Jimmy

Details that should not be forgotten when we launch the website

Posted on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 09:49

We made the design, CMS is working, we added the content and the client is happy. It is time to launch the website. Or not? Before launching a website, you can forget some things in your haste to see your website live. It is useful to have a list of things that you have to do, with the latest details and touches, before you launch the website worldwide.

The following list will highlight some steps that you must not forget:

Favicon

The favicon is to tag or mark the website in the browser window. It automatically saves the bookmark, facilitating identification of the site for users, according to the image that displays it. Some browsers save your favicon in the directory as favicon.ico, but to make sure that it is running all the time, includes the following syntax in the head:

<link rel=”icon” type=”image/x-icon” href=”/favicon.ico” />

Footer - a necessity or a design element?

Posted on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 08:58in web design

Under the rules of web designing, everything that is at the bottom of the page, is not very important, and this rule is appreciated by both designers and users. Graphics are not created at the bottom to attract attention, so the footers are forgotten or ignored oftenly when design is completed.

In reality, most footers are boring and uninspired. Designers use this area to post things that they couldn't  fit them on top of the website, eg Privacy, buttons to the W3C, copyright, links pointing to the top of the page and contacts. But if most designers ignore the footer, why do not you use it? Why not use the footer to impress your visitors, presenting something unique?

Why footers are useful?

Generally, the things placed in footer are: contact details, address and map of the site, main sections, brief information about the site or its creators. Also it may contain additional features such as RSS and subscriptions information by mail.

However, we can use the footer as a design component, perfect to give your website a personal touch. For example, if you are a fan of Seinfield, why not place a little Kramer somewhere near to the contact details in footer? This way, with a small detail you can customize the site, managing in the same time to attract your visitors attention. Since the main function of the footer is to supplement the layout, often it is given a color that is in contrast to other dominant colors used in the website.

Footers role has grown significantly in  blogs design. Now, they contain the latest posts, visitor comments, latest jobs added, the last discussions on the forum or various links. Unfortunately, footers are often used to insert the SEO spam and pop-up ads.

Some designers go ahead and place the navigation at the bottom of the page. In such cases the site is divided into two sections, the top is focused on content, while in the lower section is placed the navigation bar.

Clearly is, that footers role is increasingly important and that designers are determined to call on this graphic element to make it stand out.

Why Do you Need a Website Redesign?

Posted on Friday, 26 March 2010 16:15

So you own a website which is supposed to generate high quality returns. Is it doing so? Good, if the answer is ‘Yes’ but if the answer is ‘No’ then its time to give your website immediate attention. You can establish it by yourself whether your website needs a website redesign service at this stage or not? Here is how you will do it.

1. Take a close look at your website not being its owner rather being a visitor. What do you feel? Does the Design of your website appeal to you?
2. Can the important navigational menus and the various links on your website be located easily?
3. Is your website fresh with latest updates and contemporary look and does not contain obsolete images or color theme or layout design?
4. Is your website successful in portraying a proficient illustration of your website?
5. Is your website compatible with all modern browsers?
6. Does the design of your website compete equally well with your competitor’s website?

5 ways your website can save you money

Posted on Friday, 26 March 2010 15:54

Minimise the cost of customer service

Your customers probably have questions about your products and services. Wouldn’t it be nice if someone could answer them for you? If you anticipate these questions and provide appropriate answers, your website will be all too happy to help you out. As your business grows, you can minimise the expense of a large customer service team or call centre to answer these questions.

Reduce the load on your sales team

Your website can be a talented member of your sales team, working around the clock at a very reasonable rate. In fact, your website can even provide online demonstrations to help your customers get full value from your products.

Increase your website ranking in google

Posted on Friday, 26 March 2010 15:23
Why search engine directories matter

When you think about search engines, what probably springs to mind? The big players such as Google, Yahoo and nineMSN, right? That’s where most people go to look for websites, but if you are out to get the best rankings possible some other less obvious avenues are worth consideration. In order to maximise your exposure, consider search engine directories. What’s the difference? Well, directories differ from search engines in that they are compiled by people rather than search engine 'robots' (computer generated programs that search the internet).

The oldest and most prominent directory is the Yahoo Directory. The Yahoo Directory helps to power the Yahoo7 search engine. Google also uses a directory to generate search results. Rather than creating its own, Google uses the DMOZ directory, a worldwide volunteer-based directory.

Why Do You Need A Website?

Posted on Thursday, 25 March 2010 19:12in website business website

Each and every business needs some kind of online presence. Not only is it expected by potential clients, it's also one of the easiest ways to expand your market.

If you don't have a website, how will potential clients find you online? And, if they're not finding you, who are they finding instead - your competition?

Did you know that 71% of Internet users go online to research products and services for their local area rather than using a local directory, yellow pages or phone book? What are the reasons people prefer to look online?

• Convenience - They can learn about your services, view your portfolio and buy your products, even when you're closed!
• Availability of Information - A website provides more information than the yellow pages, with interactive content, product details and pictures.
• Lack of Sales Pressure (plus it's OK to wear a bathrobe to a website)

Providing information on your business and services is one of the most important ways to serve your customers. A website provides information on your business 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when it's convenient for them! When you put the focus of your website on serving customers and clients, it will be easy to find even more ways to use the Internet to promote your business and services.

In regard to phone calls, you know your time is spent answering the same questions over and over again. A great deal of time is spent fielding the same questions customers and potential clients want answered before they deal with you.

Provide potential customers or clients with a page of FAQ's on your website. This shows that you are addressing the needs of your customer and you have just reduced the amount of time spent on the phone answering the same thing over and over again.

Top Ten Reason to Publish an Ezine and a Blog

Posted on Thursday, 25 March 2010 17:23in Ezine Online Marketing website blog

Blogs are the hottest thing going these days when it comes to marketing on the Internet. A blog is a way of delivering your messages and article to clients. They are a like personal web sites, easy to create and far less expensive than traditional web sites.

Generating leads from your website

Posted on Friday, 12 March 2010 00:00

For many of us, a website that provides tangible results is one that generates good quality leads that result in sales.

Identifying leads

In order for your website to generate leads, you first have to get visitors to your website via the search engines, word-of-mouth referrals, or other offline marketing and promotions that your business has in place.

Once visitors arrive at your site, lead generation may occur in many different forms. Your visitors may:

• Sign up to receive your newsletter or special offers;
• Download an article or white paper;
• Fill in a form that sends you an enquiry
• Request more information such as a quote;
• Pick up the phone and make contact the old-fashioned way.

Re-Branding Corporate Identity

Posted on Friday, 12 February 2010 18:07

Periodically, companies embark upon refurbishing their brand image or re-branding their corporate identity with the help of reputed branding firms. While these branding firms will do their job, you must also be in the know of some essential factors related to this exercise:

1: You must understand that the changes in logo, brand visuals, visual identity should not be superficial i.e. the changes must reflect the changes in functions and provisions otherwise is waiste of money.

2: If there is a strong personality attributed to a brand or company to which customers are attached to, it should not be changed radically as it might destroy the emotional attachments to the brand or the company.

3: The reasons behind changes must be communicated clearly to all the stakeholders as radically revamping visuals without explaining the reasons for the change can give rise to speculations about ownership issues.

Corporate website design and branding.

Posted on Friday, 12 February 2010 17:46

Website design or redesign is an important step in upgrading your organization’s marketing campaign. It is important to plan in advance and engage key decision makers to define vision and direction for what you would like your website to do. It’s important to set realistic marketing goals and break down the process step by step of how your corporate website new design will help your organization to achieve it.