Tag: hosting
The Basics Of Web Design
by Adriana Noton on Jun.10, 2010, under web design
Many people love the idea of having a web site, but get scared when they hear the phrase “web design”. After all, don’t you need to be an artist with years of computer programming skill to make a great web page? Thankfully, making a good site is not as hard as it sound once you know the basics.
The first thing a good site has is good content. People visit web pages for what is on the page, not how the page looks. Ger out some paper and start listing things you would like on your web site. Things like “links”, “About me” and “Home” are always good starting points.
Once you know what is going to be on your site, it is time to organize it. Clump similar things together to create your main pages. For example, talking about your favorite book and your favorite band could both go under your “About me” page. Less is more as long as each main page is well-defined as people do not like having to wade through a lot of links to find what they want to know.
Once all the information has been chosen and organized, you can get your layout made. The three things that are the most important when designing your site’s layout are compatibility, visibility, and ease of use. That are what makes a good site great.
Visibility means that your site is easy to read and pleasant to the eyes. Picking two contrasting complimentary colors for your web site’s theme is a good idea. The greater the difference in shades between the colors, the easier it will be to read. Generally light text on a dark background or dark text on a light background is the best. Do not use patterned backgrounds as they make it heard to read.
Ease of use has to do with how easy it is for people to get things done on your site. All your main important pages should be on an easy to read menu that shows up on every single page. If you have a bunch of small subpages linked off your main pages (go easy on those, by the way!) adding a site map link to the footer of each page is a smart idea, too.
The most important of the three concerns is compatibility. If they can not load your web page, they will not be able to enjoy it! Do not use things like flash or silverlight as they do not work on all browser or all operating systems and can crash slower computers. Also, check your web site across several browsers to make sure the code works well. Using W3C compliant code will generally help things out a lot.
As you can see, web design is not as scary as it sounds. With a little planning and care taken towards visibility, ease of use, and compatibility your web site will be just fine. Do not be afraid to try to go out there and make your site yourself, there is plenty of help out there if you get “stuck”. Have fun with your web page, the world is waiting to hear from you!
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How To Utilize The Difference Between Web Design And Web Development Effectively
by Adriana Noton on Mar.05, 2010, under Uncategorized
Many people are interested in using the Internet to promote their business. Knowing the difference between web design and web development is important because while the terms are often used in place of one another, they are two very different things. Being able to speak with the people who are creating your website and use the proper terms can help reduce misunderstandings and speed up the creation process.
When a web site is being created, it uses both design and development before the site becomes “live”. That is, before a web site becomes visible and accessible by potential customers. When you are working with a company that is building your web site, they should be able to explain the importance of each of these processes to you and show you how your site is coming together at all of the different stages of completion.
Web design involves the way the website looks. Each website has a different feel and should stand out and be memorable for your customers. You want to make sure that different design elements such as color, font size and style and the position of images and text all work together to create a website that looks professional.
You want to find a site design that your customers will want to look at. Often, customers may have problems looking at a website that is too busy and if you add too many things or put design elements in the wrong spot it can leave you with a website which looks cheap and amateurish. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing when it comes to the number of items on a web page. Experienced designers can help you pare down your page and make it look elegant and professional.
Web development however tends to deal more with the way the site works. This is also referred to as the back end of a website. You want to make sure that your site works well in that you want to make sure that you can navigate from one page to another easily, that the links work and that the images used will load properly and consistently.
If you have elements such as a shopping cart, you also need to make sure that this feature will also work well. The last thing you want is for clients to be unable to accomplish the business they need to do using your website. You can see how important proper web development is to the success of your site in general.
Experience is important when it comes to selecting the company that will create your site. If you can, make sure that you have one where there is both a designer and a developer on staff. This means that sound design principals can be used in order to make a beautiful looking site and the development staff can programming things properly so that everything works as it should.
If you work with the company that is creating your website, you may be amazed at how much of an increase your customer base will experience. So many people are using the Internet to research and locate the companies they want to deal with that if you do not have a website you are missing out on a huge potential customer base.
