Content available on a web page is nothing but the information or products, which you want your visitor to come and see or purchase the products and any images that is been used to assist that objective. Written information is one best way and is very easier to read for visitor when it is broken up into short, concise paragraphs. You further need to do your best to use high-class grammar and spelling. Run your information by using spellchecker in a word document before your page is uploaded. You don’t need to retype all, just use your right mouse button for copy and paste.
Any time you willing to use images or graphics in or around your content information or products descriptions try to use as small images as possible. Also, refrain from using too many images on any one page because both larges images and too many would considerably slow down the loading time for the web page. You need to remember that your visitor would only wait for about 30 –40 seconds for a page to load before they become impatient and goes for another search.
Using image resize tool for uploaded images is a good idea to resize bigger or smaller images. These tools are adequate for most resizing requirements; however, extreme resizing from very large to very small image or vice versa could be a bad idea because it may result in loss of some detail in the image. One can obtain better result if you resize them first using a quality image-editing program on your computer and then go for uploading your websites.
It is good idea to break up your products into various groups within your catalog to help your pages from being affected by too many images. Even if you sell only one type of products but you have 50 variations of it, you could still use multiple pages by organizing them into categories; for example “Product Name 1”, “Product Name 2” etc.
Lastly, there are various things you could add to your website to spark it up. Things like banners, flashing or graphics, animations or colored text, etc. There’s a saying when it comes to web designing world that is, “Just because you could add something, it doesn’t mean that you should.” Remember as you choose items to put on your site and it would in-turn help you to keep your website looking professional.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Importance of Content in Web Designing
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Small Business Websites: 10 Steps to Success
Tips on Designing Your Small Business Website
There are all sorts of websites out there, and clearly some of them are working much harder than others. How can you be sure your website will be a champion?
The key is website planning and strategy. Think of your website as an employee and make sure you hire the right one. If you approach this project with clear goals in mind, you will be rewarded with a lucrative asset to your business. What’s most important? The questions below will get you started.
1. What are your specific business goals?
How could your website help you achieve them? Need to increase sales through cross selling? Your website could educate customers about using your products or services together for greater value. Need to reduce time spent in customer service on the phone? You can promote your website as your primary customer service centre, helping to redirect queries that can be easily solved. A little time spent planning a job description for your site will result in a website that works harder for your money.
2. Who is your target market?
What are they looking for in your type of business? Your website will have to appeal to them and speak to their needs. If your site clearly addresses your customers’ needs, visitors will spend more time there and will be more likely to become paying customers. How can your website add value for them? If you need ideas have a look at competitor websites and imagine you are their customer. Identify what they have done well and capitalize on their mistakes. Look at other websites that you like. How did they make such a good impression?
3. What do customers like best about your business?
Is it your high quality products? Your value for money? Your speedy customer service? Your friendly staff? Whatever it is your website should reflect those aspects of your business. They are what set you apart. If you’re not sure why people come back to you consider undertaking a customer satisfaction survey to find out.
4. Do you have identifiable branding that represents the unique personality of your business?
If not, develop a branding identity that will set you apart from competitors, starting with a logo that communicates the character of your business. The visual design of your website is an extension of your brand identity. Be sure your website is dressed for success and represents your business as nothing less than credible and professional.
5. Do you have the time and skills to prepare your own content?
Be realistic here. Your written text should be concise, focus on customer needs, and use language that your customers understand. If writing isn’t your thing, consider hiring a copywriter to massage your copy or even write it for you. Make use of images and video where it will be useful to customers. If you don’t have quality images at hand, consider hiring a photographer or buying stock photography. Don’t be tempted to cut corners and compromise quality just to save a few bucks. The impact of your content is critical to your website’s success.
6. How can you take advantage of interactivity?
There’s no substitute for experiencing your product or service in person, but as this may be your only chance to make an impression, make the most of it! Establish what your customers are interested in, give it to them and lead them to action through the interactive nature of the Internet. Engage them with online competitions, printable discount vouchers, product demonstrations, live help, customer feedback surveys, etc. Interactivity can also be a great way to build your customer database or gather market research about your visitors.
7. What is a realistic budget for your website?
To plan and implement a website strategy you’ll need to invest upwards of a few thousand dollars to do it right the first time. Think carefully about your budget. Does it seem reasonable given your business goals? Think about the bottom line benefits in terms of potential cost savings as well as revenue potential.
