVR4le7KrNOqowKym8IiHfLejSK5VWo2nJCHjGvZDn0c8UZPTmVnkmj/s1600/Use+Templates+Effectively.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Use Templates Effectively" border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTJ2ETPFr4y5HlCQcUVEkUYTKXA1WzsvYLgA3ub7RmLz03o9NV-F3-uldgou8M0_o9LYF6lbSmq7-r_mE8WUtLzVR4le7KrNOqowKym8IiHfLejSK5VWo2nJCHjGvZDn0c8UZPTmVnkmj/s320/Use+Templates+Effectively.jpg" title="Use Templates Effectively" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Use Templates Effectively</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In desktop publishing, templates are pre-designed documents that we can use to create business cards, brochures, greeting cards, or other desktop documents. Some types of templates include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Mix and match elements using a Wizard or by choosing items from a list that the software assembles into our final product.</li>
<li>Pre-designed formats for documents where all we add are our own words in place of dummy or placeholder text. Graphics and typestyles are part of the template.</li>
<li>Pre-designed formats for documents that have placeholders (grid lines, boxes, dummy text) for key elements, text and graphics. We add our own text and graphics and choose the appropriate typefaces.</li>
<li>Many programs include their own set of designer templates for a variety of documents.</li>
<li>You can also design and save your own templates. Let's look at some of the ways that templates can work for you.</li>
</ul>
<h3>
Pros & Cons of Using Templates</h3>
<br />You might have heard (or even thought it yourself) "Real designers don't use templates" or, "Templates are a substitute for real design." But there are times when using one is the most appropriate choice. Some times and ways that templates can work for you:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>- Save time with templates.</li>
<li>- Offer your client a less expensive alternative to your original, made completely from scratch designs.</li>
<li>- Use templates for routine forms for your own use (invoices, etc.) so you can spend more time on client work.</li>
<li>- Maintain consistency with newsletters or between related marketing pieces.</li>
<li>- If you're a non-designer, use templates to give a more professional edge to your own marketing materials.</li>
<li>- Build your first Web page with templates until you become more comfortable with Web publishing.</li>
<li>- Maintain page-to-page consistency in a large Web site and simplify updates.</li>
<li><br />Remember, in many cases templates are designed by well-known designers. We often look at the work of others for inspiration, using templates is simply another way of borrowing from the talents of those around us. Starting with a template is a smart idea. However, there are still many ways to personalize them without sacrificing the benefits of speed, variety, and consistency.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3>
Tips for Using and Personalizing Templates</h3>
<h4>
Use some of these suggestions to make the most of the templates you use:</h4>
- <b>Choose an Appropriate Template</b>. Pick a template layout that is appropriate to the job. Selecting a design that is inappropriate or that requires too many alterations defeats the purpose of using a template in the first place.<br />- <b>Change the Template Graphics</b>. Add your own clip art and graphics in place of any pre-selected graphics used in the template. Graphics also include rules (lines). Change the size or placement to better fit your own text.<br />- <b>Change the Template Fonts</b>. Some templates come with font specifications. They are just suggestions. Be sure to choose a typeface that is appropriate to the design of the template. Some layouts and some typefaces have their own casual or formal tone. It's usually best to stay close to the type choices (if any) used in the original template if you're unsure.<br />- <b>Change the Text Formating</b>. Change the leading or alignment of the text. Add text embellishments such as initial caps or bullet lists.<br />- <b>Change the Template Color Scheme & Paper.</b> The layout is only one part of the overall design. Simply changing the paper or changing the colors used in your document can cause dramatic changes - even when the layout stays the same.<br />- <b>Change the Template Layout</b>. While one of the main reasons to use a template is to have an instant layout, a few simple changes can make that layout perfect. Flip the template or just move an element or two around.<br />- <b>Save Your Modified or New Template</b>. Whether it's a modified template design or one you've created from scratch - save it as a template. If it's right for one job, it may be right for another. If it is a newsletter or one of many pieces in a coordinated marketing package, you save yourself time down the line.<br />- <b>Use Templates for Inspiration</b>. Ever found yourself staring at a blank piece of paper or a blank screen, unsure of where to begin? Use templates as a starting point. Just browsing through the various templates - even ones unrelated to your current design project - can give you ideas and start you on the road to laying out your own original masterpiece.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-16896608355900318692015-08-07T10:52:00.001-07:002015-08-07T10:52:22.539-07:00FraudsWatch.com | Karla Spice - Romance Scammer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_BfCTPpZqlA" width="480"></iframe>FraudOn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733886223197466920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-23763541777812437372015-07-21T04:09:00.001-07:002015-07-21T04:09:27.859-07:00FraudsWatch.com | Natalie Sparks - Romance Scammer<br /><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0fqf-_0IrdE" width="480"></iframe><br /><br />
<h2>Fake-Accounts With Stolen Images From Natalie Sparks</h2><br /><br />
<a class="yt-uix-redirect-link" data-redirect-href-updated="true" dir="ltr" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fraudswatch.com%2Fromance-scammer-natalie-sparks%2F&redir_token=LnkdlIGSbYNpjdD4_uRDD-VoiCh8MTQzNzU2MzAwMUAxNDM3NDc2NjAx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="https://www.fraudswatch.com/romance-scammer-natalie-sparks/">https://www.fraudswatch.com/romance-s...</a><br /><br />
FraudsWatch<br />
is а site reporting on fraud and scammers in financial services and <br />
personal. Providing a daily news service publishes articles contributed <br />
by experts; is widely reported in thе latest compliance requirements, <br />
and offers very broad coverage of thе latest online theft cases, pending<br />
investigations and threats of fraud.FraudOn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733886223197466920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-28425964771614973352015-07-09T03:31:00.001-07:002015-07-09T03:31:31.256-07:00Romance Scammer: Cumisha Jones<a href="https://www.fraudswatch.com/romance-scammer-cumisha-jones/">Romance Scammer: Cumisha Jones</a>: FAKE-ACCOUNTS WITH STOLEN IMAGES FROM Cumisha Jones<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZGRKx9MFdGM/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZGRKx9MFdGM?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> Attention! Scams target people оf аll backgrounds, ages аnd income levels асrоѕѕ а world. Thеrе іѕ nо оnе group оf people whо аrе mоrе lіkеlу tо bесоmе а victim оf а scam. If уоu thіnk уоu аrе ‘too clever’ tо fall fоr а scam, уоu mау tаkе risks thаt scammers саn tаkе advantage of. Scams succeed bесаuѕе оf twо things. Firstly, a scam lооkѕ lіkе thе real thing. It appears tо meet уоur nееd оr desire. Tо find оut thаt іt іѕ іn fact а scam, уоu muѕ...FraudOn.comhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10733886223197466920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-20401440725666829262015-06-14T01:31:00.004-07:002015-06-14T01:31:49.859-07:00Some guidelines for Website Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAPYLgm1MiTeDqTHKnvJB0xxVY8GmexwbdY1smkK4XhCxEfkeQZ69yMWTxwzgy6UnutudHSVE9MVwsszclYShBSJawbmh8FoNsKJtn6nFG5WbV_IoBg3qPbp6gPEFqeT820WRYbKaGkS0/s1600/website_design_tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Website Design Tips" border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUAPYLgm1MiTeDqTHKnvJB0xxVY8GmexwbdY1smkK4XhCxEfkeQZ69yMWTxwzgy6UnutudHSVE9MVwsszclYShBSJawbmh8FoNsKJtn6nFG5WbV_IoBg3qPbp6gPEFqeT820WRYbKaGkS0/s320/website_design_tips.jpg" title="Website Design" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />You have a great product. You also have a great company image and marketing model. Now it is time to implement all your plans and bring together a website. You know very little about websites. Finding websites that have failed is easier than shooting fish in a barrel. Many people come into the internet business with the notion that if they are on the web, they are guaranteed to make money. Not so. The internet market is flooded these days, and in order to get noticed, there is a way to do things. <br /><br />So, your first idea for a website is one with lots of things that move, flash, talk, or whatever. Most people think this is the best way to draw attention to their website. It draws attention, but if no one knows what your company is, they won’t find the website this way. It also can be a little annoying to visitors. Websites must be picked up by the search engines in order for people to start finding them. However, search engines do not like all those elements because in the search engines view it is the equivalent of a novel, when all they are looking for is a one page report. Granted, once you are a large established business like a television network or a shopping corporation, people will come to your site no matter what, and search engines lessen the penalty for using lots of heavy files. <br /><br />Now you think you want the easy way out and want to go with a template website. Templates are a cheap and quick way to get a website live on the internet. There are different types of templates, but the ones you want to stay away from are those which are nothing but images. These websites are created in a photo editor so that all the components of the site like buttons, information, and descriptions are all just pictures of text, and not actual text. Search engines use programs that review your website to read what it’s all about. If all they see are image files, it doesn’t really tell them anything about the website. You also run into the same problem of presenting a book rather than a piece of paper. Images are large files, while pure text is not. It is in fact quite small in comparison. <br /><br />So you realize you are going to have to put some work into the site to have it look how you want, and also be functional for search engines looking at it. Text is very important. All your buttons should be text. All your descriptions and company information should be text. Choose a layout that is easy to navigate with menus to locate all pages within the site. Also important is a site map. A site map will help you keep your site organized and it will help the search engines when they come to visit your site.<br /><br />Choose a search engine optimization company that will help review your site. They can pick out things you may not notice. For example, design editors can help clean up html code and find any spelling errors. They can also help you choose the best web site design elements that will make your site look how you want, and also make it search engine friendly.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-9346489140058998482015-06-14T01:29:00.002-07:002015-12-07T23:15:34.007-08:00Website Design Tips<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TL0DSx3dsJicFPLByuXg52vpeu-es0XlgqLNf3SN6jZAuDnmN1y2koPl5vMLNQ9F97NkaybAuAY0L03aT94NvNezk5Wgb55CDbZJksM7d1-uZ7OEcYUn5dq5RbwuNG2JQaHMYmC6OMO2/s1600/Website-Design-Tips.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Website Design Tips" border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0TL0DSx3dsJicFPLByuXg52vpeu-es0XlgqLNf3SN6jZAuDnmN1y2koPl5vMLNQ9F97NkaybAuAY0L03aT94NvNezk5Wgb55CDbZJksM7d1-uZ7OEcYUn5dq5RbwuNG2JQaHMYmC6OMO2/s320/Website-Design-Tips.jpg" title="Website Design Tips" width="320" /></a></div>
When first starting out to create a website, especially if you are a beginner You can create your own web pages using a editor like Microsoft's Front Page.With this software, you can write your web page like you would any document and then drag and drop images easily. Some practice may be needed, by buying some templates, you can cerate a professional website for free or by using some of the free templates found on the Internet. Mainly in order for you to successfully present your ideas you have to create an effective layout design in an interesting manner whatever your topic may be.<br />
