Web Design Tips

Website design Vs Website Content: Who’s The Boss?

Website design Vs Website Content: Who’s The Boss?

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Which is more important website design or website content? This question has been debated for over decades since the advent of the World Wide Web. Some web designers think the design is more important than content, other says content is the king but others says the two should complement each other. As for me, I agree that the web design and content should go together for a quality website design. Because a good web design should be able to display the content in a user friendly and visually appealing manner.

Website design and website content are the two most important aspects in website development and it is impossible to create a quality website with giving emphasis to both. The main goal in creating a website is to make sure a free flow of traffic and successful conversion of traffic into profit. These goals can only be obtained when you build a website that is both informative and attractive.

Most of the time, when a user first enters a website he looks around to have a feel of the website, an attractive web design can hold his interest for while. Then he will start to look for information, you must have adequate quality content in your site to provide the information he needed to ensure that he stick to your site and stay with your site. More importantly the information you provide should be relevant to the niche of your site. It will not only help in improving you site’s bounce rate, but at the same time, it will also be help in increasing the search engine ranking of your site.

On the conclusion, design and content are equally important. Design and words have to work together. A good website can only be produced by utilizing a good combination of creative and user-friendly design that would showcase the relevant and informative content.

Implementing Quality Assurance in Web Design and Development

Implementing Quality Assurance in Web Design and Development

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There are lot of factors that needed to be considered in designing and developing a website. On the top of the list should be the implementation of quality assurance to the website. By definition, quality assurance or QA is the process of verifying or determining whether products or services meet or exceed customer expectations. Quality assurance is a process-driven approach with specific steps to help define and attain goals. This process considers design, development, production, and service.

Designing a website can be both expensive and time-consuming, and if you were to choose a web design firm handle the designing for your company always consider the company gives high regards to commitment and quality. A lot of trust is invested in your chosen web designer to fulfill the vision you have for your business website. Your website is an important asset that should work for your business and give you a return on your investment, whether it is a fully-integrated online business or just a simple brochure website. That is the reason why assuring the quality of the website should be on the top priority when designing and developing a website.

A good web designer and developer should be able to implement a quality assurance process to ensure that the website will meet the highest standard possible on all levels and adhere to the strictest industry standards. The quality assurance should not only cover the issues on programming codes and interface design but also on the accessibility and function. Aside from that the website the QA should ensure that the websites adheres to following standards: HTML standards, CSS standards, W3C standards and accessibility standards.

Most of the time people only see the tip of the iceberg when it comes to quality, but every website element, no matter how small, needs to meet the same QA. The most obvious evidence of quality is the layout design and the way the website works, but the same kind of quality must mirror into each and every detail all throughout the website. It is in the proper implementation of QA that defines the website’s quality and ensures you end up with an asset that lasts.

One of the most recommended models in quality assurance is the PDCA model. It stands for:

Plan: Establish objectives and processes required to deliver the desired results.

Do: Implement the process developed.

Check: Monitor and evaluate the implemented process by testing the results against the predetermined objectives

Act: Apply actions necessary for improvement if the results require changes.

The PDCA model is an effective method for implementing quality assurance because it analyzes existing conditions and methods used to provide the product or service customers. The goal is to ensure that excellence is inherent in every component of the process. In addition, if the PDCA cycle is repeated throughout the lifetime of the product or service, it helps improve internal web design company efficiency.

Pointers in Making Your Website Customer Friendly

Pointers in Making Your Website Customer Friendly

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Many of the web designers are putting too much concern on developing a search engine friendly website or an SEO friendly website that they are missing the most important aspect in designing the website, which the customer satisfaction. A well-designed web site should customer-oriented; it should put the need and comfort of customer above all other.

Here are some pointers on how to make your website customer friendly:

1. Choose simplicity over complexity. It’s apparently true that simplicity is beauty. In web design simplicity is the king. Unless you are designing for web design contest or in a design company that requires showcasing the skills, keep your design simple as possible. Customers are usually not impressed with flashy content and animated graphic, especially if they don’t have any purpose or relation to the content. Remember that customer go to your website to find some information or purchase a product, so make your website easier for them to find the information they needed or the product that they want.

