Charlotte Sometimes Blogs

Introduction

The term ‘Web Design’ creates a lot of confusion and misunderstanding. The word design suggests graphics and layout so many people think that’s what designing a website is all about. Most people think that website design is very simple, all you need to do is install the company logo, add the relevant wording, decide on the arrangement of the pages and that’s it.

Well I am about to shock you by outlining the many complicated processes involved in web design. Think of it this way; when an architect designs a house all we see is the way he lays out the rooms, how the available space is arranged. We normally do not concern ourselves with the amount of technical detail that goes into the design. The architect has to work out the stresses on the walls and the weight of the roof. If there are fireplaces he has to know about draughts and the shape of chimney for it to do the job. He has to plan heating systems, plumbing systems, drainage and sewage, what type of windows to use, door fittings and many other details so that when it’s finally complete the overall effect is pleasing and suitable for the purpose intended. Web design is similar. A customer may have an idea of the layout of the website but will need the services of the Web Designer to make it all happen.

Stages in the Process

There are many items to be decided on before even starting to build a website. Some of the important questions to consider are:

 

Who will be the target audience?

 

 

What is to be the purpose of the website?

 

 

Do you want it to be found by the search engines?

 

 

What is the domain name for the site?

 

 

What links need to be in place?

 

 

What type of graphics do you want to use?

 

 

Do you want to include photographs?

 

 

Do you want a system of monitoring visitors to the website?

 

Once the webmaster has the answers to these questions then he can start the process of designing the site to give you what you want.

Target Audience

What sort of people are going to use the new website? Are your customers likely to be businesses, sales people, home owners, parents, teenagers or children and so on?

Objectives of the Website

Is the website to be used to sell products on line, or to market your business to get leads for new customers? Maybe you wanted it to be an online brochure to showcase your products. Balloons for trade have a website for resellers only so that they can look up the products before placing an order. Because there is no selling on line there are no contact details on the site. You may want to use the website to foster a community to be in contact with other likeminded people. You would need a design that incorporates a chat rooms and online discussions.

Being found on the Web

A hugely valuable website design element is planning your search promotion strategy and choosing the most relevant keywords for your business and industry.

The first step is a search of key words in the industry. Finding the best keywords is vital if you want to be in the top ten listed in Google. Every SEO or web designer will tell you this and it really is very very important. By using a keyword research tool you can find the single most popular (trophy) keyword; the one everyone puts in. For example people looking for a vacuum cleaner might type in Hoover although this is in fact a brand name. You will also need to research buying keywords, geographical variants and long tail keywords, these are keywords that are much more likely to convert into a sale but have lower search volumes, you can find out more information about these types of keywords by performing a web search.

Domain Names

Domain names can be the hardest part of setting up your website, because nearly every name you come up with will most certainly have been registered already. By far the most popular are domain names ending in .com as they are internationally recognised. For that reason alone the majority of shorter names will already have been registered.
Choosing names with endings such as .net; .co.uk .org .info may provide you with the domain name of your preference. When choosing your domain name it is a good idea to include one or more of your keywords. Although the name of your business may be the obvious choice for a Domain Name, it is not necessarily the only option.

So as you can see choosing domain names and keywords right at the beginning of the process will determine how the site is constructed so that it is suitable for the purpose required.

A brand new domain name space has just been created.

Companies can now apply for their name in this brand new .tel name space and it is intended to replace the telephone directory. When the domain name is viewed in your web browser it will provide the companies details and telephone number.

Creating a Site Map

It is very important to have a site map to outline the pages on your website, e-commerce website or forum space. It shows the design and flow through the website so that when selling on line, items work in order such as; adding product to basket, entering delivery and billing address and on to making credit card payment. The site map helps to identify how user friendly the website is so that there are no difficulties in getting onto the site. Often the user name and password are set for the customer so there is no hindrance to achieving the initial sale.

Non e-commerce sites are easier because it is possible to receive enquiries by email, without publishing the email address on the website. By using a contact form you will avoid junk mail and also validate the information before you receive it. The aim is to create a balance between discouraging junk mail, and making it easy for the enquirer to use the site.