<br />
Layout<br />
Content<br />
Application of graphic designs<br />
Easy and quick navigation<br />
Logo <br />
Choosing colour<br />
<br />
Layout format - this will serve as your guide for a good design. Primarily this context must encompass a clear and well organized content that will make everybody understand and appreciate. A simple design, layout makes it easier for you to build your website. The end result will be a website which your visitors will find easy to navigate and easy get whatever information they want.<br />
<br />
Application of graphic designs - you must be careful in choosing for the appropriate design that will best represent your projects.<br />
<br />
Easy and quick navigation -Always see to it that you are able to include a link that will bring them back to the main page. create a navigation structure that is common for all the pages in your Web.Keep the use of hyperlinks inside your text paragraphs to a minimum. Don't use hyperlinks inside text paragraphs to send your visitors to every random page of your Web. If you must use hyperlinks, add them to the bottom of a paragraph or to the navigation menus of your site. A key aspect to making your visitors happy is insuring they go where they need to go, quickly and efficiently. Good navigation design comes from experience, and should be one of the most important aspects of your website design project.<br />
<br />
Logo - Create a simple logo to identity your website. Have a captivating tag line somewhere with the header, and write an About Us page which describes the uniqueness of your website. These will leave an impression for your visitors to remember your website.<br />
<br />
Choosing colour- Have a clear color scheme based on the theme of your website. Choose carefully a set of colors you use for your background, text, border, tables and cells etc.The color scheme expresses the characters of your website and makes it unique and attractive.<br />
<br />
<br />
One of the most important aspects you need to keep in mind at all times when choosing a website design firm or designing the website yourself. It is very important to remember that most of your visitors haven’t spoken to you yet and your site will be the first impression they have of your company. If your website design lacks professionalism and/or does not reflect that of a well established company, your new prospect can easily loose confidence.<br />
<br />
Try and avoid run of the mill things like page counters, java text scrolling, flashing images, GIF images, signs which say “we are not ready.” Or, too many illustrations or animations, black grounds or fade ins.<br />
<br />
2. Create a design which coveys in a stylish way what it has to. Instead of using downloaded illustrations use original ones. <br />
<br />
3. Avoid things like heavy files or graphics. These will slow down your pages. GIF is better than JPEG files. <br />
<br />
4. Think of the target audience and subject being addressed when designing. The overall effect should be that of exclusivity.<br />
<br />
<br />
Content is King. The most important thing to remember about popular web sites is that they are always rich in content.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Stick
to your subject. Don't try to be all things to all people. Keep your
goal in mind. Creating a web site is challenging and fun. The temptation
to put as many bells and whistles as you can on a page is almost
overwhelming. But unless your site is involved with bells and whistles,
don't do it! The purpose of designing a site carefully is not to make it
look cool, or win awards. It's to accomplish the intended goal of the
site. It's a good idea to write down the goal of your the site before
starting any design work. It will help you make design designs for the
site as a whole.<br />
<br />
First
impressions count! Think about the message you are sending to your
customer. The first page of your web site should be a concise
description of the website. Don't make this page too busy - entice
visitors to dig deeper into your site through the use of inviting text
and interesting graphics. If you are serious about your business, buy
your own domain name and don't use a "free" hosting service.<br />
<br />
Design
sites, not pages. Your primary concern should be the site's overall
design. When starting to design a new site from scratch, you should try
to create a design that will make sense to users, has a consistent look
and feel, and is not to difficult to extend in the future. The
consistency of design of a site is one of the factors that
differentiates amateur sites from professional ones.<br />
<br />
Make
it easy to get around your site. Your customer should be able to easily
navigate to any page in your web from any page in your page. It's
important to link in a consistent, well thought out manner that users
can learn to navigate. Have clear links to your pages and, if are
selling a product, make it easy for people to buy it! Show your business
name, address, phone number and E-mail address on each an every page.
Invite customers to contact you with their questions or comments. Add
links to other sites only when necessary, or on a special links page at
the end of your site. You want visitors to go through your site before
surfing off to another!<br />
<br />
<br />
View
your site through the eyes of a stranger. Once you have completed you
site outline, view it in other browsers. Does it look like you wanted it
to look?<br />
<br />
Don't
forget to tell the world about your new site. Make sure that your URL is
on all your company business cards, letter heads, brochures, phone
systems, etc. Swap links with other related web sites and consider
banner advertising. List your site with the major search engines, but
read their rules of submission first!<br />
<br />
Keep
your site current. Come up with a reason for people to visit and
revisit your pages and recommend them to their friends. This could be a
series of articles giving tips, a daily cartoon, or other attention
catching event. The words most likely to attract visitors are: Free and
Special. Be sure you offer something of value if you uses these words!<br />
<br />
Survey
says... Ask users about your site. Create a survey and give a reward
for responding. Ask friends to check out the site, then grill them on
what they thought about it. This can be valuable input on what
improvements are needed. Often, users can be thrown by things a designer
might never see as a problem. Don't ever stop looking for ways to
improve your website. Subscribe to professional E-zines, and keep
surfing the web doing market research. What are your competitors doing
better? Ask for feedback from your friends, relatives and customers.
They will often see things with fresh eyes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-18429222823057709562015-01-31T02:43:00.000-08:002015-06-14T01:35:32.355-07:00Loyal Customers on its Way to Extinction<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjww_9q8RNGkawUUhTfgyR9H8xnAMu-UO7M5KDVf94TF09j6RlehDsLHALw7HgFNmi-jVblI9OYrUuzaamr_5wji3oLlhXzQIudQdRwhkGZjIIPhsC1MjpE7Kx-IkJ5tajUt-jDke0dDpLT/s1600/loyalty-pyramid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjww_9q8RNGkawUUhTfgyR9H8xnAMu-UO7M5KDVf94TF09j6RlehDsLHALw7HgFNmi-jVblI9OYrUuzaamr_5wji3oLlhXzQIudQdRwhkGZjIIPhsC1MjpE7Kx-IkJ5tajUt-jDke0dDpLT/s320/loyalty-pyramid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b>How do you keep visitors loyal to your site? That is the question. </b><br />
<br />
The answer?<br />
<br />
<b>Reward them so they will keep on coming back. </b><br />
<br />
Customers have the tendency to readily sign up for anything being offered to them when they know that they are getting something for it. And chances are, when they see that you deliver what you promised, they would gladly come back for more to see what you have to offer the next time around.<br />
<br />
Example of prizes are discount coupons, sweepstakes entry, free trial, etc. This way, they will be more inclined to register and turn over their personal information to you. <br />
<br />
You can also give them free samples of what your site offers. The more you reward these people, the more familiar they will be with your service or product. This will result in better responses. Maybe they can even give out recommendations for new customers. <br />
<br />
But before you can attain this level of marketing and reaching customers, you first have to make your site work. Since your site will be your initial marketing material, you need to make sure that your message will get through to them. <br />
<br />
<b>Here are some of the kinds of messages you need and need not use on your site.</b> <br />
<br />
<b>Make them short and convincing.</b> Do not include detailed product descriptions, information or long and winding stories about you and the company. <br />
<br />
<b>Make use of short titles and bulleted points or emphasis.</b> Using these, your customers will be able to take in important information in a glance. You may want to put up a summary at the top and link it to the information you want read. Help your readers access quickly what interests them and what they want to know. <br />
<br />
<b>Be sure to set up a way for customers to effortlessly update their information or unsubscribe.</b><br />
Check your site from time to time to make sure that all your information is up to date. Nothing can make visitors run away fast than a site with outdated information. <br />
<br />
<b>Do not spam</b>. Avoid this at all cost. <br />
<br />
<b>Be different.</b> Try to include some point of difference, attitude or special service that makes you different from all the others. <br />
<br />
Lastly, <b>support your promotion</b>. Do not just sit back after you have sent out your promotion. Try following up. The best time should be the earliest time possible. <br />
<br />
So do you know how to get more loyal customers?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-84572769611850799992015-01-08T16:26:00.000-08:002015-01-09T08:09:36.992-08:00Site Builders - How Good Are They?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTMnK-P06cd0oQw8TOJs74MVhThtCyALIfNJnk424VyoQ73icVMliCAtCdIHG2GDAw1cSDOBvKp-JYEV8qh5rSGyxWFPnvv5ILQPN39ywoCsUlgykUoYklE64I56NqIdUaeIZd4zTvjCr/s1600/image3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Microsoft vs Adobe" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTMnK-P06cd0oQw8TOJs74MVhThtCyALIfNJnk424VyoQ73icVMliCAtCdIHG2GDAw1cSDOBvKp-JYEV8qh5rSGyxWFPnvv5ILQPN39ywoCsUlgykUoYklE64I56NqIdUaeIZd4zTvjCr/s1600/image3.png" height="183" title="Site Builders" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />There are a wide range of opinions out there as to how good <b>site builders</b> really are. Some are of the opinion that they are great and that, when properly used, completely mitigate the need for a professional <i>website designer</i>. Some people think they are okay, but if you want something really top of the line, you need to go to a <i>web design professional</i>. Still others think that <i>site builders</i> are not good at all and are only fit for the rank amateur or a person who is unwilling or unable to put any effort into making an interesting site. The truth of the matter is that there are some very good <b>site builders</b> in the market, but the fact remains that a web <b>design professional</b> is the best bet for a truly professional site.<br /><br />With that being said, <b>site builders</b> have gotten substantially better in the last few years. If you haven't looked at a site builder in a while, it may be time to revisit that option. It used to be the case that site builders basically only let you pick the background color, your text color and would maybe allow you to choose from some pre-loaded graphics and pictures. Today your options are nearly limitless. With such established names as <a href="http://www.adobe.com/" rel="nofollow">Adobe</a> and <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/" rel="nofollow">Microsoft</a> getting in on do-it-yourself web pages, other <i>site-builders</i> have had to up the ante in order to remain competitive. These days you can create your own pictures and graphics to include in your website, choose for yourself how it is laid out, the color scheme, and many other personalized options. Indeed, in many cases, a person cannot tell the difference between a professionally designed site and one that was created using the help of a site builder.