7 steps for a winning website design

As the owner of an e-business, you can think of the Internet as a mall. Your website represents your individual store within that mall. Obviously you want a storefront that encourages customers to come inside and take a look around. Website design is the key to building a storefront that’s inviting, entertaining and easy to navigate.

You don’t just want your potential customers to linger in the doorway. Entice them to come inside, and once they do, be sure you’ve got a website design that will hold their interest beyond the homepage. Here are six of the top tips for creating a winning website design.

1. Don’t use a website template. There can be a temptation on the part of e-business owners to build the website themselves with a template instead of hiring a professional website designer. Templates, though, greatly limit your ability to customize your site. Certain elements may not work within the predefined parameters of the template. When restricted in this way, you’re unlikely to wind up with a finished product that truly represents your unique identity as a business. Given that a website is all that potential customers have to judge an e-business on, a poorly designed website is not a chance you can take. By far the wisest course of action is to hire a professional website designer who can build you a site that will keep the customers coming.

2. Include “hands on” features in your website design. Interactive features engage your visitors and encourage them to spend more time at your website. Elements such as comment sections and message boards send the message that you care about what your customers have to say. Surveys and blogs are two other ways to make visitors part of the action.

3. Be judicious in your use of flash player. Flash player provides you with opportunities to present your marketing message to visitors in creative ways. However, it can also interfere with the functionality of your site. Because flash player takes several seconds to load, your opening page is probably not the best place to use it. Visitors can quickly lose their patience and move onto another site. If you use flash player, make it optional, so that it only loads if a visitor clicks on it. Also, use flash player to enhance your site, not as the main mode of communication. That way visitors who choose not to not use it will still understand your sales message.

4. Be selective about including pictures and other images. Large images, or too many images, can cause your page to load slowly the same way that flash player does. Thumbnails are a good alternative for a website that has a business-related need for a lot of pictures, such as an online catalog. Thumbnails take very little time to load, and your visitors can still see the larger picture by clicking on it.

5. Limit the amount of text on each page. Ideally, each page of your website will contain between 500 and 1000 words. The problem is not only that you’ll overwhelm your visitors with text, it can also hurt your search engine rankings. Typically spiders crawl only the first few paragraphs of a long page. The rest of the text is wasted for SEO purposes.

6. Hire a well-rounded website designer. In addition to website design, you need a designer who understands the principles of search engine optimization. A fantastic-looking site won’t do much for your business if it isn’t ranking well in the search engines. All search engines care about is content. Your website designer should know enough about search engine algorithms and SEO to help you develop the right content. This includes the proper use of tags and meta tags.

7. Before you hire a website designer, review the websites they’ve already created. It’s the same as asking a potential employee for references. When looking at the websites, put yourself in the customer’s shoes. Are the sites visually appealing? Are you coming across glitches, errors or broken links? How long do the pages take to download? Are they easy to navigate? To test the designer’s SEO skills, select a few keywords from the site and perform a Google search. How high does the site rank? Whatever your final assessment of the designer’s work, that is about the same quality you can expect for your own site.

The success of your business is firmly tied to the effectiveness of your website design. A site that’s attractive, interesting and error-free encourages visitors to browse. The longer a visitor stays on your website, the better chance you have of making them a customer!

How using proper graphic formats is the secret to good website design

There are many different file formats that website design companies can use for site design. However, every specific graphic format has its own function and use and it is a part of good website design to use them judiciously.

Properties that these formats have:

In terms of common properties of these website design graphic formats, there are five main types. These are namely:

  • Compression: This refers to the ability to store an image in a smaller file size. This employs using special algorithms to measure pixels as single items.
  • Transparency: This varies the opaqueness of an image from being totally solid to being totally see-through or transparent.
  • Progressive loading: In this case of website design, a part of the image is loaded first. However, it is not decided on the concept of alternating rows. This allows the picture to get loaded quicker.
  • Interlacing: This is much like progressive loading, except that the odd numbered rows of the image appear first, followed by even numbered rows. Users can see images quickly using this format of website design.
  • Animation: In this case of website design graphical formats, various still images are moved in quick succession to make it seem like they are moving. Most animated GIF images work on all browsers as they do not need plug-ins for them.

