Content, Content, Content!
One of the important, if not most important aspect to successful web design is content. People do not go to a web page to talk about the layout and the html, they go to a web page because it contains the content they want to find. Whether it be the latest gossip about music, or a technical explanation of theoretical engineering models, the web sites that succeed have one thing in common, content.
While you want your layout to be good and eye catching, and you want the site to run smoothly, nothing is as important as making sure you have quality content. The trick is in finding quality content. This has been something that people have looked into for a long time and not surprisingly a few fairly common answers come up.
The first key to finding good content is in deciding what content you want your site to have. Once you know what content you want to have, the next step is in finding a place to look for that content. Thankfully, there are a number of places on the internet that provide quality content, or can help you find a person who provides the content. Once you have the content decided on, and someone to provide it the next step is of course putting the content on the site.
This may all seem rather obvious, but there is no end to the stories of people who have not gotten their content done correctly and their sites have failed. Yes, content is the most basic part of a successful site, so don’t be trapped into the trick that so many people fall into. Make sure that you not only make your web content a priority when you first start, but keep it a priority as you long as you continue to develop and improve your site.
There are many factors from the simple to the technologically advanced that contribute to the success of a website. Considerations including layout, colour, content and ease of use are important, but these are the five key ingredients all successful websites share.
- 1. The site should be easy to navigate. One of the key issues here is to ensure that the primary links to different areas of the website should be near the top of the screen. With today’s increasing screen resolutions and growing monitors it is key that the navigation links appear towards the top of the screen.
- 2. The site should be easy on the eye. It doesn’t have to be state of the art, but the site does have to be clean, well organised and visually appealing. It should also look like it has been regularly updated.
- 3. The site should have clear and obvious contact details. Visitors want to be able to contact your business easily and so make these details clear and offer several ways of getting in touch (telephone, address, e-mail etc)
- 4. There should be a robust and easy-to-find “About” page on the website. Customers are interested in knowing more about who is behind a business or website and are more likely to trust a provider with whom they can create a personal connection.
- 5. The site should have a useful and effective search tool. Visitors want to easily find what they are looking for without trawling through lots of web pages and so a good, easy-to-access search tool can help users find the specific content they are looking for.
These are just five of the key elements for a successful site. As technologies develop there will always be ways to improve your online content and so it is essential that you keep your knowledge and website updated.
LinkIn to Jay Hands or follow our updates on Twitter
How Strong Is Your Home Page?
When a potential client visits your website, they are greeted with your home page. This information is their first impression, and, in many cases, can determine their opinions on your credibility, experience, worthiness of their business, and your target audience. Basically, will they buy into your brand? It is important for your business to determine to whom they are trying to appeal with this home page, and what information they are trying to convey. There are many important factors in place when designing a home page.
How Strong Is Yours?
It is imperative to make sure that your home page clearly states who you are, with information such as your company name, branding and tagline. Make sure that the visitor can easily determine what type of services you perform or what products you are selling. Visitors to your home page should be able to see what they can do from your website, such as making appointments, checking prices, placing orders, or downloading more information or free trials.
As previously stated, your home page is your client’s first impression of you, and those are hard to shake. Your home page should indicate the type of businessperson you are, as well as your differentiation from your competitors. Are you reliable and dependable? Are you organized? What makes you stand out from your competitors? Do you provide the best quality or the cheapest prices?
A common mistake businesses make with their home pages is the belief that as long as they have a website, it is good enough. However, while a snazzy design is not necessary, it is important to present your information in a professional fashion. Visitors to your website may not be professional website developers, but they can easily tell if the website was designed by an amateur.
In all, having a strong home page provides a business with the opportunity to convey important messages to its potential and existing customers. Because it is so easy to navigate from one company’s website to another’s, it is important for your customers to see what it is that makes your business stand out.
Follow EyePlot on Twitter
Do You Hear Me Now?
Everyone who is involved in web design seems to be looking for the same thing, a way to grab attention in a way that has not been thought of before. While this is an admirable goal, it should be realised that you don’t have to come up with something completely new every time you start a new design project. Yes, you need to do something unique, yes it needs to be original, but sometimes, using something that is familiar may be the best way to grab someone’s attention.
When you use something that is familiar you are calling up a person’s memory. If that memory is a positive one, chances are the person will react favorably. The trick is finding widely accepted images and slogans that people will find it easy to relate too in a positive fashion. By doing this you tie your website to a positive feeling and this is one of the goals of web site design.
An important thing to remember is that while you want to try and create a feeling of familiarity, you want to avoid any outright infringement of copyright. A lot of companies have built themselves up off of their brand image and they do not like it when others try to use that same image to benefit themselves.
In the end by creating a design that reflects something known and comfortable to people, you can yourself put quite a bit. However, anytime you are mimicking something you need to be careful that you do not come to close to the object you mimic. Not only does this lead into a questionable legal area, but it also can turn off the very people you are trying to bring in.