<br /><br />The better site builders require that you put a substantial amount of energy into your project to have it fully customized to your liking. Furthermore, some of the better ones, like Adobe, are rather expensive, up to $200 US. However, the end result is a fantastic looking website and the builder guides you through every step of the process. Even still, you may want to consider investing in a book on website design for some ideas and conventions for figuring out what elements to include and where to include them, as well as tips for the color scheme and the overall design of your website.<br /><br />Of course, you can still use a site builder on the cheap; one even comes free with some blogging sites or when you sign up for website hosting. These site builders won't have the high level of customization, but you can make a fairly attractive, if cookie-cutter, website using them. Even the low cost site builders typically allow you to include custom pictures and other graphics. These low or no-cost sites are designed for people with little to no experience in website building, and are thus very user-friendly. However, this ease of use usually requires that you sacrifice many options for customization.<br /><br />For those people who want to give their websites a more professional and polished look, it is probably still best to go with a professional web designer. However, if finances prohibit that, a top-quality site builder may be a good alternative. If you are just looking for some personal web pages, posting family pictures or what-not, then a regular free or low-cost site builder will probably do the trick for you.<br /><br />Site builders certainly are not what they used to be. They have come a long way since the early days of the Internet, with even low or no-cost site builders being a viable option for many people. Site-builders are a great option if your site or finances don't warrant a professional.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-22326254631223407252015-01-07T21:36:00.000-08:002015-01-09T08:44:02.940-08:00Web Site Navigation For Biginers<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Once a <b>visitor gets to your web site</b>, you want to make sure they can find what they are looking for quickly and easily, or they will just go elsewhere. If a web site is easy to use and understand, visitors will come back time and time again.</blockquote>
<br />Using intuitive navigation techniques will greatly <b>improve the usability of your web site</b>, and therefore user satisfaction and return rates. By intuitive navigation, I mean some sort of menu, map or list that is instantly understandable to most visitors to your web site.<br /><br />One of the first points to <b>making a site easy to navigate</b> is to have a consistent menu that is on every page. By having a menu that is on every page of your site, users can move from each section from any other section, with out having to go back to a home page or menu page.<br /><br /><b>Keeping the menu in the same location</b>, and in the same style throughout your site ensures that visitors quickly recognize how to navigate your site. If you have a different style menu on every page, users may get confused and not as easily comprehend how to navigate your site.<br /><br />Another useful tool a <b>Webmaster can include for visitors is a site map</b>. A site map is a page containing an organized list of all the pages or sections of the site. Instead of moving through the site's menu system and down through categories by clicking on links on different pages, a visitor has the option of going to the site map and clicking directly to the page they are seeking.<br /><br />Though there are many fancy buttons, graphics and rollovers that can be used for your navigation menu, sometimes simple text links are the best bet. For one, <b>text link navigation menus are fast loading</b>. Many web surfers are on slow connections and do not want to wait for a complex navigation system to download. Text navigation menus also can add relevant text to search engine results, whereas image navigation bars cannot. Text navigation also helps ensure your users understand what the links mean.<br /><br />If you do opt to use graphic navigation menus, you may wish to consider adding a <b>redundant text navigation</b> menu at the bottom of the page to ensure viewability and search engine spidering.<br /><br />Many new Webmasters are tempted to use frames to create a navigation menu that will appear on all the site's pages. The benefit is that the navigation will stay in sight even when the rest of the page is scrolled. But because frames piece pages together from other pages a Webmaster cannot be sure that a web page using frames will be viewed correctly. If a visitor comes to a page through a search engine that was designed to have a navigation menu added with a frame, the user will see not see the menu. Because of this, it is important to add a link to your home page on every page, so viewers can see your site as it was intended.<br /><br /><b>Even if you are not using frames</b>, it would be helpful to have a link to the home page of your website on every page, to ensure users can find the "beginning" of your site.<br /><br />Keeping the navigation menu near the top of the web pages ensures that surfers will be able to see the menu as soon as the page loads. If a user has to scroll to navigate to other pages of your site, they will be less inclined to do so.<br /><br />In closing, it is important to keep in mind that when it comes to site navigation, simplicity is key. If a user does not immediately see what they need, they will not spend much time trying to find it, but will rather move on to the next site.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-68095499520312315182015-01-07T17:27:00.000-08:002015-01-09T08:52:04.392-08:00Better Photos Than Nothing at All<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWHgl8LIpAtd_64afFqYxS6IMALqXpddRZOHCb2O7EtwGPtJD_97etM3mo-hgNcJhIEspB7bwG3Gkbc5XcY8c72RLV19UEBEisvtzfflCN3f3dbH2Sz4kqhJyWNWq2G3eugcalmTSEMvJ/s1600/8tracks-3996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWHgl8LIpAtd_64afFqYxS6IMALqXpddRZOHCb2O7EtwGPtJD_97etM3mo-hgNcJhIEspB7bwG3Gkbc5XcY8c72RLV19UEBEisvtzfflCN3f3dbH2Sz4kqhJyWNWq2G3eugcalmTSEMvJ/s1600/8tracks-3996.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></div>
<b>Photos into design</b> is like putting life into it. Without photos, the design would appear bland and boring to those who are seeing them. People, having short attention span, gets bored easily. It is when they see something interesting that their attention first is caught. Curiosity will follow. <br /><br />Then the need to satisfy them eventually followed suit. A successful design would mean giving the people what they needed and making them want to go back for more in the future. <br /><br />What is the importance of <i>photos in a design</i>? The obvious reason is that it draws attention. These are the first things that people see whether they are looking intentionally or unintentionally. <br /><br />In <b>photos</b>, the colored ones have the strongest pull over the black and white ones. Some of the cases though can have this reversed, depending on ambiance that the readers see the photos.<br /><br /><i>Photos give credibility</i>. This fact is seen clearly in the advertisements of products. Portraying people enjoying one product or others choosing a certain brand over another can convince people. <br /><br />The readers seeing these photos would then imagine that maybe that is the result of the product being endorsed. Notice that most advertisements feature photos focusing on the positive light. <br /><br />There are also some using photos that contradict what they are trying to say. This type can be appreciated by those readers who are more into ironies. Both ways, the presentation tends to add credibility as compared to those that do not use photo.<br /><br /><b>Memorization is easier with photos</b>. Associating things or events with photos are what most people do. Photos are easily stored in the mind that whenever the opportunity calls for it, that person would just dig it up in the memory and be able to conjure the right idea.<br /><br /><b>Photos tell a story</b>. It can tell various kind of story depending on the range of the imagination triggered just by looking at pictures. <br /><br />Creators of these photos can create many ways of tickling the imagination of the readers. Using colors are helpful in bringing life and clarity to the photo. Sometimes not using colors also served its purpose. Color usage can be effective depending on how the writer or the artist used them in the photo.<br /><br />Lastly, photos create a lasting impression. By this, it could mean a good or a not so good impression. Whatever kind it is, it helps facts and other things be imprinted in the mind of the people. When they think of the photo, they would ultimately think of the product or idea that goes with it.<br /><br />Adding photos into designs make the extra expenses worth it, once you think about it. Better try with photos than not having tried at all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-32757140174329729492015-01-07T13:43:00.000-08:002015-01-09T09:02:51.161-08:00Web Site Design Mistakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Some wise human once said "Learn from the mistakes of others. There isn't nearly enough time to make them all yourself." Hence this article. Here are five of the most annoying and common web design mistakes.<br /><br />1.<b><i> Slow download time</i></b> - Don't be that site that is filled with the coolest gizmos in the world. You know, animation, music and other "cool" things. Why? Because nobody is going to go to it because it takes too long to download. A nice clean site that downloads quickly will get you much further than a site with all the fixings that takes forever to download.<br /><br />2. <i><b>Unreadable text</b></i> - If a user has to struggle to read the text on your web site, chances are they won't. Here are some common readability issues:<br /><br />A. <i><b>Low contrast text and background</b></i> - Don't use light colored text on a light background. Also, don't use dark text on a dark background. Text is most easily read with extreme contrasts between the background and text. Black on white is about as good as it gets for readability. Red on black is pretty bad. Yellow on white isn't so hot either.<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>B. <i><b>Text on a busy background </b></i>- Text is most easily read on solid color background. Putting text on textured backgrounds can make it much harder to read.</li>
<li>C.<i><b> Small Text</b></i> - Text that is really tiny may look cool, but is hard to read. If you must use small text, make sure changing the text size in a browser will change the size of your text. Using style sheets can some times over-ride a browser's ability to increase text size.</li>
</ul>
<br />3. <i><b>Unpleasant designs</b></i> - Designs that use too many colors, colors that clash, or a messy layout, are just plain hard to look at. A site should be pleasant to look at, not a chore.<br /><br />4. <i><b>Long pages</b></i> - Long pages are a problem because your force people to sift through piles of information to get what they want. Pages that focus on just a few topics with links to related topics on other pages are much better. This approach allows the reader to isolate the specific subject they are interested in.<br /><br />5. <i><b>Poor Navigation</b></i> - It is extremely important that a user be able to access all pages of your site from every page. Users will often enter your site from a search engine listing with a link other than your home page. You do not want your visitors at a dead-end with no way to access the rest of your site. You will have wasted the traffic and given the prospect a bad impression of your business.<br /><br />As you surf the web, you should keep a list of annoying things you find on other sites. Every so often, check your site to see if you have the same problems. Regardless, if you avoid the common web design mistakes listed above, you will stand a better chance of running a successful web site.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-81800190609693033862015-01-07T06:54:00.000-08:002015-01-09T09:15:10.315-08:00Getting A Website: How To Get A Better Price From Your Web Designer<br />
<h2>
So you have decided you need a website. What next? </h2>
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Before you contact some web designers to get a quote, you will save yourself time, money and trouble by first sitting down and thinking about what you actually need. The more you can “nail down” your requirements, the more likely you are to get a better price, and not be surprised by getting a bill for extras at the end of the project. <br />
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<h3>