2. Design the site for speedy download. According to survey the top website turn-off is the very slow page download rate. Online customers’ patience is measured in milliseconds and not everyone has hi-speed or broadband Internet connections. A slow download rate can lose you huge amount of customers. So, keep page sizes within reasonable limits to ensure that they download quickly by avoiding too many graphics and videos on your site.

3. Easy Navigation. Don’t confuse your customer with scattered and invisible links. Make your links as visible as possible, place it either on the left or on the top of your web pages. Make sure that the most important and most often-accessed information is right there in the front of your customer. Make your site’s navigational logical and clear by giving concise and self-explanatory link names. Regularly test navigational link to avoid broken links and errors.

4. Avoid pop-ups. Pop-ups are the on top of the most annoying list of the web surfers. Pop-ups annoy visitors. Customers don’t stay for a second on sites with these types irritating of ads.

5. Load your site with relevant, accurate and up-to-date content. Provide accurate and relevant content and keep it up-to-date. Failure to do this will make your company look inefficient and reflects badly on your customer service levels. Search engines also appreciate content that is updated regularly.

6. Provide customer support. Make the surfing experience of your customer easier by providing FAQ’s, help pages, site map, privacy policy and terms of use. Make sure that the content of your customer support is relevant and updated.

7. Provide contact information. By providing contact information, you give your customer the opportunity to interact with you. Website that lacks contact information is not professional. Your contact info on your site makes your sites visitor to believe that you are real and that you can be trusted.

8. Encourage customer interaction. Ask for customer’s feedback via online surveys and feedback forms. Invite them to subscribe to a customer newsletter. Get visitors to interact with your site and spend more time on it. Make a visit an interesting experience for them by including useful online tools, etc. Just make sure they are relevant to your site.

9. Consider the browser compatibility. Although Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer are the two giants in web browser, this doesn’t mean that you have to over look potential customers who are using Opera, Netscape and Safari. Make sure the sure website is viewable in all browsers. In that way you can capture all possible customers, and not unintentionally reduce the number of visitors to your site.

10. Get to know your customers. Find out what makes them tick. Learn as much as you can what they like about your site, what they don’t like. If it is possible, find out what they like on your competitors’ site. With this knowledge you can improve your site more and drive more customers.

Driving Traffic To Your Website With Twitter

Driving Traffic To Your Website With Twitter

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twitter-birdThe main goal of creating quality website and implementing SEO is to drive traffic into your site. There are several methods that good search engine optimizer are using to drive traffic, one of them is through the use of social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and the recent hype the Twitter.

Twitter is a networking site similar to Facebook where the users are only allowed to post short message (140 characters). These messages are called Tweets. Tweets can be posted as often as you want, they can be used to update friends and family in a casual way via the tagline “What’s happening?” You can follow other users, and other users may follow you in return.

Follow other users, and you’ll be able to read their tweets. When they follow you, they’ll read your tweets. A business should follow everyone who is following them, because when they follow you, it means that they want to engage in a conversation. This is an opportunity to make a connection with your existing or prospective customer.

So, you might be asking “Can Twitter really help my business?” The answer is “YES!” Let me share to you some numbers that you need to know. Every day 5 to 10 thousand new people join Twitter, in June 2009 the Wall Street Journal reported that the number of Twitter accounts has grown to 32.1 million from 1.6 million a year ago. That’s a lot of opportunity waiting for your business!

Here are a few more how twitter can drive more traffic to your site:

1. Your tweets or message can read by hundreds and thousands (depending on how many is your follower) of people instantly. This means, so you don’t have to chase after customers. Potential customers will find you-for free.

2. You can provide discount coupons and special offers in a matter of seconds with a Tweet.

3. You can establish a good reputation by by offering advice and/or referring people to interesting business-related articles. But try to go easy on self-promotion, when you have establish your reputation, people will come to trust your advice and will be more open to visiting your website to find out more about you and your business.

Twitter is a micro-blogging platform that will allow you to communicate with thousands of people instantly. These thousands of people are your potential customer. This is a very cool platform and is really becoming popular in the world. Everyone is using it! Twitter is a tool where you can contact thousands of people, based on how many people you have following you. Twitter is a fantastic way to drive traffic and promote your business.

