Tips To Design Your Links
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bogdan_Popescu]Bogdan Popescu
It is a fact that links have always been a vital part in the internet navigational process. Depending on the links and also on the content of the site that the link leads to, internet users decide on the worthiness of coming back to that site or not.
One cannot fail to notice the latest trends imposed by web 2.0, the emergence of a new writing genre designed to cater for the new needs and tastes of internet users and also the transformation process that search engines undergo.
Broadly speaking, users go from page to page selecting only the most important information or just the information that is easier to spot; they need to be able to make a quick assessment of the page content, get the information they are seeking and go to another page.
Usually, web authors employ hypertext links to create or reinforce concepts: a list of related links can serve as the focus of a site. The problem posed by links has little to do with the web but is rather related to the concept of hypertext. A collection of links does not have the same effect on the reader and is not as legible as conventional linear text.
In the case of linear text, readers have to work harder in seek of needed information. Links also become a technical problem, because most web pages have a certain rank on search engines due to links. Links are to be used as a reinforcement of, not a substitute for content.
What is worth mentioning when tackling the link issue is that designers are supposed to use relevant link labels, give consistent clickability cues and also differentiate links that have been clicked from those that haven't.
1. Use relevant link description
Users' confusion must be avoided at all costs. In this respect, they should be able to look at every link and be able to predict to some extent the destination or the website they are about to visit. A negative example in this case is using the label - Click here-, which is rather confusing and does not provide any kind of information about the link destination.
Another relevant case is that of embedded links; when employing embedded links, the link text should accurately designate the link's direction. Users have a certain tendency towards ignoring the text surrounding embedded links; consequently, it is recommended that you should not create embedded links that use the surrounding text in order to provide hints about the link's destination.
2. Be aware that textual links do have certain main characteristics like: underlining and color.
The second trait is not as important as the first one, i.e. underline can be eliminated in some cases like the one when an area functionality is absolutely obvious - for instance, we could think of a site menu where everybody expects a content summary as a presentation.
Thus, you should provide users with sufficient clickability cues. Trying to put the cursor over different parts of the page is time consuming and not quite "affordable" with a view to gain more traffic. At the same time, it's worth keeping in mind that there area certain clickability expectancies regarding different regions of a web page; for instance, items on the center, left, right side have a high probability of being links.
3. Use different colors for visited and unvisited links
Links that were clicked must differentiate one way or another from the ones that were not; the best way of doing that is the color contrast; links are supposed to stand out on the computer screen as much as possible; in this respect, bright, vivid colors are preferable - links should differentiate from linear text in any case.
Conversely, links that were already clicked should employ a rather pale and "washed" color. The effect of using different colors but both at the same level of chromatic intensity might result in a failure to establish a concrete content relationship between those links, users won't be able to tell visited from non-visited links.
Even though some compromises would be acceptable (like using other colors), using blue for text is an exception. Blue is a color with the most notable perceived affordance of clickability.
4. Colors for text are to be avoided
It is recommended that colors should be used for hyperlinks only. Nevertheless, there are generally recognized and allowed colors for certain words such as red for "error" or green for "ok".
Technically speaking, when referring to document colors, it is advisable that you specify all of the colors (BGCOLOR, TEXT, LINK, VLINK, ALINK), to ensure an enjoyable and legible composition.
The main reason reinforcing this idea is that some users may have certain colors set as default, so if you don't specify all the colors of a document, they may end up with an illegible document. In addition, even when using a background image, you should still specify BGCOLOR, because the user may not have the image loading on. [http://www.avangate.com/articles/design-links-92.htm]Read more tips here
Read more free [http://www.avangate.com/articles/website-usability]web site usability articles
Copyright © 2007, [http://www.avangate.com]www.avangate.com all rights reserved. This article was written by Bogdan Popescu, member of Avangate Web marketing Team. Avangate is a complete ecommerce provider for shareware sales incorporating an easy to use and secure online payment system plus additional software marketing services and sales tools.
This article may be reproduced in a website, e-zine, CD-ROM, book, magazine, etc. as long as the above information is included in full, including the link back to this website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bogdan_Popescu http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-To-Design-Your-Links&id=700126
Posted By: IllusionTechnologies
http://www.illusiontechnologies.com
Friday, November 16, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Web Site Design
Some Brief Information On Website Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joe_Solaman]Joe Solaman
Now more than ever is the time to get a website designed and launched for you business or organization. If you are looking to expand out and reach clients and customers on a global scale then a website is the best way to go about this. If you are in a business that strictly serves your local community then having a website for potential clients to view your products and or services on the Internet is something that more and more businesses are using as part of their advertising budget.
However before you run out and hand over the task to the first website designer that you find on the Internet, there are a few things that you should know. With the advent of cheaper website design software, more and more people are marketing their services as website designers on the Internet now. For this reason alone you should be as selective as possible when you are deciding just who is going to do the work on your website.
When you use a reputable website design company you are assured that a team of experts will be available to do the job. When a team of website designers does the work on your website a graphic designer does the graphic design work and a writer writes the script and all the other tasks that are involved in the total project are also handled by specialist in their particular area of website design.
The last thing that you should do is to hand the total project over to one person who claims that they are capable of handling the complete job. Trying to save a few bucks on a cheapie website is a mistake that many people live to regret and they are inevitably stuck redoing their website while their competition is out promoting theirs.
Written by Joe Solaman. Find the more information on the latest [http://www.dolphinpromotions.co.uk/webdesign.asp ]Preston Web Design as well as [http://www.dolphinpromotions.co.uk ]Web Design Company.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Solaman http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Brief-Information-On-Website-Design&id=755218
Posted By: Illusion Technologies
http://www.illusiontechnologies.com
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Joe_Solaman]Joe Solaman
Now more than ever is the time to get a website designed and launched for you business or organization. If you are looking to expand out and reach clients and customers on a global scale then a website is the best way to go about this. If you are in a business that strictly serves your local community then having a website for potential clients to view your products and or services on the Internet is something that more and more businesses are using as part of their advertising budget.
However before you run out and hand over the task to the first website designer that you find on the Internet, there are a few things that you should know. With the advent of cheaper website design software, more and more people are marketing their services as website designers on the Internet now. For this reason alone you should be as selective as possible when you are deciding just who is going to do the work on your website.
When you use a reputable website design company you are assured that a team of experts will be available to do the job. When a team of website designers does the work on your website a graphic designer does the graphic design work and a writer writes the script and all the other tasks that are involved in the total project are also handled by specialist in their particular area of website design.
The last thing that you should do is to hand the total project over to one person who claims that they are capable of handling the complete job. Trying to save a few bucks on a cheapie website is a mistake that many people live to regret and they are inevitably stuck redoing their website while their competition is out promoting theirs.
Written by Joe Solaman. Find the more information on the latest [http://www.dolphinpromotions.co.uk/webdesign.asp ]Preston Web Design as well as [http://www.dolphinpromotions.co.uk ]Web Design Company.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joe_Solaman http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Brief-Information-On-Website-Design&id=755218
Posted By: Illusion Technologies
http://www.illusiontechnologies.com
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Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Web Site Design
Why Hire a Web Designer
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters]Alexa Peters
A lot of online business owners start with very little extra money . You have to do everything yourself -- the preparation of a product, the development of a marketing strategy, the actual building of a website to cater to your product's marketing needs. As your business expands over time, you will find that your simple "homemade" site might not be enough to cover everything, and you will have to take a day or two (which you don't have) away to simply dedicate that to the website expansion.
Sounds familiar? Chances are, you're someone who started everything with very little money too, so you're pretty skeptical when it comes to giving away your money in exchange for something that you could have done yourself. However, there is a lot more to hiring a website designer than just finishing up a job that you don't want to do.
When you hire a web designer to do your job for you, you are doing more than just handing over the "dirty job" to someone else. In fact, by paying a little money, you can let the designer worry about the little annoyances that always evade the main picture and only come haunting when you're halfway through the job. That way, you will be more focused and have more time to spend on your actual business strategy.
On the other hand, the web designers you hire are professionals so they are very good at what they do. By outsourcing your web design jobs to them, you won't have to worry when problems surface because you can always get them to fix it for you. Again, they will be able to pin point the problem and fix it faster than you probably would be able to.
Also, the work you pay for will turn out more professional than what you can achieve because the reality is that the designers have been doing it longer than you have. After all, they do it for a living so they have to be good!
So, remember to not just work your business, but grow your business too!
Normally, if you want to have professional designers custom build your site, you must be prepared to dish out at least a few thousand dollars for a very basic website. that does not have if you know where to find the best deals, the best designs for the lowest price. Here's a rough guide:
Have you ever seen those advertisements in newspaper classified ad sections that offer a 5-page website at $500? These companies are established companies with physical locations, therefore they have to increase the amount they charge to pay off some overheads: office rent, designer's wages, advertising costs and so on. More than likely, you will get a cookie cutter site that is like every other site, except for the name of your site.
Therefore, it would be wise to find freelance designers who work from home. These people are often working from home so they do not have a high operation cost like that of a company. And they will be able to design images with quality similar to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.
It just takes a little bit of effort but you can find the good in hiring a web designer. And if you find a good one, it will be well worth the effort.
Larym Design is a leader in using [http://www.larymdesign.com]
Web 2.0 Strategies in Small Business Website Development. Visit Today and download your [http://www.larymdesign.com/newsletter]
FREE REPORT Web 2.0 for Small and Emerging Businesses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Hire-a-Web-Designer&id=784749
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters]Alexa Peters
A lot of online business owners start with very little extra money . You have to do everything yourself -- the preparation of a product, the development of a marketing strategy, the actual building of a website to cater to your product's marketing needs. As your business expands over time, you will find that your simple "homemade" site might not be enough to cover everything, and you will have to take a day or two (which you don't have) away to simply dedicate that to the website expansion.
Sounds familiar? Chances are, you're someone who started everything with very little money too, so you're pretty skeptical when it comes to giving away your money in exchange for something that you could have done yourself. However, there is a lot more to hiring a website designer than just finishing up a job that you don't want to do.
When you hire a web designer to do your job for you, you are doing more than just handing over the "dirty job" to someone else. In fact, by paying a little money, you can let the designer worry about the little annoyances that always evade the main picture and only come haunting when you're halfway through the job. That way, you will be more focused and have more time to spend on your actual business strategy.
On the other hand, the web designers you hire are professionals so they are very good at what they do. By outsourcing your web design jobs to them, you won't have to worry when problems surface because you can always get them to fix it for you. Again, they will be able to pin point the problem and fix it faster than you probably would be able to.
Also, the work you pay for will turn out more professional than what you can achieve because the reality is that the designers have been doing it longer than you have. After all, they do it for a living so they have to be good!
So, remember to not just work your business, but grow your business too!
Normally, if you want to have professional designers custom build your site, you must be prepared to dish out at least a few thousand dollars for a very basic website. that does not have if you know where to find the best deals, the best designs for the lowest price. Here's a rough guide:
Have you ever seen those advertisements in newspaper classified ad sections that offer a 5-page website at $500? These companies are established companies with physical locations, therefore they have to increase the amount they charge to pay off some overheads: office rent, designer's wages, advertising costs and so on. More than likely, you will get a cookie cutter site that is like every other site, except for the name of your site.
Therefore, it would be wise to find freelance designers who work from home. These people are often working from home so they do not have a high operation cost like that of a company. And they will be able to design images with quality similar to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.
It just takes a little bit of effort but you can find the good in hiring a web designer. And if you find a good one, it will be well worth the effort.
Larym Design is a leader in using [http://www.larymdesign.com]
Web 2.0 Strategies in Small Business Website Development. Visit Today and download your [http://www.larymdesign.com/newsletter]
FREE REPORT Web 2.0 for Small and Emerging Businesses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Hire-a-Web-Designer&id=784749
Friday, November 2, 2007
Web Site Design
Why Hire a Web Designer
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters]Alexa Peters
A lot of online business owners start with very little extra money . You have to do everything yourself -- the preparation of a product, the development of a marketing strategy, the actual building of a website to cater to your product's marketing needs. As your business expands over time, you will find that your simple "homemade" site might not be enough to cover everything, and you will have to take a day or two (which you don't have) away to simply dedicate that to the website expansion.
Sounds familiar? Chances are, you're someone who started everything with very little money too, so you're pretty skeptical when it comes to giving away your money in exchange for something that you could have done yourself. However, there is a lot more to hiring a website designer than just finishing up a job that you don't want to do.
When you hire a web designer to do your job for you, you are doing more than just handing over the "dirty job" to someone else. In fact, by paying a little money, you can let the designer worry about the little annoyances that always evade the main picture and only come haunting when you're halfway through the job. That way, you will be more focused and have more time to spend on your actual business strategy.
On the other hand, the web designers you hire are professionals so they are very good at what they do. By outsourcing your web design jobs to them, you won't have to worry when problems surface because you can always get them to fix it for you. Again, they will be able to pin point the problem and fix it faster than you probably would be able to.
Also, the work you pay for will turn out more professional than what you can achieve because the reality is that the designers have been doing it longer than you have. After all, they do it for a living so they have to be good!
So, remember to not just work your business, but grow your business too!
Normally, if you want to have professional designers custom build your site, you must be prepared to dish out at least a few thousand dollars for a very basic website. that does not have if you know where to find the best deals, the best designs for the lowest price. Here's a rough guide:
Have you ever seen those advertisements in newspaper classified ad sections that offer a 5-page website at $500? These companies are established companies with physical locations, therefore they have to increase the amount they charge to pay off some overheads: office rent, designer's wages, advertising costs and so on. More than likely, you will get a cookie cutter site that is like every other site, except for the name of your site.
