Things to Consider when Designing a Website

If you're building a website, there are four things that should remain in the back of your mind as you build each page-usability, functionality, accessibility, and content.

Accessible-If you increase the accessibility of your site to those with disabilities or impaired disabilities-you've just included another available market for your site to reach. Sometimes, I included, forget the alt tag, or the label that will make is easier for those with disabilities.

But not only are you opening up your website to another target market, you have helped the search engines to better index your site.

Content is not just content-if you want a quality site. Some people slap information up, thinking that people will come. Maybe, but if the quality is lacking-the readership will soon take a dive. So take the time to polish your content-and see your audience and the search engine visits grow.

Do you have to tweak your content? Almost always. Sometimes I'm in the "glow" of my content the day I wrote it. I'll let my article rest for a day or so, then go back and read it. I'll have either one of two results: 1)I'm either pleased with what I wrote; or 2) I will realize my content was really bad-and needs major rework.

Rule of thumb, if you can't understand what your wrote-don't expect anyone else to understand it either.


Design of a Website - an Overview
By Vickie J. Scanlon

When designing a website you must remember four things: usability, functionality, accessibility and content. Why? These four elements will help you to please the search engines, the people who come to your site, as well as, build your business. Trust me, if you don’t keep these things in mind-you’ll find more clicks from you than your visitors in your behind the scene stats. Let’s see why.

Usability

Usability –Usability is your navigation. If you look at most websites, you will notice that navigation is either to the side or across the top. If your visitor has to search endlessly for your navigation, expect one thing –your visitor leaving quickly in utter frustration-no matter how much they want the product, service or the information you offer. Thus, make sure your navigation is consistent across the pages, and easy for all to see and access.


Is Your Website Functional?

Functional - If you have broken links- then you have a function breakdown. Make sure all links are working. Nothing can aggravate an individual more than a broken link. I know I’m always checking my web pages. If you update some of your web pages on a weekly basis, it’s always good to do another once over.

Also, it’s always good to go through your pages, and make sure that your code is clean. Clean code helps keep the search engines coming. If the code is too cumbersome, the search engines will not even venture through the whole page-fearing they may get stuck in the code.


Is Your Website Accessible

Accessibility – Make your website accessible to all. That includes those who are disabled or impaired. This is where the alt tag and labels come in for images-use them. Not only is it important for the disabled or impaired, but also for the search engines. The search engines cannot read images but they can read the text in the alt tag.


Do You Have Content

Content –The quality or your content is important. If you’re new to the Internet, you may not realize the importance of content. I’m sure you’ve seen or heard the statement “Content is King”, but what does it truly mean?

Quality content can bring you targeted traffic, search engine visits and it can create quality links to your site. Remember, content is not limited to articles, but include your product and service description information on your web pages, or it may be an online tool that is useful to people online.

Though these four elements may be simple, or seem simple, many who begin (myself included) do not realize their importance when building their website. Take heed early, you’ll save yourself a lot of grief, unnecessary revamping of your website, and a better, and earlier return on your investment.



About the Author:

Vickie J Scanlon -- Visit her site at: My Affiliate Place for free tools,
articles, ebooks, how to info, tech accessories, software utilities, computers for affiliate business use.
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Getting A Website-Big Piece of the Puzzle to Getting Online

When you first think about starting a business online, many people stay in the wishing mode because they are unsure of where or how to start. Well, the first phase is getting an idea, and the second phase is getting a website. Which, of course, means you need to build yourself a website, or if you are rich, have someone build it for you.


Anyway, the website and all it's component parts, if you are new to the game, can be very confusing. You're a babe in the woods, so to speak. That's where I was when I first started. I knew strictly the basics: Such as: What is a website?

I did not know that you had to buy your domain separately (sometimes) from your web hosting service, or what to look for in a web hosting service. Gee, there's a lot of them out there. Hopfully, for those starting out, I can give you some information that will help you get off the fence - so you too can start your own online business.


Getting A Website-What Do I Need?
By Vickie J. Scanlon

When I started, the lines were blurred to whether you needed a website or not. Some affiliate companies created web pages that you could use without creating your own website. However, Google has changed that – Duplicate content.

Duplicate Content Defined

Duplicate Content - as defined by Google "substantive blocks of content within or across domains that either completely match other content or are appreciably similar."