    File formats available:

    There are three main graphic file formats in website design. These are GIF, JPEG and PNG. One of the oldest formats is GIF and it helps loading images quickly. They have only 8 bits of color and have interlacing and transparency incorporated in them. These are the most common forms of graphics in website design and images look good in such formats. JPEGs are compressed files and have a 24 bit color capacity. In situations where you need high quality images in website design, a JPEG format works well. Compression elements of JPEG files can be easily controlled by a website design company. The download speeds for such format files is faster and in cases of complicated drawings, the overall quality is excellent. In PNG graphic formats, there is support for 24 bit color images. Both interlacing and transparency is incorporated in such images. Such images also can have a description alongside, for use in search engines. Compared to JPEG images, PNG images look much better and hence are preferred where high quality images are needed. Plus, it overcomes the restrictions of an 8 bit color image in website design.

  • Good Steps for Website Designing Planning and Organizing!

    Designing Your Directory Structure The first step to implementing a website is to design the directory structure. Unlike the Hollywood fairy tale of “build it and they will come,” designing a beautiful website isn’t enough. In the same manner that color bears great significance in our daily lives, so too does color play an important if not crucial role when designing a website. In order to increase the search engine optimization for your website, some new website designing needs to be done.

    It’s not that difficult to build your own website and the following 10 reasons will convince you that designing a website that suits you and your market may lead to increased profits. However, it always happens that HTML editors write clumsy HTML tags, especially when you amend the webpage layout again and again during your website designing process, which may possibly deter search engines from reading your web page and in turn poorly affect your search engine ranking. Planning and organizing are the most crucial steps in designing a website.

    Don’t get too caught up in all the fancy graphics when it comes to designing a website. A web designer needs to consider a variety of online selling principles while designing an eCommerce website. This article will help point out some key areas you should focus on when designing your own website. Irrelevant Content Is King when designing your website, and is equally important to both of the major groups who will determine the success of your web site. Pick a Reputable Website Designing Company In order to get the best website redesign, For more details go to www.magic-mini-site.com it is important to make sure that you choose a reputable, well liked company.

    When designing your website or any promotional material, make sure you use language that all your customers understand. When designing your website, include these keywords in the page titles, Meta tags and heading tags. * Providing you with website and sales reports * Designing presentations for client meetings, Design depends on individual taste, and designing a website from a first draft that the client will like from the start, can be a real challenge.

    Use website templates if you don’t have any designing flair. For more details go to www.web-audios-plus.com Keywords and Search Terms Your business keywords and search terms are also critical considerations when designing your website. Here’s a Fast Track Technique to make your job of designing and building a website a lot easier: All you really have to do is plan one page, your homepage, and then clone all your other 2nd and 3rd level pages. Graphic Tools for designing your own website online is also available.

    Designing a Website with ZERO Marketing Experience — Most web designers have no idea how to make money on the internet, with anything other than their design services. If you are designing or maintaining your website then learn about Meta tags. Proper web design is not a difficult task; it is just a matter of designing your website from a viewer’s point of view. Designing the video jacket, website, figuring out how to market the video and get publicity all while trying to lose weight hard enough to do when you’re not stressed and food is you’re only vice.

    The Importance of Website Reviews

    There are numerous companies that offer the service of a web site design review. There are several reasons that contribute to the importance of a web site design review. Many people have benefited from having a web site design review because this is a wonderful opportunity to receive a professional opinion on not only the design but the overall effectiveness of your web site.

    Most companies that specialize in web site design review will review the following features of your website; the overall site organization, the web site home page, page titles, messaging, content formatting, professional image and the search engine friendliness of the web site.

    The main focus of having a website review is to figure out how you can improve your web site. A web design review company considers how to increase the usability of a web site. The company will review and then evaluate how clearly the message of your web site is perceived by visitors.

    With an experienced team of professionals reviewing your web site you can take your business to the next level. Custom web site design services assist and ensure the success of a web site. Many web site design review companies will even offer a free evaluation of your web site. This is an amazing offer that promises to take your business even further then you could have dreamed of.

    There are over eighty million web sites currently on the Internet. That means that the competition on the Internet is often times plentiful and fierce. Let your web site gain an edge over the competition by having your web site reviewed. Many people have noticed an increase in business after following the suggestions from a web site design company.

