tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76617018425553566522024-03-13T06:27:43.479-07:00Web Design IdeaTips Web design and website DesignADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.comBlogger550125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-70174335670911759812012-12-04T01:00:00.003-08:002012-12-04T01:00:33.599-08:00Structuring Your SiteOne of the primary rules of web design is "don't make your visitors
think". It's much better to present them with what they expect and what
they expect is an "information tree" approach.<br />
A site like ours
has 150+ pages and we have to employ every possible artifice to make it
properly and easily navigable by anyone who might visit it.<br />
<br />
We use
menus, search boxes and site-maps to aid visitors in finding what they
need but mechanism is the structure of the site itself.<br />
<br />
Like most sites we define four types of page<br />
<br />
The 'Home' Page<br />
Normally the first page on which a new visitor 'lands'<br />
On most sites this will contain a single message with a few links to key areas of the site.<br />
Social
networking sites differ in that there are often dozens of links on the
home page often leading to specialist areas or individual contributions -
normally in date order.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Transitional or Node Pages<br />
These might be 'departmental' pages in a commercial site. There main function is to guide the visitor to the relevant...<br />
<br />
Content Pages<br />
Contain the 'meat' of your site and are there to be read. They need to be clear and printable.<br />
When your visitors have read your content you will probably want them to move on to an...<br />
<br />
Action Pages<br />
Where they can order and pay for your goods, contact you to discuss your services etc.<br />
<br />
<strong>Menus</strong><br />
On
most sites there are menus on every page, often across the top of the
page, under or over the header, and down the side bars. These can be
site-wide or page-specific. They allow logical jumps from one branch of
the tree to another. For instance a camera shop might want to sell a
photography book to someone who has just bought a camera.<br />
<br />
<strong>Search Boxes</strong><br />
Most
sites offer search boxes to allow searches for keywords that may be
contained in the titles or text of any of the site's pages. This allows
the searcher to locate everything on your site that is relevant to his
or her quest irrespective of what branch of the tree it is on.<br />
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</blockquote>
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7403331ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-91440471077432707452012-11-24T07:19:00.002-08:002012-11-24T07:19:20.681-08:00If Your Business Website Could Speak To You, What Would It Say?Imagine your current business website as a living, breathing entity.
An entity that observes things, that can process the same way our minds
process. Imagine that each day, your website "wakes up" in the morning,
ready for business, ready to show your customers and potential customers
the best of you and your business.<br />
Imagine
it as a salesperson, sitting across from a prospective client. What
does it look like? Is it dressed to impress, or is it in need of a new
look? Is it ready to answer questions, show them your features and
benefits, and meet their objections? Imagine the way it would interact
with your prospect. Is it a good interaction?<br />
<br />
If your website
could talk to you, what would it tell you? Would you get good feedback
about what's working, and what's not working? Would you be able to
evaluate your sales method on your website, and together, come up with a
system that works better?<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
What if your business website attended
an event for your business - would he come back with contacts of people
interested in what you have to offer, or would he come back empty
handed? Is he a good representative for you? Would he follow up
consistently?<br />
<br />
If you asked your website if it had all these things, what would it tell you?<br />
Your
website should, in fact, be able to do all of these things for you. It
should have a clear marketing and sales path, for new prospects who come
to your site looking for your services. It should be professionally
designed so that it is clean, balanced with content, images, and
whitespace, and has no unnecessary or distracting information.<br />
<br />
It
should have analytics installed so that you can see what people are
doing on your site - if they are staying long, what they are looking at,
what they are reading, and what is not working. You should always know
what you can improve on your site - getting constant feedback to allow
you to make the necessary changes.<br />
Your site should have a way to
collect email addresses and build your list of contacts. Just like a
salesperson at a networking event, your site should never leave
empty-handed. Your site should also have software integrated that
follows up with the people who are interested in your products, after
they have given their email address.<br />
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<br />
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7386006</div>
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-23368758574004049852012-11-24T07:17:00.002-08:002012-11-24T07:17:31.044-08:00Making the Most of Your Mobile Website<div id="article-content">
In the ever-changing digital world, yesterday's fringe activities
have become today's mainstream. More and more people now rely
exclusively on smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices to browse
the web, shop online, and stay in touch - and this opens up a unique
marketing opportunity for online businesses. However, a mobile website
differs in crucial ways from a standard one. For retailers looking to
take the next step in online marketing, bearing a few key points in mind
will help your mobile site put its best foot forward.<br />
<br />
<strong>Automatically detect mobile devices.</strong><br />
Among
other things, website design should strive to make things easy for
viewers. There is no point to creating a separate mobile site if users
must hunt for a link or remember a particular URL in order to see it.
Configure your main website to detect visitors on mobile devices, and
automatically redirect them to your mobile site. Alternately, make your
primary website<em>responsive</em> so that it displays optimally on any
kind of device, regardless of screen size. Both approaches lead to the
same result: a clearly translated and fully functional mobile site to
assure the best experience possible for your mobile clientele.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<strong>Design with a small form factor in mind.</strong><br />
When
viewed on most mobile devices, standard websites are cumbersome to
navigate. Users must zoom in on the page in order to read content or
click on links, and are forced to scroll around and view only small
portions of each page at a time. This is both frustrating and
inefficient. When creating a mobile website, always design with possible
size constraints in mind. Current technologies like responsive
frameworks make it easier than ever to ensure that your website looks
its best on every device.<br />
<br />
<strong>Show only your most important content.</strong><br />
Because
mobile devices have smaller screens, even reading a few paragraphs of
text can require quite a bit of scrolling. Edit your content until only
the most crucial bits remain, and completely remove pages and sections
not conducive to effective mobile browsing (such as large image
galleries, image rotators, and dense blogs). The aim should be to
provide your visitors with the essentials - nothing more or less. After
all, they can always visit your full website.<br />
<br />
<strong>Optimize all of your website's media.</strong><br />
Although
mobile networks have steadily increased in speed since inception, they
still remain noticeably slower than the standard broadband internet used
by most homes and businesses. Additionally, mobile users often have
"capped" data plans that restrict download speeds and charge additional
fees beyond a certain level of usage. Because of these two points, it is
crucial to optimize your business's mobile website as much as possible.
You can start with the following:<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Remove Flash animations and Flash-based video files. </strong>Not
only are they large files that drastically increase your site's loading
time, but most smartphone browsers do not support Flash at all.</li>
<li><strong>Scale and compress all of your images.</strong>Be certain
that all of your images are saved at the size in which they will be
displayed - do not use a larger image and rely on the browser to scale
it down. Also, keep the number of images per page to a bare minimum.</li>
<li><strong>Make your navigation straightforward.</strong>The fewer clicks it takes for a visitor to reach the content they are after, the better.</li>
<li><strong>Keep your page code lightweight.</strong>Needlessly dense
stylesheets and complicated Javascript will only slow down your mobile
site and make it more frustrating to use.</li>
</ul>
<strong> Make it easy to reach you.</strong><br />
Most
often, mobile users browse a company's website to get in touch with the
company. Make that process as simple as possible for your visitors: put a
strong call-to-action and click-to-call button on your landing page.