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What To Look Out For In A Web Design Company
by Adam Berry on Jan.09, 2010, under web design
Web design companies make the website keeping in mind the algorithm of search engines and use the most recent and new technology available . Web design normally signifies just the designing of the site and web development is the term that is used for all the aspects of a web site . There are more than a million web design companies all over the planet that exist today. Not all are the same.
Do you know what it takes to make it a good and best web design and development company . When seeking a website services company, it is important not to look for the best price, but just as important the services they offer, such as hosting and seo. You need to decide with the web design company exactly what you are looking for. Such as the area of business and area of coverage for seo.
You will have to consider the hosting that the website company uses. Google now take into consideration the location of the IP address of the host account. So if your core business is in the UK you need to ask your web design company if their hosting is based in the UK. Here at Blog it Right all our hosting is in the UK.
Remember that a good web page design even if basic is crucial because it conveys successfully to your audience. You have a critical couple of seconds to impress your audience before they click back to the search engine and start looking again. Look out for 24/7 live support system this is vital if for a given reason your site goes down.
The web design company should combine creativity with the current trends to give you the best web designing structure to be able to manage future trends. They should also be able to offer a Web 2.00 enabled site. Having a Web 2.0 enabled site ensures the future proof of the website. Here at Birmingham Web Design company Blog it Right we offer full Web 2.0 enabled websites allowing the full integration of a FULL blog and connection with all the social networking sites.
What defines a good website design? That in itself is a difficult question to answer as there are diverse varying answers. In a nutshell it is best to go for your notion but alongside check on topics such as hosting, the kind of engine the site is built upon and also one of the most essential is SEO for the circumstance that without it no-one will ever find your site.
To find out more more information on choosing the right Birmingham Web Design Company then head over to Blog it Right and take a look at some of the samples they have and styles of design.
Increasing The Functionality Of Your Website With Web 2.0
by Frances Berry on Dec.24, 2009, under web design
Simply having a website is not enough any longer. If you to find new customers from a range of channels such as social networking and want a more hands-on experience for your visitors then you need to get a Web 2.0 enabled website from a website design company such as Blog it Right.
Increasing numbers of website design companies are turning to this technology so they can implement the practicality and functionality of Web 2.0 enabled websites to increase their customers’ online presence.
Businesses with a Web 2.0 enabled website will reap many benefits as the technology allows them to incorporate blogs, which are naturally more search engine friendly and easier to update, ping articles to social networking sites and RSS feeds and even filter their website’s traffic. The SEO process is made simpler and more effective with Web 2.0 and businesses that choose this technology will, with appropriate Search Engine Optimisation services from website design companies such as Blog it Right, increase traffic and improve search engine rankings.
Web 2.0 sites are also more interactive for the web user, allowing them to use and comment on blogs, access and source websites through social networking or RSS feeds and generally have a better visitor experience.
Web 2.0 enables web users to contribute to the technology and media available on the internet. With this technology organisations and individuals have a new way to connect and even the smallest business can make their voice heard.
The way forward for internet users and businesses alike is assuredly Web 2.0 technology, especially since we have all become impatient for more and more information and want even easier ways to access it. The status of blogs and social networking sites will undoubtedly rise even more in the quest for ‘keeping in touch’ and businesses that don’t immerse themselves in Web 2.0 technology will surely fall behind the competition.
Web 2.0 is without here and now it is an important part of the makeup of websites, a website isn’t really a website anymore without the use of web 2.0. Websites will need to be a living thing and not just a static piece of code, something that speaks to social networks when ever it is updated and incorporates a blog, blogs are so important to a website simply because of the awareness that they can create.
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Web Design Leads To A Successful Online Business
by Adriana Noton on Dec.16, 2009, under web design
You want the correct images in the correct place on your website home page. Successful web design is easy but you must create a memorable website image so visitors will keep coming back. You might want to visit your favorite websites that sells products and get some ideas to use for your site. But follow these basic steps for now. You will be able to add to your site later.