Therefore, it would be wise to find freelance designers who work from home. These people are often working from home so they do not have a high operation cost like that of a company. And they will be able to design images with quality similar to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.
It just takes a little bit of effort but you can find the good in hiring a web designer. And if you find a good one, it will be well worth the effort.
Larym Design is a leader in using [http://www.larymdesign.com]
Web 2.0 Strategies in Small Business Website Development. Visit Today and download your [http://www.larymdesign.com/newsletter]
FREE REPORT Web 2.0 for Small and Emerging Businesses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Hire-a-Web-Designer&id=784749
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters]Alexa Peters
A lot of online business owners start with very little extra money . You have to do everything yourself -- the preparation of a product, the development of a marketing strategy, the actual building of a website to cater to your product's marketing needs. As your business expands over time, you will find that your simple "homemade" site might not be enough to cover everything, and you will have to take a day or two (which you don't have) away to simply dedicate that to the website expansion.
Sounds familiar? Chances are, you're someone who started everything with very little money too, so you're pretty skeptical when it comes to giving away your money in exchange for something that you could have done yourself. However, there is a lot more to hiring a website designer than just finishing up a job that you don't want to do.
When you hire a web designer to do your job for you, you are doing more than just handing over the "dirty job" to someone else. In fact, by paying a little money, you can let the designer worry about the little annoyances that always evade the main picture and only come haunting when you're halfway through the job. That way, you will be more focused and have more time to spend on your actual business strategy.
On the other hand, the web designers you hire are professionals so they are very good at what they do. By outsourcing your web design jobs to them, you won't have to worry when problems surface because you can always get them to fix it for you. Again, they will be able to pin point the problem and fix it faster than you probably would be able to.
Also, the work you pay for will turn out more professional than what you can achieve because the reality is that the designers have been doing it longer than you have. After all, they do it for a living so they have to be good!
So, remember to not just work your business, but grow your business too!
Normally, if you want to have professional designers custom build your site, you must be prepared to dish out at least a few thousand dollars for a very basic website. that does not have if you know where to find the best deals, the best designs for the lowest price. Here's a rough guide:
Have you ever seen those advertisements in newspaper classified ad sections that offer a 5-page website at $500? These companies are established companies with physical locations, therefore they have to increase the amount they charge to pay off some overheads: office rent, designer's wages, advertising costs and so on. More than likely, you will get a cookie cutter site that is like every other site, except for the name of your site.
Therefore, it would be wise to find freelance designers who work from home. These people are often working from home so they do not have a high operation cost like that of a company. And they will be able to design images with quality similar to those of designers from big companies, so it's a "no-brainer" choice.
It just takes a little bit of effort but you can find the good in hiring a web designer. And if you find a good one, it will be well worth the effort.
Larym Design is a leader in using [http://www.larymdesign.com]
Web 2.0 Strategies in Small Business Website Development. Visit Today and download your [http://www.larymdesign.com/newsletter]
FREE REPORT Web 2.0 for Small and Emerging Businesses.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Peters http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Hire-a-Web-Designer&id=784749
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Web Site Design
Good Website Design Practices
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Dudley]Michelle Dudley
Your website is where your business resides--it's kinda like the headquarters of an offline company. That is why it is very important to practice good design principles to make sure that it reaches out to the maximum number of people and sells to as many visitors as possible. Make sure that you have clear directions on navigation your website. The navigation menu should be uncluttered and concise so that your visitors can get around without any confusion.
Reduce the number of images that you have on your site. Too many images make your site load very slowly and most of the time they are often unnecessary. If you feel that any image is essential to your site, make sure that you optimize it using image editing programs so that they see a minimum image file size. Keep your content's paragraphs at a reasonable length. If your paragraphs are too long, you should split them up into separate paragraphs so that your text blocks won't be so big. This is very important because a block of text that is too large will deter visitors from reading your content.
Make sure that your website complies with web standards at W3 and make sure that your website will be cross-browser compatible. If your website looks great in Internet Explorer but breaks out of frames in FireFox and Opera, you could lose out of a lot of prospective customers and visitors.
Avoid using script languages on your website unless it is absolutely necessary. Use script languages to handle or manipulate data, not to create visual effects on your website. Heavy scripts will slow down the loading time of your website and even crash some browsers. Some scripts are not supported in all browsers, so some of your visitors may lose out on some important information because of this.
Use CSS to style your page content because it saves a lot of work by styling all the elements on your website in one go.
Would you like to know about a website tool that anyone can use and that everyone will want to use? Visit http://www.squidoo.com/siterubixwebdevelopment and find out how you can get a free 7 part website building guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Dudley http://EzineArticles.com/?Good-Website-Design-Practices&id=776263
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Dudley]Michelle Dudley
Your website is where your business resides--it's kinda like the headquarters of an offline company. That is why it is very important to practice good design principles to make sure that it reaches out to the maximum number of people and sells to as many visitors as possible. Make sure that you have clear directions on navigation your website. The navigation menu should be uncluttered and concise so that your visitors can get around without any confusion.
Reduce the number of images that you have on your site. Too many images make your site load very slowly and most of the time they are often unnecessary. If you feel that any image is essential to your site, make sure that you optimize it using image editing programs so that they see a minimum image file size. Keep your content's paragraphs at a reasonable length. If your paragraphs are too long, you should split them up into separate paragraphs so that your text blocks won't be so big. This is very important because a block of text that is too large will deter visitors from reading your content.
Make sure that your website complies with web standards at W3 and make sure that your website will be cross-browser compatible. If your website looks great in Internet Explorer but breaks out of frames in FireFox and Opera, you could lose out of a lot of prospective customers and visitors.
Avoid using script languages on your website unless it is absolutely necessary. Use script languages to handle or manipulate data, not to create visual effects on your website. Heavy scripts will slow down the loading time of your website and even crash some browsers. Some scripts are not supported in all browsers, so some of your visitors may lose out on some important information because of this.
Use CSS to style your page content because it saves a lot of work by styling all the elements on your website in one go.
Would you like to know about a website tool that anyone can use and that everyone will want to use? Visit http://www.squidoo.com/siterubixwebdevelopment and find out how you can get a free 7 part website building guide.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Dudley http://EzineArticles.com/?Good-Website-Design-Practices&id=776263
Monday, October 29, 2007
Web Site Design
Website Design Training For Rewarding Career
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante]Michael Bustamante
If you are someone who enjoys creating interesting designs and layouts on computers, you could benefit from website design training. In the contemporary world of computers and Internet marketing, training in website design can lead you to an exciting and rewarding career as a professional website designer.
Website design training focuses primarily on the areas of graphic art and electronic media. You will become familiar with the latest web design and computer-based design and illustration software, which may include GoLive, DreamWeaver, and FrontPage. You will learn how to use HTML, XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript; you will also learn about e-commerce, Internet marketing, scripting and authoring. The goal of website design training is to teach you to create web pages and websites that look good and are easily navigated.
The field of website design is constantly changing and evolving, and it is important that you receive an education in website design that is current and up-to-date. Before you begin your website design education, make sure your chosen school will be able to teach you the latest techniques and methods used by professional website designers.
The website designing course will most likely cover Visual Art, Graphic Design, Web Design, and Computer Aided Design (CAD), among other related subjects. Website design training from a two-year program will lead to an Associate degree, which will be adequate for an entry-level position; however, an advanced degree would greatly increase your knowledge and skills for better employment opportunities. You could continue your website design education at a four-year college to obtain a Bachelor degree (BA) or a Master degree (MA).
If you are interested in learning what it takes to be a professional website designer, you can begin researching website design training today. For in-depth information about [http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/3/website_design_training.html]Website Design Training, please take a moment to visit our website today.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find [http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/3/website_design_training.html]Website Design Training and Website Design Education, as well as Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com
Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante http://EzineArticles.com/?Website-Design-Training-For-Rewarding-Career&id=710390
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante]Michael Bustamante
If you are someone who enjoys creating interesting designs and layouts on computers, you could benefit from website design training. In the contemporary world of computers and Internet marketing, training in website design can lead you to an exciting and rewarding career as a professional website designer.
Website design training focuses primarily on the areas of graphic art and electronic media. You will become familiar with the latest web design and computer-based design and illustration software, which may include GoLive, DreamWeaver, and FrontPage. You will learn how to use HTML, XHTML, CSS, and JavaScript; you will also learn about e-commerce, Internet marketing, scripting and authoring. The goal of website design training is to teach you to create web pages and websites that look good and are easily navigated.
The field of website design is constantly changing and evolving, and it is important that you receive an education in website design that is current and up-to-date. Before you begin your website design education, make sure your chosen school will be able to teach you the latest techniques and methods used by professional website designers.
The website designing course will most likely cover Visual Art, Graphic Design, Web Design, and Computer Aided Design (CAD), among other related subjects. Website design training from a two-year program will lead to an Associate degree, which will be adequate for an entry-level position; however, an advanced degree would greatly increase your knowledge and skills for better employment opportunities. You could continue your website design education at a four-year college to obtain a Bachelor degree (BA) or a Master degree (MA).
If you are interested in learning what it takes to be a professional website designer, you can begin researching website design training today. For in-depth information about [http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/3/website_design_training.html]Website Design Training, please take a moment to visit our website today.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find [http://www.schoolsgalore.com/categories/3/website_design_training.html]Website Design Training and Website Design Education, as well as Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Schools at SchoolsGalore.com
Copyright 2007 - All Rights Reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice to Publishers: Please feel free to use this article in your Ezine or on your Website; however, ALL links must remain intact and active.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Bustamante http://EzineArticles.com/?Website-Design-Training-For-Rewarding-Career&id=710390
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Web Site Design
Custom Website Design - The Opposition
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman]Dustin Schwerman
What is a custom website? I would say it is one designed with your business fully in mind. It's the classic process of optimization, but not only for the search engines, not only for your visitors. Naturally, these are important parts of the process, but they are not the parts that have to do with making your website unique. A truly original website is one that is optimized for your business.
This means, above all else, that templates are not an option. There is no such thing as a custom template. There are custom layouts that can then be used on every page of a given site, but by its very nature, a template is generic. It may be visually impressive, it may even suit your business nicely, but it is not designed specifically for you.
Adding your own text, applying your own graphics, does not fix the limitations of the template. This is not to say that a template cannot make an effective site; it is to say it cannot make a custom site. For that, you need unique graphics. You need a layout intended for your audience. You need a linking structure that suits the structure of your business.
Stock images, ready-made layouts, pre-designed programs, are all very useful for establishing an on-line presence quickly and cheaply. That’s the point. The aim there is a nice look without a lot of effort, a functional design without a notable cost. You don’t need a web designer, you don’t need a graphic artist. Just drag and drop your text and images, and in a few easy steps, you have a presence on the Internet.
But not a customized presence. Not a presence optimized for your business. For that, you need a web designer, either one as part of your team or a hired professional. This is important to note, because there are web design companies that provide template options. These can be impressive, with their variety of pre-made, easily adaptable layouts and designs.
I would argue, however, that if you plan to hire a web designer to create a custom site, you should avoid and ignore the term template. There are plenty of places to get layout templates on line, and many of them are inexpensive, free, or included with other services such as web hosting. Naturally, if you favor ease over novelty, you should take advantage of these inexpensive options.
If, on the other hand, you want a custom website then you should take advantage instead of the skill and experience of professional web designers. Naturally, it isn’t as quick; it isn’t as cheap. There are benefits and hindrances to everything, and the cons of customization are additional cost in money, time, or (most likely) both. But the benefits are having a site created with your specific business in mind. Graphics and links, text and programs, all specifically created to communicate the essence of your product, service, or idea. Anyone can establish an on-line presence. The goal of custom website design is to give your business an on-line personality, and to make it exactly the personality that you wish to convey to your visitors.
Copyright © 2007 Dustin Schwerman.
Dustin Schwerman is the primary web designer at [http://www.trulyuniqueweb.com]Truly Unique--Affordable Custom Website Design. Truly Unique specializes in impressive, custom sites designed to capture the essence of the businesses they represent, as well as creating useful web-based programs to improve and simplify some of the tasks of running a business. Their goal is to provide these services at affordable, pragmatic rates based on effort involved, rather than arbitrary costs based on number of pages or hours.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Website-Design---The-Opposition&id=718949
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman]Dustin Schwerman
What is a custom website? I would say it is one designed with your business fully in mind. It's the classic process of optimization, but not only for the search engines, not only for your visitors. Naturally, these are important parts of the process, but they are not the parts that have to do with making your website unique. A truly original website is one that is optimized for your business.
This means, above all else, that templates are not an option. There is no such thing as a custom template. There are custom layouts that can then be used on every page of a given site, but by its very nature, a template is generic. It may be visually impressive, it may even suit your business nicely, but it is not designed specifically for you.
Adding your own text, applying your own graphics, does not fix the limitations of the template. This is not to say that a template cannot make an effective site; it is to say it cannot make a custom site. For that, you need unique graphics. You need a layout intended for your audience. You need a linking structure that suits the structure of your business.
Stock images, ready-made layouts, pre-designed programs, are all very useful for establishing an on-line presence quickly and cheaply. That’s the point. The aim there is a nice look without a lot of effort, a functional design without a notable cost. You don’t need a web designer, you don’t need a graphic artist. Just drag and drop your text and images, and in a few easy steps, you have a presence on the Internet.