Make your contact form straightforward and easy to complete. The less
time prospects need to spend hunting for your phone number or email
address, the less likely they are to give up and look elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<strong>Provide a way to view your full website.</strong><br />
Automatic
detection and redirection are great for showing customers and prospects
information quickly and conveniently - but mobile sites should always
provide visitors with a way to navigate back to the full site. Many
smartphones now come with high-resolution screens that make browsing a
standard website relatively painless. Also, many people do nearly all of
their browsing from a mobile device, making it vital to have access to
the content they are after without switching to a regular computer.<br />
<br />
<strong>Don't forget to track your traffic.</strong><br />
Be
certain to install an analytics platform on your mobile website, and
check it often. This will show you how many visitors are being
automatically redirected to your mobile site, how many arrive there
directly, and how many return to your full website for additional
information.<br />
Ultimately, a mobile website is more than just a
smaller version of an existing site. An effective mobile site represents
a specialized way of looking at things, providing entirely different
displays, navigation, and sometimes content to make businesses fully
accessible to a changing, evolving audience. With careful planning and
forethought, a mobile site can be a decisive tool in digital marketing.<br />
</div>
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<br />
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7388395</div>
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-39953042373359819012012-11-24T07:15:00.005-08:002012-11-24T07:15:57.275-08:00Don't Commit These Mistakes While Building Your Website<div id="article-content">
If you wish to promote your business, a website is indispensable.
You are looking at local as well as global business. The purpose of a
website is not just to attract visitors but to get them to respond. If
your web is not designed properly and does not have content that
achieves this purpose, visitors to your site will leave without
exploring or responding the way you expect. Your website is your online
marketing tool, your representative and should ideally aid your
business. What are common mistakes web designers commit to please
clients and what should you, the business owner, know about websites in
order to avoid them? Here are a few:<br />
<br />
<strong>Visual Overload</strong><br />
It
is all very well to have flash and a lot of images as well as graphics.
However, they can detract attention as also result in pages taking too
long to load. If this happens, visitors will leave your website. You
have to keep in mind slow connections and access on smartphones while
creating websites.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<strong>Too much content</strong><br />
Don't
throw everything you have at visitors. The content should be just enough
to arouse interest in visitors and get them to respond. So keep the
first few sentences short followed by a "click to read more" option.
Visitors can take in at a glance all that you have available and pick
what interests them. Who has the time to scroll a lengthy page?<br />
<br />
<strong>Copying Competitors</strong><br />
Most
business owners seem to think that copying the design and content of a
successful competitor is easy and will work. It is easy yes, but it does
not work. The flawed thinking loses you business. Instead, try for
clean, neat yet unique looks with your stand out color theme and method
of presentation. Your design may turn out to be better and give you an
edge. It takes only a little bit of extra effort to study your
competitors and then go your own way in web design.<br />
<br />
<strong>That's that, a job completed</strong><br />
No.
Deploying a website is not the end. Your actual efforts start here. SEO
is the buzzword. If you have the time, you can learn the basics and do
the promotion, social networking, article submissions, newsletters,
email campaigns and directory submissions yourself to build traffic and
inbound links. If you would rather focus on your business, farm out this
work to a competent SEO expert. On no account should you just deploy
your web and hope nature will do its work. In the web world you will be
buried.<br />
It is easy to keep these in mind and you will be more than satisfied with your website once it is up and running.<br />
</div>
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<br />
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7392404</div>
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-9052986142545644342012-11-24T07:14:00.003-08:002012-11-24T07:14:46.296-08:00Current Trends in Website Design<div id="article-content">
From passive to dynamic to interactive, website design has
evolved rapidly. A web browser today is the point for interaction and a
launch pad for apps with a host of functionalities in the background.
While refining technologies, developers have also paved the way for
sophisticated visuals, making it easy for visitors to navigate the site
and record better satisfaction. Of the many developments in recent year,
a few noteworthy ones are:<br />
<br />
<strong>Interactivity Rose to a Higher Level</strong><br />
Technologies
like ASP, Ajax, Jquery and LAMP have added whole new features, making
it easy for visitors to interact. You notice this in the way when you
hover your mouse pointer over a link, a small pop up appears and
displays information. You can click to know more and it can be in the
form of a pop up or a separate box. You need not leave the main page.<br />
<br />
<strong>Menu and Navigation Systems</strong><br />
Pop
out or fly out menus or drop down menus are not a new concept but the
way they are incorporated along with a streamlined navigation system
makes for a happier browsing experience. Users can navigate to the pages
they are interested in. Web designers can subtly design navigation to
lead visitors to the desired locations. Not all websites are
considerate. Some have a landing page where you must enter your email
details to proceed.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<strong>Touch Screen</strong><br />
Once
restricted to a few devices, touch screen is the de-facto interface in
smartphones and has made inroads into laptops and even desktops. It is
fun and pleasure to swipe and slide pages, pinch, drag, and use
intuitive gestures to get the desired response. This flexibility allows
developers to be more creative and incorporate improved functionalities
for seamless operation across mobiles, laptops and desktops. Windows 8
incorporates touch screen features ushering in an era where taps and
gestures replace mouse movements.<br />
<br />
<strong>Search Boxes</strong><br />
This
is something we should be thankful for. Instead of searching the entire
site for a piece of information, most sites have a search box to help
you find what you want.<br />
<br />
<strong>Recession Spurs Freebies</strong><br />
Rather
than charge a few dollars, most websites offer useful and not so useful
apps as freebies as an incentive to use the website and probably go in
for some paid option. If your freebie convinces visitors that it is
valuable, they will gladly pay for other services or products. It seems
to work.<br />
<br />
<strong>Working in the Background, not-so-desirable trends</strong><br />
What
we may not be aware of is that web developers may introduce spyware or
tracking software surreptitiously when you visit their sites and click
on innocuous links. You may be blissfully unaware but all your
preferences and browsing history may be recorded somewhere.<br />
Just
as much as it helps users, these developments also help web designers
create move effective websites from their point of view: getting traffic
and results.<br />
</div>
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<br />
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7392420</div>
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-23284131983401597112012-11-24T07:13:00.003-08:002012-11-24T07:13:38.273-08:00 Your Website Must Have These Properties<div id="article-content">
Before you have your website designed and deployed, preferably by
an experienced professional, ask yourself what it should have and what
should be avoided. It is easy to do without flash, extended animations,
rich graphics and lengthy content. That leaves you to consider what the
site should have in order to get it to deliver expected results. You
could keep the following in mind:<br />
<br />
<strong>Get a Committed Professional Web Developer</strong><br />
Most
small business owners think it is easy to develop and deploy website
with free tools but such websites will never get you the expected
results. A professional web developer will make the effort to understand
your business, target audience, your competition and your objectives
and will customize the site to achieve all the aims.<br />
<br />
<strong>Content</strong><br />
Give
content the importance it deserves and create it yourself, leaving it
to the web developer to incorporate the right keywords and give it the
"web" touch. That leads us to consideration of Meta tags, titles and
keywords. Take time to discuss your business, competition and related
facts with your web developer to assist him in creating the right
titles, tags and keywords, in important consideration for rankings and
listing by search engines. Keep content brief and to the point. Your
developer should know how to take points to create a point of interest
to lead visitors to main pages.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<strong>Design</strong><br />
Do
not go overboard asking for the "best", a term that does not signify
much. Instead, look at the competitor websites and make yours different,
even incorporating features and content they lack. Think of how you can
make it outstanding without packing in flash and graphics. Current
technologies let users hover a mouse button for a pop-up to appear and
display the information. Navigation structure should be simple and easy
to follow, not a maze of links. Also ensure there are no broken links
and each link takes you forward with the corresponding page having a
link to get visitors back to the starting point.<br />
<br />
<strong>Incentivize</strong><br />
It
should not be a "Hello" and "Bye" experience. Your strategy is to pique
visitors' curiosity to get them to explore the rest of the site and
then include something like "more coming soon" to get them to visit
again. Then you could throw in freebies or special offers if they
subscribe.<br />
<br />
<strong>Search Facility</strong><br />
Even if your
