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
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)