First, think about what you want from your website: </h3>
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<ul>
<li><i>Do you want to sell products online, using a shopping cart and some method of accepting payments? </i></li>
<li><i>Do you want your site to be a “static” online brochure, showcasing your products or services? </i></li>
<li><i>Do you want your site to generate leads & enquiries for you to follow up directly? </i></li>
<li><i>Is your site primarily aimed at providing information for existing customers? </i></li>
<li><i>Is your site going to be a useable, interactive service e.g. searchable property database? </i></li>
</ul>
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Now consider how many pages you will need. Web designers will use this as an important factor when quoting you; if you initially ask for too few, you may get a bill for extras. Ask for too many and you may be paying more than you need to. <br />
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Think about the titles of the pages you need (as they appear in the site navigation) As a minimum, you will probably need “Home”, “About Us” and “Contact Us”. <br />
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Now give some consideration to the design of the site. Do you have a colour scheme in mind? Do you want some Flash animation? What sort of imagery do you want used? TO get some ideas, surf the Net and note down any websites you find that you like the look of, and give the URL to web designers. This will help them get an idea of what you like. <br />
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<h3>
You should also consider which technical issues are important to you. </h3>
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<b>Does you site need to be: </b><br />
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<ul>
<li>* Fast Loading? If your target market are home users, a large proportion may still be on slower dial up internet connections. </li>
<li>* Graphically Intensive? Perhaps you need to appeal to corporate users, by employing a strong, professional design. </li>
<li>* Optimised for a particular screen resolution? Do you want the site to look best on 1024 x 768 resolution screens, or perhaps your target market is more likely to have older PC’s with screen settings such as 800x600. </li>
<li>* Updated yourself? If you regularly need to change the text/images of your site, you may need to ask for a quote for a Content Management System (CMS). Ask fort his to be identified as an optional cost, so you can judge if it is cost effective for you. Alternatively, you could purchase web editing software (such as Macromedia Contribute) though you will need to make your web designer aware that this is what you will be doing. </li>
<li>* Aimed at specific end users? Perhaps your target market are printers or music industry professionals, who tend to use Apple Mac computers. If so, make your web designer aware of it – many designers do not pay much attention to checking web sites run correctly on Macs. </li>
</ul>
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By taking a little time to consider the needs of your website, you will help your web designer immensely, getting the site you want at a cost effective price.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-3468973347077590762015-01-06T22:09:00.000-08:002015-01-15T22:04:12.623-08:00Website Design and Development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There's two ways to get a website developed - pay, or design it yourself. If you've chosen the latter, you'll need several things. First, you'll need web hosting. Web hosting can range from $2 to $200 per month, depending on your needs. Consult a web hosting review site for more information. Next, you'll have to have some background in computing or internet programming. You'll need to know at least HTML. Thirdly, you'll have to have a way to upload your files. Some hosts have online uploads, others require FTP. <br /><br />Today's web design encompasses many different technologies that must blend seamlessly to allow for the best combination of form and function in a site. If you've decided to design your first website, it can be a daunting task. Rather, most professionals suggest finding a low-cost alternative. Many web developers have a forte - either design or programming. Finding a well-rounded website design firm or individual is difficult, but the business' portfolio is the best indication. <br /><br />In order to be certain of the firm's abilities, further scrutinizing is imperative. The firm has a nice looking site that flows well and has an aesthetic appeal, a great testament to their abilities. But does this eye for the creative flow through its clients' sites, too? It's importance to be certain of this question. Browsing through the portfolio alone often isn't enough. Get feedback from the clients if possible (with the firm's approval). Are they satisfied? Do they feel that the firm was easy to work with? And moreover, is there site an adequate representation of what they wanted?<br /><br />Once you've found a firm that you feel is worthwhile, it's time to ask for a quote. Hopefully, the firm has a questionnaire that you can easily fill out. These surveys will ask questions about how many pages your site will have, whether writing is necessary, and if there is any extra functionality. You probably already have a budget in mind, but it's better for a company to tell you what they think the work is worth. They know how many hours of work are involved, and will (hopefully) break down the price for you to let you know exactly what you're paying for. Web design can range from $5 to $100 per hour, and many web designers have a forte that they will charge more for. Sometimes, it's even necessary to work with multiple firms to get the best deal. <br /><br />Today's trend is outsourcing. Many Indian and other overseas programmers and designers are willing to work for exponentially less than American web designers. This trend has its pros and cons. While the money saved is beneficial, the overseas designers rarely speak fluent English. Communication is an imperative part of web design, and often projects can go awry without it.<br /><br />Obviously, you have a difficult design ahead of you. With all the great web design firms out there, sometimes cost does equal quality. Make a decision, get a second opinion, and always be thorough in your explanation of what you're looking for.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-25445335546070417482015-01-06T18:02:00.000-08:002015-01-15T22:10:18.971-08:00Top 10 Ways Websites Makes Me Suffer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9589Ca9fAPrAv71E376fnHoMyA66947l668ejQKTD9j39U307iqA7UQTn2zr5ryeYE08EHSuq8JWAfRie3i1Sjy0ofYbaFzhfxAYCm9cxjc2BXMi8WQQMs6i8exF7Krkuh9KgTI0Y7_Y0/s1600/epbdsqer1lbnv9tza5pn.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9589Ca9fAPrAv71E376fnHoMyA66947l668ejQKTD9j39U307iqA7UQTn2zr5ryeYE08EHSuq8JWAfRie3i1Sjy0ofYbaFzhfxAYCm9cxjc2BXMi8WQQMs6i8exF7Krkuh9KgTI0Y7_Y0/s1600/epbdsqer1lbnv9tza5pn.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
I believe some people create and publish websites for the sole purpose of tormenting their visitors. Browsing various websites and navigating the Web can often be like trying to read on an airplane while a kid kicks the back of your seat and the baby next to you alternates between screaming, crying and drooling on you. There are some excellent websites out there to be sure, but there are also a lot of dreadful ones too. The latter are the bane of so many people’s existence, especially those who use the Web regularly. <br /><br />The Net continues to grow in popularity and importance for consumers and businesses alike. Therefore, the quality of sites needs to keep pace. Creating and maintaining high-quality websites is more important now than ever. Higher quality equals more revenue.<br /><br />The following lists the top ten ways that a website misses the boat and contributes to hair loss and nervous breakdowns. Notice the common thread that runs throughout each of these. Namely, a bad website neglects to consider the site visitor’s experience in some fundamental ways. <br /><br />
<h3>
1. Animation</h3>
Seven year-olds like watching animated cartoons on Saturday morning, business people, professionals and most other adults don’t. Sites that include showy Flash animations as an ‘Intro’, animated gifs on every page, or flying words are really annoying. They take away from the content and distract the visitor from achieving their goals. Unless your site is an entertainment site, try to avoid maddening motion. However, if your product or service can be better demonstrated using Flash, Quick Time, or other multimedia, which is common, offer your visitors the chance to click a link to view it. But don’t force them.<br /><br />
<h3>
2. Too much scrolling</h3>
Once I scroll down a full screen’s worth, my eyes start to blur, I feel slightly lost, my head spins and my interest wanes. Computer monitors really aren’t the best medium for reading. The Net and many sites are so big that it’s important to always provide a clear frame of reference for your visitors at all times while they’re on your site. If a page requires two full screens of scrolling or more, simply split it up into multiple pages.<br /><br />
<h3>
3. Long, text-heavy and blocky paragraphs of unbroken text</h3>
I really have to be into a topic or desperately need to glean the information to trudge through big chunks of unbroken text online. If I’m just shopping around for a product or service, you’ve lost me if I have to endure this kind of torture. Again, it is harder to read text on the Web than in other mediums such as books. Additionally, Web users are notoriously impatient, so make your content easy to read and non-intimidating. Use titles, sub-titles, small paragraphs, bullets and numbering.<br /><br />
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4. No obvious ways to contact the company</h3>
If all you supply is an email on your website, your legitimacy may be questioned. Why can’t you answer the phone? Why hide behind an anonymous and cold email address? Make it easy for your existing and potential customers to talk with you.<br /><br />
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5. Unchanging or out-date content</h3>
If I start reading content on a site and soon discover that the content was written three years ago, I split. Since there’s so much information out there, my reasoning is there’s got to be comparable information online that’s more current. If you keep your content fresh your site will attract repeat visitors. And repeat visitors are more likely to turn into customers.<br /><br />
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6. Long page downloads</h3>
It’s amazing that this is still a problem. When I click on to a site and have to sit there waiting for it to appear in my browser, I start sweating, picking my teeth, tapping my toes, rolling my eyes and soon want to throw my computer through my office window. I’m obviously a little impatient, but again, I know there are other sites out there with the same information that will download more quickly, so why wait? I’m gone.<br /><br />
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7. “Me, me, me!” instead of “You, you, you”</h3>
Generally speaking, no one cares about you, your company or your thoughts. What they do care about is what you can do for them. So sites that show pictures of the company building or tout their deep philosophy on the way business should be conducted really don’t bode well for keeping the interest of site visitors. On the other hand, sites that speak directly to potential customers about how they can solve their problems, make their lives easier, safer, richer or more comfortable have a much better chance of keeping the eyeballs glued.<br /> <br />
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8. Non-explanatory buttons or links</h3>
Here are some examples of buttons that leave me dazed and confused: A wedding site with a button called ‘Blanks’, a boating site with a button named ‘The Lighthouse’, a book site with a button called ‘The Inside Story’, or a Web design site with a button called ‘Tea Time’. They sound like Jeopardy categories. Imagine trying to find your way on a highway where its various signs read ‘Over Here’, ‘Moon Beams’, and ‘Lollypops’. Good luck navigating your way through. It’s the same with navigating websites. Button and link names need to tell the visitor where the link leads to. Make it as easy as possible for a visitor to know where they’re going before they click. However, there are times when naming a link an ambiguous name may pique the curiosity of a user and get them to click on it. But as a general rule, keep your links and buttons as descriptive as possible. <br /><br />