website is not that extended, include this as routine. Visitors like to
zero in on what they want and a search box lets them do that.<br />
<br />
<strong>Make it Mobile</strong><br />
Most
users use their smartphones to browse and make shopping decisions. Have
a mobile version with features aligned to suit mobile environments.<br />
With these you have a head start and you can maintain your lead with further activities to promote your website.<br />
</div>
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<br />
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7392426</div>
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-38079121529384587952012-11-24T07:12:00.000-08:002012-11-24T07:12:05.218-08:00Keep These in Mind While Hiring Web Design ProfessionalsIn recent years the web has exploded with virtually all businesses
establishing a web presence. The number of web design companies has also
grown to meet the demand. A professional web designer is absolutely
essential if you wish to deploy your website considering the
sophisticated technologies in use today. Professional design companies
usually have teams comprising graphic designers and web programmers
working in coordination and their services can be expensive. Luckily,
there is a surfeit of design companies and you can now negotiate and
bargain terms to get the best at the most affordable rates.<br />
Before you assign the task to a company, assess them from all angles and satisfy yourself on all these points.<br />
<br />
<strong>Technological capabilities</strong><br />
Today's
requirements dictate the use of PHP and LAMP, Ajax, ASP.net, Jquery,
HTML5 with e-commerce and database integration into websites. First list
out your objectives and with these in mind approach a web design
company to find out their capabilities. If they have teams with
experience and capabilities, short list them. Some may offer websites
based on templates while others will create your website from the ground
up. Consider costs of each. Customized web design to ensure your site
is accessible on desktops, laptops and mobiles should be the preferred
route.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<strong>Experience Counts</strong><br />
A designing
company with experience in setting up different kinds of websites but at
affordable prices is the one you will want. Professionals will show you
their portfolios showcasing different web styles based on e-commerce,
databases, CMS and others. They are also comfortable in giving
references for you to check and verify.<br />
<br />
<strong>Range</strong><strong>of Services</strong><br />
Some
professional designers simply design and deploy a website with
additional charges for modifications or upgrades. Look for a company
that assures continuing support. Some may offer basic SEO services like
search engine and directory submissions while others consider it as an
extra service. Some have full SEO services capabilities and will handle
this vital part for you, at a fee. Have a look at the structure of
services and fees for each along with the duration. SEO takes some time
to implement and show results so consider a long-term partnership and
costs. As your business evolves you may need changes and here again, an
established web professional will be able to provide prompt services
whereas, if you had hired an individual, tracing him and getting him to
do the job could prove difficult. Services before and after are
important.<br />
<br />
<strong>Costs and time of completion</strong><br />
Last
but not least consider costs for similar services across different web
design companies and the time they will take to have your website
designed and deployed. Given the competition, you can negotiate and get
the best terms.ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-21675949485814833052012-11-24T06:27:00.001-08:002012-11-24T06:27:27.826-08:00What Are The Challenges Of Responsive Web Design?With the introduction of devices of all screen sizes that are able to
access the internet (including tablets and smart phones), responsive
web design has seen an increase in popularity. This technique enables a
website to sense what size screen it is being viewed on and will resize
itself accordingly. But what are the challenges encountered with this
sort of design?<br />
<ul>
<li><strong>Development time: </strong>The
biggest challenge is that it takes more time to develop than a standard
website. And it takes even longer if you are converting an existing
site to a responsive one.</li>
<br />
<li><strong>Different devices:</strong> Unfortunately, it is impossible
to build a website that works equally as well on all devices. The people
using each of these devices will have very different needs and wants.</li>
<br />
<li><strong>Media queries:</strong> Responsive web design involves media
queries that determine the correct layout; older browsers don't
actually recognise these queries, meaning that they won't shoe the
mobile version.</li>
<br />
<li><strong>Image details:</strong> When images are scaled down, they
quickly lose their details (and, therefore, their meaning). Some people
get around this challenge by cropping their images.</li>
<br />
<li><strong>Navigation menus:</strong> As there is less space on smaller
devices, designing navigation that works can be quite a challenge; you
must also keep in mind that many small devices are touch screen.</li>
</ul>
<div style="overflow: hidden;">
<br /></div>
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-89572665174432756432012-10-30T19:49:00.002-07:002012-10-30T19:49:19.773-07:00Mobile Website Design Has Become The Standard In BusinessIn an environment where customers are consistently on the move and
the typical individual is splitting their consideration among knowledge
acquired online and in person, most of us have begun to count on finding
the resources that they desire on a number of unique sources, and
available to them should they desire it. This could possibly be the
rather simple venture of Googling information on their laptop computer,
up to the very modern-day act of buying a brand spanking new notebook
from their tablet device.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless,
simply because mobile-websites are getting to be progressively more
easily available for the typical individual, does this imply that
smartphone users are regularly seeking out these web sites to work with
on a daily basis? For several experts and internet marketers who've been
studying the need for mobile-friendly websites for customers over the
last couple of years, the reply is an exceedingly booming YES.<br />
Creating
a top-notch mobile website is more than merely building a nice-looking
mobile page layout for your web site or expecting to generate a few more
income. Instead, this foundation is starting to become an essential
aspect for several brand names who are aiming to generate long-lasting
customer interactions, and supply their visitors the mobile sources that
they desire.<br />
<br />
For more information about the need for mobile-safe
web sites for your firm, I have developed some of the more critical
statistics and conclusions from Google's latest report 'What Consumers
Want Most Out Of Mobile Sites Right Now.' These studies were completed
by unbiased research agencies, and surveyed 1,088 users preceding this
year.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
More People Purchase From Mobile-Friendly Websites<br />
Lots
of shopper attitude and actions can be designed by their mobile website
encounters. To illustrate, should your website gives end users with a
positive mobile encounter, they are much more likely to place a purchase
by your site. The truth is, approximately 67% of end users interviewed
stated that as soon as they go to a mobile-responsive webpage, they are
very likely to buy a web site's products or services.<br />
<br />
Non-Mobile Favorable Websites Steer Buyers Away<br />
Just
as a positive mobile experience can bring in delighted buyers, a
non-mobile web site can do just the opposite. 60 percent of men and
women questioned stated that they would swiftly move on to another site
if they failed to discover what they were scouting for straightaway on a
mobile site. In actual fact, 79 percent of individuals who really do
not like whatever they find on one website will turn back and quest for
another website to gratify their demands. Without having a
mobile-friendly web site, you can guarantee that you'll be pressuring
your disappointed folks right into the palms of your rivals.<br />
<br />
Functionality Of Your Mobile Site Mirrors Back On Your Own Trademark<br />
An awful mobile ordeal could result in more than simply a reduction in gross sales for your ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-19913971976707609562012-10-30T19:47:00.004-07:002012-10-30T19:47:55.353-07:00Web Design Tips - Ideas Overwhelmed<div id="article-content">
When you tell someone you're a "Web Designer", you usually get
raised eyebrows and an "ooooh!" expression in return. That's because
most people wouldn't dare to tread into such an ether world as designing
something you can't touch, occupying space in - well - space. But, do
you really know what you're doing? No matter how many ideas you have,
you can always learn a little more. So, here are some tips for web
design that you may not have considered.<br />
<br />
BACKGROUND
<br /><br />
First of all, make sure the web design is not too hard to read. This
starts with the background, and ends with the colors of fonts you
choose. This is also why many web designers actually hire a graphic
artist to do this part of the job.<br />
The background more or less
sets the mood for your page. If it is super bright, with lots of
patterns on it, It may overpower the main content. The same is true if
you have a GIF in your background, or use strobe effects.<br />
Sure,
you may have a really "punk" concept to promote, but remember that if
the viewer can't read the information on the site, you won't be able to
promote anything. If you choose to use a really busy background, make
sure there is a solid layer between the background of your web design
and your information.<br />
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COLORS <br />
<br />
Red font on a blue background. Seriously? NO ONE can read that! What
are you trying to say? If you have ever had to copy the text from a
website, past it into a word document, highlight it all and then change
the font color JUST TO READ the content, then you have been a victim of
bad web design. There is a reason that almost all printed text is in
black and white, and it's not because white paper is cheaper than
colored paper. No, you don't have to stick with black and white text,
but you do need to select a color combination that doesn't cause an
epileptic seizure or migraine headache when someone tries to read it.