    When launching a web site put your best foot forward. Have your web site reviewed by a group of professionals who are focused and dedicated to making your web site an overnight success.

    12 Tips for Designing an Artist Website That Showcases Your Art

    Here’s the scoop on what you must know when designing a website to showcase your art, impress galleries, and win over collectors. Learn how to avoid the mistakes most emerging artists make when creating their online portfolio.

    1.You need an artists website

    Any artist who can classify themselves as either “emerging” or “mid-career” will definitely benefit from having their own website to promote their work. At this stage of your career it is important to be able to have a place where anyone in the world can easily access and view your work.

    2.Know who you are trying to impress

    Are you trying to engage a Soho gallery to sell your $20,000 paintings or sell $5 prints to children in Korea? That Soho gallery might not be impressed when they see your online-store selling prints and art cards – but on the other hand, you could make a very handsome living if you really knew how to market those art cards.

    3.Make your website fit with your overall art marketing strategy

    A website is most effective when it is part of a larger overall marketing strategy for your art. This includes mailings, lots of in-person gallery visits and presentations, regular (physical) showings of your work, and developing relationships with the art world. An effectively planned website can greatly compliment and simplify your other marketing efforts.

    4.There is a real market for art on the internet

    The internet is quickly becoming an accepted place to showcase your art to collectors and arts professionals. They might still want to see your work in person before they buy, but the fact remains: they saw it first on your website! Having an online art presence is very important at this time.

    5.Have your own website and a website portfolio service

    A website portfolio service (e.g. www.absolutearts.com or www.art-exchange.com is like an online slide registry. For a fee you can upload images of your work together with a bio, artist statement, and resume. They have many visitors and are a convenient way to make your work accessible to potential clients. The down side is that they don’t display your work well, and there is little flexibility in how the art is showcased.

    Your own website, on the other hand will require more work to promote, but you’ll be able to present the work in the most beautiful way. Remember the times you’ve been taken into the dimmer room in a commercial gallery? How that art which looked fairly good on the main gallery wall suddenly became something you had to take home? That’s how a good artist’s website should showcase your work.

    We recommend both options – they are a perfect compliment.

    6. Have a website that collectors and art professionals will enjoy

    Here are some common elements which most dealers and galleries would agree on for your website design:

  • Keep the site simple and elegant with the focus on the art itself and don’t overpower the art with a site that looks too busy
  • Avoid advertising such as banner adds or sidebar adds. If you must have them, put them in a separate “resource” section
  • Avoid complex effects like flash movies. In the time it takes to play your exotic entry page, your visitor may have moved on. Include your bio, artist statement, resume, contact information, gallery(s) of your work, contact information, and a pricelist.

    Showcase your work beautifully

    You need to have visual design skills to create a beautiful artist website. Here are some points to get you started:

  • Most Important: Use high-quality, professionally-photographed images. Excellence in, excellence out!
  • Keep the website simple and elegant with the focus on the art.
  • Create multiple galleries to compliment the work – just as a good physical gallery would do.
  • Choose colors that compliment (not overpower) the work. Think of the colors you would use in a physical gallery to showcase your work – neutral colors like crème, white, gray, and good safe choices.
  • Think “minimalist” not “busy” for the layout.
  • Keep your copy (text) brief. Let the art speak for itself!

    7.Bring collectors and galleries to your website

    Its no use having that stunning website sitting in hyperspace. Make it work for you! Here are the ways to bring quality visitors:

    Search Engines: If your website has been well optimized for search engines, a search on your name or your style of art should bring up your website in the first few pages of results.

    Letters of Introduction: A letter of introduction sent to a gallery or dealer is a very effective way to bring a qualified visitor to your website. Better still is to include a brochure or postcard of your work with the letter.

    Advertising online or in magazines: For example, if your art is minimalist and modern in style, a banner add on an interior design website focused on the same minimalist ethic could draw a lot of traffic to your site.

    You need to be able to sell your work on the internet.

    But there are many ways to do it. More important than anything is that you have clear and up-to-date contact information on your website. If a buyer likes your work enough to bring out their checkbook, they will normally be happy to call you to close the sale.

    It’s also handy to be able to sell directly from your website, especially if you sell lower-cost reproductions. There are simple and cost-effective ways to do this.