Happy Tweeting!

The One Second Principle in Web Design

The One Second Principle in Web Design

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All web designers in the world, whether you are in India or in Paris or a Los Angeles Web Design firm, you have to be aware of the One Second Principle. On the Internet you only got one second, and your website should be designed to capture that one second to hold your visitor lifetime.

On the Internet you only have one second, one second to create a powerful impression. “First impression lasts,” might be a cliché but it is quite true in web design. You only got one second to impress your target audience. One second to instill in their mind that you are the best.

On the Internet you only have one second, one second to establish your professionalism and start building trust. Online business mostly relies on two things, that is, trust and reputation. Unlike the brick and mortar store where you see person face-to-face, online business is anonymous. Anonymity is not a good foundation in business, people have a hard time trusting people they don’t know and can’t interact physically. Web designers should understand that winning the precious trust of the customer begun by establishing a professional image.

On the Internet you only have one second, one second to generate the interest of your target audience. Did you know that the “back button” is most use icon in any web browser? A good website should be designed that in a way that could capture the attention of the visitors, preventing them hitting the back button and proceed to the website of your competitors.

On the Internet you only have one second, one second to begin downloading your value proposition and to initiate a compelling sales overture. You only got one second to persuade the visitors to click the buy button. This can be done by knowing your customers, anticipating their needs, and answering their questions before they’re even asked.
In the Internet you only have one second to succeed or fail.

Create Business Identity with Custom Web Design

Create Business Identity with Custom Web Design

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Developing a website for company is a necessity if you want to keep abreast with today’s technological and business trend. This is because, more and more client tend shop online rather than going to the actual store. In order to make your products and services better known, you need to put them online so that internet users will get to reach them. This business strategy can effectively increase your business market and sales.

A website can be created using a generic template which can be bought online or download for free or you could prefer a customized web design created specifically for your company. You have to bear in mind that your website represents you; it will be your company’s identity. A custom web site designs can help in creating a business identity that speaks of integrity and professionalism. Your company’s website should be designed to suite your target audience and display the products and services in a more refined way.

With a custom website your site will be tailored specifically for your business, it speaks out what a company is and what kind of products and services they are providing. Making your website unique is necessary for you to stand out among your other competitors. The professional custom web designers can make your page attractive and clear so as to ensure visitors have an enjoyable browsing experience. Professional custom web designers are capable of developing a website with suitable layout, making visitors more comfortable while visiting the website and make sure they come back to it again.

Custom web design is a bit more costly than the generic website, but custom web design custom website pays off. If your visitors have a pleasant browsing experience, more likely, they will return. It can help in building up the website traffic and thus making it being well ranked in most of the search engines. Subsequently, your company will be more easily found by public and increase its exposure.

Finding The Right Web Designer In Your Business in Los Angeles

Finding The Right Web Designer In Your Business in Los Angeles

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Finding the right web design company that could provide your online business the boost it needed could be an overwhelming task. If you’re business is located in Los Angeles or Orange County the risk of landing into the “wrong” web design company is triple than in any other city. Literally, there are thousands of web design company exist in LA and OC. Some them are legitimate and have good reputation but some are just scammers that would ripped your hard earned dollars.

When looking for a Web Design in LA, I suggest that you should do the following to ensure that you would land in right web design company that would help your business to grow a hundredfold.

1. Do Research
The first thing that you could do when you are looking for web designer in Los Angeles is to do some research. You can do it online. Just type Los Angeles Web Design or Orange County Web design in Google or Yahoo and any search engine of your choice. Sometimes you may need to narrow your search to specific keyword or niche, to find web design that specializes on your target niche.

2. Check Company Portfolio
Checking the past projects of the web design company can tell you a lot about what they can do. Their portfolio can give you an idea of their level of expertise. It can give an impression of what they can do to your business. Do not hesitate to contact the owners of the websites in the portfolio to ask for feedback.

3. Get a Quote
Most of Web Design Company will give you a free quote. Always remember that quality doesn’t mean expensive. Get several quotes from different company; compare their prices and the services that they could offer. Go with the one which fits within your budget but still provide high quality websites. Quality and affordability is the key when choosing the right web design.