But not a customized presence. Not a presence optimized for your business. For that, you need a web designer, either one as part of your team or a hired professional. This is important to note, because there are web design companies that provide template options. These can be impressive, with their variety of pre-made, easily adaptable layouts and designs.
I would argue, however, that if you plan to hire a web designer to create a custom site, you should avoid and ignore the term template. There are plenty of places to get layout templates on line, and many of them are inexpensive, free, or included with other services such as web hosting. Naturally, if you favor ease over novelty, you should take advantage of these inexpensive options.
If, on the other hand, you want a custom website then you should take advantage instead of the skill and experience of professional web designers. Naturally, it isn’t as quick; it isn’t as cheap. There are benefits and hindrances to everything, and the cons of customization are additional cost in money, time, or (most likely) both. But the benefits are having a site created with your specific business in mind. Graphics and links, text and programs, all specifically created to communicate the essence of your product, service, or idea. Anyone can establish an on-line presence. The goal of custom website design is to give your business an on-line personality, and to make it exactly the personality that you wish to convey to your visitors.
Copyright © 2007 Dustin Schwerman.
Dustin Schwerman is the primary web designer at [http://www.trulyuniqueweb.com]Truly Unique--Affordable Custom Website Design. Truly Unique specializes in impressive, custom sites designed to capture the essence of the businesses they represent, as well as creating useful web-based programs to improve and simplify some of the tasks of running a business. Their goal is to provide these services at affordable, pragmatic rates based on effort involved, rather than arbitrary costs based on number of pages or hours.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Website-Design---The-Opposition&id=718949
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Web Site Design
Web Site Design - The Must Do's for a User Friendly Web Site Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize]Sean R Mize
There are large companies out there that hire graphic and web site designers to make sure that the design of their web site is the best. But not all companies can afford the fee of these designers. So if you have a business online and want to polish your web site design, here are some useful must do’s for you.
1. Flash animations are not search engine readable. So if you are using them, you are missing one important way of getting more traffic to your site. Additionally, they are usually in large files so they do not load fast. People may get bored waiting for the page to load. So get away with flash animations.
2. Also, there are times that your page may load slowly if there are a lot of texts or graphics on your web site. You can actually compress the images to make sure that your page will load even the customers are not yet done counting 1 to 5.
3. Check for broken links on your site. You know, you can lose a lot of clients if there are many links that are not working on your site. These broken links will drive away the clients from your site.
4. You can validate the HTML on your site with the use of validation services online. They can help you fix these code errors on your site. Once the HTML codes are right, you can make sure that the customers will have better experience.
5. You should also know if your site is compatible with other browsers. Of course, you would not want to lose other clients just because they are using other browsers. So have your site designed to be compatible with any browser the clients may use
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘
Download it free here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/ezwebdesign.html]Secrets of Article Promotion
Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Site-Design---The-Must-Dos-for-a-User-Friendly-Web-Site-Design&id=662627
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize]Sean R Mize
There are large companies out there that hire graphic and web site designers to make sure that the design of their web site is the best. But not all companies can afford the fee of these designers. So if you have a business online and want to polish your web site design, here are some useful must do’s for you.
1. Flash animations are not search engine readable. So if you are using them, you are missing one important way of getting more traffic to your site. Additionally, they are usually in large files so they do not load fast. People may get bored waiting for the page to load. So get away with flash animations.
2. Also, there are times that your page may load slowly if there are a lot of texts or graphics on your web site. You can actually compress the images to make sure that your page will load even the customers are not yet done counting 1 to 5.
3. Check for broken links on your site. You know, you can lose a lot of clients if there are many links that are not working on your site. These broken links will drive away the clients from your site.
4. You can validate the HTML on your site with the use of validation services online. They can help you fix these code errors on your site. Once the HTML codes are right, you can make sure that the customers will have better experience.
5. You should also know if your site is compatible with other browsers. Of course, you would not want to lose other clients just because they are using other browsers. So have your site designed to be compatible with any browser the clients may use
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘
Download it free here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/ezwebdesign.html]Secrets of Article Promotion
Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Site-Design---The-Must-Dos-for-a-User-Friendly-Web-Site-Design&id=662627
Monday, October 22, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Website Design - Usability Versus Accessibility
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rich_Goldman]Rich Goldman
A big mistake many people make is to confuse usability with accessibility. Not only are the two very different, but the tendency seems to be that one is deemed less important than the other. Although they must both be taken seriously, it's true that many of the ideals surrounding accessibility still apply to usability and vice versa.
Optimising a site's usability will help to make it more accessible, or at least provide a better frame to build upon. If your wider audience finds the site hard to use, it'll almost certainly be problematic for those with disabilities or learning difficulties. By the same token, the degree of consideration that goes into addressing accessibility is just as valid when it comes to usability.
Putting The User First
If you strip all the fancy stuff away from Web design, pages are ultimately being built for people to use. Forget showcasing every Flash gimmick you can muster from your repertoire or bombarding people's browsers with bandwidth busting images, and you're left with providing the best content delivery service you can offer. Before you even start formulating ideas or beginning to think about firing up Dreamweaver, you should have it clear in your mind that usability is about putting the needs of the user first. Remember that designing anything from shoes to sites is judged on how the final product performs.
This will then help you conduct one of the most important stages in most design processes and especially software engineering: requirements elicitation. Most professional new media agencies will already be familiar with this procedure, and will use it to establish a stable understanding of what it is the user expects to see, with project success dependent upon meeting it. Whether you are being commissioned to create a site for a specific client or hope to launch something that will more directly attract traffic, it will be an essential exercise to acknowledge what the end user's expectations are.
Requirements Elicitation
The key point to remember about understanding user requirements is that you're unlikely to get them spot on first time. This means that a consistent stream of communication throughout the design process is paramount to getting as close to their expectations as possible. Talking to the users, recording what they say and trying to pin down exactly what they mean is the only sure-fire way to meet their needs.
It's also important to bear in mind that the people you're designing for are not necessarily privy to the kind of 'developer speak' you might be comfortable using. This is where the production of graphical diagrams or descriptive case studies can be effectively used to portray how you see the project going. Navigational flowcharts, example site maps and perhaps data flow diagrams for eCommerce solutions are all good ways of presenting complex info without bewildering others with technical jargon.
Similarly, there's no reason why a shared direction for the way visual elements are going can't be achieved with page mock ups. Flat digital drawings of possible template designs can be put forward and scrutinised, before a period of prototyping more sophisticated page elements, interfaces and navigational structures gets under way.
Professional Help
if you're not overly keen on conducting widespread usability studies yourself, or perhaps realise that it isn't viable, you can always rely on the services of others.
Professional consultancies or specialist agencies are common, and offer a range of complete solutions that span all the major processes. Usually they will also give your site a preliminary evaluation to ascertain whether it really requires the full usability treatment, and how best to pursue everything. it then really comes down to identifying what needs and goals are motivating the Web site, or establishing what it's expected to achieve. This can lead to a detailed analysis of what the target demographic will be, so a cross section of the audience group can be studied.
A sample of 'typical users' will usually be asked to attend testing sessions that will observe participants as they experience the site. This can range from simply asking them to navigate through the content freely for a certain length of time, to setting them certain tasks and scenarios.
While encouraged to 'think aloud' at all times, their feedback is monitored and recorded either by sophisticated tracking software or by video. Designers are encouraged to sit in on the sessions and hear how users perceive the site, and perhaps whatever improvements they might suggest. At the finish, all participants are asked to submit their overall impressions of the site during thorough interview sessions. All the findings are then compiled into detailed reports that will form the foundation of any future design revisions and new projects that arise from the findings.
Conducting User Surveys
When rounding together a sample of your users isn't a realistic option, there are other ways of getting feedback. Many sites will include email addresses or contact forms so visitors can submit their thoughts, but this doesn't ensure that you'll receive the kind of valuable response you want. it can be more useful to provide electronic questionnaires that will gauge user opinion more effectively.
Using a specialist program will allow you to publish sophisticated interactive surveys quickly and easily. The benefit here is that the results can be logged to a server before a more detailed statistical analysis can be processed and interpreted when administering any practical improvements. There are some off the shelf software solutions that will perform remote evaluations of user actions as they happen in real time. This kind of approach must be made clearly known to visitors before they participate, as tracking their behaviours covertly would compromise areas of the data protection act, and certainly result in mistrust if it were discovered.
However, some interesting data pertaining to areas of the site or the actual interface would be revealed from the way different people approach the content. Just by tracking link paths or cursor activity, you would be able to ascertain how navigation was perceived, and perhaps how effective the visual signposts such as menus, buttons, and anchors are at directing the actions of your audience.
This provides one of the truest pictures of user perception, because the subject is likely to behave as they naturally would when casually surfing the Web. When under more strict 'lab' conditions they may feel pressured by the environment or the presence of an examiner, or feel conscious of the time they are taking to perform. It would also have an adverse effect if they expected to use hardware, peripherals, operating systems or browsing software that they may not be acquainted with.
By making judgments on how typical visitors interact the site in their own homes of workplaces, it will help to differentiate how the novice or experienced user fares without any disruptions.
---- [http://www.magneticcode.co.uk]Magnetic Code website design favours clean code, usability and accessibility in all its designs. ExpertFound.com is in their portfolio, and includes this [http://www.expertfound.com/health/weightloss/fatloss4idiots.php]Fat Loss 4 Idiots review and this [http://www.expertfound.com/business/smallbusiness/homebusiness/paidsurveysetc.php]review of Paid Surveys Etc
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Goldman http://EzineArticles.com/?Website-Design---Usability-Versus-Accessibility&id=665469
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rich_Goldman]Rich Goldman
A big mistake many people make is to confuse usability with accessibility. Not only are the two very different, but the tendency seems to be that one is deemed less important than the other. Although they must both be taken seriously, it's true that many of the ideals surrounding accessibility still apply to usability and vice versa.
Optimising a site's usability will help to make it more accessible, or at least provide a better frame to build upon. If your wider audience finds the site hard to use, it'll almost certainly be problematic for those with disabilities or learning difficulties. By the same token, the degree of consideration that goes into addressing accessibility is just as valid when it comes to usability.
Putting The User First
If you strip all the fancy stuff away from Web design, pages are ultimately being built for people to use. Forget showcasing every Flash gimmick you can muster from your repertoire or bombarding people's browsers with bandwidth busting images, and you're left with providing the best content delivery service you can offer. Before you even start formulating ideas or beginning to think about firing up Dreamweaver, you should have it clear in your mind that usability is about putting the needs of the user first. Remember that designing anything from shoes to sites is judged on how the final product performs.
This will then help you conduct one of the most important stages in most design processes and especially software engineering: requirements elicitation. Most professional new media agencies will already be familiar with this procedure, and will use it to establish a stable understanding of what it is the user expects to see, with project success dependent upon meeting it. Whether you are being commissioned to create a site for a specific client or hope to launch something that will more directly attract traffic, it will be an essential exercise to acknowledge what the end user's expectations are.
Requirements Elicitation
The key point to remember about understanding user requirements is that you're unlikely to get them spot on first time. This means that a consistent stream of communication throughout the design process is paramount to getting as close to their expectations as possible. Talking to the users, recording what they say and trying to pin down exactly what they mean is the only sure-fire way to meet their needs.
It's also important to bear in mind that the people you're designing for are not necessarily privy to the kind of 'developer speak' you might be comfortable using. This is where the production of graphical diagrams or descriptive case studies can be effectively used to portray how you see the project going. Navigational flowcharts, example site maps and perhaps data flow diagrams for eCommerce solutions are all good ways of presenting complex info without bewildering others with technical jargon.
Similarly, there's no reason why a shared direction for the way visual elements are going can't be achieved with page mock ups. Flat digital drawings of possible template designs can be put forward and scrutinised, before a period of prototyping more sophisticated page elements, interfaces and navigational structures gets under way.
Professional Help
if you're not overly keen on conducting widespread usability studies yourself, or perhaps realise that it isn't viable, you can always rely on the services of others.
Professional consultancies or specialist agencies are common, and offer a range of complete solutions that span all the major processes. Usually they will also give your site a preliminary evaluation to ascertain whether it really requires the full usability treatment, and how best to pursue everything. it then really comes down to identifying what needs and goals are motivating the Web site, or establishing what it's expected to achieve. This can lead to a detailed analysis of what the target demographic will be, so a cross section of the audience group can be studied.
A sample of 'typical users' will usually be asked to attend testing sessions that will observe participants as they experience the site. This can range from simply asking them to navigate through the content freely for a certain length of time, to setting them certain tasks and scenarios.
While encouraged to 'think aloud' at all times, their feedback is monitored and recorded either by sophisticated tracking software or by video. Designers are encouraged to sit in on the sessions and hear how users perceive the site, and perhaps whatever improvements they might suggest. At the finish, all participants are asked to submit their overall impressions of the site during thorough interview sessions. All the findings are then compiled into detailed reports that will form the foundation of any future design revisions and new projects that arise from the findings.
Conducting User Surveys
When rounding together a sample of your users isn't a realistic option, there are other ways of getting feedback. Many sites will include email addresses or contact forms so visitors can submit their thoughts, but this doesn't ensure that you'll receive the kind of valuable response you want. it can be more useful to provide electronic questionnaires that will gauge user opinion more effectively.