Place three to five images on your index or home page. Do this also for your core sub web pages. Assume that all people online just brought their computer home from the store. They therefore have 800 by 600 screen resolution and have a 56k modem.
Many if not most people use high speed internet buy assume for now they all have slow dial up to get online. Once you are set up you will be able to read your stats tool and find out what speed internet connection your visitors are using. You can adjust accordingly.
For now begin with three to five images on your home page of your website. A logo, an emotional image, and a product image will make up the images on your home page. The first and biggest image will be your logo. It will be the first image your website visitor will see. It will be for you, the most valuable image for an effective logo image will help your site stand out in your visitors mind.
Imagine how you shop online. Most visitors shop for products on many websites before they buy. A clean and professional logo will be memorable and people will want to make their way back to your site when they are ready to buy. Also, include up near your logo your telephone number, hours of operation, and information on how people can make a purchase; credit or debit card, or by pay pal for instance.
Before they buy people go back to a website five to seven times. You want to have a memorable logo and not simply your domain name written out at the top of your website. Think about memorable logos. When you see them you automatically think about the products the logo represents.
The emotional image should tell the benefits of your product in a photo. If you are selling iced tea, have images of people drinking your iced tea on a hot day. They are being refreshed by your tea. Your visitor will want the same feeling. Take a look at some sites to see if they have emotional images. Compare the sites with and without them. You will see how effective emotional images can be.
Place three to five product images. This way people with slow internet connections will not get impatient and leave your site because they had to wait a long time for your site to download. You can add more later when your stats show that most visitors have high speed connections. Many people create a website without a plan but not you. You will follow these web design tips and you will be on your way to success.
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Follow These Web Design Steps To Success
by Adriana Noton on Dec.12, 2009, under web design
The web design for your website graphics to include on your home page should tell a story. You want to have the right images on the right places. This can make or break your site as far as the number images.
You want to have about three to five images at least on your home page and on your core sub pages. Begin with a customer with a computer that just came out of the box typically the screen resolution is 800 by 600 and they are going to be using a 56k modem.
The bulk of people have high speed internet but you want to assume for the worse and once you get your site up and running you are going to be able to tell through the stats what screen resolution and speed of internet connection people have that will looking at your site.
You will be able to make changes based on that but for now start off with three to five images. Your images will include a logo, and emotional image, and a product image. Your logo or header will be your first image. It will be your largest image and be the first thing people will see. It will be the most beneficial because an effective logo and your domain name will help your website stand out in people’s minds.
And when people are shopping for products they are going to look at several websites so a clean professional logo will help you stand out from the rest of the pages out there. So having that and also other helpful information like your telephone number your credit card acceptance information your hours of operation listed at the top of your page will set you apart from other websites out there. And that logo can make or break a sale depending on whether or not they find their way back to your site.
People actually return to a website three to seven times before they make a purchase so having a logo verses having your domain simply written out is going to help you stand out in people’s minds. If you think about it major companies have memorable logos and when you see it you think of the company and their products.
The next image to have is an emotional image. If people feel something at your site they are more likely to return to your site and make a purchase. You want to present in your image what you are trying to sell. If you are selling comfortable bean bag chairs have images of people relaxing and enjoying life sitting in your bean bag chairs. Your website visitors will believe that they too will be relaxing and enjoying life once they get this product.
You want to have three to four product images. Once you see that most of your visitors have high speed internet connections you can add more product images. Product images once clicked will give more details about the product. Follow these tips on web design and you will be on the road to a successful internet business.
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Web Design For A Successful Online Business
by Adriana Noton on Dec.08, 2009, under web design
Web design will be your first step to a successful online business. Tell a story with your webpage. Have the right images in the right place. This can help make or break your internet business. Follow some basic principles and you will be ahead of your competition.
Place 3 to 5 images on your home page and on your main sub webpages. Assume your customer just pulled her computer out of the packaging. The screen resolution will be eight hundred by six hundred with a fifty six k modem.
Most have high speed connections but assume people have the slowest possible dial up connection in the beginning. Afterwards you can use your stats tool to find out what speed the majority of your visitors are surfing the internet with but for now keep it simple.
