Archive for May, 2009

Professional Web Design, is it for me?

Posted in Uncategorized on May 13th, 2009 by Charge – Be the first to comment

Web building requieres professional training and expert tools
Creating a web design requires careful planning, a ton of creativity and professional training. The web design industry is growing at giant steps and it only becomes more and more competitive. It´s not longer enough to have the intense desire to make web site, let´s see what you need to become a web designer.
Web building has become a really good option for people interested on the design field.  Internet is a continuously growing business, more business simply mean more job opportunities. A successful webmaster has to keep up to date with technological advances.
Web design is defined as :  “The process of designing Web pages, Web sites, Web applications or multimedia for the Web may utilize multiple disciplines, such as animation, authoring, communication design, corporate identity, graphic design, human-computer interaction, information architecture, interaction design, marketing, photography, search engine optimization and typography.”
Here are some elements a professional web builder should handle:
•    Color schemes development
•    Java Scripts
•    Multi-media
•    Structure creation
•    Web publishing
•    HTML
•    Computer graphics
•    Ecommerce

It is very advisable to gain experience working as much as possible on web design, as it is one of those things that can only be mastered by practicing it. www.Ilikewebsitedesigners.com has a very talented team of professional designers, with plenty of experience and eager to help you develop a custom low cost web site.

Not Just Any Design: SEO Web Design

Posted in Uncategorized on May 12th, 2009 by Charge – 1 Comment

Because having a web site by no means will increase business for you by itself, it´s imperative to understand what SEO web design is all about. Most people understand SEO in terms of content; however an affective custom web design has a clear outline with search engine optimization as well.

seo web design: the right way

Once you get the hosting and domain name out of the way, you´re ready to start the magic of building a web site. Determine the best site´s structure for your type of company but keep it SEO friendly. Here the basic dos and don’ts.
What to do
•    Use static html or CSS for the creation, this allow for search engines to read the site´s content easier and faster.
•    Have a minimum of 6 pages.
•    Develop robust, related content.
What to avoid
•    Avoid flash as much as you can, as there will be little text for the search engines to read and you can kiss top ranking bye-bye.
•    Don´t stuff your site with heavy images.
Remember: designing a web site requires professional knowledge, visit www.ilikewebsidesigners.com to get a top yet affordable SEO web design.

What is web design?

Posted in Uncategorized on May 11th, 2009 by Charge – Be the first to comment

A lot of people might think this is a very easy to answer question, many of those might have the wrong conception that anyone who has some graphic experience can design a web site; well, although very popular and why not common, web design includes a number of specific outlines and to be done correctly must also have the right people behind it.

Maybe one the easiest ways of understanding web design is having a very clear knowledge of what it is not:

•    It is not a book design What web design is not
•    It is not a poster design
•    It is not illustration
•    It is not a video
•    It is not a video game

That’s exactly why developing a web site requires a specific expertise. Web design is “the creation of digital environments that facilitate and encourage human activity; reflect or adapt to individual voices and content; and change gracefully over time while always retaining their identity.”

Web sites are built everyday to promote, sell or market a certain product or service, this building process includes some or all of the following elements:

•    Animation
•    Communicating design
•    Corporate identity
•    Graphic design
•    Marketing
•    Photography
•    Content development
•    Search Engine Optimization

As you see developing a web site takes expertise and a full understanding of Internet marketing medias. Top web sites are not only appealing, they work as a selling window for any kind or product or service by generating human response. Professional web design teams such as www.ilikewebsitedesigners.com are always the smart alternative when contemplating web development.

What Do I Have a Web Site For?