And that is a real threat - it's called episodic seizure, and can be
brought on by flashing lights or difficult color combinations.<br />
Another
thing to remember when choosing colors is to select a color palette. A
good rule of thumb is to use a paint sample strip from a paint store.
The colors usually go well together, so they won't clash on your web
page. Of course you can use contrasting colors - if you don't your text
won't show up - but make sure any text is legible.<br />
<br />
FONTS
<br /><br />
The fonts you choose for vital information on your web design should
be easy to read. Sure, you can use crazy stuff for the special effects
parts of your page, but if you choose a font that makes it hard to tell
the difference between a "3" and an "8", or a "c" and an "e", you're
going to have people show up at the wrong address on the wrong date.<br />
Choosing
your background, colors, and fonts are just the beginning of your new
web design. There is plenty more you can do, though, to make your web
site a money-maker.<br />
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ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-7955753579009574402012-10-30T19:46:00.001-07:002012-10-30T19:46:10.134-07:00The Best iPad Application Development Services AroundThe iPad application development is making the owners more satisfied with their gadget. The world of iPad applications is massive, because there are several hundreds of new apps that are regularly developed all over the world. Most of the new apps are fascinating with their utility, entertainment, and design values. These stunning apps enable the gadgets to offer you easy solution for your needs. The iPad itself is one of the most flexible technology tools in today's world, and the newly developed apps enhance its usability and user-friendliness even further. With the ever increasing need for computation, today companies are manufacturing a great range of apps for meeting different purposes.<br />
<br />
What to expect?<br />
<br />
Today, the market is flooded with numerous iPad app development companies that are creating and releasing groundbreaking apps. Their apps are innovative and easy to use. From finance, gaming, multimedia and editing to planning and learning, all kinds of different apps are available for the iPad. The most important thing to do is to create apps that can help people with their needs. The app developing companies are doing exactly that. The application development services have great teams of designers, planners, and developers. They have people who are trained, skilled and experienced. They understand what their clients need, and they will develop apps accordingly.<br />
<br />
An iPad application development company has a plethora of responsibilities on its shoulders. The initial step they need to ensure is that their apps are compatible with iPad. Even if the apps are not designed to be made available in Apple store, they must be suitable and compatible for the device. The quality of application is another thing that they need to look into. Furthermore, the company should ensure the user's satisfaction in terms of usability and end result. The best apps are those which are easy to use, and come with great utilities. These companies develop apps both for their own product shelf and on receiving an order.<br />
<br />
Finding iPad application development services<br />
<br />
There are a few things which make an iPad application development service provider stand out from the others. Here are a few things that make an application developing company best:<br />
<br />
They must have developers who are technically knowledgeable and skillful. The developers should have creative ideas and experience<br />
<br />
Professional attitude is very important They must understand the value of finishing projects in time Support and communication are two main aspects that make a development company suitable for clients
Budget is a critical factor. The best iPad app development companies never over price their products
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-10626726326399186742012-10-30T19:42:00.002-07:002012-10-30T19:42:29.997-07:00Professional Web Design - Strategies for Building an Online BusinessOnline business is certainly the buzzword. Be it a large
multi-national company or the tiny local store in your neighborhood,
going online is definitely the way ahead. According to the BIA/Kelsey
& Constat, about 97% of the consumers search online before buying a
product or a service. This clearly underlines the importance of not just
having an online presence but also building a strong online business
module. Building a successful online business is based on key online
techniques and strategies.<br />
<br />
Key Online Strategies<br />
Like
the digital domain itself, online business is also extremely vast and
dynamic. Thus, while the rules keep changing there are some strategies
that remain the mainstay. These are as follows:<br />
<br />
1. Research: It
all begins with a thorough research. To build an online business, a
thorough and timely research is critical, of your target audiences, your
top competitors, the overall market and industry, the needs of your
audiences and how you can make a difference and finally the demographic
distribution.<br />
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2. Make a Website that Truly Works: Unfortunately,
most business owners or website designers still make websites that are
visually attractive but do nothing to drive business. Even today, a
website is still the most important online platform that users refer to
for information, business and interact. Thus, your website must be in
sync with the latest design trends, based on the modern principles of
usability and be compelling enough to drive users to take the desired
action. Your website must be the focal point around which all your web
marketing programs revolve.<br />
<br />
3. Using the right Online Marketing
Mediums: The web is crowded with a range of online marketing channels
like SEO, PPC, affiliate marketing, display ads and so on. Each of these
channels has their own pros and cons. Business owners must identify the
right online marketing medium based on their target audience, marketing
budget, marketing expertise and so on. For e.g. If you are looking for
instant traffic and have adequate marketing budgets, then you can think
of opting for pay-per-click advertising. If you do not have all these,
then you can opt for the relatively slower but no-cost medium of SEO.<br />
<br />
4.