So what are the alternatives? Create a website or a blog. If you want a long-term presence I would first go with a website. But if you are not sure if your interest has an audience, maybe a blog can be your starting point.

Let’s assume you want a website. If this is the case, you will need to purchase a website and a domain (If you purchase a web hosting package sometimes you get the domain free, either for life or for the first year, it depends upon the web hosting service). But before I go any further, let me define website and domain, so you understand the difference.

Website – is the entire compilation of web pages, images, sound, video that appear to be put under one address on the Internet.

Domain – is your identifier, your address on the Internet where people will find your website. The text name must be unique and should identify your site, for all who visit.

Yes, you need both. If you are lucky, you can get a domain for free for life or some web hosting services offers something unique, like SEO submission or tools to create ezines, logos, etc. For a quick list of some of the minimum requirements a web host should offer, you can go to my web page Website Information. Though not exhaustive, it will give you a start point.

The needs and wants are different for individuals, sole proprietors and companies, so you can imagine, or already know how difficult it is to decide which web hosting service to go with. So how do you get started?


Webhosting Service-Things To Consider

Before you go shopping for a web hosting service you should have done a little homework. Things to consider:

1. The purpose of your website
2. Average amount of money you want to spend for the web hosting service. (In most cases, if you’re a sole proprietor, cost is at the top of the list).
3. What services does your Webhosting service need to provide to compliment your business: shopping cart, php, WYSIWYG software.
4. What software do they support
5. Support after the initial install.

My first advice, don’t go with the free web hosting service. With the free service you will have a website-but they will use ads on your website to pay for those free services. This takes away from the professionalism of the site and revenue from you.

Now that you have everything etched out in your mind or on paper, do some research. Make a list of the different web hosting services you want to consider, keeping in mind the standard features they offer on their different packages, and the price range of their packages.

And then, go to the list of what you may need in the future. You may not need to incorporate them into your cost now, but it’s nice to know that need be, they can be made available to you.


To conclude, look around, read the testimonials, make your comparisons. And before you put down your hard earned cash send them an email or call them. Why? It’s always wise to find out whom you will be working with on a daily basis. And, most importantly, there is no need to find out after the fact that they lack knowledge, experience or could care less about your problem. Yeah, I’m talking about customer service.


About the Author:

Vickie J Scanlon -- Visit her site at: My Affiliate Place for free tools,
articles, ebooks, how to info, tech accessories, software, computers for personal or affiliate business use. Looking for weekly articles-sign up to my blog to get the latest articles in your email or through rss.

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Connecting the Dots with SEO and SEM For Website Design

When you are first designing your website, you may or may not be aware of the importance of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and SEM (Search Engine Marketing). Thus, Wade Stallman's article "Web Design, SEO and SEM Top Tips" can help you in your Search Engine Marketing and SEO journey.

There are quite a few helpful tips, so be sure to read for "information" in this article.

Such as in the section "Words that walk the fine line". He guides over the fact that keywords and keyword phases should be put in the first paragraph of your copy. True. But realize, that the words should not spam your audience. And don't try to cram a large number of keywords and key phases into your paragraph--that weirdness will turn people off and thus, cause them, as it would I, to click away to a competitor. You may have to do some playing around and fine tune the wording, but it can be done. And remember, you really need to please both your audience and the search engines.

Another section, that you should read closely is "Item 5". Search Engine compliance. Which stated simply, if you want the search engines to read your copy, do not put CSS and Javascript in the head of your web pages. The search engines will ignore it all or grab a little due to bloated code frustration and maybe fear of getting catch in some bad code that can crash their servers.

I do have to agree with his comments on tables. At one time, I did have several large tables with text. Looked great, but the search engines didn't like them, and load time was terrible. I zapped the tables away and revamped my web pages and saw a great improvement. However, my table dilemna is not complete yet, and I am still slowly rectifying the table problem on my website.

As you can see, this article has something for everyone. Read, Enjoy, and Learn.

Web design, SEO & SEM top tips

By Wade Smallman

Like most of you guys, I too am always on the look-out for that leg up needed to give me that essential competitive edge to stay in the web design & development game. With that in mind, I thought I'd share with you what I've managed to learn about web design & development, SEO & SEM as well as web standards & accessibility in the hope that what I know is of use to someone else.