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9. Inconsistent navigation</h3>
Imagine sitting down at a restaurant and the waiter comes over to you and hands you five different menus, one for the appetizers, one for the soups and salads, one for the entrees, one for the desserts, and one for the drinks. Annoying. Now imagine if each menu had a different format, layout and method for listing the items. Brutal. I really don’t want to work that hard at picking out my dinner, I’m hungry and I just want a meal. Don’t make your visitors work hard either by expecting them to re-learn your navigation system each time they enter another section of your site. They too are hungry; for useful information and they’re even more impatient.<br /><br />
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10. Inconsistent look & feel</h3>
When the look & feel completely changes from one page to another in a website, I think I am visiting another site, another company, a partner or subsidiary. I get very confused. This screams poor planning and often results from tacking on new sections later after the original site was built. This can lead to design-drift. It may be tempting to stray from the original design; you may have a better design now. But wait till you do a complete next-generation re-design of the entire site before introducing a new look & feel. If not, lots of visitors will be scratching their heads with one hand and possibly clicking away with the other.<br /><br /><br />Finally, any site that employs a number of these notorious features is particularly painful to experience. When I click to a website that has five different fonts and colors, scrolls down to the core of the Earth, incorporates zinging words and big fat blocks of text, lists no phone number and has content written and dated in 1996, I scream and know deep down inside that pulling my fingernails out wouldn’t be as torturous as having to remain there a minute longer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-3983176552735773722015-01-06T10:28:00.000-08:002015-01-15T22:13:17.522-08:00Web Designing Essentials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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To know web designing essence, let us first compare a poorly designed page from that of an outstanding one. <br /><br />Poorly made page is passive, linear, confusing, pathetic and lacks concentration on details. Thus, it will not do you any good. It will just be a waste of time and effort.<br /><br />On the other hand, an outstanding page is active, nonlinear, clean and consistent with its style and details. Moreover, this type of page can drag your e-commerce to full blast.<br /><br />Now, let us discuss the significance of each essential quality. <br /><br />
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Interactivity</h3>
<br />This quality allows the reader to participate actively and willingly. Examples of interactive device are the following: tests, hypermedia, hypertext, games, chat rooms and the likes. <br /><br />To be active with the site encourages revisit. This is because visitors are keen enough to know whether this site is enjoyable or not, educational or crap and inviting or flaccid.<br /><br />
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Linear Organization</h3>
<br />Functionality does not equate to boredom. Thus, do not make your web page more boring than a book and difficult to read like a technical thesis. You have to make it catchy, engrossing and illuminating. Classroom atmosphere lulls visitor to sleep, be sure to arrange your page in a way that it will not be to taxing on them to read your page.<br /><br />
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Concentration on Details</h3>
<br />There must be consistency as to details. On the educational aspect, cognitive loading, sequencing of information, feedback and erroneous text must be avoided since they represent bad design.<br /><br />On the technical aspect, broken links, poor navigation and inactive pointers are annoying. Thus, if you want to incorporate the same into your design, be sure they are functioning well so as not to infuriate the visitors.<br /><br />
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Graphic User Interface</h3>
<br />Quality is your topmost priority. Hence, graphic user interface must not be overlooked. To give you a hint, do not use dull colors, avoid busy screens and the overuse of animations and graphics. <br /><br />E-commerce web development is crucial to your web page. Be sure to apply them effectively and rightfully.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-45450079486231425392015-01-06T01:19:00.000-08:002015-01-16T09:32:31.436-08:00Top Questions Your Web Design Firm Should Be Asking You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before any business owner develops a web site, they usually have something in mind regarding the esthetics, layout and overall budget they have for the project. While all of these are certainly an important part of building a web site, there are many more things to consider as well. If you are working with a professional web development firm, other questions need to be answered before you can have a site developed that will accurately represent your interests on the net.<br /><br />One of the first questions they should be asking you is what your intentions are for the site. Are you selling products or services or giving out information? Is the site for entertainment purposes primarily or is it a business venture? If you are selling products or services, who constitutes your target demographic? <br /><br />Once that has been established, a good web design firm will want to know how large you intend for the site to be. Will the site experience growth over time as pages are added for new products or services or as more content is added? Will the site require updating on a regular basis and if so, by whom? <br /><br />Firms should offer you options on databases should you need one to securely store and retrieve information from customers, members and others who may visit the site. This is especially important for companies who rely on Internet orders for the bulk of their sales. Even for not-for-profits and other types of primarily informational web sites, however, visitor databases can be a necessity.<br /><br />Last but certainly not least, a web design firm should inquire as to how you hope to bring traffic to your site. Will you be buying online advertising such as banner ads or pay per click? Will you be relying on search engine results to help your demographic find you? The latter will require some optimization efforts to make your site competitive for the keywords and phrases people might find you under. A good firm knows that even the most esthetically pleasing site in the world is ineffective if no one ever sees it.<br /><br />Make sure the firm you hire is asking you the right questions and you will have a site you can be proud of that will serve its purpose well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-58063717847372116632015-01-05T17:36:00.000-08:002015-01-05T17:36:00.165-08:00Is FLASH Appropriate in a Business Web Site?<p><br/>Is FLASH Appropriate in a Business Web Site?</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Word Count:</p><br/><p><br/>1875</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Summary:</p><br/><p><br/>The short answer is maybe. The long answer is that the question might be better asked, “Is a 100% FLASH web site appropriate in business?.” The answer to this question, in my humble opinion is, absolutely not.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Keywords:</p><br/><p><br/>website, web site, web site design, flash design, SEO, design website, design web site, ekzact</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Article Body:</p><br/><p><br/>The short answer is maybe. The long answer is that the question might be better asked, “Is a 100% FLASH web site appropriate in business?.” The answer to this question, in my humble opinion is, absolutely not. In fact, we have had several clients come to us this year who have 100% Flash web sites that are going to completely remake their web sites because they simply do not work for them. They are having issues with search engines and with clients who can’t see their web sites.<br/><br/>Of course, they do work in terms of visuals. If you visit a Flash web site you will see it. Just because a visitor can see the web site doesn’t automatically mean that the web site is working for your business.<br/><br/>What is Flash?<br/><br/>Flash is technology developed by Macromedia, a leader in web development tools. Flash movies are a compilation of many images, elements and text that is then compiled into a nice, tight little digital file that then gets put on the internet. Some designers build entire web sites using this technology. Graphic designers quite like the technology because it gives them a great opportunity to show how talented they are by developing interactive, moving, and quite honestly some very entertaining web sites. Remember though that the purpose for your business web site is to communicate with your existing and prospective clients, not to show everyone what a talented designer you hired.<br/><br/>What is Flash Good For?<br/><br/>Flash is great as an add-on element for some graphic components of a business web site. Recently the ability for web masters to compile digital audio and video into flash movies has been simplified and using flash to stream a video is a great example of a perfect use for Flash in a business web site.<br/><br/>Another example of where Flash is well used and well received is on web sites that are about presentation and not information. For example a rock band, kids web sites with little games, a photo gallery, a movie clip are all places where Flash is particularly well suited.<br/><br/>Does Flash have a place on the internet? Absolutely it does, but as a web site purchaser though, you have to ask yourself the question, “does Flash have a place on my business web site?”<br/><br/>Can Everyone See Flash<br/><br/>The short answer is no. Although widely available and a component of most web browsers when they are installed, not everyone has flash installed with their web browser. If a visitor who does not have a flash plug-in on their PC visits a site that requires the Flash plug-in, their web browser will prompt them to install it. PC and web savvy visitors will likely go ahead and do it, but some users (like my mother) panic if a pop-up window asks a question and they walk away, or surf away, thinking they just infected their PC with the latest doomsday virus. All of that said, a large percentage of people can see Flash without too much anxiety.<br/><br/>Things to Consider<br/><br/>The Intro Flash Splash<br/><br/>Flash is commonly used for “splash” pages or “entry pages” into web sites. We have all seen them, the animated movie or commercial that leads us into a more traditional marketing web site. Have you ever wondered why the Flash designer almost always places a “skip intro” link on this page? I believe it’s because they know that if they don’t allow people to skip the Flash splash screen that they are going to lose the visitor. Remember that most internet surfers are impatient and they are usually looking for information, not another commercial. Get people to your main web page and do it fast.<br/><br/>The trend of using ‘splash’ pages has declined in the past couple of years as the internet has matured. It is my belief, and widely shared, that if your web site is about good information, then an entry screen is just a road block to your visitors.<br/><br/>The Search Engine<br/><br/>Search engines send out automated robots called “spiders” that crawl through the internet and create massive databases of web pages. People then search for web pages based on key words that are embedded in to the web page in hidden tags as well as in the text that is on the web page itself. If it is important to you that people find your web site then it is important to you to create well written text and links on your web pages that the search engines can find, read and follow. Search engines can not see the text in a Flash page. Search engines can not see hyper-links on flash pages and therefore can not follow the links. Your web page will not seem very important to most search engines because to a search engine your web site will consist of one page and the only relevant information that the search engine will see is your meta-tags if they exist.