Using a specialist program will allow you to publish sophisticated interactive surveys quickly and easily. The benefit here is that the results can be logged to a server before a more detailed statistical analysis can be processed and interpreted when administering any practical improvements. There are some off the shelf software solutions that will perform remote evaluations of user actions as they happen in real time. This kind of approach must be made clearly known to visitors before they participate, as tracking their behaviours covertly would compromise areas of the data protection act, and certainly result in mistrust if it were discovered.
However, some interesting data pertaining to areas of the site or the actual interface would be revealed from the way different people approach the content. Just by tracking link paths or cursor activity, you would be able to ascertain how navigation was perceived, and perhaps how effective the visual signposts such as menus, buttons, and anchors are at directing the actions of your audience.
This provides one of the truest pictures of user perception, because the subject is likely to behave as they naturally would when casually surfing the Web. When under more strict 'lab' conditions they may feel pressured by the environment or the presence of an examiner, or feel conscious of the time they are taking to perform. It would also have an adverse effect if they expected to use hardware, peripherals, operating systems or browsing software that they may not be acquainted with.
By making judgments on how typical visitors interact the site in their own homes of workplaces, it will help to differentiate how the novice or experienced user fares without any disruptions.
---- [http://www.magneticcode.co.uk]Magnetic Code website design favours clean code, usability and accessibility in all its designs. ExpertFound.com is in their portfolio, and includes this [http://www.expertfound.com/health/weightloss/fatloss4idiots.php]Fat Loss 4 Idiots review and this [http://www.expertfound.com/business/smallbusiness/homebusiness/paidsurveysetc.php]review of Paid Surveys Etc
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Goldman http://EzineArticles.com/?Website-Design---Usability-Versus-Accessibility&id=665469
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Have You Been Ripped Off by a Web Site Designer?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adrienne_Devita]Adrienne Devita
With the Internet business growing every day by leaps and bounds, it is obvious there will be an increasing number of people looking to rip us off. But did you think it would be web site designers?
Unfortunately, many new web design companies are thriving on the Internet, and they have absolutely no experience to be in this business. There is no law or credential a web site design company even needs to get started. Taking a class or two in school, or using an easy template for your client’s web site is unacceptable. Would you let a doctor remove one of your failed kidneys without checking his credentials? I certainly hope not.
I have known far too many clients and acquaintances in the past few years that gave up on their web site, got ripped off for thousands of dollars without getting one customer to their site, and they are now struggling to pay the bills from it all.
It is true what they say, knowledge is power. So without programming, web site design, SEO search engine optimization, AdWords PPC services, copywriting, and all of the other skills needed to get the best web site going, who do you trust?
Did you enjoy school? Either way, it's time to get back to doing your homework.
A professional looking web site is only a door way. It is what's on the other side that you need to investigate. You might open that door to find nothing but white space, no support, not enough experience, but you will find a person ready to take your check or credit card. Picture someone sitting in an empty room in a chair, rubbing their hands together greedily while you walk up and hand them your money. Would you go through with it? Of course not.
I am going to show you a few techniques that will help you find a more experienced web designer. Ready with pen in hand, or fingers on typewriter for that cut and paste key?
1 - Type your keywords into the search engine for whatever you are looking for online
2 - Copy the web site domain name, for example, http://www.websitenamehere.com
3 - Go to Yahoo, then copy and paste that entire domain name with the http:// into the search box
4- How many links does it show?
5 - None? Get out of that white room and run like the dickens!
6 - Are the links only links on their site?
7 - Start being very cautious and get your first foot out the door, but investigate further.
8 - Click on the links that aren't related to their own web site. Are they clients? Are they valid sites? Investigate the client sites and repeat the same thing as in Step 3. If they are an SEO and web site design company and their clients have no links, they didn't get a lick of off-site SEO. But maybe they didn't pay for it and it wasn't included?
9 - Contact their clients. Write or call them and ask them how the company was to work with, and did they get what was promised and paid for? Did they find their money well spent?
10 - If not, then keep looking until you find an open door with a lot of experience, SEO techniques, optimization, and happy customers.
This is one SEO technique you can use to check on your potential web site design company's experience and skills. It is simple and will save you thousands if you use it to your advantage.
If they contacted you (and I would never do business with anyone that does without your asking them to contact you), ask them for e-mail addresses or phone numbers of past clients, and check their links using the steps above. Whenever [http://adwordsandseoservices.com/2007/10/03/web-site-design-rip-offs.aspx ]web site design companies call my business number who do not know what I do, I research them while they are talking to me, and when I start asking pointed questions about their web site, THEY hang up on ME! A telemarketing company hung up on me because I called them on their products and services. I consider that a compliment.
Even if you do not want to come up on the first page of Google for your web site search results for free (although I am not certain why), you will still need an on-page SEO optimization and web site design expert so you pay less per click using [http://adwordsandseoservices.com/2007/08/07/adwords-and-seo-optimization-services-provided.aspx ]PPC advertising. There are various methods of online advertising, and it all starts with getting the best web designer, first.
Adrienne DeVita
Web Site Design, AdWords and SEO Specialist http://www.AdWordsandSEOServices.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrienne_Devita http://EzineArticles.com/?Have-You-Been-Ripped-Off-by-a-Web-Site-Designer?&id=764010
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Adrienne_Devita]Adrienne Devita
With the Internet business growing every day by leaps and bounds, it is obvious there will be an increasing number of people looking to rip us off. But did you think it would be web site designers?
Unfortunately, many new web design companies are thriving on the Internet, and they have absolutely no experience to be in this business. There is no law or credential a web site design company even needs to get started. Taking a class or two in school, or using an easy template for your client’s web site is unacceptable. Would you let a doctor remove one of your failed kidneys without checking his credentials? I certainly hope not.
I have known far too many clients and acquaintances in the past few years that gave up on their web site, got ripped off for thousands of dollars without getting one customer to their site, and they are now struggling to pay the bills from it all.
It is true what they say, knowledge is power. So without programming, web site design, SEO search engine optimization, AdWords PPC services, copywriting, and all of the other skills needed to get the best web site going, who do you trust?
Did you enjoy school? Either way, it's time to get back to doing your homework.
A professional looking web site is only a door way. It is what's on the other side that you need to investigate. You might open that door to find nothing but white space, no support, not enough experience, but you will find a person ready to take your check or credit card. Picture someone sitting in an empty room in a chair, rubbing their hands together greedily while you walk up and hand them your money. Would you go through with it? Of course not.
I am going to show you a few techniques that will help you find a more experienced web designer. Ready with pen in hand, or fingers on typewriter for that cut and paste key?
1 - Type your keywords into the search engine for whatever you are looking for online
2 - Copy the web site domain name, for example, http://www.websitenamehere.com
3 - Go to Yahoo, then copy and paste that entire domain name with the http:// into the search box
4- How many links does it show?
5 - None? Get out of that white room and run like the dickens!
6 - Are the links only links on their site?
7 - Start being very cautious and get your first foot out the door, but investigate further.
8 - Click on the links that aren't related to their own web site. Are they clients? Are they valid sites? Investigate the client sites and repeat the same thing as in Step 3. If they are an SEO and web site design company and their clients have no links, they didn't get a lick of off-site SEO. But maybe they didn't pay for it and it wasn't included?
9 - Contact their clients. Write or call them and ask them how the company was to work with, and did they get what was promised and paid for? Did they find their money well spent?
10 - If not, then keep looking until you find an open door with a lot of experience, SEO techniques, optimization, and happy customers.
This is one SEO technique you can use to check on your potential web site design company's experience and skills. It is simple and will save you thousands if you use it to your advantage.
If they contacted you (and I would never do business with anyone that does without your asking them to contact you), ask them for e-mail addresses or phone numbers of past clients, and check their links using the steps above. Whenever [http://adwordsandseoservices.com/2007/10/03/web-site-design-rip-offs.aspx ]web site design companies call my business number who do not know what I do, I research them while they are talking to me, and when I start asking pointed questions about their web site, THEY hang up on ME! A telemarketing company hung up on me because I called them on their products and services. I consider that a compliment.
Even if you do not want to come up on the first page of Google for your web site search results for free (although I am not certain why), you will still need an on-page SEO optimization and web site design expert so you pay less per click using [http://adwordsandseoservices.com/2007/08/07/adwords-and-seo-optimization-services-provided.aspx ]PPC advertising. There are various methods of online advertising, and it all starts with getting the best web designer, first.
Adrienne DeVita
Web Site Design, AdWords and SEO Specialist http://www.AdWordsandSEOServices.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adrienne_Devita http://EzineArticles.com/?Have-You-Been-Ripped-Off-by-a-Web-Site-Designer?&id=764010
Friday, October 19, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Custom Website Design - The Opposition
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman]Dustin Schwerman
What is a custom website? I would say it is one designed with your business fully in mind. It's the classic process of optimization, but not only for the search engines, not only for your visitors. Naturally, these are important parts of the process, but they are not the parts that have to do with making your website unique. A truly original website is one that is optimized for your business.
This means, above all else, that templates are not an option. There is no such thing as a custom template. There are custom layouts that can then be used on every page of a given site, but by its very nature, a template is generic. It may be visually impressive, it may even suit your business nicely, but it is not designed specifically for you.
Adding your own text, applying your own graphics, does not fix the limitations of the template. This is not to say that a template cannot make an effective site; it is to say it cannot make a custom site. For that, you need unique graphics. You need a layout intended for your audience. You need a linking structure that suits the structure of your business.
Stock images, ready-made layouts, pre-designed programs, are all very useful for establishing an on-line presence quickly and cheaply. That’s the point. The aim there is a nice look without a lot of effort, a functional design without a notable cost. You don’t need a web designer, you don’t need a graphic artist. Just drag and drop your text and images, and in a few easy steps, you have a presence on the Internet.
But not a customized presence. Not a presence optimized for your business. For that, you need a web designer, either one as part of your team or a hired professional. This is important to note, because there are web design companies that provide template options. These can be impressive, with their variety of pre-made, easily adaptable layouts and designs.
I would argue, however, that if you plan to hire a web designer to create a custom site, you should avoid and ignore the term template. There are plenty of places to get layout templates on line, and many of them are inexpensive, free, or included with other services such as web hosting. Naturally, if you favor ease over novelty, you should take advantage of these inexpensive options.
If, on the other hand, you want a custom website then you should take advantage instead of the skill and experience of professional web designers. Naturally, it isn’t as quick; it isn’t as cheap. There are benefits and hindrances to everything, and the cons of customization are additional cost in money, time, or (most likely) both. But the benefits are having a site created with your specific business in mind. Graphics and links, text and programs, all specifically created to communicate the essence of your product, service, or idea. Anyone can establish an on-line presence. The goal of custom website design is to give your business an on-line personality, and to make it exactly the personality that you wish to convey to your visitors.
Copyright © 2007 Dustin Schwerman.
Dustin Schwerman is the primary web designer at [http://www.trulyuniqueweb.com]Truly Unique--Affordable Custom Website Design. Truly Unique specializes in impressive, custom sites designed to capture the essence of the businesses they represent, as well as creating useful web-based programs to improve and simplify some of the tasks of running a business. Their goal is to provide these services at affordable, pragmatic rates based on effort involved, rather than arbitrary costs based on number of pages or hours.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Website-Design---The-Opposition&id=718949
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman]Dustin Schwerman
What is a custom website? I would say it is one designed with your business fully in mind. It's the classic process of optimization, but not only for the search engines, not only for your visitors. Naturally, these are important parts of the process, but they are not the parts that have to do with making your website unique. A truly original website is one that is optimized for your business.
This means, above all else, that templates are not an option. There is no such thing as a custom template. There are custom layouts that can then be used on every page of a given site, but by its very nature, a template is generic. It may be visually impressive, it may even suit your business nicely, but it is not designed specifically for you.
Adding your own text, applying your own graphics, does not fix the limitations of the template. This is not to say that a template cannot make an effective site; it is to say it cannot make a custom site. For that, you need unique graphics. You need a layout intended for your audience. You need a linking structure that suits the structure of your business.
Stock images, ready-made layouts, pre-designed programs, are all very useful for establishing an on-line presence quickly and cheaply. That’s the point. The aim there is a nice look without a lot of effort, a functional design without a notable cost. You don’t need a web designer, you don’t need a graphic artist. Just drag and drop your text and images, and in a few easy steps, you have a presence on the Internet.
But not a customized presence. Not a presence optimized for your business. For that, you need a web designer, either one as part of your team or a hired professional. This is important to note, because there are web design companies that provide template options. These can be impressive, with their variety of pre-made, easily adaptable layouts and designs.
I would argue, however, that if you plan to hire a web designer to create a custom site, you should avoid and ignore the term template. There are plenty of places to get layout templates on line, and many of them are inexpensive, free, or included with other services such as web hosting. Naturally, if you favor ease over novelty, you should take advantage of these inexpensive options.
If, on the other hand, you want a custom website then you should take advantage instead of the skill and experience of professional web designers. Naturally, it isn’t as quick; it isn’t as cheap. There are benefits and hindrances to everything, and the cons of customization are additional cost in money, time, or (most likely) both. But the benefits are having a site created with your specific business in mind. Graphics and links, text and programs, all specifically created to communicate the essence of your product, service, or idea. Anyone can establish an on-line presence. The goal of custom website design is to give your business an on-line personality, and to make it exactly the personality that you wish to convey to your visitors.
Copyright © 2007 Dustin Schwerman.