Social Media Strategies: Social media has emerged as one of the most
powerful digital mediums. Your social media campaigns have a vital role
to play in building your online business and making it successful. While
you can run sponsored ads on Facebook, the true<br />
ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-31298818500633053632012-08-28T17:41:00.003-07:002012-08-28T17:41:39.641-07:00How To Choose The Best Source For Affordable Custom Website DesignWhen it comes to websites, there are many options available. The options continue to grow on a daily basis! These days, even companies that were originally only in the business to sell domain names, now sell website design services as well. They even offer custom website design at an affordable price. By doing this, the large corporations are taking away from the independent designers who do great custom web work. Nevertheless, more and more companies are offering custom website design services.<br />
<br />
As a consumer, it's your responsibility to shop around, do your research and choose the best source to design your custom website. This article gives you a few tips on how to choose:<br />
<br />
Tip #1 - Who Will Be In Charge Of Your Project? Name And Number!<br />
It's very very important to know who exactly will be in charge of your custom website design project. Is there a huge team managing your project? Will you receive a response from a different person every time you ask to receive a project update? Is the person in charge available via email or via phone? Will they be available on weekends should you need to discuss a quick problem or suggestion? It's very important to know who exactly is in charge of your custom website design project. It's a horrible feeling to NOT know how many people are developing your website, and who's in charge. If you cannot get a name and number of the main individual in charge of your project, this can only mean one thing: NO ONE IS IN CHARGE OF YOUR PROJECT!<br />
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Tip #2 - Find Out Exactly How Long Your Custom Website Project Will Take<br />
If the company you're about to choose for a custom website design cannot give you a good and accurate estimate on how long your website project will take, take that as a huge warning sign! When working with an experienced designer or design company, they will surely know just about how long a project will take, and they should be able to provide you with a very accurate estimate. Now, don't expect them to give you a precise day and time - let's not be too anal! But do expect for them to give you a monthly or weekly time frame. And, don't be scared to move on to the next company if they cannot get the job done within an adequate time frame.<br />
<br />
Tip #3 - Find Out Costs, And If Payment Plans Are Available<br />
Typically a custom website design company will have contracts and other legal paperwork (whether physical or electronic) for their clients to read over and sign. When coming across companies such as these, it's extremely important to look over these documents to figure out the final price of the custom website design project. Many times, large design firms will hide the final price within the terms and conditions. You thought your custom site was only going to be less than an arm and a leg - turns out they want to charge you 2 arms and 2 legs! Read over all paperwork and be certain about how much you're about to invest for your custom website. And don't be scared to ask if a payment plan is available. And if no payment plan is available, or if they are going to charge you large interest rates, move on! Find a designer or design firm who can work with you and your financial capabilities.<br />
<br />
Tip #4 - Is This Company Actively Involved In Creating Custom Websites?<br />
Be sure to ask to see recently completed website designs before working with a custom website design source. If they cannot show at least a few recently completed custom projects, this of course is not good. You want a company that is highly active in the industry and familiar with custom projects. If the company you're considering primarily works with templates, you may want to look at other options. You'll want a designer or company who specializes in "from the ground up" custom work. And yes, there is a huge difference between the two!<br />
<br />
Tip #5 - Listen And Observe - If You Get A Good Feeling, Go For It!<br />
It all comes down to how you feel. If the company you're considering hiring doesn't give you a good feeling inside, that isn't good! You definitely don't want to settle for less than the best, or choose a company because they're good at talking over you and using a crafty-worded sales pitch. Never be afraid to say "No thanks", and always go with your gut feeling. It's usually always good to have at least a short "real" and "down to earth" conversation with the company or designer, just to get a better feel for how they really present themselves. If they're easy to communicate with, easy to understand and easy to work with - looks like you have yourself a winner!<br />
<br />
Simply put, do your homework when picking and choosing a designer for your custom website project. Yes, they should be affordable, and yes they should be straight forward when it comes to answering difficult questions. Knowing who will be in charge of your project is critical, and their level of activity in creating custom websites is equally important. So, be sure to work out a great deal that's both affordable and acceptable and keep in touch with whoever is in charge of your brand new custom website design from project initiation to project completion!<br />
<br />
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7244467ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-3694160514901633602012-08-28T17:41:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:41:01.646-07:00What Is Occam's Razor Principle And How Can It Be Applied To Web Design?Occam's Razor is a philosophical principle named about William of Ockham, a 14th century logician and theologian. According to the principle, the simplest explanation is usually true. In terms of web design, Occam's Razor implies that we should do something in the simplest manner possible because simpler is, usually, better. So, how can you use Occam's Razor to design better websites, whilst at the same time enhancing the user experience? You've come to the right place to find out how:<br />
<br />
Simple design for the internet is basically all about removing barriers. These days, designers are too focused on creating a website that is "cool" - they forget about the goals they are trying to achieve and whether their navigation is easy to understand or not. This leads to an endless cycle of expensive tweaking and even complete redesigns.<br />
<br />
Coding<br />
<br />
There are actually a number of reasons why simple coding should be a primary focus in web design - it loads much faster and, generally, encounters very few problems. Developers, however, tend to bloat their code out due to a lazy mentality or lack of knowledge. Both of these habits need to be squashed, as slow loading websites greatly affect the user experience - who wants to wait around for pages to load?<br />
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E-Commerce<br />
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Simplicity is key when it comes to e-commerce websites, as trying to sell visitors your products will be completely irrelevant if they cannot figure out the purchasing process - they'll take their business elsewhere. The process can be simplified by: making the search box a prominent feature of the web design, avoiding asking visitors to duplicate information, and spacing out your products for readability.<br />
<br />
Copy<br />
<br />
As most web designs will rely on their content to explain their services, products and other ideas, it really does make sense to ensure that this text is phrased in a way that is easy to understand. Try saying what you need to as briefly as possible - don't worry about trying to sound intelligent by cramming in big words and dictionary definitions. Make sure that your copy is interesting and engaging and your visitors will read on anyway.<br />
<br />
As you can see, applying Occam's Razor principle to web design can be achieved without even thinking about it. All you need to do is focus on simplicity in your work - better websites and an improved user experience will flow naturally from this practice. The next time you are working on a design, ask yourself whether the code has been simplified, whether the shopping cart is easy to use, and whether the copy is understandable.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7249070ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-741852191905237592012-08-28T17:40:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:40:19.435-07:00The Future of Website Design - HTML 5 and CSS 3The internet has really taken the world with a storm since its inception and the early days when it was merely an instrument for academic research and limited military usage. From the humble and relatively anonymous beginnings, the tide has really changed and these days the cyber space invades our lives almost equally as the physical space.<br />
<br />
Having a presence on web or cyberspace means that continuous improvements in the design of websites and the tools used for such design. HTML and CSS are undoubtedly one of the most widely used tools, simple yet versatile, capable of handling most situations. There have been continuous improvements and versions of HTML and CSS since their inception and the HTML-5 and CSS-3 are the latest kids on the block.<br />
<br />
HTML has been in existence since 1990 and it was long time back in the year 1997 when the version number 4.0 was released. It was only recently about a couple of years ago that the web scientists started to think about the latest version which can take care of the current limitations and flaws of HTML-4 though it also means that the version was so stable that it lasted for over 15 years in a space where technology changes drastically literally every year.<br />
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There are lots of features which are there in HTML-5 which are syntactical in nature such as video, audio and canvas elements. Scalable vector graphics are also integrated in this latest version.<br />
<br />
Experts are expecting this to be completed somewhere around 2014, so in about a couple of years time.<br />
<br />
Similarly CSS or cascading style sheets are used to provide aesthetic appeal to a page and serves to separate the content from the layout and design. The standards of this are being taken care of by the W3C.<br />
<br />
The latest version CSS-3 provides a lot of features which help web designers to break the previous boundaries and express their creativity in a much better manner. It won't be possible to elaborate on the features in this elementary article, still to describe in brief these enhanced features include those related to animation, borders, masks, text columns and so forth.<br />
<br />
On the whole it can be said that apart from the rise of the internet, the websites which form a part and parcel of that cyberspace are also improving technologically as the tools used for creating those sites keep improvising. Once the HTML-5 and CSS-3 standards are fully functional in the near future, the web designers would certainly have a much better arsenal of tools.<br />
<br />
Hence it can be seen that in the future of website design, HTML-5 & CSS-3 will play a very important role by providing a better platform for website development. This will certainly be a boon for the coders who feel themselves limited within the previous versions of HTML and CSS as well as the clients who can now get their dream websites converted into actual portals in a much more efficient manner.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7246439ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-5160145647953449112012-08-28T17:39:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:39:31.291-07:00Tips That Will Help You Become A Better Web DesignerIf you aspire to know more about the techniques of web design, then read on! You are going to learn what it may take to get started if you want to get into webdesign, but you will also get some solid, general website design information as well. There's a lot of knowledge out there, and nobody can possess it all. You can learn and improve your skills regardless of how much web design experience you already have.<br />