<br/><br/>Having said all of that, there are arguably ways to get a Flash site indexed and catalogued by a search engine. It simply is not the easiest thing to do and you will likely require a Search Engine Optimization specialist to assist you.<br/><br/>Reciprocal Linking<br/><br/>If you are kind enough to put links on your web site for other web sites then you are providing them with a “vote of confidence” in terms of search engine rankings. The more web sites that link to a web site, in the eyes of the search engine, makes the linked web site more important. Taking that a step further, the more important the web site that links to you the higher the potential ranking your site will get. Likewise sites that provide you with a reciprocal link are in effect giving you their “vote of confidence” and in turn making your web site more important.<br/><br/>Remember what I said earlier? Search engines can not see hyper-links when they are embedded into flash. So although the links are appreciated they will not contribute to the search engines perception of how valuable your web site may be to the world and as a result all those “votes of confidence” are going to waste.<br/><br/>Make sure that people who provide you with a link from their web site to your is not embedded into a flash page. Links should be in pure HTML or Hyper-Text MarkUp Language. If you provide links to other web sites on your site, the same applies to you, use HTML.<br/><br/>Don’t Break my Back Button<br/><br/>Web-browsers all have a back button. As software users, and more specifically as web surfers, we use the back button as a matter of course. It is a good practice as a web developer to not ‘break the back button’. Unfortunately because of the nature of Flash, the back button doesn’t work for backward navigation in the flash web site.<br/><br/>Create a Bookmark if You Can<br/><br/>People like to bookmark pages on the internet so that they can quickly return to them later on. Web surfers do not always bookmark the index page, or the main page, of a web site. For example if you site has a nifty currency converter or a great mortgage calculator on it, people may simply want to bookmark just that page. You can not bookmark an internal page within a Flash site. You can only bookmark the main page. Try it. Visit a 100% Flash web site, surf around a bit, then try to bookmark the page you are looking at. It doesn’t work, because you literally haven’t changed pages from when you first arrived at the site, you have simply “played the animation” which made it appear as though you went to different pages.<br/><br/>Cost<br/><br/>The cost to develop a traditional marketing web site using standard design graphic, HTML and text is in most cases less expensive than using Flash. If you designer proposes to use Flash, ask the question, “how much would it cost to do the same thing without flash?”.<br/><br/>Making Revisions and Updates<br/><br/>If you have your web site built 100% in Flash, you have subscribed to a certain skill-set in your designer. If you want to make revisions you will always need to use someone who can work within Flash. The same theory applies if your web site is images, HTML and text. The distinct difference is that there are far more web masters that work with the later than in Flash. It also typically will take longer to make revisions to Flash sites and as a result your cost of maintenance can be quite steep.<br/><br/>The Source Files<br/><br/>Flash source files are the heart of a flash movie, element or web site. The file will be names something like mywebsite.FLA. This is the native un-compiled source file for a Flash file. Once the designer is ready to deploy the Flash to the web server the file is compiled into a different format. The compiled file in our example would be called mywebsite.SWF.<br/><br/>So to clarify, the original artwork and design is worked on in the .FLA format and the final file that goes on the web server is .SWF.<br/><br/>I see it time and time again where the designer does not provide the client with the source file for their flash elements or web site. They protect the .FLA files, and guess what, you have to go to them for updates and revisions. It does not matter how talented your new web master or designer is, if you do not have the source file with the .FLA extension for your Flash site you will not be able to update it. You should ask your designer to provide you with this source file if you decide to use Flash elements on your web site.<br/><br/>A Final Note On Flash<br/><br/>Please do not interpret my remarks here as me being “anti-flash” the fact is, it really is a great media technology. If you have the budget and want to develop your web site using 100% pure flash, there are some things you can do to mitigate some of the pitfalls that I have described here.<br/><br/>Use a javascript to detect the browser capabilities of the visitor and ensure that they have Flash plug-in to support the Flash on your site. If the result of this simple test is ‘no they do not support Flash’ then the right thing to do is direct them to an alternative HTML based web site with your content. So, although you can overcome the missing Flash plug-in you have to have two web sites designed (the Flash one and the HTML one).<br/><br/>In Summary<br/><br/>Flash is a great design tool to add elements to your website to ‘spice it up’.<br/><br/>Flash is great for delivering rich media like audio and video.<br/><br/>Use the theory, add flash to your web page, don’t add your web page to flash and you will deliver a great experience to your visitors.<br/><br/>If your web site is about delivering information, make the information first and the design second. Web sites that provide great content do not need to wiggle, giggle, blink, click and buzz.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-83029107876734422692015-01-05T14:05:00.000-08:002015-01-16T09:36:43.187-08:00Navigate With Ease – Why Easy Website Navigation Is The Key To RepeatBusiness<br />
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Although there are many experts who claim to know what makes a website successful, upon researching one would find that almost every expert would agree that navigation has a large part in the formula. Easy website navigation is the key to repeat business. There are thousands of websites out there floating around. Not every one of these websites is successful and that is mainly due to the website structure itself. If you want to create a website that is structurally capable of leading to repeat business, then you should consider these tips during the creating and building processes. <br /><br />Easy website navigation needs to begin with the design of your website. Before your website is published on the web, it should be finished and able to be easily navigated. Don’t wait for the problems to present themselves through use to figure out what works and what doesn’t, especially if you are running a web business. There is simply no room for needless error when it comes to your business. The first thing to remember during initial design phases is that your website should be so simple to use that an eleven-year-old child should be able to figure it out. It is unlikely someone that young would ever be conducting business online, but many adults need the simplicity on websites. You should also keep it simple enough to run on even the slowest computer you can imagine someone owning. Not everyone has the fastest and newest computers around, so you will need to keep that in mind. If you only design for the highest forms of technology, you will likely loose quite a few potential customers.<br /><br />When it comes to the actual design, try to use things that are easy to the eye. Pictures and graphics work really well, as long as they are not too large or complicated. If you are using photos, make sure you use thumbprints that can be clicked upon to reveal a larger image of the photo. The thumbprints will load quickly for those with slower connections, but also allow the option of seeing the image in larger form. Consumers would much rather gather information from pictures on the web than by reading boring text. A good rule is to offer a majority of images, with a little text mixed in. <br /><br />When adding content to your site, there are a few things you should not do. First, you should not repeat common information. If you assume your audience is ignorant, they will likely be offended. Second, you should not repeat information from other websites with the same subject as yours. This will only make you look uniform and basically convince consumers you have nothing unique to offer them. If they can get the same deals at another website, they just might take their business there. Be sure you are adding valuable information and products on your website. Consumers are intelligent and want to be treated as such.<br /><br />When trying to figure out how to link each page to another, you will need to keep an “obvious” state of mind. This means that any place that you feel you must type “click here” should be so obvious that even without the actual words “click here”; the consumer should feel that is what should be done next. Designing your site with predictability in mind is a great idea. The more comfortable the consumer feels with the site, the better your business will be and the more repeat business you can expect. When the customer “knows” what will happen next, they will automatically feel comfortable. Surprising customers is not usually a great idea, so make sure everything works as it should. Place links in appropriate places so the viewer does not need to search endlessly for the link to the next page.<br /><br />Lastly, remember to avoid backgrounds and colors that distract from your products and website in general. Never use anything blinking in your site design. Blinking ads and content are annoying to everyone that uses the internet and can even cause medical problems in some viewers. Repeat business will not exist if you use content that is difficult on the eyes or it annoying to viewers. To get people to come back to your website, you need to create a place that can be navigated with complete ease. Make sure that all links are checked daily to ensure that your website is running as smoothly as possible. Also, be sure to have all of the “kinks” taken care of before you even publish your site online. Do these things and you are sure to have repeat business.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-79501974075838091072015-01-05T10:48:00.000-08:002015-02-13T10:42:24.517-08:00Web Design UK ReviewsIn today’s market, it is essential for every business to have a presence on the web – and the web design of the site is a key factor to the site’s success in boosting the visibility and profitability of the business. The Internet is often the first place that potential customers look when searching for a business to meet their needs, and a well designed, clearly presented and informative website will assure them of the expert service or products available from the business the site promotes. A web presence also means a global presence – the possibility of reaching customers from all corners of the world, and it also means that regular updates on new services or price specials can be posted to inform customers immediately and effectively. In this way, the web design of an inviting site can be one of business’ biggest assets for success.<br />
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It is often the case that businesses fear that the cost of high quality web designs will be prohibitive. While more and more people are gaining a clearer understanding of web design and how it works, for many people it just seems too expensive and complicated an option. However, there are many simple and cost-effective web design solutions available that will create a quality site for as little as a few hundred dollars. Once a site is well designed, maintaining and updating it is often very easy – and most importantly, worth it in terms of the return on a little effort. For a fairly simple site that will feature only basic information, such as the nature of the business, location and perhaps some specials or coupons, it may be a case of investing in some software that will provide templates for creating a simple site-by-numbers. However, for a more vibrant, active site that will fully represent the business online – and possibly allow for an e-commerce capability – it is worth looking to a professional web design company. Many offer competitive deals and the cost will be unquestionably offset by the greater traffic to the site that a professional site can generate.<br />