Dustin Schwerman is the primary web designer at [http://www.trulyuniqueweb.com]Truly Unique--Affordable Custom Website Design. Truly Unique specializes in impressive, custom sites designed to capture the essence of the businesses they represent, as well as creating useful web-based programs to improve and simplify some of the tasks of running a business. Their goal is to provide these services at affordable, pragmatic rates based on effort involved, rather than arbitrary costs based on number of pages or hours.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Website-Design---The-Opposition&id=718949
Monday, September 17, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Custom Website Design - The Cost
By
[http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman]Dustin
Schwerman
I would be remiss if I got into a discussion of custom
website design without discussing the cost involved. There
are always hindrances for any benefit, and before you
decide for certain if originality is the path to follow, you
should consider the detriments involved. In this case, the
costs are mainly money, time, and effort.
In terms of actual monetary cost it should be noted that the
cost is not owed to the custom nature of the site. The cost
is essentially a prerequisite based on the fact that you are
not able to use less expensive templates. If you want an
original design, you will need a skilled designer.
Presumably, you are reading this article because you are
not, yourself, trained in that field. This, then, means hiring a
professional.
Professional web design can be costly. Even simple sites
often cost more than $100, and more complex sites can
range to $500, $1,000, or more. The most advanced sites
can cost several thousand dollars to design.
Since your site is to be customized, it is likely that you will
also need graphics, multiple pages, and specialized
programs. Thus, you would be best served seeking out a
website design company that charges based on overall
complexity, rather than in discreet amounts by hour or page.
Hourly rates in particular should be avoided, as you will
likely require several revisions to get the effect you want.
Which leads to time. These sorts of websites are not simple
drag-and-drop processes; they often require detailed
stylesheets, complex programs, and unique graphics. If an
immediate on-line presence is required, you may very well
lack the time for custom work. Additionally, as noted
above, you are not likely to get the proper effect from the
first design. The greatest advantage of customization is
likewise a potentially significant disadvantage; everything is
subject to change. The site is not done until you say it is.
Literally, until you say it is. If you want to optimize for your
business, you can’t just give your designers some
instructions and leave them to handle things. Your input will
be required. You know your field, your audience. You
know which pages are most important, what functions can
improve your business. Your knowledge is an integral part
of the design process, which means that you will have to
spend your own time and effort considering the site,
communicating with your designers, and making decisions
about the options and drafts they present.
Custom website design can be useful. I would argue that
the most effective website is one created in this manner.
But this doesn’t mean that there are no costs or penalties
involved. Time, money, and effort will all be required to get
the site up and running the way you want. If you desire
your web pages to be created in this manner, then don’t shy
away from these costs, but go into things with them in
mind—and take advantage of any opportunity to minimize
them.
Copyright © 2007 Dustin Schwerman.
Dustin Schwerman is the primary web designer at
[http://www.trulyuniqueweb.com]Truly Unique--Affordable
Custom Website Design. Truly Unique specializes in
impressive, custom sites designed to capture the essence of
the businesses they represent, as well as creating useful
web-based programs to improve and simplify some of the
tasks of running a business. Their goal is to provide these
services at affordable, pragmatic rates based on effort
involved, rather than arbitrary costs based on number of
pages or hours.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Website-Design---The-Cost&id=718950
By
[http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman]Dustin
Schwerman
I would be remiss if I got into a discussion of custom
website design without discussing the cost involved. There
are always hindrances for any benefit, and before you
decide for certain if originality is the path to follow, you
should consider the detriments involved. In this case, the
costs are mainly money, time, and effort.
In terms of actual monetary cost it should be noted that the
cost is not owed to the custom nature of the site. The cost
is essentially a prerequisite based on the fact that you are
not able to use less expensive templates. If you want an
original design, you will need a skilled designer.
Presumably, you are reading this article because you are
not, yourself, trained in that field. This, then, means hiring a
professional.
Professional web design can be costly. Even simple sites
often cost more than $100, and more complex sites can
range to $500, $1,000, or more. The most advanced sites
can cost several thousand dollars to design.
Since your site is to be customized, it is likely that you will
also need graphics, multiple pages, and specialized
programs. Thus, you would be best served seeking out a
website design company that charges based on overall
complexity, rather than in discreet amounts by hour or page.
Hourly rates in particular should be avoided, as you will
likely require several revisions to get the effect you want.
Which leads to time. These sorts of websites are not simple
drag-and-drop processes; they often require detailed
stylesheets, complex programs, and unique graphics. If an
immediate on-line presence is required, you may very well
lack the time for custom work. Additionally, as noted
above, you are not likely to get the proper effect from the
first design. The greatest advantage of customization is
likewise a potentially significant disadvantage; everything is
subject to change. The site is not done until you say it is.
Literally, until you say it is. If you want to optimize for your
business, you can’t just give your designers some
instructions and leave them to handle things. Your input will
be required. You know your field, your audience. You
know which pages are most important, what functions can
improve your business. Your knowledge is an integral part
of the design process, which means that you will have to
spend your own time and effort considering the site,
communicating with your designers, and making decisions
about the options and drafts they present.
Custom website design can be useful. I would argue that
the most effective website is one created in this manner.
But this doesn’t mean that there are no costs or penalties
involved. Time, money, and effort will all be required to get
the site up and running the way you want. If you desire
your web pages to be created in this manner, then don’t shy
away from these costs, but go into things with them in
mind—and take advantage of any opportunity to minimize
them.
Copyright © 2007 Dustin Schwerman.
Dustin Schwerman is the primary web designer at
[http://www.trulyuniqueweb.com]Truly Unique--Affordable
Custom Website Design. Truly Unique specializes in
impressive, custom sites designed to capture the essence of
the businesses they represent, as well as creating useful
web-based programs to improve and simplify some of the
tasks of running a business. Their goal is to provide these
services at affordable, pragmatic rates based on effort
involved, rather than arbitrary costs based on number of
pages or hours.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dustin_Schwerman
http://EzineArticles.com/?Custom-Website-Design---The-Cost&id=718950
Friday, September 14, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Graphic Website Design- How You Can Do It Yourself Fast, Easily and Cheap Over and Over
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christopher_James]Christopher James
Graphic website design is not as hard as it sounds. With a little professional touch and very short learning curve, within minutes, you can get your self into web site graphic design in a way you never imagined if you know the exact secrets of doing it. I am here to tell you exactly how you can supercharge your graphic website design portfolio if you are not a professional, by revealing to you how you can leverage the work of expert graphic designers with web site design skills to create the kind of websites that artists who design graphic websites are paid highly for. At the end you will be able to use this knowledge to design your personal graphic web site.
To start with, it is a fact that you cannot design an affordable design in few minutes without first learning about things like color matches and other technical junks that people will admire and respect, this is why you need professional quality. This problem can easily be overcome by getting blank graphic designs that is created by professional graphic designers, then inserting your specific needs by following simple instructions a little child will understand, such as, click here-save-export and so on.
For example, if what you need on your site is a header, then get blank headers that are created by professionals; if you want your color match to be blue, then get a blue blank header. If your header text is “ get fast solution to chicken recipes here”, then insert the text into the blank header and so on. Do this for ecovers, logos, brochures and other graphic website designs. You will get a professional quality website graphic design only those in the know use.
Once you get your blank graphics, you need a system such as software to simplify the process for you. With software, by choosing just your colors, fonts, shadows, bevels and any other style you want, you will see your graphic in few minutes completed.
This is the excellent secret many graphic designers don’t want you to discover. You can get these blanks from graphic design websites on the net. However, the best graphic design website I know that can give you lots of excellent header, logo and ecovers, together with or without pictures is found at the link below.
This is a product that just needs your choice of styles, together with ready made website design graphics to give you the eye popping designs people pay heavily to get, just click below to find out for yourself, only if you are not a professional [http://gfx-writer.com/]This Powerful Graphic Software
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_James http://EzineArticles.com/?Graphic-Website-Design--How-You-Can-Do-It-Yourself-Fast,-Easily-and-Cheap-Over-and-Over&id=722416
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Christopher_James]Christopher James
Graphic website design is not as hard as it sounds. With a little professional touch and very short learning curve, within minutes, you can get your self into web site graphic design in a way you never imagined if you know the exact secrets of doing it. I am here to tell you exactly how you can supercharge your graphic website design portfolio if you are not a professional, by revealing to you how you can leverage the work of expert graphic designers with web site design skills to create the kind of websites that artists who design graphic websites are paid highly for. At the end you will be able to use this knowledge to design your personal graphic web site.
To start with, it is a fact that you cannot design an affordable design in few minutes without first learning about things like color matches and other technical junks that people will admire and respect, this is why you need professional quality. This problem can easily be overcome by getting blank graphic designs that is created by professional graphic designers, then inserting your specific needs by following simple instructions a little child will understand, such as, click here-save-export and so on.
For example, if what you need on your site is a header, then get blank headers that are created by professionals; if you want your color match to be blue, then get a blue blank header. If your header text is “ get fast solution to chicken recipes here”, then insert the text into the blank header and so on. Do this for ecovers, logos, brochures and other graphic website designs. You will get a professional quality website graphic design only those in the know use.
Once you get your blank graphics, you need a system such as software to simplify the process for you. With software, by choosing just your colors, fonts, shadows, bevels and any other style you want, you will see your graphic in few minutes completed.
This is the excellent secret many graphic designers don’t want you to discover. You can get these blanks from graphic design websites on the net. However, the best graphic design website I know that can give you lots of excellent header, logo and ecovers, together with or without pictures is found at the link below.
This is a product that just needs your choice of styles, together with ready made website design graphics to give you the eye popping designs people pay heavily to get, just click below to find out for yourself, only if you are not a professional [http://gfx-writer.com/]This Powerful Graphic Software
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_James http://EzineArticles.com/?Graphic-Website-Design--How-You-Can-Do-It-Yourself-Fast,-Easily-and-Cheap-Over-and-Over&id=722416
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Why Your Website Needs a Great Navigation System
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dominic_Foster]Dominic Foster
Traditionally the navigation menu is placed just below the header area or on the left hand side of the web page. Usability studies have shown that web site visitors instinctively look in these areas first.
Wherever you decide to place your navigation menu, remember that consistency is important. The most important thing is to place your navigation menu in the same spot on every one of your web pages. If you use an image to represent a navigational button, use the same image and the same color for that image on each page of your website. For example, if you use an image of a green house in the left hand corner of your web page as your "Home" navigational link, use the same green house image in the left hand corner of every one of your web pages to designate the "Home" link.
Your visitor should be able to find what they are looking for within 3 clicks of your home page. This is usually not a problem for small sites. However, if you have a large site with many pages, you will need to design a navigation menu that provides access to all areas of your website without getting your visitor lost or confused.
You may want to use a bread crumb trail type of navigation system for large sites (Homepage > Category > Subcategory > Content). Another option is to use a dynamic menu that changes according to the page your visitor is, but be aware that search engines may not be able to spider sites using dynamic menus.
Usability studies have shown that a navigation menu should contain no more than 8 links. The more choices a user is given, the more difficult it will be for them to make a decision. Also, if you have many links, your visitor may get the impression that your site is complicated and difficult to navigate.
If you have only a few links, use mouse rollovers to visually enhance your website. You will need to add some Javascript that pre-loads the rollover images and then add "onMouseover" events to your image links. Alternatively, use CSS for text rollovers that change the link color when the mouse cursor hovers over a link.
Navigation links should be considered the most important part of your website for two reasons:
1) They are used by your visitor to find content on your site.
2) They are used by search engines to spider your site.
The reason users visit your site is to get information. If visitors can't find the information they are searching for, they will click away, perhaps never to return again.
While different search engines have different rules on how they spider and rank a site, basically a "bot" or "spider" will visit a site, search for a "HREF" link and follow the links to other pages, indexing the pages as it goes along. If the "bot" or "spider" doesn't find a "HREF" tag on a page, it is blocked from going any deeper into the site. As you can see, you need to design your navigational system so that a search engine can spider all pages of your website.
When designing your website, take the extra time to design a good navigational system. It is vital to your success!
Visit [http://www.websitehostingiq.net/]Website Hosting IQ to find out everything about building and hosting your website. We have all the latest news from the best [http://www.websitehostingiq.net/website-hosting-companies]Website Hosting Companies and [http://www.websitehostingiq.net/domain-registrars]Domain Registrars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dominic_Foster http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Your-Website-Needs-a-Great-Navigation-System&id=228306
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dominic_Foster]Dominic Foster
Traditionally the navigation menu is placed just below the header area or on the left hand side of the web page. Usability studies have shown that web site visitors instinctively look in these areas first.
Wherever you decide to place your navigation menu, remember that consistency is important. The most important thing is to place your navigation menu in the same spot on every one of your web pages. If you use an image to represent a navigational button, use the same image and the same color for that image on each page of your website. For example, if you use an image of a green house in the left hand corner of your web page as your "Home" navigational link, use the same green house image in the left hand corner of every one of your web pages to designate the "Home" link.
Your visitor should be able to find what they are looking for within 3 clicks of your home page. This is usually not a problem for small sites. However, if you have a large site with many pages, you will need to design a navigation menu that provides access to all areas of your website without getting your visitor lost or confused.
You may want to use a bread crumb trail type of navigation system for large sites (Homepage > Category > Subcategory > Content). Another option is to use a dynamic menu that changes according to the page your visitor is, but be aware that search engines may not be able to spider sites using dynamic menus.
Usability studies have shown that a navigation menu should contain no more than 8 links. The more choices a user is given, the more difficult it will be for them to make a decision. Also, if you have many links, your visitor may get the impression that your site is complicated and difficult to navigate.