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The design of your website should not look anything like other websites selling similar products. To make sure this does not occur, have a look at the websites of your competitors. Remember that if your website is too similar to that of one of your competitors, you will not seem unique, and you might even accidentally send business to your competitor. You'll just be another version of the same old site to visitors.<br />
<br />
If you have a professional to speak with, do so. Web design veterans can offer valuable insight into tips, tricks, traps to avoid, hurdles to jump and a variety of other information, that can boost your initial efforts. By doing this, you are helping to guarantee that one day you too will be a professional, because you are willing to take the time and gain the knowledge to do things the correct way.<br />
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If you've hired a web design professional or firm, paying your bill promptly is crucial. These people are responsible for the maintenance of your website, which is probably the cornerstone of your business. If anything comes up you'll find that they won't be willing to help you until you pay your debts, leaving your website unavailable or worse. Paying your bill promptly establishes rapport with the company and can ensure that your concerns are addressed quickly.<br />
<br />
Do not feel that you have to hand-craft every portion of your website on your own. Web design requires knowledge of many different areas including graphic design, user interface design, web programming, search engine optimization and content creation. Do not hesitate to call in the experts when needed. You can pick and choose which areas you need help in and farm it out accordingly.<br />
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Be aware of the background on your website. Your background should not be too distracting and allow your reader to read the text easily. Choose a background to work with your website, not conflict with it, and your visitors will be able to better read and understand your site, and your point of view.<br />
<br />
Try you best to write an informative and interesting "About Us" page. There are a lot of websites that do not utilize compelling or original content for their "About Us" webpages. Therefore, it is a good idea for you to spice things up a bit! Provide some insight for your visitors; tell them how and why you built your site and what goals you want it to reach for your company.<br />
<br />
Keep your site fresh and up-to-date, and promptly remove any outdated content. If you have something on your site that lists an event that happened months ago, chances are you have lost some readers. People want the most accurate information available, and by leaving outdated information online you're showing you don't really care what they want. Set a review schedule to update content and remove items that are no longer useful.<br />
<br />
Using shared hosting is an affordable alternative to buying your own server. Considering you cannot be certain about the level of traffic that your website will generate, you should utilize a hosting solution where you are only responsible for covering the cost of the amount of bandwidth that is used.<br />
<br />
Think like you're an artist when designing websites. Keep your mind open to inspiration at all times. If an idea for your website strikes you while you are out eating dinner, make a note on a napkin. Or if you are not in a position to jot things down, give your cellphone a call and leave yourself a message so you can pick it up at a later time.<br />
<br />
Do not hire a loved one to assist in designing your website. If you are looking for a web designer, you should probably avoid enlisting the help of a family member or close friend. If you are not satisfied with the work, it can be hard to fire someone you know well.<br />
<br />
It is wise to buy some books that will help you learn how to web design successfully. Start with books around your skill level, so that you don't skip any necessary information.<br />
<br />
This is rather obvious, but it is important. Be sure that you look over every word on your site to ensure that there are no typos on your site. Nothing looks more unprofessional to a visitor than misspelled or poorly-written content. Unprofessional appearances will likely cause you to lose your visitors quickly.<br />
<br />
The more you keep at it, web design gets easier and easier. Try some easy web pages with C+ and HTML to learn the basics. It's important to practice to make sure you know the ropes of web design.<br />
<br />
Make sure you sign up for things like newsletters, so that you always have saved information on different web design information. This way if you for some reason lose sight during your web designing efforts, you can get straight back into it. Web designers can derive great benefits from newsletters, whether they are self-taught amateurs or experienced pros.<br />
<br />
Keep in mind that designing your website does not have to be expensive. Most expensive design tools have a cheaper or a free equivalent you have to look for. For example, free open-source software can usually help you to accomplish the exact same tasks that paid software does. Therefore, using open-source software can save you a large amount of money.<br />
<br />
Now that you have gained some valuable knowledge about web design, you can feel more confident when it comes to taking that step in designing your own website. Be sure to always watch for new sources of knowledge, as the more you learn the more you will perfect your web design skills.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7246546ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-65533381998206954642012-08-28T17:38:00.002-07:002012-08-28T17:38:27.616-07:00How to Choose a Web Design Firm - Questions You Should Ask Before HiringIf you own an offline business, the task of finding a reputable and transparent web design company can be a challenge, to say the least. Today it seems like thousands of companies are offering to build you a website for your small business and each one boasts the same expertise as their competitors.<br />
<br />
So that leaves most people unsure of how to proceed. It's no secret that your business needs to have a web presence in order to achieve long term success. The secret is finding a company to help you build and develop your website without taking advantage of you or misguiding you with bad information.<br />
<br />
The following list of tips should help you to separate the good from the bad when researching potential web design companies to help you move your business online.<br />
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Ask for information about the company's track record. Any web design company worth working with will have an impressive portfolio to share with new customers, like yourself. Ask to see their past work! There is nothing better than to see real life examples of what the company has produced for their clients. This gives you a realistic idea of what level of design quality you can expect from any given company. Other important questions regarding a company's track record might include: how long have you been in the business, do you have any client referrals I can contact or testimonials I can see?<br />
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Do you outsource any of your tasks, or do you handle all aspects of my project in house? This is important to ask because companies that outsource some or most of their design or development work generally get things done at a much slower rate. Not to mention, you won't be able to directly communicate with every member of the team who is actively working on your project. The best way to avoid these pitfalls and ensure the least amount of headache is to seek out a company which offers full service web design and does all of their work in-house.<br />
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Do you offer any online marketing services to help promote my new website? This one is huge, but is often overlooked by business owners. The fact of the matter is that someone could build you a spectacular looking website that was exactly the way you envisioned it, but that website will do your business absolutely no good if it just sits there online and no one can find it. After all, when you want to find something online, what do you do? Google it. That's how people will find your site too, so be sure the web design company you choose to hire has a good grasp on SEO and uses industry standards when creating websites.<br />
<br />
Use these tips to make a short list of potential companies and do your research when it comes to building your business online. It will only end up paying off in the end!ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-61107450650742548682012-08-28T17:37:00.003-07:002012-08-28T17:37:48.817-07:00Make Your Website AwesomeThe chances are you want to get on with reading this article; after all, you are busy, you have lots to do and there is an increasingly overwhelming amount of information to face each day. One of the problems with the information explosion is that it makes us feel under more pressure to "get on". The result is that we feel as though we have even less time than we actually do have. There is plenty of research which confirms that the more you are faced with each day, the more you feel time rushing by. That then leads to you giving the information you receive only a cursory glance, because you "have to get on" and read the next set of material coming your way.<br />
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Relax.<br />
<br />
That's easy to say, of course, but not so easy to do. After all, you have "millions of things" to get through; there's no time to relax!<br />
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One of the problems of rushing through the information overload is poor decision-making. Another issue is the fact that we so easily misinterpret information because we do not have enough thinking time left any more. And for anyone running a business website there is another problem.<br />
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People rush through your website, missing those "buying signals" you have so carefully prepared. No matter how hard you try, unless you are a major brand which can spend millions on promotion, you just can't get enough people interested in what you do. And that's because they are rushing past your content so quickly they cannot really attend to it or make decisions about it. The result is fewer sales than you would like and a general lack of engagement.<br />
<br />
There must be something you can do? Luckily, new research on how we perceive time has come to the rescue. Researchers at Stanford University have just conducted three different experiments on the concept of "awe" and how it affects our perception of time. Something that is "awesome" gives a sense of vastness, of wonderment and of being generally amazed by it. In one of the experiments, all that people had to do was read a story about looking over Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Then they had to complete a simple task. Compared with people who read a similar story about going up an unnamed tower and seeing a plain aerial shot, the people with the Eiffel Tower story had an increased sense of "being in the present", of peacefulness and happiness. Similar experiments which provided other ways of a sense of awe found that when people felt wonderment and peacefulness they tended also to feel happier and have a better appreciation of time.<br />