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In addition to strong web design, a professional company will also be skilled in SEO – search engine optimization. Studies have shown that potential customers will rarely explore beyond the first page or two of results generated by a search engine, so it is important to ensure that the site promoting your business will be among the top results. The key here is well-structured web pages and an effective use of the keywords that customers use to search. In general, text-rich pages have been shown to perform better in search engine results, and it is important to hit the right balance between cultivating the optimum search engine results and designing web pages that are easy to read and navigate. A clear “call to action” button – such as a contact form or “for more information contact” – is important too. Online browsers tend to have very little patience for looking for hard-to-find contact information.<br />
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For a website to be the most effective marketing and selling tool possible, both the web design and how it is marketed to have a high visibility online presence are important factors to consider. Submitting to search engines, ensuring the site is designed for SEO, and cross linking with relevant sites are all factors that will help to ensure a high web presence for the site, and therefore business. A professional web design company has the design skills and online marketing experience and know-how to create a website that will be an optimum selling tool in the world’s biggest sales market.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-20666433428520779442015-01-05T06:20:00.000-08:002015-01-05T06:20:00.397-08:00Designing Websites with Sales In Mind<p><br/>Designing Websites with Sales In Mind</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Word Count:</p><br/><p><br/>622</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Summary:</p><br/><p><br/>Web designers (and software apps) can do some amazing things with graphics and colors for websites. Find out how to combine design and sales.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Keywords:</p><br/><p><br/>web site design, internet marketing ideas, internetmarketingusa</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Article Body:</p><br/><p><br/>One of the very first decisions we make as internet marketers involves the critical choices in designing websites. We each have differing opinions and viewpoints of just what our site should look like. More often than not, these decisions are based on personal opinions or selections limited to the templates of the respective applications utilized for building the site. But there has to be more to this than personal preference - with no real basis for the logic and methodology tha should go into making the decisions!<br/><br/>What about this logic ---beyond the appearance - lets also look at the "sales" potential of one design versus another. Think about it, why do some websites sell better than anothers? Do you need a marketing degree to create a website? Does design have much impact on sales?<br/><br/>You may not realize this but many of the successful internet marketing businesses already figured out that design, or layout of the website should be as much of a marketing decision as the ad copy. Why is that?<br/><br/>Web designers (and individuals with software apps) can do some amazing things with graphics and colors. You will also have a much more professional looking site when an expert applies his or her handiwork. However, it is critically important to understand some of the key elements that smart marketers make certain appear (or NOT appear) on highly profitable sites. After all, having a "pretty" site does you no good if you are not getting traffic or revenue from sales. Being aware of these will enable you (or your selected designer) to keep in mind this balance between marketing and design. The three key elements are color, graphics, and layout.<br/><br/>COLOR: Designs with a dramatic color can make compelling choices for setting a mood. But reading on a computer screen demands as much contrast as possible, otherwise the reader will develop vision fatigue. You do not want to irritate or tire your visitors in any way or they may leave, so be certain that the main body of your website copy is black writing on a white background - or as close to that ideal as possible.<br/><br/>Colors also change appearance on different monitors, so what looks cool and calm on one monitor may be bright and glaring on another. Simple works.<br/><br/>GRAPHICS: Striking, bold graphics can be a real eye-catcher for visitors. Still, successful internet marketers are pretty much unanimous in stating that you should avoid flash graphics as much as possible. Again, they tend to tire visitors eyes or create a distraction from the written copy. Even if they are initially impressed by the work it may subconsciously annoy them. Simplicity is again the best way to go.<br/><br/>LAYOUT: The first 'fold' of your site is similar to opening a tractional paper letter. If you remove a letter from an envelope that is folded in three, you will obviously view the top 'fold' first.<br/><br/>This fold is what individuals will see without scrolling down the page. It is CRUCIAL that important elements like descriptive headlines, your contact number, newsletter subscription form etc. all show in the first fold. Do NOT place banners here unless they are the main element of your business as you will be giving prime space to other websites and your customer (which you fought hard to get in the first place) will be gone just as quickly.<br/><br/>These are just some of the important elements you should be aware of when designing your site. This "balance" will greatly increase your sales potential - once you incorporate this into your design criteria. With both design and "sales-ability" used as the foundation for the website in the initial design phases you will reap the financial benefits for years and years.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-26103742060071044912015-01-05T02:10:00.000-08:002015-01-05T02:10:00.488-08:00Logo Design, Logo Brand Design London and Logo Design Portfolio UK<p><br/>Logo Design, Logo Brand Design London and Logo Design Portfolio UK</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Word Count:</p><br/><p><br/>300</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Summary:</p><br/><p><br/>At TECHNO we know that choosing the right brand name is very important. That is why we assist your business in creating the best corporate branding image. Names or words have the ability to move people.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Keywords:</p><br/><p><br/>E-Commerce Solutions and Multimedia Presentation, Logo Design UK, Web Solutions UK, ECommerce Soluti</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Article Body:</p><br/><p><br/>At TECHNO we know that choosing the right brand name is very important. That is why we assist your business in creating the best corporate branding image. Names or words have the ability to move people.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>The TECHNO Brand service is a proprietary process created by the TECHNO Brand Team that, when professionally executed, delivers a clear and measurable competitive advantage to your firm. It does so by helping you establish a positive connection and value-relationship with your customer which, over time, will build brand equity and increase brand value.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Techno Consultancy creates professional logos design that make available instant recognition and position for your company or organization. </p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>A Techno logo design is a sophisticated symbol epitomizing the philosophy of your company or organization and is part of its commercial uniqueness. Its slight suggestion of your products or services triggers the marketing progression.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>A logo or brand is not only artwork. It is stand for your business, the significance of which cannot be overvalued. Your logo/brand design in London is your business asset.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>The attendance of a logo design on business cards, documents, advertisements, brochures and websites not only improve the visibility of your company but provide the business a characteristic identity. At Techno, we offer professional logo design services at very cost effectual charge. Our team of professional logo designers enables you to get the most excellent possible logo design for your business purposes.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>>> Stays in the memory of the target audience </p><br/><p><br/>>> Inspires customer confidence </p><br/><p><br/>>> Represents your business professionally</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Let TECHNO help you find the right brand for your company. </p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Logo design service:</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>We will develop a Logo for you company within days.</p><br/><p><br/>(If we are developing your website then this service is FREE)</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>We will create an individual LOGO to identify your Business as a corporate sign.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-52116392523602610662015-01-04T21:25:00.000-08:002015-06-21T06:18:08.259-07:00Building Websites Was Tedious Until I Discovered Site Builders<br />
<br /><br />Site builder tools are a valuable option to everyone including both the novice and professional web designer. If you’ve ever tried building a website on your own, you know how time consuming it can be. With all of the HTML code to type, building a site on your own can take you months to design, not to mention all of the frustration involved. You probably already know that HTML code is not too forgiving; one small error can drastically change the look of your pages. All of this valuable time spent designing your site and fixing errors could be used in other areas of your business. With web builder tools you can avoid all of the headaches and spend more of your time effectively running your business. Using web builder tools is both hassle free and easy. The directions are simple enough for anyone to understand.<br /><br />Another point to consider is the longer it takes to build your website, the more online sales you are missing out on. Many times people are tempted to just hire someone else to do the job for them, but this is usually not the most cost effective choice. Webmasters can often be very expensive, especially if they are charging you by the hour and not a set fee for the job. With web builder tools you can have a professional looking website up and running in no time at all. Unlike webmasters, web builder tools will not put a dent in your wallet. They also allow you to have more of an input on designing your site. This can be very important for two reasons. First of all, when hiring someone else to build your site it is often difficult to explain just how you want everything to look. You can tell them what you want, but your idea and their final product may not always match. If revisions need to be made to your site, this will take more time and may even cost you more money. Secondly you will no doubt want to make changes to your site occasionally. It can be a bother trying to contact a webmaster and set up a time for your site to be updated. Often times they may not be readily available when you need them. With web builder tools you have the option of making updates to your site whenever you choose.<br /><br />If you own multiple websites and earn a great deal of your income online, you can greatly benefit from using web builder tools. While you may be able to effectively design sites on your own, think of all the time that must be spent doing so. Web builder tools can save you countless hours of time and allow you to concentrate more on running your business instead of working on your site. This extra time can be used to increase your income by learning marketing tools to help sell your products. Another point to consider is all of the updates that you make to your site on a regular basis. You may offer monthly specials or product discounts on a regular basis. Web builder tools allow you to make the necessary changes to your site without devoting a great deal of time. Making quick updates to your site is not a problem with web builder tools.<br /><br />Most companies offering web builder tools understand that their customers have varying needs. That’s why they offer several different packages for customers to choose from. Whether you just need a small site designed to market your product, multiple email accounts, web blogs, shopping cart, or have a rather large website to build, web builder tools can assist you in designing the site of your choice. If you later decide to add more features or pages onto your site, upgrades can easily be made to your account. With all of the features they have to offer, web builder tools are a good option for business owners of all types.