Great web design is a tricky thing, but by knowing what people like, you are one step ahead in the game.
The internet has never been a friendlier place. With the numerous social networking programs and other communication-based sites, anyone can accomplish any task on the web – even if that task happens to be creating and posting to your own personal blog. You don’t have to be a professional web designer in order to use WordPress – the blog posting system that allows everyone to have the last word. What does this site do? Think of WordPress as a large site that is solely dedicated to giving you a voice, and it does it all in style. Confused? Well, let’s just say that you don’t need HTML skills in order to create your own blog on this site.
WordPress is a user-friendly site that was created for everyone to use. If you want to create a blog that the world has access to, then head to this site and get started right away. Since this site includes templates that are simple to use, all you really have to do is choose the template that you like and start typing. You can also install different themes on your new blog, and you can switch those themes when you feel like it – all without knowing anything about true coding.
Up until this point, those people that wanted to create a website had to hire site designers. Hiring expert designers is a great idea if you run a small company, but it’s not such a good idea for individuals that just want to be heard. This is why WordPress is such a popular tool with all bloggers out there. Not only will you be able to create a blog, but you will also be able to tell the world exactly what you think. Nearly everyone that uses this site loves how simple it is to run, and you never have to worry about any kind of site maintenance.
With sites such as WordPress, the internet is now accessible by anyone of any age. You can have your own site, post your own thoughts, and share your ideas with the world without hiring a design team. You can create an interesting site that is full of great design simply by selecting the template that you like. Since this site is so easy to use, it is almost impossible to imagine a simpler way to create and post to your own unique blog. Do you have something to say? Why not say it from the comfort of your very own blog site.
Contrary to popular belief, web design is not a simple task. Sure, there are lots of programs and tools that will help anyone to build a quick website, but truly great sites are the product of hours of work. In order for a site to function properly, expert designers must work on that site for quite a long time. The ideal end result of a website is a site that looks great, functions perfectly, and includes lots of interesting details. Then again, there is a fine line between an interesting site and one that is simply overcrowded – this is where those skilled designers come in.
Websites have to include great graphic design, easy to understand tools, and incorporated internet technologies. This means that a web design team must think, plan, model, and finally create a website based upon all of these steps. The thing is that most websites never work the way that they are supposed to work the first time around. Instead, it actually takes a number of tries in order to get a site running smoothly. Is it worth it for small business owners to hire web designers to work on a site?
While there are lots of web design companies out there, you have to be careful about which one you choose. Some larger companies actually use the same basic web template for every site that the build. What’s the problem with this course of action? Well, if you have the same site as every other small business on the web, then you can be that your clients won’t find your site unique in any way. In addition, you will be paying top dollar for something that is sub-standard. Instead of falling into this trap, hire a small design team or independent designer. You’ll find that these experts can create some mind-blowing sites.
If you want your site to stick out, then make sure to invest in decent web design. Otherwise, your site will look like all the rest. Sure, a design team might be an expensive investment, but it is a true investment all the same. A well designed, easy to use, site will attract lots of visitors. Not only will your business begin to increase with this kind of site, but you will be able to show the world that you are not just another fly-by-night web company. If you’re serious about your site, make sure to hire the right kind of designers.
Up until a few years ago, the internet was a scary place for a lot of people. Those that attempted to use the internet during this time often found that sites were next to impossible to figure out. With the new web accessibility movement that is occurring, anyone can use the web regardless of disability, age, or any other concern. All of this has been made possible with the help of great web designers and software programmers that are part of web 2.0. These innovative people have decided to make the internet a safer, happier, and easier to use place for everyone.
Using specific graphics, fonts, and clickable items, modern designers and programmers can now create sites that won’t prevent anyone from using them. The theory behind this kind of site creation is called web accessibility. The idea is to create an internet that is user-friendly for everyone from children to elderly folks. Is it working? Many people believe that this concept more than works – it’s actually the best thing to hit the net since the web was created. In many ways, this new way of looking at the internet actually helps to bring people together.
If everyone on the planet can use the internet, this means that everyone will be connected in one way or another. For example, a child in Asia may be reading the blog posts of an elderly woman in Idaho. As the two begin to communicate, they will also be able to understand where each person is coming from. As dialogue begins to open up, the world suddenly becomes a smaller place. The things that can be achieved with a bit of technology are truly amazing, and this new concept is certainly no exception to the rule. Are you part of the internet community and taking advantage of the new web accessibility?
What does it take to become involved in web accessibility? Well, if you come across a site or networking tool that isn’t easy to use, you may take the time to contact those in charge of the site. Your suggestions will probably be greatly appreciated, and the site owners may decide to make their site more accessible for all kinds of users. Eventually, everyone will be able to go online and search the web. From all corners of the earth to all ages of the people on the earth, the internet is no longer a scary place thanks to a worldwide effort to bring people closer together.