Words that walk the fine line

The first thing that the keen eyed amongst you will notice is the littering of emboldened keywords & key phrases scattered throughout the first paragraph, most of which linking back to specific service pages my company website .. look! I did it again!

There's a fine line between being 'spammy', damaging legibility and then just plain putting people off. However, the plus sides are, you're presenting some of the things that search engines want to see.

Top tips for web designers & developers

So without further ado, here's my top tips for giving your website or specific web pages a lift and infusing them with some of the good stuff!

1. Sound like your dad: be an authority

Authority is essential. You need to speak (well, write) with an air of authority. Talk about your chosen topic in a manor that draws upon your knowledge & experience. Be passionate, too. People will pick up on this and feel compelled to read on. But don't try too hard. No one likes a zealot!


2. Engage, don't bore: keep the reader happy

Sometimes, a given topic can be a little dry, a little dusty, a little staid. If you must, get yourself a copywriter. If you must, dig deep and spend money on getting someone involved who knows how to write engaging, lively copy (that means text.

3. Entitled to everything: make the titles stand out!

When you're building your copy, build a hierarchy into your pages by using the titles. Make sure that you use your titles well. Using the right keywords & key phrases is essential.

4. Highlights: pick out the text that matters

Much like I've been doing throughout this document, embolden those words that convey something very special. This highlighting of words means added emphasis and the search engines will look to make the most of this special marking.

5. Standard barer: flying the flag for standards compliance

Standards compliance isn't just about accessibility, it's about ensuring that the search engines can make the most of what you've spent good time building.

Think of the search engines as really fussy readers. If your web pages contain lots of waffle (bloated code from too much markup: using tables for layout, having oodles of CSS and Javascript sat in the Head of the web pages), then the search engines will just get bored and go somewhere else instead .. maybe your competitors, even! Gasp!

So if you take the time to do things right, you get a two-for-the-price-of-one deal - in the one hand, your website is on its way to being accessible, while at the same times, it's helping the search engines do their thang!

6. Back to basics: break out the dictionary and check your spelling

Spell check your copy. There's nothing worse than bumping through a website when nearly all of the web pages are chock-full of typos. No amount of design niceness will make up for that. Plus, you lose credibility. No excuses .. oh, and grammar, too. 'Nuff said.

7. Image is everything: be picture-perfect with the right words

Sticking images into your web pages is all good & well, but that's only the beginning. If you want to squeeze each & every last drop of effort out of those images, use the alt attribute on the img tag.

Don't just type in anything, when giving an image a description, be as descriptive and as accurate as possible. Remember: when you hunt down those images with Google and Yahoo!, how do you think those guys know what you're looking for? Be relevant and be descriptive.

8. FYI: make acronyms work for your words, not against them

It's pretty safe to assume that it's never safe to assume. If you must use acronyms, then make sure that you use the acronym tag.

Just because you and your friends have been using an acronym for an age, that doesn't mean everyone else knows what it means.

You might be thinking: "So why don't I just NOT use the acronym?" Because the opposite is sometimes true. If you were to say Universal Serial Bus, most people might just stare at you like you're talking ancient Greek. But if you said: USB, then all would be fine & dandy. Plus, by adding in the full term, you're adding more content into your web pages that the search engines will happily munch away on.

9. A hard cell: using tables for layout is a crime!

Yes, yes, yes! I know! I've been there, I've done that. But now I'm reformed. I've gone clean and I'm now mending my ways .. I'm here telling you about how tables can really mess things up for you and your website.

Remember how I compared the search engines to really fussy readers? Well, it's worse than that. Imagine you had this huge Microsoft Excel file with thousands upon thousands of columns & rows. Now imagine having to navigate that with only the arrow keys on your keyboard.
How bad would that be, eh?

Well, when you use tables for content on website, the search engines have to dig down through those tables to get to the content. This is bad. In fact, it gets worse still. Not only do the search engines have to do this, but anyone using a screen reader application will have to do the same, too.

So if you're going to use tables, use them for what they were designed for: tabulated data and not images and text.

Have fun!

About the Author: Wayne Smallman is the Managing Director of Octane Interactive, a British-based web design agency (www.octane.uk.net) and author of the Blah, Blah! Technology 'blog (myblah-blah-tech.blogspot.com/).
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