Links

An important consideration when designing a website are links. These can be links to other pages of content within your website, and links within the content of your website in the text, as well as links from the menu. Consideration has to be given to whether the links will open in a new window so you still have your original page open or will the new window replace the previous one.

The Copy

The copy is the words and visuals you want on your website. Having made decisions about the target market and relevant links, along with the keywords and using the site map information, the next stage is to decide what imagery you want displayed. A picture speaks a thousand words and remains in people’s memory far longer than just words. So images are important to reach your audience. Each image needs a caption which is the ‘most read’ words on the page after the title. The caption of an image need to be clickable so that when you click on a picture it takes you to the next stage of the sales process.

Design

The final design of the website is often the most challenging stage of the process because it’s subjective. In a large corporation, many people from various departments will have an input for their division. Everyone has their own ideas of what they think the site should look like and trying to gain a consensus can be a nightmare because nobody will ever agree.

If you are setting up a web design project just for yourself then you will probably have a clear idea of what you want to see on the site. But even then unless your ideas are workable in the medium, you may have difficulty getting something you like.

Look at competitor’s websites in mind of your ideas to make sure your design will be an improvement on what is already in the market place.

Once you have done that you will need to create a design brief. The design brief should have a reference to the logo and any existing brand guidelines, colour schemes and fonts adding in any other relevant material.

Having done a design brief look for a suitable graphic designer. Choose your designer carefully, finding one who designs specifically for screen and the web to achieve the very best results. Beware of choosing a graphic designer who designs for different discipline such as print as they are very different processes. Look at other works the designer has done and decide whether or not you like their style.

Using several graphic designers is the best option if you are working in the big time and budget allows. Give each designer the same brief and request three concept designs from each one. The client might also do a design, even if it’s a scribble on the back of an envelope, there will then be ten concept designs. Get everyone together and choose the preferred elements from each design. Once the items you want are selected choose one graphic designer to workup the final artwork.

All parties need to agree on the final artwork before construction of the site begins. Consideration should be give to the fonts used for the titles and buttons etc. Fonts have to be licensed so if the designer has not supplied something then the developer will need a copy of the fonts to achieve the task. Professional graphic designers will usually provide the artworks in a layered Photoshop file so if titles are not going to be in plain text get the designer to also supply the fonts.

Production

At last all the preparation has been done and the site is ready to go into production. This is where it gets technical! You may not want to go into the detail in which case leave it to your Web Master to choose for you. There have to be decisions about what language to use, either Unix or Windows based, to build the website. Each have advantages and disadvantages with multiple variants but sites such as Ebay, Facebook, Google as well as other well known websites are built on Unix. Your website has to be built with the development language of your web host provider so that they are compatible.

Accessiblity and Compliance

These are current standards for website development to insure that disabled users, such as the visually impaired, can still access all sections of the website.

Development

Development of the website is best done on the web server where the site will reside. Those involved in reviewing the work can then monitor work in progress and provide comments throughout the development.

Unforeseen Items

As the site building progresses the customer suddenly thinks of something they must have. No matter how well the web master prepares and asks the client the right questions, there are always some last minute adjustments to the programme. The main aim is to minimise last minute additions because they aren’t calculated in and will generate extra costs and cause delays to the date of the website going live.

Going live

At last your site is up and running and you see the results of all the planning that has gone into the whole process. There is no substitute for real world testing so as soon as the site is live ask your friends and colleagues to view the website from their own computers and give feedback.

Marketing

Once the site is up and running it’s time to turn your attention to marketing your products by submitting the site to the search engines, writing articles, and press releases and generating links from forums, blogs and other social networking spaces.

Reporting and Monitoring

Ask your nearest web design Kent agent to install a web statistics solution on your website if you don’t already have one, as the information that is provided can be invaluable, provided you review it regularly.

Use a reliable statistics package such as Google Analytics or Web-Stat.com to collect and review website visitor data. All you will need is a small block of code inserted into each web page on your site to collect visitor information to help you assess the success of your products in near real time. Web-stat.com also monitors the website and alerts you by email and text message if the site goes down.