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You have surely felt this yourself when you have been on holiday or you have been to an awesome event. Your sense of time changes and you feel more peaceful and generally happier.<br />
<br />
So why don't we feel like that online? The problem is far too many websites give you a sense of time rushing past - read this, look at that, here's something else you should read. That just contributes to our need to "get on" and so we miss all those buying signals.<br />
<br />
Instead, if websites created a sense of awe, giving us the feeling of wonderment of space and of being somewhat relaxed, then there is a chance we will linger longer. Oh, now remind me, isn't that rather how the Apple website appears?<br />
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Graham Jones is a psychologist who investigates the way people use the Internet and how people shop online. His research can help you make the most of the Internet, particularly if you are hoping to make money online.<br />
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ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-64135526338630332892012-08-28T17:37:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:37:06.173-07:00Making The Most Of Communication In Your Graphic Design BusinessCommunication is the key to developing good business relationships, regardless of whether this is with your boss, your colleagues or your clients. Working in the graphic design industry means that you are one of the lucky few who has a wealth of communication tools at their fingertips. Whilst a number of communication avenues is one thing, however, the way that you communicate is also important - make sure that you are friendly, courteous and attentive. So, how else can you make the most of your communication?<br />
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Offer Advice - Sometimes, taking on a client's graphic design project is not a viable option at the present time. Perhaps they are unwilling to pay what you have quoted them or your plate is already overflowing. In these cases, however, clients will appreciate it if you sit down and offer them some advice - just make sure whether they are okay for you to do this first, as some clients will not listen to unsolicited tips.<br />
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Recommendations - It is important for everyone working in the graphic design industry to network with other creatives. This way, when projects requiring that little something extra come along, you will be able to recommend people who can work with you to bring the project to life or instead of you if you are unable to complete the desired work. If you pass on clients to your networks, you can hope that they will do the same for you.<br />
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Emails - Poor email handling can really make or break a relationship within the graphic design industry, especially as this is often the primary form of communication. If you are going to be on hiatus for an extended amount of time, consider setting up an automated reply that lets clients know you will attend to their email upon your return. And, when you have access to your emails, make sure that you respond to them in a timely fashion.<br />
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Live Communication - Above all, don't forget about live communication. Working in graphic design often submerges you into an online world, allowing you to forget how to deal with clients and colleagues in a face-to-face scenario. Make sure that you conduct yourself in a professional manner in the workplace (especially in meetings) and that you practice a friendly and clear phone manner.<br />
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The key to the success of any business is effective communication, and this is no different for someone working in the graphic design industry. By following the above tips, you will be set to make the most of the communication avenues that are open to you, allowing you to develop deeper relationships with your boss, your colleagues, your peers and your clients. You may even get some ideas of methods that you can add to your repertoire, allowing you to help out in even better ways.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7252246ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-9705148159671473202012-08-28T17:36:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:36:05.501-07:00WordPress Site DesigningWordPress is basically web software which is used to design a beautiful website or a blog. Being free, the software is used widely in the field of web designing. It is an enhanced open source platform which is chosen to be the top management system tool. WordPress site designing has gained immense popularity lately due to its constant up-gradations and flexibility of putting it to use. It started in 2003 as a typography tool with minimal number of users, the number which has grown to millions who are using it as a self blogging tool. With a web host and minimum system requirements, this tool can be downloaded without any license fee. With the availability of thousands of widgets, plug-ins and themes, it has evolved as a full content management system, the imagination of which is only limited by its user. Without altering the information or content of a website, the users can change the look or theme of a website by incorporating this software.<br />
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It has a template processor and a web template system. Featuring integrated link management and a clean permalink structure, it has led to the development of WordPress site designing. Automatic filters allow standard formatting and styling of filters showcasing the user friendly nature of the software. The drag and drop features are offered by different widgets which are installed in the tool and constant updates on these are an addition.<br />
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Due to the recent shift of technology where the era of communication is shifting towards smart phones, it allows android users to access it on their devices. It supports both WordPress.com and self hosted WordPress. The roots of its development date back to 2001 where it was designed out of eagerness and the need to reduce complexity. Now the recent developments have led to the tie up of Microsoft and WordPress to make its use even easier by the platform of Microsoft Webmatrix. The instant notifications are automatically sent to the WordPress network. It is a mature and stable product. WordPress has been offering the right tolls for the right task. With the easy integration of rich set of features and internet applications, it provides a complete framework for blogging. Being free to use and ease for everyone to use it, it is being incorporated as a open source application. In a single united interface, it enables one to avoid switching between different applications allowing efficient managing of database and modifying server settings.<br />
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ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-85139883338337388442012-08-28T17:35:00.002-07:002012-08-28T17:35:31.608-07:00How to Create a Powerful Website to Describe and Promote Your ServicesBuilding a website involves both physically setting up the website and using a variety of methods to enhance the user's experience on that site. Start by learning about factors needed to make the dream of a website into a reality and creating a positive user experience.<br />
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Web Hosting<br />
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Unless you want to keep your website only on your own computer for use by yourself and your associates, you will need to sign up with a web hosting service. This type of service gives you a place to put your site on the web.<br />
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HTML vs. Content Management Systems<br />
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Web page templates are set up in one of two ways. They may be designed for use with HTML formatting or through a content management system. To use HTML, you will need to learn the system. This can be done through books, tutorials, free information found on the web or instruction from someone in the know.<br />
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Content management systems, on the other hand, are made for easy input of mostly unformatted content. These systems use a style of WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get). If you use a content management system, there is less learning involved, and the site will be more easily updated.<br />
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Creating a Domain Name<br />
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Domain names help your website stand out and help guide Internet users to your site. If the domain name is memorable, it can be used on any kind of marketing campaign to bring consumers directly to your site.<br />
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Website Planning<br />
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A great website does not just happen. It takes thought, consideration and planning. Decisions concerning types of content to use, visual effects and website features make all the difference in the success of your site. Types of content can include welcome messages, service or product information and articles, press releases or relevant news stories. Website features like social media buttons increase the sharing of your site to new users.<br />
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Populating Your Website with Content<br />
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Next, complete the website by following your plan for content inclusion. Write the text or hire a marketing firm to do it for you. Insert appropriate images and graphics. When you have gone page by page to complete your website content, insert it into your website and publish through your web hosting company.<br />
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Website Maintenance<br />
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A powerful website is always in a state of flux. Times change, promotions, products or services are added or subtracted and business information changes. The website must be maintained regularly to keep up with all these changes. Updating the website will also make it more visible on the web, because search engines respond better to new information.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7253271ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-86319631931373726632012-08-28T17:34:00.003-07:002012-08-28T17:34:55.176-07:00Why Space Is Just As Important As Words In Graphic DesignOne of the key components when it comes to any sort of graphic design work - from websites to business cards and pamphlets to blogs - is the type that you use. Choosing the font, size and colour of your type can form a major part of the project. An area that should be of equal importance, however, is the spacing around each of the letters in your type and the leading that is used in the block of text as a whole.<br />
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Firstly, what is leading? Pronounced ledding, the term refers to the spacing between each of the lines of type. It is often confused with line height, but this actually refers to all of the space from one baseline to the next (the baseline is the spot where the letters sit). Leading is the smaller space that exists between the bottom of a letter on the first line and the top of a letter on the line below. It could be looked at as being the line height minus the text height. It's importance for graphic design lies in the fact that leading can have a big effect of the readability of the text - if the letters are too far apart or too close together, the text will fall sharply on the eyes.<br />