For now stick with 3 to 5 images. The fewer the images on your website the faster it will download. If someone with dial up has to wait too long for your site to come up, he will be off to the next site. Your images need to included a logo, an emotional image, and a product image. The first thing your visitor will see is your logo. It will the largest image on your site. A good logo along with your domain name will be what is remembered by your visitor. It will help your website stand out.
A clean professional logo will help when people are searching several sites for similar products. You also want next to your logo, your telephone number, hours of operation, and information on payment options like credit card or pay pal information. This information will help you stand out from other websites that do not bother to list this on the home page. This can help people when they are searching back to find your site.
Visitors usually go back to a website 4 to 8 times before they buy. Having a logo rather than simply your domain name written on your website will help you be memorable in people’s minds. Think about the logos of major corporations. When you see them what do you think of? You think about their products. You want the same thing with your website logo to happen with your visitors.
The emotional image is simply that. You want people to get the feeling of the benefit of your product. If you sell lawn furniture you want images of people relaxing on your lawn furniture. The people in your images have not a care in the world because they bought and are using your furniture. Your visitor will want the same benefit. They will assume they will have this when they buy your products.
Have 4 to 5 product images. You can add more product images and product categories once you find out that most of your visitors have high speed internet. Your product images will lead to a webpage with details about the specific product. Follow these web design tips and you will be on your way to a successful online business.
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Key Factors that Separate One Web Design from Another
by Adriana Noton on Oct.23, 2009, under web design
Web designs can vary quite a bit, not just in quality and method of implementation but also in look and feel, and in what type of responses they evoke in users. The different elements that contribute to the unique impact of a web design can be broken down into layout, color and texture scheme, and typography and rhythm. When used together strategically, these three elements can create a wide variety of successful web designs.
Layout The layout of a website can help to determine not only how it’s perceived, but also how it’s used. Most website designs consist of a header and footer region, both of which house important navigation links and span the entire width of the screen, as well as one or more columns in the body area for displaying text, images and other blocks of links. Using several columns within the body area is great for presenting users with a variety of content options, or promoting a large quantity of thematically unrelated content. A body area that uses less columns is great for focusing users’ attention or allowing them to consume a big piece of content without further navigation.
Often, depending on the specific page within a website, the number of columns that are appropriate in the body area will change. For example, a news website or online merchant may want to display plenty of different stories or products on their front page, then present the user with bigger, unbroken content on inside pages once a story or product has been chosen.
Color and texture scheme The color and texture of a website can go a long way in establishing its mood and energy. Loud, vibrant colors can be used to create a buoyant, boisterous effect that communicates high energy and a fun, easy going atmosphere. On the other end of the spectrum, subdued, low intensity colors can be used to evoke a professional, strictly business, or even sombre attitude.
While a website’s layout is often dictated by its functional requirements, its color and texture scheme should be inspired by the essence of its brand. It’s important to conduct a thorough brand discovery process to make sure that the right colors, textures and images are used to represent a company’s unique culture and promote its business goals.
Typography and rhythm Typography can almost be thought of as an extension of the color and texture scheme of a web design. Fonts communicate personality attributes; depending on the font that’s used, text can come across as authoritative, brazen, honest, formal, casual and much, much more. It’s important that the font expresses the character of the website’s brand without coming across as jarring or incongruent with any established visual theme.
The rhythm of a website’s text, or the way it’s arranged within the available space, is important too. Establishing standard margins between headers, paragraphs, quotes and other unique types of text can create a rhythm at which the user will consume the content. Strategic breaks or disturbances in that rhythm can then add prominence and weight to specific lines of text, and effect the overall look and feel of the website.
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What Requires Special Attention when Designing a Web Page?
by Amy Nutt on Oct.10, 2009, under web design
When designing a web page, one has to consider how they are going to attract and retain visitors. One way of reaching online users is to design a website that ranks high in the search engines. Achieving a high search ranking requires creating a web page that is search engine friendly.