Conclusion

The title ‘Web Design’ is a bit misleading in that people often assume it means the graphic design on the home page and the branding of the product. Unless you are a computer expert, most people do not realise the amount of work that goes into designing and building of a website. Clients are not aware of the amount of complicated technical work necessary to build the systems that support what they want the website to do. In such a complex process anything that gets tacked on at the end will end up incurring more cost to your budget.

The degree of initial questioning is an indicator of how competent your Web Master will be. Every aspect of the construction has to be decided upon before you even start the design. These things may sound very technical to us non techies but it is essential for the Web Master to find out exactly what is required so that everything can be costed accurately and built into the design from the beginning.

Everybody likes picture calendersat home. And everyone likes other themes from classic pinup to movie stars to cats and dogs to whatever you like…

One of my favorite topics is pictures of beautiful landscapes. A good range of what is available on the market can be found at amazon, and as I live in germany I usually search for Fotokalender. But what you get then is a vast flood of calenders!

So I choose to refine my search to GEO Fotokalender 2009. By doing so I get only new calenders of renowned quality, as the GEO calendars are always worth their price. I espescially like the GEO Panorama Kalender Australia – It shows the beauty of this wonderful country in colorful images and is a perfect decoration for any wall large enough.

Many people only think of big nature landscapes but there are also many other nice things like calender bookmarks with nature pictures and week planners and so on. There is only one thing that is even better: Go outdoors yourself and enjoy nature!

If you are a photographer yourself you can take your camera with you and create your calender with your own images!

One of the great things about Vail vacation rental is that they typically have extra features including in room laundry facilities. Economical pricing makes it doable for you to have an extended and a more worthwhile trip. Once you have spent the night in the comfort of a vacation rental in Vail it will be disapointing to be happy with to other types of lodging. At the most reviewed venues there is typically a large selection of rental condos available to suit your interests as well as your ability to pay. So go ahead and get the indulgence you know you want at a cost you can afford!

Quite a few condo rentals in Vail provide extra features such as private pools and saunas to make your next escape a more satisfying experience. An interesting aspect of rentals in Vail is that they generally have bonus amenities including kitchens and living rooms. Escape from the rat race and savor more amenities while at the same time paying less money for it. Reward yourself to the luxury of a rental condo. Some rental condos have whirlpool tubs and fireplaces. Why settle for a hotel when you can have your own private retreat?

Normally You Can Bring Your Dogs on Your Family Reunion

Your animals are an a key part of your family and a excursion would be imperfect without them, so dont expose your pets to the constant worry of being sent to a kennel. So be sure to bring your pets with you on your next vacation! One of the interesting things about Vail Pet Friendly Hotels is that they go out of their way to accommodate your dogs. On your next outing, choose a vacation rental with the features you are thinking about, at prices you have the funds for, and where your animals are encouraged to stay with your family.

It’s fairly obvious that most 9 to 5 jobs are boring and don’t pay very well, but most people who hold those jobs can’t think of a practical alternative. After all, we have been told from the time we are little children that we must work to make a living. And for most of us that has meant “go to school and get a job” – working for someone else.

The normal way to break out of one job into a more fulfilling, better paying position is to take a lot of courses at a university or vocational college. These courses usually require years of study, thousands of evenings of hard work, and many weekends spent sitting in classes or in front of a computer. These kinds of courses often cost quite a bit. They also can take up quite a bit of your spare time.

Many also find that when their training courses are finished they’re not a whole lot better off than before. They find their new job is just more of the same – more “working for the man” – but now with an increased workload, greater expectations from the boss, more responsibility, and only marginally better pay.

Becoming an online entrepreneur is an option that many have not seriously considered because it is so different from what most of us do for a living. There is no diploma required to qualify. There is no 9 to 5 grind. You don’t have to drive into the office every day. There is no boss. And while there is no “security” to your income, there is also no artificial limit to the amount you can make.