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Unfortunately, there is no secret formula for deciphering how much leading your work will need. This is because there are actually a number of graphic design factors involved in making this decision, including: type size, colour, readability and the desired effect of the text as a whole. Using the same point size of the font you are using for your leading is often a good starting point, but it may still require some tweaking to get this spacing just right.<br />
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Tight (or negative) leading is the term used when the lines of text are closer together than the point size of the type. Even if the spacing doesn't appear that close together, if it is below the point size it is considered as being tight. On the other hand, loose (or positive) leading is the term used when the lines of text are further apart than the point size of the type. It is also important to keep in mind that the background colours used in your graphic design project can have an effect on your leading. For example, darker backgrounds tend to read better with loose leading, whilst lighter backgrounds can benefit from tight leading.<br />
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Now that you understand why space and leading are just as important as the words that are being used in your graphic design project, you are in a much better position to use this to your advantage. Try experimenting with different types and leading to see what sort of spacing tends to suit your style of design better and what sort presents your work in the best light.<br />
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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7254337ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-60069159699116649002012-08-28T17:34:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:34:13.937-07:00Things To Remember When Developing Your Business WebsiteStrong presence on the internet is the most important aspect for start-up businesses. Having a good, user-friendly website is the foremost need for any small or new business. The website has to be informative and also have a simple URL. Having a website is easy, but making it effective to sell your products is what holds the key. It may happen that your website speaks volumes about the designer's taste, but fails to speak about your business line.<br />
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Professional Designer<br />
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Serious businessmen will always hire the services of professional web designers for developing their company website. These professionals are well adept about the exact needs and requirements pertaining to your line of business. Though these designers will follow your vision, they will also provide relevant inputs about what needs to be done on the website, and maintain their creativeness in the process too.<br />
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Hiring professionals is good, as they have a complete know-how about industry verticals, and also have the creative spark needed to accommodate the business need along with a creative design. You also have the option of DIY applications available in plenty, but designing your websites using them will not give you the desired result compared to what you can get by availing the services of professionals in the trade.<br />
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User-Friendly Design<br />
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Professional designers have a drawback. They use their expertise for creating technical wonders for adding to their portfolio. Such designs may or may not be user-friendly. From the customers' point of view, ease of navigation and complete access to information, is what is needed. Hence, choosing the services of a professional who writes the code in a manner which allows modification at your end is always recommended. This will help in saving precious time and hard-earned money.<br />
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Unique Design<br />
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The design of the website has to reflect the personality of the business. The visitors of the website have to understand immediately about the products and make purchases from the website. The design has to reflect your core business and be one of its kind for engaging the customers.<br />
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What Is Needed?<br />
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Identifying business needs is very important while getting your websites done. Providing exact facts about your goals to the designer is very important. Even though you will be stealing the creative freedom of the designer, getting what you need is vital. Suggestions from the designer have also to be taken though, but the final decision has to be your own; one which satisfies your future needs regarding the website.<br />
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Know the Designer<br />
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Choosing a designer who is known is always good. Check the previous work done by the designer before finalizing. You need to ascertain whether the designer is worthy enough for delivering what you want.<br />
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ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-67188927388048544812012-08-28T17:33:00.000-07:002012-08-28T17:33:15.337-07:00Website Setup Guide - How to Have a Website With High Usability<br />
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A strong online presence is essential to any Internet marketing business. Your website is the first contact with potential customers and it should be designed with careful consideration for their needs. Without a doubt, the most important factor to consider is usability. There are several strategies that you can use to provide the best possible experience for your customers. Follow the advice below to increase your website usability just like the experts.<br />
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Help your customers find your website more quickly and easily by using a powerful tagline. Pick words that will be memorable, clearly describe your product or service and engage your potential customers attention. Stay away from clichés and give your product a unique and unforgettable tagline that is short but provides a recognizable branding opportunity.<br />
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Increase your site usability with a search box on your website. Customers want to get to the information they need in the quickest way possible and the search box can help them get there directly. Studies have shown that placing your search box in the upper right is the optimum position. The optimum width is around 27 characters. A small search box does not allow your user to see what they have typed.<br />
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High tech graphics may look attractive, but keep in mind that they add substantially to load time. If your page takes too long to load, you potential customer may move on to another website before you have a chance to make a sale.<br />
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Planning website navigation is critical to usability. Navigation buttons must be clear and easy to read. A site map makes it easy for your customers to find their way around your site without excessive clicking. The link to your site map should be in a prominent place on your home page. A site map also makes your website more user-friendly to search engines. Including a site map benefits both your traffic and your usability.<br />
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Always include simple and obvious navigation back to your home page on each page of your site.<br />
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Avoid the use of CAPTCHAs when designing your purchase process. They are annoying to customers.<br />
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Encourage communication by providing a highly visible link for customers to use if they want more information.<br />
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Revisit each of these essential website components on a regular basis to evaluate their effectiveness. If something is not working, try changing the position of any of these elements to see if your traffic increases.<br />
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As you can see from the advice above, you don't need an expert to design a website with maximum usability. These helpful tips can provide your customers with the best experience and help increase your bottom line.ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7661701842555356652.post-55145473257771220262012-08-28T17:32:00.002-07:002012-08-28T17:32:33.151-07:00Web Design - Boost Up Your Internet BusinessA website can make or break your business. The way you design and maintain your website can determine the success of your online business to a great extent. There are so many elements in a website, which when changed, can completely change the visibility of your website. When you launch your own website, you must make sure it ranks on the first page of popular search engines. Well, let us face it; for most people, if it is not on the first page, it does not exist. So, you need to keep a few tricks up your sleeve to improve your website traffic. Pay utmost attention to web design.<br />
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You should have the money required to invest in a new website design. If you do not have sufficient fund try working with free web design software's. Having a little bit of knowledge about HTML is important if you are designing your own website. This also gives you the control of the content of your site. Do not compromise on the customer privacy while designing a website. Your customers must be assured that the site they are visiting is 100% safe. Check with your web hosting company about the security features it provides.<br />
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If all of these seem like too much of work, turn to a professional web design company. You will be provided with a lot of webpage design options before you can choose the style and layout of your website. But, picking the right designer or company is important. The company should have some experience in the field. Setting up a site is not a very easy job; especially if it is a large company. Simply put, the web design firm you choose should be done keeping in mind the kind of website you want.<br />
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Shortlist some of the best professional website design firms. You need to pay a lot of attention to the reputation a certain firm holds. Consumer reports will be available online. There will be client comments and also details about the services provided. On the website of the design firm you will get details on their past jobs and other related information. This will help you make up your mind about which company to hire to design your website.<br />
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When you brief your web design requirements to the designer, make sure you have certain things in mind. The product and the market you are targeting should be considered. The website should appeal to the target audience. Clients should find it extremely easy to navigate your website. The client should not be confused about where or how to get your product. They should easily be able to reach the page of their choice. Add past client testimonials on your website. And do not forget to add a "contact us" page. That adds credibility to your business and separates your website from hundreds of hoax websites. Once your website is designed, make sure you make the most out of it. Last but not the least; make sure you deliver what you promise.<br />
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ADMINhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14197015507028402962noreply@blogger.com4