Design Trends In Delivering Your Message

There are a few “hot spots” on a website that are important for a designer, and website owner to utilize to their full potential.

The upper left hand corner is perhaps the most important and most often where the logo is placed on a site. Right below this is often where the site navigation goes and is the second most important spot on the webpage. More and more sites however are beginning to use this area to place important text. This text may be short―only a sentence or two―or could even be a short paragraph.

Web site designers have begun using this space to summarize the purpose of the site or as a short introduction. One example of a site designed by HIT Web Design using this trend is http://pain511.com/. With people spending very little time on a site looking for what they need this is a great way to organize the content on your site.

This block of text should be separated from the main body, it needs to stand out―possibly use a larger font size or different background, and be very concise. This may be the most important piece of text on your site.

For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.

Make the Most of Each Website Page

When creating each page for you website, you have the ability to greatly enhance your rankings in search engines with the page title and description. High-quality, keyword-rich writing is as crucial in these areas as much as the copy on your page.

Think about the last time you have looked for something on Google, Yahoo, MSN, or another search engine. When you enter your query, blue headings for each site display. This is the page title. Below that, the page description gives a short blurb about what the site is all about. Not only is it important to ensure that both the title and description are worded so that they match the wording in a search, but they need to appeal to the visitor who will spend seconds scanning them to determine which site to choose.

Optimize Titles and Descriptions
An ideal page title should include the most search-relevant keywords possible while still acting as a title—not just a jumble of words. Though recommendations vary, generally the title should be between 70 to 150 characters long.

An ideal page description should share what the site has to offer in a concise way. Remember, keywords are important to get the search engine's attention, but the primary purpose is to persuade people that clicking on your site is worth their time.

For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.

Use Free Tools to Optimize Website Copy

Finding the right keywords to enhance your site's rankings in search engines is an essential factor in drawing traffic. But, you don't want to simply shoot in the dark when determining which keywords are best for your site. Fortunately, there are many tools out there to help you find out the words people are really using to search your industry. Here are two tools that can help you determine what keywords to consider when creating effective content for your pages:

Google AdWords: This is a powerful—and free—tool that utilizes Google's vast history of queries made in the last month. You can type in a keyword or phrase, and the tool will generate a list of the relating keywords that others have used. The tool includes data showing how commonly the word is used among competitors and how many queries using the keyword have been made in the past month. Check it out at https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.

Wordtracker: This subscription service utilizes a database of hundreds of millions of keyword terms. Though you must pay for full access, it does provide a free keyword suggestion tool that lists the top 100 related keywords based on keywords you enter. To get more specific and advanced keyword data, you must subscribe. Check out the free tool at http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com.

For more information, please visit http://www.hitwebdesign.com or call 1-866-211-0743.

Increasing Website Accessibility by Adding Links

Almost every website has a link of one kind or another. It could be a link from one page on the site to another (from a home page to a services page). It could be a link to another website. Links can help drive users to the right place. A “Click Here to Order Now” link can take a customer to your order page.

There are three things to consider when adding website links to your site: choose the right links, make sure the links works, and keep the number of links to a minimum.

1. Choose the Right Link: When deciding what links to put on your website, you should choose links that will be resourceful for your visitors. Choose to link to companies that you do business with or ones that complement your business. Having links that help your visitors is a great way to keep them coming back to your website. For example, if you own a landscaping business, you may want to link to a company that builds swimming pools. Don’t be afraid to email other businesses and ask if they will do a link swap.

2. Make Sure the Links Work: Clicking on a link that takes you to a wrong page or doesn't work at all can be very frustrating. Making sure you're imputing the correct link and that it works properly is important for customer satisfaction.

3. Keep the Number of Links to a Minimum: You do not want to overload your website with links. It can confuse the customer. Choose a few links that compliment your website and put them in a location that is easily seen by your visitors.

By following these three steps you can increase your website's accessibility to the public while providing a useful service to your visitors. HIT Web Design offers other ways to improve site accessibility, through site maps, web traffic directors, shopping cart modifications, and many other products.

Informative Writing and Web Writing Skills

Informative Writing

When writing for your website, keep in mind that a new visitor arrives at your site looking for something!

“Of course they are!” you say. “So, what's your point?”

The point is, you want to make it EASY for them to find it!

In other words, visitors arrive at your site with a “skim and scan” or a “grab and go” mentality. If they can't find what they want within seconds, they will move on to someone else's site! Your job, therefore, is to design your home page to capture their attention and then draw them deeper into your site for more information.

Web Writing Skills

Take the time to re-read your own website with a critical eye. If you were a first-time visitor, would you be inclined to linger longer, or would you move on to other sites? The implication for you as you write, or re-write, is that to keep your visitor on your website, you must make your content clear, concise, and interesting. Your challenge is to convey everything your website or product has to offer with as few words as possible and in a simple, easy-to-read format.

Using bullet points, text boxes, and tables along with short text is a good strategy to follow.

Remember, also, that enthusiasm is infectious. Don't be afraid to let your passion show through and describe why you are excited about your product or website.

Finally, a professional writer can help you portray the essence of your site quickly so you can avoid the annoying side effects typical of web writers, such as writer's block, insomnia, over-caffeination, irrational irritability, snappy sarcasm, relentless worrying for no identifiable reason, and screen-strained, bloodshot eyes. (Learn more at HIT Enhancements.)

One last tip: when writing, avoid stereotypical references. It's just annoying.

Does Your Text Betray You?

The French moralist, Joseph Joubert, wrote, “Words, like eyeglasses, blur everything that they do not make clear.” Especially online, text plays a vital role in site content, how the site is organized, and even how visitors interact with the site. Recognizing this, many website design firms such as Heritage Internet Technologies offer professional writing as part of an overall design package.

Mike the mason, Paul the plumber, and Sue the seamstress do what they do best, i.e. lay brick, fix water leaks, and create beautiful clothing. However, when it comes to telling others in writing about their exceptional skills, they often fall short. Their text betrays their expertise.

Many small business owners have solved this dilemma by engaging the services of a professional writer. The benefits warrant the added expense.

Benefits of Professionally-Written Text:

• Proper Presentation—Well-researched, well-written, and well-edited content makes a website easier to understand and increases the likelihood a visitor will stay on the site longer and continue reading. Especially online, effective text can be the difference between a visitor quickly moving on, and someone purchasing products or services.
• Maintain Continuity— Poorly written text can destroy the otherwise professional image, and the attractive look and feel of the website. Informative, interesting text complements the design and layout of the website. It lends an air of professionalism and excellence, lending value to the products or services promoted by the website.
• Cost-Effective—Writing services can be engaged for modest fees. The income generated by compelling text will more than offset the modest fee paid for professionally prepared text. It will pay for itself many times over.
• Save Time and Anxiety—The time it will take a professional writer to interview Mike, Paul, and Sue will be a fraction of the time it will take them to figure out what they want to say and how to say it, not to mention the stress it will eliminate.

For further information on this or any other matters relating to designing and hosting websites, remember the friendly professionals at Heritage Internet Technologies are just a phone call away