    8. Think again before designing your own website.

  • Have you really added up the total cost? Here are some questions to consider before you start designing:
  • Do you have visual design skills/training?
  • Can you wait several months for the site to be ready?
  • Can you afford to give up a month or more of your valuable artist time?
  • Do you have all the computer software and the relatively-new computer needed to build a high-quality website?
  • Are you fully trained in your design software?

    Can you answer “Yes” to all of the above? If so, you might think about doing it yourself. Otherwise, hire a designer!

    9. Choose your website-designer thoughtfully

    The most important thing here is to remember what you are trying to create – a beautiful online gallery space to elegantly show your beautiful work – this is very different from building a high-volume website selling printer ink cartridges and paper rolls!

    Look for the ability to design a space to present your work. One way to do this is to find artist websites that you like and then contact the artist to get the name of their designer.

    10. Know what you should pay

    Artist’s website development prices range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. Typically, bigger design firms have larger overheads and will be significantly more expensive. On the other hand, Joe down the street can probably build you a website for $200 – but you probably don’t want that website!

  • Easy Ways to Redesign Your Website

    There is no doubt that a website redesign can be suitable for just about anybody. It is probably the most suitable for a company or business that is looking to improve their success. It is also suitable for a company that is looking to get the best results out of website promotion or website optimization. Of course, if you just have a website which can use some readjustments, considering a new website design can be a very good choice for you.
    Some ways are given below to redesign your website:-

    Get Better Website Optimization For Your Website

    Chances are that you possibly have your website listed in search engine databases. If so, you probably know the way that search engines work is through website optimization. This is when websites are arranged according to how well keywords match up to what a person is looking for, through keywords. In order to increase the search engine optimization for your website, some new website designing needs to be done. The best keywords will be chosen, to make your website more effective in search engines. For the best search engine optimization strategies and to increase website optimization, you should definitely consider having your website redesigned.
    Making Your Website Look More Attractive

    Have you made yourself a website just for the sake of having a website? Did you just make a dinky website on your own since you have no experience in website designing? If so, then chances are that you may want to redesign your website. If you have a business, you want to get the best results. The key to your success may be how appealing your website looks. A website redesign can help your business a whole lot in the long run.

    Organization Can Make All The Difference

    One of the main reasons that you may want to consider getting a website redesign is because your website is currently unorganized. Chances are that there is information scattered throughout your entire website, without any rhyme or reason. If this is the case, then chances are that people may not understand your website when they do decide to visit it. By deciding to redesign your website, you could be making a huge difference in the success of your website.

    Develop the Right Style For Your Website

    There is no doubt that style can be very important for your website. Although there are certain things which you would love to see on your website, there are other things that you need to take into consideration when you go through website designing. This includes, what is the most suitable for your business, as well as what people are interested in seeing. If you decide to get your website redesigned, you will be able to have a website developed for the style which you are looking for. This can lead to the overall success of your website.

    Promote Your Website

    One of the main keys to your overall company success is website promotion. There are a number of different ways to increase your website promotion, some of which include search engine optimization, email campaigns, directories, and other websites. Of course, before you can experience the best website promotion, you need to make sure that your website is as professional and appealing as it can be. In order to have the most successful website promotion, you should definitely consider a new look for your website.

    Change the Wording to Make it More Appealing

    Are you unsure of whether or not the information on your website sounds appealing enough? Do you also want to make sure that people who view your website can easily understand it? These are both very good reasons to consider website redesigning. The way that your website is worded can make a huge deal to someone that is browsing through it. Making sure that it sounds as appealing as it possibly can be very important to your success, as well as your website optimization.

    Develop a More Professional Looking Website

    One of the most important things that there is to know about website design is the fact that a website is the soul to your company. If you have a company which is very professional, chances are that you will also want your company’s website to be very professional as well.

    If a person finds that your website does not seem professional or legitimate enough, they will most likely avoid using your services. If you decide to get your website redesigned, you will feel rest assured to know that your website is as professional-looking as it should be.

    Make Sure That Your Website is Easy to Use

    It is also appropriate for a company that is looking to get the best results out of website promotion or website optimization. When people use a website that has confusing navigation, chances are that they will not use the website again because they will get frustrated with it. Website redesigning can help you a lot when it comes to making your website easy to use. An understandable website can lead to the overall success of your business, by increasing the sales that you get.