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-31546877084463927702015-01-04T16:27:00.000-08:002015-01-04T16:27:00.053-08:00What your website's homepage needs to have.<p><br/>What your website's homepage needs to have.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Word Count:</p><br/><p><br/>462</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Summary:</p><br/><p><br/>This article is all about the essential things your website should have to make it a user-friendly website and to keep new clients interested and current clients interested.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Keywords:</p><br/><p><br/>website, webdesign , SOHO , small business , home based business , designer</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Article Body:</p><br/><p><br/>The homepage (the front page of your website) is where you and your company get to make a first impression and we all know what they say about first impressions.. It's the first place new visitors come and where old visitors come back. You must cater to both types of customers. There are a few things that are essential to your homepage and each is explained below.<br/><br/>Navigation<br/><br/>Navigation is the most important part of your homepage. It doesn't matter what else is on your site, if the visitors can't get there. On your homepage your visitors need to be able to reach every part of your site. Your links on your navigation bars should be the same on every page. Your visitor will then know how to get back to whatever page really interested him. When users cannot find what they want they simple look at another site. This is a fact. Your links on the navigation bars should also be simple (one or two words) but descriptive. Use text for navigation not buttons. Buttons look great but they take time to download and you don't want your visitors to leave before they can see the whole page, do you? <br/><br/><br/>Branding<br/><br/>Branding is another essential element for you homepage. I am sure that your small business has a logo and it's pasted on everything you can find, to promote your business. Well, it should be posted in a predominate place on your website too. We all know that branding is words or a mark of a company (such as a logo) that shows the consumer the identity of the producer of the product/service. Showing your logo on your homepage reminds users exactly where they are.<br/><br/>Content <br/><br/>Last but not least is content. Content is also very important. You must remember to write your content like you are speaking to your visitor as it creates a better connection between your website and the visitor. Your homepage content must be fresh and interesting to make them want to read more of your site. You might create links to the inside of your site in the text. Also, you will want to include in layman's terms exactly what you or your company does. You would be amazed how many websites you have to search to find out what their purpose is.<br/><br/><br/>These things should get you started on building your homepage. There is one rule that I have learned. It is the KISS rule (Keep it Simple Student). Your homepage does not need to be flashy with all types of images, and flash design, or blinking. Most people like sites when they are simple and easy to understand. You must remember who your audience is. Therefore you need to speak in their language.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-61305993989003024122015-01-04T13:05:00.000-08:002015-01-04T13:05:00.547-08:00Finding the Right Designers<p><br/>Finding the Right Designers</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Word Count:</p><br/><p><br/>370</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Summary:</p><br/><p><br/>In choosing the right web design company one must remember that the credentials of a good company must go deeper than their ability to develop a visually attractive site.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Keywords:</p><br/><p><br/>internet, marketing, web, design</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Article Body:</p><br/><p><br/>In today’s technologically advanced world everywhere you look people are connected. Thus, as more and more business owners are moving their business into the cyber world, having a good design is crucial. In the light of this, website design companies have emerged to help business owners in any website design related issues. But in choosing the right web design company one must remember that the credentials of a good company must go deeper than their ability to develop a visually attractive site. <br/><br/>Here are the issues that must be considered in selecting a website design company.<br/><br/>#1 You have to make sure that they have the experience and expertise needed to understand all the vital components of developing your business now and in the future. It is essential to make sure that the web design company should fit to all your website related requirements.<br/><br/>#2 Make sure that the graphic designers of the company have the proper experience and programmers should likewise have the expertise in handling the website design related technologies. <br/><br/>#3 Ask for the portfolio of the company. Make sure that they have the proper experience under their belts. Also, ask for their past works. You can check for the performance of the company through past customers testimonials. Don’t hesitate to contact the customers of the company to ask for their opinions and feedback on the service of the company.<br/><br/>#4 The website design company must make sure that the site should be search engine friendly. They should know how to build your site for search engines, thus, they should design your site with search engines in mind.<br/><br/>#5 Consider your budget before hiring a website design company. Make sure that you get what you paid for. But also ensure that you plan for extras and that you have a good financial plan for your site construction.<br/><br/>Remember that your website is going to be the link between you and your customer, so make sure that it is the best it can be. An experienced and professional website design company can implement advanced techniques without hindering the effectiveness of your website. Thus, carefully choose a website design company because they can be the difference between a rough or smooth design process.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3919737910162544163.post-49264201372690614402015-01-04T09:20:00.000-08:002015-01-04T09:20:00.472-08:00Website Design Considerations<p><br/>Website Design Considerations</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Word Count:</p><br/><p><br/>784</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Summary:</p><br/><p><br/>Your website is often the first impression a client has of your company, organization, or product. Sometimes it is the only impression. It must be a good one. Too often it is the last impression with the prospect finding no reason to browse, stay or come back. Maybe this will help.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Keywords:</p><br/><p><br/>website, design, website design, site, web, simple, web site, internet, business, information, first, customers, search engine, sales, impression,prof</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Article Body:</p><br/><p><br/>There are several heavy duty website design and HTML editing programs out there to help you design, write, and publish your website, Blog, or newsletter template. They are, however, not the be all and end all. Anyone wanting a properly working web site must...simply must...have some knowledge of script and code as well as search engine optimization techniques and internet promotion tactics.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>These cover email lists, advertising, press releases, Blogs, article writing, wholesaling and drop shipping, website design, SEO and other promotions.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>A decent doorway can be a simple information site. It doesn't need much in the way of graphics or website design prowess, and can even simply be one page as we see in most internet MLM. The great sales gurus of the world wide web raking in the big bucks typically have one web site though they may be selling several products. Each product has it's own sales pitch page...just one page. KISS (keep it simple stupid) is the golden rule!</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>When most people create doorways, they are trying to get something for nothing. They spend small (sometimes large) fortunes buying information from illusionists who use slight of hand to tell their customers just enough to keep them coming back and purchasing one more "How To" E-Book. </p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Without proper experience or website design background many mistakes are made. First, try analyzing the web site of the information promoter, and try copying what he or she is doing and not get caught in the trap of just doing as they say. They have no incentive to give you or me the real deal...the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If they lay it all out step by step they are immediately out of business. What would they then sell you in their follow up e-mails?</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Although Microsoft had such a template in their web design software in '98, I think it was, it would be considered crass and distasteful to make your website look like the command center of the starship Enterprise. Now remember the old Tennessee Mountain Man is as about as backwoods as it gets and even I chuckled at how red neck the polished Microsoft Corporation rendition was. Having said that, a few smatterings of high tech applications can give your website design reputation a good boost especially among the younger generation, the 'wanna be', the treckie, and the 2.0 socialite. Know your audience. Who do you want to reach? Don't over do it! Regardless of what the SEO purists say, content is still king. Keep it simple. Keep it clean.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Start with as clear and simple website design as possible. Some sites will require more dazzle than others. But, remember, the more bells and whistles the slower the web site loads and responds to browsers and searchers.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>A good website design should be easy for your human visitors to navigate, enjoy, and understand. At the same time it should also be intelligible for the search engine robots that also visit your site. It must be accommodating to cross browser platforms such as internet explorer, Netscape, ougo, AOL, fire fox, opera and more.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Your goal is to attain the best level of internet marketing. As 12steppers would rightly say, "there is no easier softer way". There is no free lunch. There is no such thing as working 30 minutes a day with a site on auto pilot while you rake in millions while frolicking with Playboy Bunnies on your yacht so get that picture out of your mind right now. </p><br/><p><br/>Proper marketing goes a long way in attracting the target customers to your website and thereby, achieving maximum commercial success in the long run. It is a process. This is not for Harry Potter nor Bur Rabbit. The DSL Turtles actually have the advantage here. Take it easy, but get it done. Procrastination is a killer!</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>In order to maximize target audience visits to a website, one of the first steps to be taken is creating a website design that simultaneously runs parallel to your business objectives and is attractive enough to engage the attention of your visitors.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>Your website design is the first impression. If it is a mess or if no one can find it and potential customers never see it, it is also the last impression. Either they never got there or they never stayed or they had no reason to return.</p><br/><p><br/></p><br/><p><br/>You must decide if you really have the time, knowledge and technical ability to devote to website design and, most importantly, keeping that site maintained and up to date? If not, maybe you should concentrate on growing your business and let a website design professional concentrate on making your website work for you.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0