To build a search engine friendly web page, one should implement the following tools:
1. When a search engine ranks a website, they assess the value of the content. Web content needs to be relevant to the website’s purpose and rich in relevant key words. Relevant keywords should be included in the headlines. As well, the content has to be relevant to the site’s product or service. The text should be easy to read and free of spelling and grammar errors. The page should have an introduction and conclusion with a clear purpose of the site. Try to update your web page with fresh content regularly.
2. The design and layout of the site should be professional and unique. Pages should be quick to load so you should use small graphics and pictures that are professional and relevant to the site. Every image should have an “alt” label and a text link. Bright colors, irrelevant pictures, and odd flashing animation will result in a low search engine ranking. The layout should be consistent with uniform colors. The web page should be easy to navigate and the various applications should blend well. The site’s navigation bar should be clear with professional titles. As well, your contact information should be easy to locate. A site map is an important part of the web design. You should also make sure that you do have any “page not found” error pages. Every page should include the appropriate domain name and professionally designed logo.
3. Make your web design interactive. This will give your site a boost in search engine rankings. You can use such applications as a Blog, chat room, surveys, polls, discussion boards, contests, user feed back forms, etc.
4. Reciprocal linking is important to achieving a high search engine ranking. These links should be relevant to your site. Consider posting to business directories. Don’t use link farms and other low quality link sites as they will only lower your search engine ranking. Embed text links in your content paragraphs to increase your ranking.
A professional website design tells a visitor and search engine robot that your site is professional and trustworthy. Search engine spiders and robots score professional websites high in the search engines. Because a high search engine ranking is so important, designing a web site takes time and good planning. There are professional web site design companies that are experts in creating web pages that achieve high search engine rankings. Using a web design company will significantly increase your search engine ranking.
Because the majority of online users use a search engine to locate a website, it is essential that your web pages are designed to be search engine friendly.
How Web Design Helps a Business to Gain a Competitive Advantage
by Amy Nutt on Oct.07, 2009, under web design
With millions of people surfing the internet each day, it is essential that a business has a website. Because there are so many websites, it is important that a business has a professional web design to gain a competitive advantage. A professional web design is key component of creating a popular online presence.
The following lists how a web design helps a business gain a competitive advantage:
1. A business can design a website that allows them to give their users information about their products and services. They can provide updates and news about their company as well as information about special deals and promotions. Updating a website on a daily basis will keep users returning to their site. Visitors will become familiar with the business and their products and services.
2. Businesses can create a web design that targets their customers by creating a design that focuses on their needs. As well, this design can be blend of marketing and product branding. This allows the business to actively promote their brand and vision. Designing your website will allow you not only to accurately represent your business, but represent your targeted customer. A website that does not appeal to a visitor will not result in sales.
For instance, a car repair shop would never use layout design using bright colors and pictures of flowers. This type of design would be better suited to a floral shop. Understanding your audience and their needs is essential to creating and maintaining a successful business website
3. A business website should be about allowing your customers to interact with the business. A website design can include the use of interactive applications such as chat rooms, polls, discussion forums, contests, games, feed back form, etc. This type of design will help encourage visitors to return. It is important to remember that targeting a broad array of visitors will increase traffic, but it will not increase sales. Building a loyal customer base is essential to gaining a competitive edge over other business websites.
4. A website design allows the business to directly communicate with their customers. This can include gathering emails to send out newsletters, special offers, product updates, etc. The business will be able establish loyal customer base.
5. When you create your own website design instead of using a generic pre-built website design template, you will see a boost in the search engine ranking. Search engines prefer personally designed websites. As well, your ranking will increase when you use professional graphics, pictures, professional content, appropriate key words, etc. With a properly designed site, your website will reach more users as it will be listed at the top of the search engine rankings.
In this high speed and fast-paced virtual world, a business has to make use of all design tools to attract and retain their customers. With a click of the mouse, a user can either enter and stay on your site, or leave it. A professional web design that meets your customer’s needs and ranks high in the search engines are essential components to creating a successful website.