Posted in Uncategorized on May 8th, 2009 by Charge – Be the first to comment

The points on having a web site

Everyone´s talking about Internet, so you went and got this cool pictures of your business, choose the background color, wrote some text and put it up online. Yes it might be looking good, yet nothing seems to be coming for that.
Let´s go back to why you decided to build a web site in the first place. Here, the” everyone has one” way of thinking just doesn’t cut it. Truth is, many websites are built without a clear goal on mind.
Let´s go over a basic checklist here:

What is the goal of your web site? Inform, sell services or products and perform e commerce

•    Is everyone in the company in the same boat? Make sure everyone is trying to achieve the same goal through the web site, from point one.
What is your target audience? It´s imperative that you have a clear sense of who is the public your web site will be talking to. It is not the same talking to graduate student than a house wife, now is it?
OK, list checked, now what? Here are the main reasons why you need a web site:
•  Non-stopping communication- Get in touch with your clients 24 hours, 7 days a week
•    Increase sales- A store that is open at all times is easier to access by all people, therefore you will increase your sales.
•    Boost corporate image- Expose your businesses to all audiences at relatively low cost.
•    Reduce costs- Avoiding printing materials will drastically reduce the amount of money you spend.
Remember you can always get the best affordable web site design services from professionals at www.ilikewebsitedesigners.com and get your web site making real conversions.

How to Build a Web Site

Posted in Uncategorized on May 7th, 2009 by Charge – 2 Comments

building a web site requieres planning and expertisse

Having a web site is definitely the first step towards getting a higher income for your business, however not doing it right will at least make you waste your time, some of your money and ultimately become harmful for your business.
Let´s learn the basic steps one must consider when developing a good yet affordable web site:
Get the basics
•    First things first, define the kind of web site you want, the applications you want to have on them and the move forward.
•    A domain name (business.com, business.net, etc.) It will be the virtual address your clients will use to find your web site.
•    A hosting, after you have selected your domain name your hosting will keep every single thing that goes on your web site; it is there where all the magic happens.
Steal the goodies
•    Determine exactly who your audience is going to be: where do they live, age, sex, income? Is your product or service going to be sold locally, nationally or globally?
•    Check out what your competitors are, see what they are doing that is working for them and see how you can use those ideas for your own benefit.
Design
•    There is a general misconception of graphic design services being the cute thing on web site development. Graphic must be kept simple, clean, organize and relevant to actually give any extra points to your web site.
•    Avoid over doing it with a million design elements. Keep your hand off heavy flash animation that will make your site slower.
•    Include a site map; let users know where they are at all times. Indicate them clearly where to go if they get lost.

Content
•    The single most important thing on your web site; content should kept simple, fluent, relevant, accurate and dynamic.
•    Use plenty of keywords on your content that will bring you clients through search engine searches.
It is imperative that you understand the importance of designing a web site; more so on doing it pro. Visit www.ilikewebsitedesigners.com to put your business on expert hands.

E Commerce Web Site: Making Business Online

Posted in Uncategorized on May 6th, 2009 by Charge – Be the first to comment

We have established the importance of having your business online and exposed to the thousand million users that navigate Internet on a daily basis. Beyond simply exposing your businesses to targeted audiences, e commerce web sites allow you to have a virtual store. Imagine sales coming from all over at a click distance!

e commerce is a great online sales alternative for any business
E commerce is defined as “the online transaction of business, featuring linked computer systems of the vendor, host, and buyer.” In plain English; you have a businesses that sell something, you have people out there looking for what you sell and the transaction is done on an online platform.
E commerce: main advantages
•    Flexible catalog and online updating- Work your catalog however you want and upgrade your stock rapidly based on whatever system you choose (brand, reference and manufacturer.)

•    Reduce advertising cost- Compete at the same level with major brands; level your prices, quality and availability. Better yet? No need to spend huge of money on advertising!

•    Market whenever to whomever- A website allows you to reach all different audiences in the convenience of their own home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

•   Convenient- Avoid unnecessary mailing and phone calls.

•    Lower your cost- Invest more on selling and less on employees, sites, phone calls, faxing. Etc.

•    No middlemen- It is you doing business directly with your clients, without intervention or sales person.
•    Clients adore it- They can shop on their own pace from the comfort of their houses or offices. They will feel the absolute control of the transaction.