Web Design Issue: Color vs. No-Color

Web Design Issue: Color vs. No-Color

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What would make a website look professional and attractive to your visitors? Is it a design that flaunt more color or a design that possess just one or two colors? Color is a powerful tool for the web designer in influencing the buying trait. When applied appropriately, color provides many potential benefits to the overall impact of the website.

Several researches have been made with regards to the effect of color in influencing the buying behavior and task performance. The general findings of from these researches were that the use of color had positive effects on the buying behavior and task performance. Color is also beneficial for gaining greater understanding from a display or chart.

The important conclusion of those research was that mixture of colors was not universally better that those of having monochrome color. The main benefit of using color only seem to apply if the information is first provided to the user in the most appropriate presentation format. Color is use to supplement the information being displayed. If the information is displayed in inappropriate format, color has a little or no effect on improving understanding and appeal.

There are also several problems associated with using too many colors. Most of these dangers are related to technical capabilities of display and the aesthetic value of the website. Profession website designer from Claremontdesign.com suggests that you limit the number of colors and where they are applied. It is also suggested that the color should be use emphasize and highlight important information and display.

The Key To Successful Website is Keyword

The Key To Successful Website is Keyword

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Designing a quality website is important in establishing a successful online business. But a beautifully designed website is NOT everything. I have seen fancy websites that don’t make sales. Creating a quality website takes more than just simply making the site attractive, although the look of website is important, the key in building a successful website is to target the right keyword. You must create a website that will be of interest of your target market.

Selecting a niche or area of market specializing in one type of product of service is the first step in creating a successful website. Then, finding the right keyword for your niche is one of the most important ingredient in Internet marketing or e-commerce. Internet is as whole functions around keywords, the search engines rely on keywords for their search results. Failure to apply relevant and valuable keyword to your website is a critical flaw in your marketing strategy.

Selecting keywords for a niche website is critical to the success of the website and should be considered an important part of the Internet marketing strategy. The keywords you select for your niche should be relevant to your website. This is important because, through search engine optimization (SEO), these keywords will drive your target audience to your website. It means, you have to be careful in choosing the right keyword or keywords, it should be the interest of your target market and make then want to visit your site visit your website over and over again.

It is also important because your website will be ranked by search engines according to these keywords and if they are not relevant to the content of your website you may be penalized with poor search engine results. If that the case, the visibility of your website will suffer. This in turn would affect the sales of your website.
For a successful e-commerce site, Search Engine Optimization, professional Website Design and right choice of keyword should go hand in hand.

Website Maintenance Issues

Website Maintenance Issues

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Maintaining a website is a fact of life, a part of a web development cycle. This means that maintenance can begin as soon after the website goes online. Maintaining a website is quite different than maintaining application software. There are some special issues and procedures needed for Websites, due to their nature and operational status.

  • 24x7x365: A website should be fully functional 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. Websites, especially an e-commerce site should be of continuous operation. Maintenance of e-commerce site should be done without taking the site off-line. However, there are some instances that it may be necessary to lock out use of pages in a portion of a Website while changes are made to those pages. This can be made by placing a “Temporarily Out Of Service” or similar notice on the main page of the section being maintained and disabling all links within that segment. This gives the page visitors an indication of the change, which may reduce confusion.

  • Check for broken links. Most common maintenance issue for any Website, besides changing the content of the site, is validating the links if they are still working and accurate. Periodic checks are needed to be performed to make sure active pages are found from all links, this can be done manually or by the use of software created for that purpose.

  • Code Validation. Before publishing modified or new pages, it should be processed by a code validation routine to insure that all the code is working. If you are using HTML, XML, Perl or other editor, such a feature is likely built into the software.
    Re-registration. It may be necessary to re-register a Website with search engines when the content of your site significantly changes. Re-registration may be necessary for visitors to find your site based on the new or changed content.

  • Future editions. One of the most important issues to address to insure effective Website use is to avoid confusing visitors. Especially, frequent visitors can be confused if the site is constantly changing. To avoid confusion, you can post indications of future enhancements to the site and, as with all information systems; you can batch changes to reduce the frequency of site changes.