8. How can you promote your website?
First and foremost, put your domain name on everything! Letterhead, invoices, signs, sales tags, whatever you can. It’s much easier to remember a website address than a phone number. To attract new customers via the Internet you’ll need to harness the search engines. Search engine marketing involves optimizing your website so it’s visible to customers searching for your type of business. If you are in a competitive market, you may need to budget for comprehensive search engine optimization for your site. If you’re looking at search engines as a major source of new customers you may also consider adding ‘pay-per-click’ advertising to the mix.
9. Will you manage your own updates?
Keeping your website fresh provides a reason for visitors to return to your website. If you plan to make regular content updates, consider investing in a Content Management System costing as little as a few hundred dollars. It makes more sense to pay your website developer for ongoing development rather than simple changes to content that you can make yourself.
10. How do you know if your website is a champion?
After your site has been live for several months, quantify the gains generated by your website and identify the impact your investment has made on the business. Using software tools you can establish which parts of your website are performing well, and which parts need tweaking. A website strategy is never really complete. You can always improve on the status quo. Set a regular schedule for review and don’t forget to budget for strategy changes and ongoing development.
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Rules Of Website Design
Have you ever wondered if what you know about web design is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on web design.
When it comes to your website, extra attention should be paid to every minute detail to make sure it performs optimally to serve its purpose. Here are seven important rules of thumb to observe to make sure your website performs well.
1) Do not use splash pages
Splash pages are the first pages you see when you arrive at a website. They normally have a very beautiful image with words like "welcome" or "click here to enter". In fact, they are just that -- pretty vases with no real purpose.
Do not let your visitors have a reason to click on the "back" button! Give them the value of your site up front without the splash page.
2) Do not use excessive banner advertisements
Even the least net savvy people have trained themselves to ignore banner advertisements so you will be wasting valuable website real estate. Instead, provide more valueable content and weave relevant affiliate links into your content, and let your visitors feel that they want to buy instead of being pushed to buy.
If you don't have accurate details regarding web design, then you might make a bad choice on the subject. Don't let that happen: keep reading.
3) Have a simple and clear navigation
You have to provide a simple and very straightforward navigation menu so that even a young child will know how to use it. Stay away from complicated Flash based menus or multi-tiered dropdown menus. If your visitors don't know how to navigate, they will leave your site.
4) Have a clear indication of where the user is
When visitors are deeply engrossed in browsing your site, you will want to make sure they know which part of the site they are in at that moment. That way, they will be able to browse relevant information or navigate to any section of the site easily. Don't confuse your visitors because confusion means "abandon ship"!
5) Avoid using audio on your site
If your visitor is going to stay a long time at your site, reading your content, you will want to make sure they're not annoyed by some audio looping on and on on your website. If you insist on adding audio, make sure they have some control over it -- volume or muting controls would work fine.
If you've picked some pointers about web design that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.
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Wednesday, July 4, 2007
How you choose a Website Design Company?
Everyone knows that today is the age of internet. Every successful company knows that a web site is an essential marketing tool. Whether you're in the business of selling widgets, soliciting volunteers, or building your brand awareness, a carefully executed internet marketing plan can reap a tremendous return on your time and money. so that’s why they people making, and updating their business website according to the time and technology.
Depending on your web design budget and you needs. The first thing you need to do is determine your goals and objectives.
Specifically:
- Who is your target audience?
- How will your target audience find your website?
- What do you want them to do once they're there?
- How will updates be made to the site?
- What is your timeline?
- What kind of return on investment do you expect from the site and how will you measure it?
When searching for a company, here are a few key questions to consider:
- Does the company's portfolio reflect the kind of aesthetic that you are looking for
- Does the company work with clients in your industry? Have they previously created a site similar to what you want in scope and function?
- Were they responsive to your query, or did it take them four days to return your call?
- Were they friendly and helpful and take time to find out about your company and your needs?
- What kinds of guarantees do they offer for their products? What kind of support is available?
- Do they have a thorough testing process? What are the terms of the contract and who owns the final design, source code, and intellectual property?
- Did the company meet your goals and objectives?
- Did they follow up after the launch, or disappear once the check was cashed?
- Does the site function properly?
- Are you happy with the design?
- What does your target audience think of the design and functionality?
- Did you get the return on investment that you were expecting?