If you have only a few links, use mouse rollovers to visually enhance your website. You will need to add some Javascript that pre-loads the rollover images and then add "onMouseover" events to your image links. Alternatively, use CSS for text rollovers that change the link color when the mouse cursor hovers over a link.
Navigation links should be considered the most important part of your website for two reasons:
1) They are used by your visitor to find content on your site.
2) They are used by search engines to spider your site.
The reason users visit your site is to get information. If visitors can't find the information they are searching for, they will click away, perhaps never to return again.
While different search engines have different rules on how they spider and rank a site, basically a "bot" or "spider" will visit a site, search for a "HREF" link and follow the links to other pages, indexing the pages as it goes along. If the "bot" or "spider" doesn't find a "HREF" tag on a page, it is blocked from going any deeper into the site. As you can see, you need to design your navigational system so that a search engine can spider all pages of your website.
When designing your website, take the extra time to design a good navigational system. It is vital to your success!
Visit [http://www.websitehostingiq.net/]Website Hosting IQ to find out everything about building and hosting your website. We have all the latest news from the best [http://www.websitehostingiq.net/website-hosting-companies]Website Hosting Companies and [http://www.websitehostingiq.net/domain-registrars]Domain Registrars.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dominic_Foster http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Your-Website-Needs-a-Great-Navigation-System&id=228306
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
CSS Website Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Sielicki]David Sielicki
Cascading Style Sheets (or CSS for short) have slowly but surely become a website design standard over the past few years. It was not that many years ago that people used Frames to position their content across their web pages and Tables gradually replaced this. Many low-end website developers are still very comfortable with Tables, as it ‘does what it says on the tin’. However, more and more people are now moving over to CSS, as virtually all the layout options can be achieved using the code.
One major problem with CSS is that not all Web browsers produce the same results and it has not been helped in the past by the various browsers employing their own way of interpreting certain CSS conventions. You can think your CSS design looks OK in the current version of your preferred browser and can then be crestfallen when you view your Web pages in another version that has destroyed the formatting. Therefore, when moving over to CSS, it is important that you use the capabilities that are consistently supported across the entire range of popular browsers. It is interesting that the new version 7 of Microsoft's Internet Explorer has fixed a number of earlier anomalies, but many people are now waking up to the reality that IE7 has in fact caused problems arising from their earlier workarounds!
So why not bother with CSS, if Tables work for you? The principal advantages are as follows:
1. Web page code is generally much easier to follow;
2. The amount of code used to achieve the same result is much less. The general view is that by switching to a CSS layout, the typical page size reduction is between 50 - 60 per cent;
3. Download speeds for CSS pages are generally faster than their Table-driven counterparts. This is because browsers have to read through the table code twice before they are able to display the contents. They do this firstly to figure out the structure and then again to understand the content. It should also be recognised that a Table's contents can only be presented to the screen in one go, whereas CSS content will drop in separately, thereby giving a better user experience. It is also possible to govern the order in which specific screen elements appear, so the user is not distracted by the more bulky and slower to load image files. Furthermore, because all the code involved with CSS page layout is held in one external CSS document and is cached, it is faster than Table layouts that need to be interpreted every time a new page is displayed;
4. It is much easier to edit existing pages and to add new pages, particularly in the area of subtle formatting amendments. For example, you can change the font or colour scheme across an entire website in literally minutes;
5. CSS delivers enhanced accessibility. In recent years the number of people using web browsers on hand-held devices has risen significantly and CSS plays an important function in delivering content to PDA's etc through additional CSS documents. This just isn't possible with Table-driven layouts;
6. CSS is considered to be more Search Engine friendly because they can spider CSS pages quicker. However, it remains to be seen if this has any tangible benefits such as an improvement on the your page ranking.
On the flipside, there are a few disadvantages to CSS web page design you should consider:
1. As compared with Tables, CSS involves a much bigger learning curve;
2. Because of cross browser support issues, the time spent implementing workarounds should not be underestimated;
3. New browser versions can catch website developers napping if you are not careful. You can find that earlier workarounds have been overcome and the look of your website has changed overnight.
Ultimately, your decision on whether or not to move over to see CSS will probably depend on your level of technical capability and the time you're able to devote to understanding CSS layout alternatives.
David Sielicki is Features Editor with [http://www.fetcher.co.uk/] Fetcher the UK’s products and services directory. He is also a freelancer with [http://www.webaffinity.net/] Web Affinity
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Sielicki http://EzineArticles.com/?CSS-Website-Design&id=406359
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=David_Sielicki]David Sielicki
Cascading Style Sheets (or CSS for short) have slowly but surely become a website design standard over the past few years. It was not that many years ago that people used Frames to position their content across their web pages and Tables gradually replaced this. Many low-end website developers are still very comfortable with Tables, as it ‘does what it says on the tin’. However, more and more people are now moving over to CSS, as virtually all the layout options can be achieved using the code.
One major problem with CSS is that not all Web browsers produce the same results and it has not been helped in the past by the various browsers employing their own way of interpreting certain CSS conventions. You can think your CSS design looks OK in the current version of your preferred browser and can then be crestfallen when you view your Web pages in another version that has destroyed the formatting. Therefore, when moving over to CSS, it is important that you use the capabilities that are consistently supported across the entire range of popular browsers. It is interesting that the new version 7 of Microsoft's Internet Explorer has fixed a number of earlier anomalies, but many people are now waking up to the reality that IE7 has in fact caused problems arising from their earlier workarounds!
So why not bother with CSS, if Tables work for you? The principal advantages are as follows:
1. Web page code is generally much easier to follow;
2. The amount of code used to achieve the same result is much less. The general view is that by switching to a CSS layout, the typical page size reduction is between 50 - 60 per cent;
3. Download speeds for CSS pages are generally faster than their Table-driven counterparts. This is because browsers have to read through the table code twice before they are able to display the contents. They do this firstly to figure out the structure and then again to understand the content. It should also be recognised that a Table's contents can only be presented to the screen in one go, whereas CSS content will drop in separately, thereby giving a better user experience. It is also possible to govern the order in which specific screen elements appear, so the user is not distracted by the more bulky and slower to load image files. Furthermore, because all the code involved with CSS page layout is held in one external CSS document and is cached, it is faster than Table layouts that need to be interpreted every time a new page is displayed;
4. It is much easier to edit existing pages and to add new pages, particularly in the area of subtle formatting amendments. For example, you can change the font or colour scheme across an entire website in literally minutes;
5. CSS delivers enhanced accessibility. In recent years the number of people using web browsers on hand-held devices has risen significantly and CSS plays an important function in delivering content to PDA's etc through additional CSS documents. This just isn't possible with Table-driven layouts;
6. CSS is considered to be more Search Engine friendly because they can spider CSS pages quicker. However, it remains to be seen if this has any tangible benefits such as an improvement on the your page ranking.
On the flipside, there are a few disadvantages to CSS web page design you should consider:
1. As compared with Tables, CSS involves a much bigger learning curve;
2. Because of cross browser support issues, the time spent implementing workarounds should not be underestimated;
3. New browser versions can catch website developers napping if you are not careful. You can find that earlier workarounds have been overcome and the look of your website has changed overnight.
Ultimately, your decision on whether or not to move over to see CSS will probably depend on your level of technical capability and the time you're able to devote to understanding CSS layout alternatives.
David Sielicki is Features Editor with [http://www.fetcher.co.uk/] Fetcher the UK’s products and services directory. He is also a freelancer with [http://www.webaffinity.net/] Web Affinity
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Sielicki http://EzineArticles.com/?CSS-Website-Design&id=406359
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Web Site Design - 8 Steps to Web Site Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder]James Krawder
If you are interested in web site design, there are 8 steps that you need to understand when it comes to web site design. By coming to an understanding of these 8 important steps, you will be well on your way to enjoying web site design success.
1. When it comes to web site design success, you need to make sure that you understand how to make a web site visually appealing.
2. In addition, in your efforts towards quality web site design, you need to ensure that any web site you build is user friendly. How easy is it for your visitors to use.
3. Content is fundamental when it comes to your web site design efforts. You must ensure that the content is interesting, informative and entertaining as necessary.
4. Along these same lines, you will also want to make sure that you apply search engine optimization principles to the creation of the content for your website.
5. As part of your web site design efforts, you need to ensure that you properly install metatags appropriately throughout your web site.
6. Of course, as part of your web site domain efforts, you need to make certain that you select an appropriate domain name for your web site.
7. Consider adding keyword enriched articles to your web site in order to enhance the amount of traffic that is drawn to your website.
8. Make certain that if you are interested in professional web site design that you set up a solid technical support system for your clients.
Use these eight steps to design your web site and you will be on your way to web site success.
Want to learn more about it? Download the free ebook, [http://www.secretsofim.com/7Steps.htm]Steps to Article Marketing Success.
Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/listbuilding.htm]Email List Building
Want to learn more about driving traffic like I do? Download my free traffic guide here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/tripleyourtrafficfast.htm]Traffic Generation
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Site-Design---8-Steps-to-Web-Site-Design&id=701916
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder]James Krawder
If you are interested in web site design, there are 8 steps that you need to understand when it comes to web site design. By coming to an understanding of these 8 important steps, you will be well on your way to enjoying web site design success.
1. When it comes to web site design success, you need to make sure that you understand how to make a web site visually appealing.
2. In addition, in your efforts towards quality web site design, you need to ensure that any web site you build is user friendly. How easy is it for your visitors to use.
3. Content is fundamental when it comes to your web site design efforts. You must ensure that the content is interesting, informative and entertaining as necessary.
4. Along these same lines, you will also want to make sure that you apply search engine optimization principles to the creation of the content for your website.
5. As part of your web site design efforts, you need to ensure that you properly install metatags appropriately throughout your web site.
6. Of course, as part of your web site domain efforts, you need to make certain that you select an appropriate domain name for your web site.
7. Consider adding keyword enriched articles to your web site in order to enhance the amount of traffic that is drawn to your website.
8. Make certain that if you are interested in professional web site design that you set up a solid technical support system for your clients.
Use these eight steps to design your web site and you will be on your way to web site success.
Want to learn more about it? Download the free ebook, [http://www.secretsofim.com/7Steps.htm]Steps to Article Marketing Success.
Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/listbuilding.htm]Email List Building
Want to learn more about driving traffic like I do? Download my free traffic guide here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/tripleyourtrafficfast.htm]Traffic Generation
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Site-Design---8-Steps-to-Web-Site-Design&id=701916
Monday, September 3, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
The Advantages For You In A Custom Web Site Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins]Lee Hopkins
A custom web site design is a great asset to any business, regardless of its size. It not only brings more customers to your business, but also makes people remember your company. To develop web site materials that are creative, unique and compelling, you are giving your business the edge it needs to compete with other businesses. A custom web site design also gives your business that professional appearance customers trust.
You can find several companies online that will create a custom web site design made specifically for your company. At www.intrinzicdesignz.com, you can create a website design by picking a pre-made template that is relevant to the services or products that your business offers. This online company offers you the opportunity to develop web site materials by yourself -- so you can be sure that your website will be unique and specific to your business. They also have a custom administration area so you can maintain your custom web site design by yourself. With reasonable prices and a website design by you, this is an ideal way to promote your company's products.
Another online company that will develop web site materials for you is www.customwebsitedesign.com. This custom web site design company has a long name but it provides a great service to businesses needing custom web site designs. They offer a variety of graphics and information that you can put on your website and offer buying and selling options for customers who visit your page. Their custom web site designs are attention-grabbing and give potential customers a reason to return for more.
Several online companies provide custom web site design services. The professionals at www.webdesignoffice.us are no exception. These highly-trained designers can give you the best possible custom web site design to increase your customer base and give you a competitive edge against others in your industry. You can also be sure that their affordable rates and packages are ideal to fit your custom web site design needs, while still working within your budget.
Custom web site designs are vital to the success of a company in today's online world. You can do a custom web site design yourself, but hiring a custom web site design company will give you that extra touch of professionalism. It will also save you time -- so you can concentrate on making your products and services superior to that of your competitors instead.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia's leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it's also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he's asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his 'Social Media White Paper', which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Advantages-For-You-In-A-Custom-Web-Site-Design&id=640266
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins]Lee Hopkins
A custom web site design is a great asset to any business, regardless of its size. It not only brings more customers to your business, but also makes people remember your company. To develop web site materials that are creative, unique and compelling, you are giving your business the edge it needs to compete with other businesses. A custom web site design also gives your business that professional appearance customers trust.
You can find several companies online that will create a custom web site design made specifically for your company. At www.intrinzicdesignz.com, you can create a website design by picking a pre-made template that is relevant to the services or products that your business offers. This online company offers you the opportunity to develop web site materials by yourself -- so you can be sure that your website will be unique and specific to your business. They also have a custom administration area so you can maintain your custom web site design by yourself. With reasonable prices and a website design by you, this is an ideal way to promote your company's products.
Another online company that will develop web site materials for you is www.customwebsitedesign.com. This custom web site design company has a long name but it provides a great service to businesses needing custom web site designs. They offer a variety of graphics and information that you can put on your website and offer buying and selling options for customers who visit your page. Their custom web site designs are attention-grabbing and give potential customers a reason to return for more.
Several online companies provide custom web site design services. The professionals at www.webdesignoffice.us are no exception. These highly-trained designers can give you the best possible custom web site design to increase your customer base and give you a competitive edge against others in your industry. You can also be sure that their affordable rates and packages are ideal to fit your custom web site design needs, while still working within your budget.