•   Secure payment- Encrypted payment technologies allow a completely secure payment system online for e commerce sites.
An e commerce site is a great alternative for any businesses looking to expand or improve their selling possibilities. Visit www.ilikewebsitedesigners.com to get your professional e commerce site.

Splash Pages in Website Development

Posted in Uncategorized on May 5th, 2009 by Charge – Be the first to comment

Splash Pages in Website Development

Splash on Internet! What does it means in Web development? Well, when you land on a website, sometimes an extra window appears before seeing the homepage. Basically that’s a splash page.splash

Also known as splash screen, it is “a term used to describe an image that appears while a computer program is loading”. Moreover:

  • That image also works on websites, not only software.
  • It’s used to notify that the main site is loading.
  • While people are waiting, those images serve for introducing the site and bring people the background about your site.
  • Not always fill the entire screen; usually they are a rectangle over the home page.
  • A splash page disappear when the loading process finish.

Why is it used on Internet?

  • As I told you, it’s usually used for introducing people about your site.
  • That page can make effective first impression of your company or business.
  • Many times splash pages in web design let people choose a language, country or the right configuration for a better use of the site.
  • It works as a complement to the home page.
  • A splash screen can be a benefit when you need to include an important information or message that is only needed one day or one week; then it disappears and the site remains the same.
  • Sometimes webmasters include advertising.
  • In United States, by law, pages with pornography, alcohol or gambling must include a splash page for preventing people about the content.

Do I have to use it or not?
It depends. Many times a splash screen can help you: if your site is heavy, an introductory image with an explanation or something that captive the user’s interest is excellent for invited them to stay. But, by the other hand, it could be annoying and many people will leave the page before it finishes loading.

Think about advantages and disadvantages it carries; but use it if it’s absolutely necessary. If you decide to create one, designers have a big challenge for making a splash screen as appealing as possible. Using Flash is a good solution, through a nice animation, people can stay.

For preparing and designing those pages, hire a professional; don’t leave that responsibility in amateur’s hands.

Home Page, the King of Your Site

Posted in Uncategorized on May 4th, 2009 by Charge – Be the first to comment

Home Page, the King of Your Site

home page

Once someone clicks on a link to your web page or write the URL, your homepage is the door of your virtual office. The most important thing in web development is to create an appealing gateway that attracts people and invites them to stay, explore it and motivates them to make a purchase.

The homepage “is the URL or local file that automatically loads when a web browser starts or when the browser’s “home” button is pressed. You can turn this feature off and on, as well as specify a URL for the page to be loaded”.

Home page, the most important section

  • It is the first impression of your company on Internet. Make a strong inkling of your business.
  • Once someone land on your site, her/his decision to stay take seconds; your home page has the responsibility of catch their interest.
  • A home page is the heart of navigation structure.
  • It has to contain the main idea of the entire site, the main links and short descriptions of each service and product.

How to structure the home page?

  1. How are you going to structure in an effective way? Planning is the most important. Think of your objectives before creating the page.
  2. Keep in mind your type of business and target market: if you offer design, movies or entertainment, a static or simple design based on a template will be disastrous. In the same way, if you’re a lawyer, a full-color page isn’t appropriated.
  3. What are you offering? It has to be obviously clear.
  4. You can include a flash animation or an intro, that’s appealing but be careful with the size: too heavy will make your page slow.
  5. Include your logo and company’s name.
  6. Write a short and informative text that summarize your business; not all the info, that’s the function of the rest of the pages. Tell the main idea of your business in few words.
  7. Include attractive graphics.
  8. Think of the main links you are going to use (and its names). Try to use keywords on it if is possible. How the links are going to be presented? In a bar, drop-down menu, at the top or left? Experts suggest a bar at the top because that zone receives many glances and people don´t have to scroll down.
  9. Think of download time! A heavy page is useless; people are not going to waste minutes while your page is loading.
  10. Include a ‘search box’. That’s gold, especially for huge sites. Just writing few words, people can go where they want.

Professional web designers are expert in structure, design, navigation and know what works. Don’t improvise; hire a company which will do an excellent job for take your business above your competitors.