E-commerce Websites – What You’re Missing
If you have a product to sell, you may want to look into building your own e-commerce websites. What is ecommerce? What can you do with it? Well, simply think of this concept as your own virtual shop front – a way to show the world that you are open for business. Of course, the hardest part about ecommerce doesn’t have much to do with the website itself. Instead, as with any other product or service, you will have to know how to market your company on the web if you want to attract buyers and gain lots of profit.
This is where web marketing comes into play. You see, it’s all well and fine to build lots of fancy e-commerce websites, but if you can’t get people to actually visit your shop then nobody will know what you are selling. How can you do this? Well, there are a number of useful tactics, but when it comes down to it the best way to market your site is to hire a professional web marketer. These experts know how to drive traffic to your virtual store, so that you can show the world the goods and services that you have to offer them.
Why is this necessary? While various e-commerce websites are a great start, running an internet business is not exactly like running a brick and mortar business. You see, if you set up a shop on the busiest intersection in your town, then people are likely to see your shop and stop by for a visit, right? Well, if you can’t get those internet users to your street to begin with, then you are setting up your shop in a ghost town. Do you see the difference? If you want to bring people into your store, then you’ll have to hire a fabulous marketing team.
Start by looking for those designers that can create fabulous e-commerce websites – after all, once that traffic does begin to flow into your virtual store, it helps to have a flashy store to show off. Once this step has been completed, make sure to speak with some internet marketers that really know their stuff. These experts will drive all the traffic you need to your site. When you combine that great store front with the right marketing tools, the result is an internet business that was meant to thrive. Are you setting up shop online? If so, make sure that you have all the right stuff.
When you find yourself in a position to finally enter cyber space and begin internet marketing you want to make sure you keep SEO design for websites in mind. SEO is search engine optimization and what it does is put your website at the top of the list when people do searches on search sites such as Google. SEO is vital to getting traffic to your site over your competitors. Studies show that when consumers search for specific businesses, they will typically only go to the first few sites that pop up on the search. This is where SEO design for websites becomes so important.
SEO design for websites can be very basic but also very complex at the same time. It starts with your website content. The best content is rich with key words and key words phrases. These are words that relate to your business that are most commonly searched. For example, if you business is cat whisker trimming and somewhere in one of your landing pages you have the term cut cat whiskers, every time someone searches cut cat whiskers, they will be directed to your site. The frequency with which the term shows up in the content on your site determines your position in the search engine line. Of course, writing content that is keyword inclusive without sounding weird is challenging but certainly not impossible and definitely necessary.
Some people make the mistake of designing their websites before even considering SEO design for websites which puts them behind the eight ball immediately. Designing for SEO right from the beginning is important and designing your website around SEO is very prudent and will pay big dividends in the future. Remember, it’s the content that will keep viewers on your site so keep it interesting and informative. SEO design for websites is definitely an art form and does take a little practice, but once you get the hang of it you find yourself continually finding ways to take advantage of SEO and updating your site accordingly.
SEO design for websites takes a little discipline, but once you understand all the nuances and how it can positively affect traffic flow, it becomes obvious how important SEO is for a successful website. Smart website marketers understand this from the very beginning and take advantage of SEO right away. The internet is powerful marketing and harnessing it is very important to your success.
An htaccess file can be created through a text editor like Notepad, and is a basic ASCII file. It doesn’t need a name in front of it, because it is the extension. For example, you would see .htaccess, not something.htaccess, when you access the file. All you do is open the program, and save a blank document or a document with one character as .htaccess. Make sure that you remove the file extension from the file when you save (.txt, .doc, etc.). This will make the file a member of the ht access commands family and not just another file on your computer.
Uploading .htaccess files and ht access commands isn’t a complicated task. They do need to be added in ASCII mode, not binary mode, so make sure you keep an eye on that. To protect your server and keep your security in place, you may need to use a CHMOD code, such as 644 or RW-R–R–R. This action will ensure that your server can read the ht access commands, but also keep a browser from accessing them, so that your site is protected. If you’re not quite up to par with this type of information, let’s break it down a little more for you.
Ht access commands are ways of making your server or website do things. They were designed for use with Apache, not NT servers. You can use ht access commands for security, for disabling directory browsing, limiting upload sizes, making certain files inaccessible, having custom 404, 500, and 403 pages (common error pages), preventing hotlinking, blocking referred traffic, and blocking access based on IP addresses. These things are mostly security fixes, but essential to webmasters and bloggers alike. An .htaccess file should be supported by your browser if you run Linux, Unix, or Apache, but the web host you use might prevent you from using it. You can tell by whether your host has password protected folders. If so, .htaccess is acceptable. If not, you’re probably not going to be able to use it.
Ht access commands can allow you to use different index files, stop directory listings, ban users or allow users specifically, automatically redirect users, change file extensions, password protect files and folders, and help you create custom error pages on your website. Whether or not you can use these files will depend on the server and web host that you use. However, if you are able to use them, they can help create a secure, more customizable environment for your web design than you would have without ht access commands.