Custom web site designs are vital to the success of a company in today's online world. You can do a custom web site design yourself, but hiring a custom web site design company will give you that extra touch of professionalism. It will also save you time -- so you can concentrate on making your products and services superior to that of your competitors instead.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia's leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it's also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he's asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his 'Social Media White Paper', which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Advantages-For-You-In-A-Custom-Web-Site-Design&id=640266
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
The Advantages For You In A Custom Web Site Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins]Lee Hopkins
A custom web site design is a great asset to any business, regardless of its size. It not only brings more customers to your business, but also makes people remember your company. To develop web site materials that are creative, unique and compelling, you are giving your business the edge it needs to compete with other businesses. A custom web site design also gives your business that professional appearance customers trust.
You can find several companies online that will create a custom web site design made specifically for your company. At www.intrinzicdesignz.com, you can create a website design by picking a pre-made template that is relevant to the services or products that your business offers. This online company offers you the opportunity to develop web site materials by yourself -- so you can be sure that your website will be unique and specific to your business. They also have a custom administration area so you can maintain your custom web site design by yourself. With reasonable prices and a website design by you, this is an ideal way to promote your company's products.
Another online company that will develop web site materials for you is www.customwebsitedesign.com. This custom web site design company has a long name but it provides a great service to businesses needing custom web site designs. They offer a variety of graphics and information that you can put on your website and offer buying and selling options for customers who visit your page. Their custom web site designs are attention-grabbing and give potential customers a reason to return for more.
Several online companies provide custom web site design services. The professionals at www.webdesignoffice.us are no exception. These highly-trained designers can give you the best possible custom web site design to increase your customer base and give you a competitive edge against others in your industry. You can also be sure that their affordable rates and packages are ideal to fit your custom web site design needs, while still working within your budget.
Custom web site designs are vital to the success of a company in today's online world. You can do a custom web site design yourself, but hiring a custom web site design company will give you that extra touch of professionalism. It will also save you time -- so you can concentrate on making your products and services superior to that of your competitors instead.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia's leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it's also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he's asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his 'Social Media White Paper', which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Advantages-For-You-In-A-Custom-Web-Site-Design&id=640266
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins]Lee Hopkins
A custom web site design is a great asset to any business, regardless of its size. It not only brings more customers to your business, but also makes people remember your company. To develop web site materials that are creative, unique and compelling, you are giving your business the edge it needs to compete with other businesses. A custom web site design also gives your business that professional appearance customers trust.
You can find several companies online that will create a custom web site design made specifically for your company. At www.intrinzicdesignz.com, you can create a website design by picking a pre-made template that is relevant to the services or products that your business offers. This online company offers you the opportunity to develop web site materials by yourself -- so you can be sure that your website will be unique and specific to your business. They also have a custom administration area so you can maintain your custom web site design by yourself. With reasonable prices and a website design by you, this is an ideal way to promote your company's products.
Another online company that will develop web site materials for you is www.customwebsitedesign.com. This custom web site design company has a long name but it provides a great service to businesses needing custom web site designs. They offer a variety of graphics and information that you can put on your website and offer buying and selling options for customers who visit your page. Their custom web site designs are attention-grabbing and give potential customers a reason to return for more.
Several online companies provide custom web site design services. The professionals at www.webdesignoffice.us are no exception. These highly-trained designers can give you the best possible custom web site design to increase your customer base and give you a competitive edge against others in your industry. You can also be sure that their affordable rates and packages are ideal to fit your custom web site design needs, while still working within your budget.
Custom web site designs are vital to the success of a company in today's online world. You can do a custom web site design yourself, but hiring a custom web site design company will give you that extra touch of professionalism. It will also save you time -- so you can concentrate on making your products and services superior to that of your competitors instead.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia's leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it's also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he's asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his 'Social Media White Paper', which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Advantages-For-You-In-A-Custom-Web-Site-Design&id=640266
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Web Site Design - 4 First Steps to Web Site Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize]Sean R Mize
The internet can rightly be considered as the most important source of information exchange and sharing today. The number of websites on the World Wide Web is rising constantly. As a result of this ever increasing number of web sites, the field of web designing is becoming very important now. Never before was it as important as it is today. As the number of web sites is increasing at a very fast pace, all web sites need their unique selling points to stay in business. If they do not pay all due attention towards these small points, they will not be able to survive the competition. This is the reason that web site designing has become as very important art and science in the present world.
If you want to design a web site for your web base business, you can either design it yourself or you can hire a professional who can help you in this regard. Your web site can be a really good one if you pay close attention towards those issues which are vital to the success of your online business. First of all, you need to be sure about your business’s requirements. If your business is a selling business, you need a specific type of web site, if it is entertainment oriented; your web site needs to be designed in an entirely different way. Once the frame work is there, you must pay attention towards the space you have on your web site. You can sell some space to other web sites by placing their links on your web site.
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘
Download it free here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/ezwebdesign.html]Secrets of Article Promotion
Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Site-Design---4-First-Steps-to-Web-Site-Design&id=650652
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize]Sean R Mize
The internet can rightly be considered as the most important source of information exchange and sharing today. The number of websites on the World Wide Web is rising constantly. As a result of this ever increasing number of web sites, the field of web designing is becoming very important now. Never before was it as important as it is today. As the number of web sites is increasing at a very fast pace, all web sites need their unique selling points to stay in business. If they do not pay all due attention towards these small points, they will not be able to survive the competition. This is the reason that web site designing has become as very important art and science in the present world.
If you want to design a web site for your web base business, you can either design it yourself or you can hire a professional who can help you in this regard. Your web site can be a really good one if you pay close attention towards those issues which are vital to the success of your online business. First of all, you need to be sure about your business’s requirements. If your business is a selling business, you need a specific type of web site, if it is entertainment oriented; your web site needs to be designed in an entirely different way. Once the frame work is there, you must pay attention towards the space you have on your web site. You can sell some space to other web sites by placing their links on your web site.
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘
Download it free here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/ezwebdesign.html]Secrets of Article Promotion
Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize http://EzineArticles.com/?Web-Site-Design---4-First-Steps-to-Web-Site-Design&id=650652
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Profitable Web Site - Designing Your Web Site to Make it Profitable
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder]James Krawder
The way your website is designed can help you or hinder you in making more profit from it. If you want your website to make money for you, you need to design it properly. There are certain web designs which allow you a greater leverage to earn lots of profits from the websites. You must pay close attention to the design of your website to make it more profitable for your self.
The internet business can give you lots of profit if you are able to make your website search engine friendly and also if you are able to generate more traffic. If your websites has a number of visitors, the chances of getting more business increase. In this way the chances of seeing an increase in the volume of business increase. If you can achieve this target, there will be a lot of other ways as well which can help you in generating money out of your website. The design of your website should be friendly with the mechanism which the most popular search engines se.
The test of your website design is that when a search engine tries to search some relevant information, does your website lands in the top ten? If yes, it is perfectly designed to get more traffic and as a result it can give you lots of business not only by the increase in the sales but also by providing promotional support to other websites. The way your website is designed can be the key to success for your online business.
Want to learn more about it? Download the free ebook, [http://www.secretsofim.com/7Steps.htm]Steps to Article Marketing Success.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder http://EzineArticles.com/?Profitable-Web-Site---Designing-Your-Web-Site-to-Make-it-Profitable&id=549458
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder]James Krawder
The way your website is designed can help you or hinder you in making more profit from it. If you want your website to make money for you, you need to design it properly. There are certain web designs which allow you a greater leverage to earn lots of profits from the websites. You must pay close attention to the design of your website to make it more profitable for your self.
The internet business can give you lots of profit if you are able to make your website search engine friendly and also if you are able to generate more traffic. If your websites has a number of visitors, the chances of getting more business increase. In this way the chances of seeing an increase in the volume of business increase. If you can achieve this target, there will be a lot of other ways as well which can help you in generating money out of your website. The design of your website should be friendly with the mechanism which the most popular search engines se.
The test of your website design is that when a search engine tries to search some relevant information, does your website lands in the top ten? If yes, it is perfectly designed to get more traffic and as a result it can give you lots of business not only by the increase in the sales but also by providing promotional support to other websites. The way your website is designed can be the key to success for your online business.
Want to learn more about it? Download the free ebook, [http://www.secretsofim.com/7Steps.htm]Steps to Article Marketing Success.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Krawder http://EzineArticles.com/?Profitable-Web-Site---Designing-Your-Web-Site-to-Make-it-Profitable&id=549458
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Quick Web Site Design
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize]Sean R Mize
With the Internet daily visited by billions of people worldwide, web site designers are becoming increasingly popular. No wonder why so many people are dying to have a very competitive website. If you are a web site designer who wants your expertise become more rewarding, here are some tips for you.
1. Find the right client. Having talent for web designing isn’t enough but finding the right clients can make it more lucrative. There are big and well known websites looking for talented people like you. Clients can also be found in a number or freelancing sites that offer good money.
2. On presenting yourself to your potential clients, make sure to show them your updated portfolio and proficiency. Never leave a client unsatisfied. It will be for sure that recommendations for your services to other clients will happen if you make it a habit in making your clients happy and feel satisfied with what they got. Be sure to ask them for referrals. They might know some people who own websites who might require your services.
3. Always make it a point to update yourself with the latest web designing trends and keep up with the competition in your area of expertise. There are free tutorials you can take advantage of or you can just attend proper schooling if need be.
4. Be sure to price your work correctly. Charging too much, your potential clients might see you as overconfident. Charging too little, they may think you don’t have confidence in your work. The level of competition keeps on getting higher with so many great web designers in the Internet. You should be able to present superb service that is priced sensibly.
5. There are also affiliate programs you can involve yourself with. You will be given a percentage of profit by many websites if your site points to theirs and assist them in making some revenue. Charging membership fees can be an option especially if you have excellent quality content on your website and you can limit access to a certain part of your site.
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘
Download it free here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/ezwebdesign.html]Secrets of Article Promotion
Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sean_R_Mize]Sean R Mize
With the Internet daily visited by billions of people worldwide, web site designers are becoming increasingly popular. No wonder why so many people are dying to have a very competitive website. If you are a web site designer who wants your expertise become more rewarding, here are some tips for you.
1. Find the right client. Having talent for web designing isn’t enough but finding the right clients can make it more lucrative. There are big and well known websites looking for talented people like you. Clients can also be found in a number or freelancing sites that offer good money.
2. On presenting yourself to your potential clients, make sure to show them your updated portfolio and proficiency. Never leave a client unsatisfied. It will be for sure that recommendations for your services to other clients will happen if you make it a habit in making your clients happy and feel satisfied with what they got. Be sure to ask them for referrals. They might know some people who own websites who might require your services.
3. Always make it a point to update yourself with the latest web designing trends and keep up with the competition in your area of expertise. There are free tutorials you can take advantage of or you can just attend proper schooling if need be.
4. Be sure to price your work correctly. Charging too much, your potential clients might see you as overconfident. Charging too little, they may think you don’t have confidence in your work. The level of competition keeps on getting higher with so many great web designers in the Internet. You should be able to present superb service that is priced sensibly.
5. There are also affiliate programs you can involve yourself with. You will be given a percentage of profit by many websites if your site points to theirs and assist them in making some revenue. Charging membership fees can be an option especially if you have excellent quality content on your website and you can limit access to a certain part of your site.
Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘
Download it free here: [http://www.secrets-of-internet-success.com/ezwebdesign.html]Secrets of Article Promotion
Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 1574 articles in print and 11 published ebooks
Monday, August 27, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Some Little-Known Facts About Website Design and Hosting Companies
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins]Lee Hopkins
To start a website, you can either do it yourself or you can utilize the services of a website design and hosting company. Rather than looking amateurish, though, a website design and hosting company will create professional graphics and components for your website. This will help your appear more professional in the business world and cause website visitors to remember your page and tell others about it.
If you want to plan a website for yourself or for personal purposes, you will still need to get a website design hosting company. Without a website design and hosting company, you can develop web site materials all you want, but nobody will ever see them. For a monthly or even annual fee, you can get a website design hosting company to host your website so it can be accessible by anybody using the internet.
For whatever purposes you want to use your new website for, a website design and hosting company can fulfill all your needs. If you are designing a website for your small business, a website design and hosting company will provide you with a quality website and hosting services that are convenient and specific to your business needs. Whether you're developing a blogging website or just a personal website, a website design hosting company can meet those needs, too.
If you shop and compare, you can likely find a website design and hosting company that is affordable and fits your budget. Website design and hosting companies provide flexible and unique services that fit your needs, too. You tell the website design and hosting company what you want for your particular website. Then their highly-skilled consultants develop web materials that are specific to your company's services and products to help produce the best possible results. The website design and hosting company that you hire works for you and if you are not satisfied with their services, there are many more companies to choose from.
Today, a business cannot be competitive without an online presence. A website design and hosting company makes this possible. With affordable rates and flexibility, a website and design company can provide businesses of any size with a site that fits their needs. Similarly, if you just want a site for your personal use, a website design and hosting company can help you with that, too. Websites are not only beneficial to businesses, but they can be a fun way to keep in touch with family and friends, too.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia's leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it's also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he's asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his 'Social Media White Paper', which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Little-Known-Facts-About-Website-Design-and-Hosting-Companies&id=640269
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins]Lee Hopkins
To start a website, you can either do it yourself or you can utilize the services of a website design and hosting company. Rather than looking amateurish, though, a website design and hosting company will create professional graphics and components for your website. This will help your appear more professional in the business world and cause website visitors to remember your page and tell others about it.