That’s why the idea of being an online marketer is attractive to so many people. People who are unhappy with their current jobs, or who need to make more money, or would just like to fire their boss once and for all would love to take advantage of the opportunities presented by internet marketing.

But there are a few little issues. The first problem is that internet marketing is so open-ended it is difficult to know where to begin. That’s because there is no official version of what an online entrepreneur is or does. .There is no “authorized” manual that gives you a step by step explanation of how to become an internet entrepreneur.

The second problem is that the business is filled with dishonest people who claim to know the secret of making money online and are prepared to share it with you. All it takes is a small one-time payment of $79 and they’ll send you a 50 page ebook where they will share their valuable secrets with you. Unfortunately most of these would-be gurus have never made more than a few hundred dollars online. But the problem is it is difficult to know who are the good guys and who are the bald faced liars.

However most legitimate, successfull online entrepreneurs agree there is a fairly simple “formula” for achieving online success Most agree you should find a good mentor – someone who has been reasonably (or wildly) successful, who can serve as an example, and who can teach you the fundamentals.

Finding the right person to be your mentor can be tricky. There are obviously many successful online marketers out there, but the whole field is full of so much hype and exaggeration that it is difficult to tell who to believe and who to not believe. Perhaps the best advice is to look for someone who sounds authentic, and then find some of his or her followers. Read their reviews. Get their opinions. Pick their brains.

One of the most successful examples of this in recent years is Jay Kubassek. Jay has a story that many of us can identify with. As a young man in his early twenties he had limited prospects. In his own words he says, “I spent the first 25 years of my life barely making ends meet without knowing how I was going to come up with my next rent check or make ends meet.” Sound familiar?

After three years of hit and miss, trial and error and false starts he hit on a formula that worked. This formula finally allowed him to make a go of it in internet marketing. In his first year as a full time internet marketer he made close to $500,000 in commissions.

Shortly after that he realized the potential of what he had learned. He took what he had learned and made it available to members of a “tell all” website. This was so successful that he was soon mentoring more than 500 members. The principle behind his plan was simple: he would show others how to make a carbon copy of his own success and he could then share in the rewards of their success.

The result was CarbonCopyPRO, a marketing plan that gives would-be online marketers carbon copy of the techniques that Jay Kubassek uses to make as much as $100,000 each and every month.

So if this sounds interesting you should take a look at it. What this program offers is the “manual” that so many internet marketers are looking for. But more than that, it offers the hands-on expertise of a team of experienced online marketers willing to help you become successful in as short a time as possible. Before you buy into another one of those $2000 training courses, waste your time with an online pyramid scheme, or even before you buy another $49 ebook, have a look at CarbonCopyPRO. You have nothing to lose, and a whole new future to gain.

The online worlds is filled with a lot of so called work from home online jobs. They promise to give you gross amounts of money by hardly lifting a finger. Its difficult to know which internet work from home job is legit. Below are tips and tricks to help you find the best legitimate work from home jobs without being scammed.

1. Complete Research – search on the net about scam reports on certain programs that you find online. Users aren’t scared to voice their opinion when they’ve had a bad experience. One or two bad reviews aren’t anything to necessarily get scared about, but if you consistently hear about jobs cheating people out of thousands of dollars, it certainly is time to look elsewhere.

2. Do They Have A Contact addresses – If it is legitimate work from home job you should be able to find contact information readily available. Do not give your money if the information is not present, there are procedures of tracking a website a email address or postal address, but why go through the hassle if they don’t hand it to you on a platter.

3. Will They Assure Payment – In my book, to be considered as one of the No 1 legitimate work fom home jobs they most definitely have to have a payment guarantee and/or a money back guarantee. If they don’t there may be a reason for it.

4.Listen To Yourself – If you feel like you’re being sucked in and get that to good to be true gut feeling, maybe the work at home job you are considering isn’t right for you. Most people have a six-sense about online scams.

By following these simple guidelines, you have already saved yourself from most of the scams online. Be Cautious, yet follow your gut instinct and you will be well on your way to find the best legitimate work at home jobs.