The Web Authority
Wednesday, April 23
Website Templates Should You Use One?
Want to get on the Web fast? Want to get on the Web cheaply? Website templates may or may not be the best choice for you. We have several things that you should definitely consider before investing your sweat equity in a template driven website. Find out what they are and then make your decision on what is best for your needs. Click our post title to read the article on Design-World Watch.
Labels: Web Design
¶ 4/23/2008 07:10:00 AM 0 Comments
Wednesday, April 2
No Don't Do These Things On Your Website
Read our top no-no's so that you won't make a mistake. These items should be included on every website, find out what they are and why you should always make sure to include them at Design-World Watch today.
Labels: Web Design, web designs
¶ 4/02/2008 10:56:00 AM 0 Comments
Wednesday, March 19
When to Use Music on Your Website
In this post published at Design-World Watch, we consider several important factors to consider before adding music to your website; copyright infringement, commercial use, annoyance, and controllers. Make sure that you are considering all options before you add!
Labels: Web Design
¶ 3/19/2008 07:08:00 AM 0 Comments
Wednesday, March 12
Best Practices for Website Navigation
We've got six tips to consider as you plan your website navigation. Find out how you can make your website better for search engines and readers with our best practice tips.
Labels: Web Design, Web Visibility
¶ 3/12/2008 07:18:00 AM 0 Comments
Monday, January 14
Top Web Design Mistakes
In my experience in working with clients, reviewing and replacing older websites, and search engine optimization work and practice, I have found some common mistakes in websites that affect consumer confidence and performance. Here is my short list:
1. Poor use of navigation. The best place for navigation is the left side bar and then at the top under the banner. This is where research shows that clients will look to find site navigation. It is best to utilize this research when setting up a new site to make it easy for clients to find your pages.
2. Poor use of prime real estate. Eye tracking research shows that a prime spot for attention is the top right of the content block. This is an excellent place for a feature or highlight box. After viewing navigation scanning from the left column down and then across the page horizontally from left to right, the eye lingers in this prime spot. Make sure you are using it for your site's benefit.
3. No address or phone number on the website. Ouch, are you trying to hide from customers? Make sure your address is on your website, you want people to have confidence that you are a real business. I recommend putting your phone number at the bottom of your page in the footer. More often than not, I will have someone on my site who picks up the phone to call and chat with me right then with my site open in front of them. In fact typically even my clients who find me by pay per click ads like to pick up the phone for the immediacy of response. Make sure you understand that this is how many prospects and clients will contact you and don't make it hard for them to phone right when they want to.
4. No privacy policy on the website. Google is looking for this! If you are doing pay per click advertising, make sure you have one. If you are doing any kind of email marketing now or think that you will in the future, make sure that you have a privacy policy in place. You need to give visitors information on what you do with the information that they share with you either through a website contact or if they contact you directly by email.
5. No about page on the website. You may think that this information may be superfluous, but put yourself in the reader's shoes. You really should take time to identify yourself, explain who you are and what your background is, who is on your team, and about the products and services you sell or offer. All this is a part of creating confidence and trust which are cornerstones to closing a sale.
All of the items on the above list are easy to implement and easy to correct. Now's the time to take a very candid look at your own website through your customers' and prospects' eyes to see where you have areas of improvement.
1. Poor use of navigation. The best place for navigation is the left side bar and then at the top under the banner. This is where research shows that clients will look to find site navigation. It is best to utilize this research when setting up a new site to make it easy for clients to find your pages.
2. Poor use of prime real estate. Eye tracking research shows that a prime spot for attention is the top right of the content block. This is an excellent place for a feature or highlight box. After viewing navigation scanning from the left column down and then across the page horizontally from left to right, the eye lingers in this prime spot. Make sure you are using it for your site's benefit.
3. No address or phone number on the website. Ouch, are you trying to hide from customers? Make sure your address is on your website, you want people to have confidence that you are a real business. I recommend putting your phone number at the bottom of your page in the footer. More often than not, I will have someone on my site who picks up the phone to call and chat with me right then with my site open in front of them. In fact typically even my clients who find me by pay per click ads like to pick up the phone for the immediacy of response. Make sure you understand that this is how many prospects and clients will contact you and don't make it hard for them to phone right when they want to.
4. No privacy policy on the website. Google is looking for this! If you are doing pay per click advertising, make sure you have one. If you are doing any kind of email marketing now or think that you will in the future, make sure that you have a privacy policy in place. You need to give visitors information on what you do with the information that they share with you either through a website contact or if they contact you directly by email.
5. No about page on the website. You may think that this information may be superfluous, but put yourself in the reader's shoes. You really should take time to identify yourself, explain who you are and what your background is, who is on your team, and about the products and services you sell or offer. All this is a part of creating confidence and trust which are cornerstones to closing a sale.
All of the items on the above list are easy to implement and easy to correct. Now's the time to take a very candid look at your own website through your customers' and prospects' eyes to see where you have areas of improvement.
Labels: best practices, Web Design, Web Visibility
¶ 1/14/2008 09:50:00 AM 0 Comments
Tuesday, January 9
Search Engine Optimization Is Not For Everyone
Search engine optimization is not for every website. Although search engine optimization can really improve the organic search results for some websites, there are a couple of considerations when really search engine optimization should not be considered and maybe a full site redesign may be a better investment of money and time.
When not to do search engine optimization:
When not to do search engine optimization:
- If your site is created in Frontpage and the site layout becomes broken when new content is added
- Your site looks funny in browsers other than Internet Explorer
- You have a site designed totally in Flash
- Your website looks dated or non-professional
As search engine optimization is not inexpensive, in some cases the money that would have been spent on search engine optimization would be better spent on a new search engine friendly design with built-in optimization features.
Labels: Web Design
¶ 1/09/2007 12:04:00 PM 0 Comments