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Friday, February 9, 2007
Making Your Website your Visitors Favorite
A Favicon is a short the Favorites Icon. It is a multi-resolution image included on nearly all professional developed sites. With Internet Explorer, it is displayed on the Address line and in the Favorites menu. It allows the webmaster to further promote their website, and create a more customized appearance within a visitor's browser. Oftenly, the Favicon reflects the look and feel of the web site or the company's logo.
When visitors bookmark any website, a little icon shows up in the bookmarks and in the tab display of some Web browsers. This is called the favorites icon or favicon. The procedure for creating the favicon is :
1. Create an image 16x16 in dimensions using any graphics program like Adobe Photoshop. This
is a tiny image, so you should try out different versions until you create an image that will work
for the website.
2. Save this image in a GIF or BMP file format with 256 colors or less. The reason for choosing
the 256 colors or less is that the icon files, like Web images, have to display on the computer
monitors, so they can't reliably display millions of colors. Since an icon file is for Windows
display only, it can be 256 colors, rather than the Web standard 216.
3. Once an acceptable image is created, convert it to the icon format and save it as favicon.ico
4. To publish the icon, upload it to the same directory as the file you want
bookmarked.
5. If you want to put a different icon on every page of your site or point to one icon in
many folders, you need to add a link reference to the head of every HTML document that you
want the favorite icon associated with.
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Thursday, February 8, 2007
7 Website Design Tips
Seven Website Design Tips to Make Your Site More Attractive
1. Be Aware during Selection of the colours scheme
If your company has a logo or preferred colours on its stationery that’s a good start. For those of you starting from scratch, choose two or three complementary colours and stick with them – don’t change colours on every page. The most common colour schemes include:
- Red, yellow and white
- Blue and white
- Red, grey and white
- Blue, orange and white
- Yellow, grey and white.
- Onion shade, Tan, white
If you’re not sure what colour scheme to choose, surf the internet and find a website that you like. You can then model your colour scheme on what already exists.
Always Select those colours which Attract the visitors, and the person revisit your site.
2. Page Backgrounds
Ensure your visitors can read the text on the background, i.e. no black writing on dark blue background or yellow on white. Means if the page background is dark always use light colour for the writhing a text or if the light colour is used for the page background the always use dark colour for writing a text, like this colour scheme for the background everything is visible to the visitor. Also be careful that your links are visible before and after being visited. The default for links in most programs is blue (before being visited) and burgundy (after being visited), so if you have a dark background, ensure your links are light.
3. Page loading (site open within a minutes)
All I’ve seen for the last 10 minutes is ‘page loading’, I think something might be wrong with my browser this is probably one of the biggest gripes a site visitor has. If your page takes more than a minute to load (on dial-up) and you have anything less than the meaning of life hidden within your content - something needs to be done. The average person does not have time they just go for another site without passed his time for these type of site those take time to open. So a good website takes less time for loading a site.
4. Appropriate page Size
Web pages are measured in pixels. Pixels are the unit of measurement for the screen. A Web page can literally be any size. Standard Web pages usually fit into a few sizes:
* W × H * 600 × 800 * 640 × 480 (Dream weaver default) * 1024 × 768 * 550 × 400 (Flash default)
The default Web page sizes provided in Web friendly applications and listed earlier are a great place to start. You will probably use a smaller, custom size for pop-up windows. The Web page size you choose is up to you. Remember to use actual space for the Web page effectively so that the content is in the proper proximity to the user's navigation patterns. Web page size affects the way users move around the Web pages and the Web portfolio site. One rule: Pick a size for all main screens and stick to it.
5. Logo
Create a simple logo to identity your website. Have a captivating tag line somewhere with the header, and write an About Us page which describes the uniqueness of your website. These will leave an impression for your visitors to remember your website.
6. Application of graphic designs
You must be careful in choosing for the appropriate design that will best represent your projects, and tell about your business. Create a design which coveys in a stylish way what it has to.
7. Be aware about grammar and spell
Grammar is overrated [and the spill-checker too] Most web authoring and word processing software comes with a spell/grammar check utility - don’t let your hard earned money go to waste, use it. Some of the more common grammatical mistakes are misusing its, it’s, there, their, they’re, your, you’re, and noone (correct=no one). Proof reading your final product is also helpful. No one is infallible, that’s why pencils have erasers and computer programs have [ctrl+z].
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