If you want to plan a website for yourself or for personal purposes, you will still need to get a website design hosting company. Without a website design and hosting company, you can develop web site materials all you want, but nobody will ever see them. For a monthly or even annual fee, you can get a website design hosting company to host your website so it can be accessible by anybody using the internet.
For whatever purposes you want to use your new website for, a website design and hosting company can fulfill all your needs. If you are designing a website for your small business, a website design and hosting company will provide you with a quality website and hosting services that are convenient and specific to your business needs. Whether you're developing a blogging website or just a personal website, a website design hosting company can meet those needs, too.
If you shop and compare, you can likely find a website design and hosting company that is affordable and fits your budget. Website design and hosting companies provide flexible and unique services that fit your needs, too. You tell the website design and hosting company what you want for your particular website. Then their highly-skilled consultants develop web materials that are specific to your company's services and products to help produce the best possible results. The website design and hosting company that you hire works for you and if you are not satisfied with their services, there are many more companies to choose from.
Today, a business cannot be competitive without an online presence. A website design and hosting company makes this possible. With affordable rates and flexibility, a website and design company can provide businesses of any size with a site that fits their needs. Similarly, if you just want a site for your personal use, a website design and hosting company can help you with that, too. Websites are not only beneficial to businesses, but they can be a fun way to keep in touch with family and friends, too.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia's leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it's also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he's asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his 'Social Media White Paper', which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Hopkins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Some-Little-Known-Facts-About-Website-Design-and-Hosting-Companies&id=640269
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Adhering to Web Standards to Improve Business
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ashish_Sinha]Ashish Sinha
Taking web standards into account when designing a web site may not be a primary concern for many site owners, but when it comes to finding an extra edge to improve their business, they are more than willing to do anything required to increase revenues. Let's see how complying with Web standards can help a business web site.
What are the Web Standards?
On the Web, the main standards are the languages used when creating web sites. The most wide-spread ones are HTML, XHTML and CSS. HTML or XHTML are used to create the backbone of web sites - the structure. CSS, in turn, is used to style, format and position the structure and content.
What is Web Standards Compliance?
Put simply, web standards compliance is using web languages correctly. This involves using HTML tags properly and the way they were and are intended to be used. For instance, one of the most common mistakes against the web standards is using table tags for layout, while the correct usage is to use them only for tabular data (information to be put in tables).
Advantages of Web Standards Compliance
Creating quality, Web standards compliant code has a number of benefits:
• Web site forward compatibility
• Web site increased site download speed
• Web site browser compatibility
• Web site easier site maintenance
• Web site broader target audience
Olive eBusiness in New Delhi, India has over a decade experience in [http://www.oliveglobal.com/web-site-design.html]web site design and development. For more information on how to [http://www.oliveglobal.com/web-site-design.html]design a website adhering to the web standards, contact us. [http://www.oliveglobal.com]Web Design Company
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashish_Sinha http://EzineArticles.com/?Adhering-to-Web-Standards-to-Improve-Business&id=676342
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ashish_Sinha]Ashish Sinha
Taking web standards into account when designing a web site may not be a primary concern for many site owners, but when it comes to finding an extra edge to improve their business, they are more than willing to do anything required to increase revenues. Let's see how complying with Web standards can help a business web site.
What are the Web Standards?
On the Web, the main standards are the languages used when creating web sites. The most wide-spread ones are HTML, XHTML and CSS. HTML or XHTML are used to create the backbone of web sites - the structure. CSS, in turn, is used to style, format and position the structure and content.
What is Web Standards Compliance?
Put simply, web standards compliance is using web languages correctly. This involves using HTML tags properly and the way they were and are intended to be used. For instance, one of the most common mistakes against the web standards is using table tags for layout, while the correct usage is to use them only for tabular data (information to be put in tables).
Advantages of Web Standards Compliance
Creating quality, Web standards compliant code has a number of benefits:
• Web site forward compatibility
• Web site increased site download speed
• Web site browser compatibility
• Web site easier site maintenance
• Web site broader target audience
Olive eBusiness in New Delhi, India has over a decade experience in [http://www.oliveglobal.com/web-site-design.html]web site design and development. For more information on how to [http://www.oliveglobal.com/web-site-design.html]design a website adhering to the web standards, contact us. [http://www.oliveglobal.com]Web Design Company
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ashish_Sinha http://EzineArticles.com/?Adhering-to-Web-Standards-to-Improve-Business&id=676342
Friday, August 24, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Is Flash Design Really That Bad?
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Melwak]John Melwak
Flash design has been a controversial issue among Web designers for a long time. Most designers I have spoke with either love it or hate it. It seems to be there is no in the middle here. Well, for the designers that like flash (one of them being me) things are changing - slowly changing may I add. New products from Macromedia and new search engine technology may be shifting the way to flash. Designers are discovering that it is possible to add Flash to Web pages without sacrificing either accessibility or search engine promotion.
Let me give you some examples of using flash in a way that can compromise your design.
1. Entire site being designed in flash is a definite "NO NO" for the search engines.
2. Using flash navigation systems without having a secondary HTML navigation.
3. Large flash intro pages that have a No “Skip Intro” button.
Keeping design in mind usually what's bad for search engines is bad for actual visitors on your site.
You can design great visual effects in flash but what good is it besides it looks pretty to the search engines. The search engines cannot see all the flashy and sparkling moving images and text. What this means is that content is not being seen by the all important spiders. Thest spiders are fed to our websites from popular search engines such as google and yahoo. Right now these spiders go through our html code and look for links to the next pages. With flash there is no html with links so the spiders cannot go to the next pages and move on to the next site. Right there your site has not been indexed and will not show in the search engines, or maybe it will, one page being the index. This is not good as you want the search engines to index every single page on your website. After all, the more pages you have out there the better the chances of someone finding your website.
Lets move on to using flash in your design that will NOT compromise the search engine spiders.
1. Always have a “skip intro” button if you do have flash intros. I suggest not to have flash intro at all, the visitors patience if there connection is on the slower end is very low. 90% of them will move on to a new site if you intro is not up in a couple of seconds.
2. Use the accessibility features of Flash MX. I dont use flash MX anymore, there is a newer flash version out. Designers can actually add descriptive text that will be read aloud by technologies that are equipped with Flash Player 6. It helps but does not guarantee spiders will read it.
3. Try to consider using flash to enhance your web pages, instead of creating full flash websites of full flash pages. You want to give search engines what they want, and right now its html, css, text links, alt image tags and of course your title and description.
4. Use flash to add interest and interactivity. Make a flash tutorial or demo with the text in html under the flash movie.
Well thats pretty much it. If your going for the flashy designs and love flash, go for it! Just remember to include text and content links combined with your flash so your site gets properly indexed.
www.webcoastconcepts.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Melwak http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Flash-Design-Really-That-Bad?&id=680183
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Melwak]John Melwak
Flash design has been a controversial issue among Web designers for a long time. Most designers I have spoke with either love it or hate it. It seems to be there is no in the middle here. Well, for the designers that like flash (one of them being me) things are changing - slowly changing may I add. New products from Macromedia and new search engine technology may be shifting the way to flash. Designers are discovering that it is possible to add Flash to Web pages without sacrificing either accessibility or search engine promotion.
Let me give you some examples of using flash in a way that can compromise your design.
1. Entire site being designed in flash is a definite "NO NO" for the search engines.
2. Using flash navigation systems without having a secondary HTML navigation.
3. Large flash intro pages that have a No “Skip Intro” button.
Keeping design in mind usually what's bad for search engines is bad for actual visitors on your site.
You can design great visual effects in flash but what good is it besides it looks pretty to the search engines. The search engines cannot see all the flashy and sparkling moving images and text. What this means is that content is not being seen by the all important spiders. Thest spiders are fed to our websites from popular search engines such as google and yahoo. Right now these spiders go through our html code and look for links to the next pages. With flash there is no html with links so the spiders cannot go to the next pages and move on to the next site. Right there your site has not been indexed and will not show in the search engines, or maybe it will, one page being the index. This is not good as you want the search engines to index every single page on your website. After all, the more pages you have out there the better the chances of someone finding your website.
Lets move on to using flash in your design that will NOT compromise the search engine spiders.
1. Always have a “skip intro” button if you do have flash intros. I suggest not to have flash intro at all, the visitors patience if there connection is on the slower end is very low. 90% of them will move on to a new site if you intro is not up in a couple of seconds.
2. Use the accessibility features of Flash MX. I dont use flash MX anymore, there is a newer flash version out. Designers can actually add descriptive text that will be read aloud by technologies that are equipped with Flash Player 6. It helps but does not guarantee spiders will read it.
3. Try to consider using flash to enhance your web pages, instead of creating full flash websites of full flash pages. You want to give search engines what they want, and right now its html, css, text links, alt image tags and of course your title and description.
4. Use flash to add interest and interactivity. Make a flash tutorial or demo with the text in html under the flash movie.
Well thats pretty much it. If your going for the flashy designs and love flash, go for it! Just remember to include text and content links combined with your flash so your site gets properly indexed.
www.webcoastconcepts.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Melwak http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Flash-Design-Really-That-Bad?&id=680183
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Illusion Technologies: Web Site Design
Quality Website Content
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Theresa_Momber]Theresa Momber
Keep it simple. People using the internet are looking for quick easy information. Give it to them. The typical internet user wants to sift through quickly to find what they need. If they click on your site from a search engine and it takes more than about 1.5 seconds to load, there’s a good chance they’ll hit backup before they even get a chance to see what you have to offer. Resist the urge to load your site with large image files and impressive Flash files which will just drive potential traffic away. Strive to keep your load time short.
Keep it easy to read. If they wanted to read a book they’d go straight to Barnes & Noble. Keep your content short and easy to find. Long paragraphs are your enemy. Stick to short paragraphs and sentences. Make use of bullets and numbering. Make keywords bold in select locations. Use italics where appropriate. The typical web browser is skimming. Make it easy for them.
Be original. Write your own articles if at all possible. Search engines love unique content and you can improve your rankings if your site has a great deal of original content. If you are not confident in your skills as a writer, consider asking someone for help or even hire a local college student. Just give them a bullet list of points you want to make and ask them to write it up for you.
Use spell check. Any decent word processor will have a spell check function as well as a grammar check function. Make use of them. You want your website to look professional and misspelled words say to viewers that you are unprofessional, incompetent and untrustworthy. It’s harsh, but true.
Proof read. Don’t rely on spell checker alone. There are a great many spelling and grammar mistakes that word processors will not pick up. You may have a missing word, duplicate word, phrase or sentence. You may have simply used the wrong word like ‘too’ instead of ‘two.’ Get someone else to proof read for you. It’s harder to catch your own mistakes than someone else’s.
Keep it relevant. Make sure your content is consistent with the aim of your website. Make sure it is relevant to the needs of your viewer. If your website is selling garden products, it might be best to avoid writing articles about your favorite sports team. You can start a new website for that.
Keep it current. Don’t let your content get out of date. Review your articles regularly and update as needed. Check to make sure your facts are still true. If you have links to outside websites, and you should, make sure they are still active. Make sure any contact information on your site is up to date. When you are finished reviewing, start again.
To learn more please visit http://cashcrafters.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Theresa_Momber http://EzineArticles.com/?Quality-Website-Content&id=675187
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Theresa_Momber]Theresa Momber
Keep it simple. People using the internet are looking for quick easy information. Give it to them. The typical internet user wants to sift through quickly to find what they need. If they click on your site from a search engine and it takes more than about 1.5 seconds to load, there’s a good chance they’ll hit backup before they even get a chance to see what you have to offer. Resist the urge to load your site with large image files and impressive Flash files which will just drive potential traffic away. Strive to keep your load time short.
Keep it easy to read. If they wanted to read a book they’d go straight to Barnes & Noble. Keep your content short and easy to find. Long paragraphs are your enemy. Stick to short paragraphs and sentences. Make use of bullets and numbering. Make keywords bold in select locations. Use italics where appropriate. The typical web browser is skimming. Make it easy for them.
Be original. Write your own articles if at all possible. Search engines love unique content and you can improve your rankings if your site has a great deal of original content. If you are not confident in your skills as a writer, consider asking someone for help or even hire a local college student. Just give them a bullet list of points you want to make and ask them to write it up for you.
Use spell check. Any decent word processor will have a spell check function as well as a grammar check function. Make use of them. You want your website to look professional and misspelled words say to viewers that you are unprofessional, incompetent and untrustworthy. It’s harsh, but true.
Proof read. Don’t rely on spell checker alone. There are a great many spelling and grammar mistakes that word processors will not pick up. You may have a missing word, duplicate word, phrase or sentence. You may have simply used the wrong word like ‘too’ instead of ‘two.’ Get someone else to proof read for you. It’s harder to catch your own mistakes than someone else’s.
Keep it relevant. Make sure your content is consistent with the aim of your website. Make sure it is relevant to the needs of your viewer. If your website is selling garden products, it might be best to avoid writing articles about your favorite sports team. You can start a new website for that.
Keep it current. Don’t let your content get out of date. Review your articles regularly and update as needed. Check to make sure your facts are still true. If you have links to outside websites, and you should, make sure they are still active. Make sure any contact information on your site is up to date. When you are finished reviewing, start again.
To learn more please visit http://cashcrafters.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Theresa_Momber http://EzineArticles.com/?Quality-Website-Content&id=675187
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