A Website with Purpose
When conceiving your website, before you think about colors, pictures, or even format, take a few moments to consider why you are wanting a website in the first place. What is the purpose of your site? The reason defining a purpose is so critical to the success of your site is that it helps immeasurably with the creative process. With a clear purpose in focus, talented designers can apply their skills and talents in crafting that result. They can create with the end in mind. They won't waste time and creative effort in trying to mix and match things that ultimately don't apply or could detract from your goal.
Here are some purposes that may apply to your future site.
• Catalog Information
• Educate on Issues, Events, Places, or Things
• Encourage Discussion
• Entertain
• Facilitate Cooperation Among Different Groups
• Foster Working Collaboration Between Colleagues
• Give Cause to Take Political Action
• Inform about a Subject
• Provide a Platform for Communication
• Sell a Product or Service
• Tout Important Findings or Research
• Store and Display Pictures or Images
• View Videos
How to Prepare for Your Design Interview
One technique designers at HIT Web Design use to facilitate excellent web design is to conduct a design interview early in the process. This interview is a critical step to getting the design off to a good start. The designer's job is to find out from you what your purpose is, and how you envision accomplishing that purpose.
To make the most of your interview, you should prepare. You will be alerted ahead of time by the designer that your interview is coming up, so take advantage of that time. Collect all of the doodles you may have sketched out for your site, and compile all those long lists of what you want.
Next, organize your thoughts. Don't worry about “how” it is all going to work. Instead, focus on your purpose. Clearly define exactly what you want to achieve, and leave the mechanics up to the designer. Of course, you may have seen examples of things you like, or you may be well versed in design yourself, so be sure to share those things and your ideas, but remember your designer is educated on the latest techniques and design tricks of the trade, and it is possible that he or she may have a solution to accomplishing your goal that you may never have considered.
On the other hand, you may know nothing about website design. That's OK, too. What matters is that you convey your purpose clearly. The designer will do the rest. The last thing you want to do is to tell your designer “I don't care—it's up to you, you're the designer.” By shrugging off this opportunity (and your responsibility) you open the door to wasted time, money, and effort on both sides of the table. Obviously, involving you, the client, early on is critical—after all, it's your website, you have to approve it before it goes live, and you should be incredibly happy with the results when it does.
A clear purpose and effectively communicating it to your designer during the interview helps insure your ultimate success.
• Design with the end in mind for best results with your new website.
• A designer / client design interview sets the stage for successful web design.
• HIT Web Design encourages interactive design processes.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Top 3 Reasons Tiger Woods Should Not Design Your Website
Top 3 Reasons Tiger Woods Should Not Design Your Website
1. Not Enough Focus on the Links
When Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts were asked to weigh in on the most important elements of getting good rankings on search engines, they said it was links...and links, and links.
2. Lack of Design Standards
The internet is a haven for creativity, and the ingenuity of designers will no doubt constantly evolve and continue to impress. Nevertheless, when it comes to usability and function, there is a strong case for adhering to a “standard of design” when developing websites.
3. Inability to Drive…customers to your site
There are definitely a myriad of ways to market your website and your web based business. Some of those you might overlook because you may not think of a website as part of a traditional media campaign. Some of the least expensive and yet surprisingly effective ways of marketing your sites are some of the oldest in the book.
1. Not Enough Focus on the Links
When Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts were asked to weigh in on the most important elements of getting good rankings on search engines, they said it was links...and links, and links.
2. Lack of Design Standards
The internet is a haven for creativity, and the ingenuity of designers will no doubt constantly evolve and continue to impress. Nevertheless, when it comes to usability and function, there is a strong case for adhering to a “standard of design” when developing websites.
3. Inability to Drive…customers to your site
There are definitely a myriad of ways to market your website and your web based business. Some of those you might overlook because you may not think of a website as part of a traditional media campaign. Some of the least expensive and yet surprisingly effective ways of marketing your sites are some of the oldest in the book.
Get Visitors to Read Your Website Text... Use Headings
Keys to effective copy on your website revolve around how quickly and easily visitors can read it. If your copy does not grab visitors' attention within the first several seconds of their entering your site, they are far less likely to read the text you spent so much time on already.
A very effective element in your text (especially if you have a lot of it) are headings. Headings help in two important ways:
1. Headings Help Visitors Understand What You're Saying
Most importantly, they provide important snippets that summarize your text and grab attention. They act as a window to the paragraph(s) below, letting visitors peek in before they jump into your entire text. Also, even if they do not read beyond the heading, they still have a good summary of what you wanted to
2. Headings Can Help Your Rankings with Search Engines
While some experts say headings are diminishing in importance, they still play a role in increasing your rankings with search engines. As search engines (like Google or Yahoo!) crawl through the Web to see what's out there, they give more relevance to headings that provide relevant descriptions on the purpose of the site.
You can designate headings and their importance in the HTML code of your site. The primary heading is designated as “H1,” and subsequent headings diminish in importance (H2-H6). Your H1 heading should summarize the main purpose of your site—products, services, information, etc. Learn more about using headings effectively.
A very effective element in your text (especially if you have a lot of it) are headings. Headings help in two important ways:
1. Headings Help Visitors Understand What You're Saying
Most importantly, they provide important snippets that summarize your text and grab attention. They act as a window to the paragraph(s) below, letting visitors peek in before they jump into your entire text. Also, even if they do not read beyond the heading, they still have a good summary of what you wanted to
2. Headings Can Help Your Rankings with Search Engines
While some experts say headings are diminishing in importance, they still play a role in increasing your rankings with search engines. As search engines (like Google or Yahoo!) crawl through the Web to see what's out there, they give more relevance to headings that provide relevant descriptions on the purpose of the site.
You can designate headings and their importance in the HTML code of your site. The primary heading is designated as “H1,” and subsequent headings diminish in importance (H2-H6). Your H1 heading should summarize the main purpose of your site—products, services, information, etc. Learn more about using headings effectively.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
What does Google’s Favorite Places mean for your small business?
Window shopping is the practice of the discerning shopper trying to find the best possible deal or trying to make the most informed purchase. The Internet has made “window shopping” even easier through our ability to quickly compare prices between different online stores and find information about companies and products. Google is now improving the process of actual window shopping through Favorite Places on Google.
Based upon the amount of searches through Google's Local Business Center and Google Maps, Google has designated over 100,000 local businesses throughout the US as Favorite Places. Each of these locations will get a sticker which includes a unique bar code (QR code) which can be read by mobile devices. When scanned you will be taken directly to that business Place Page. In other words, potential customers see the sticker, take a picture with their phone, and have instant access (through Google) to information about the business.
What does this mean for your business?
If you are not currently a part of Google's Local Business Center you should be. It is a free service that can be a great way to advertise your business locally. Your Place Page can have information about your business, pictures of your business or products, reviews from customers, links to your actual website, and more information that can help bring a window shopper through the front door.
If you are using Google's Local Business Center you should keep your information updated and encourage people to post reviews. The more active your Place Page, the more likely your business can become one of Google's Favorite Places.
Simply having the sticker in your window from Google will show window shoppers that many people are interested in your business. It's free advertising from Google, one of the most recognized names out there.
This simple bit of advertising creates more interaction and potentially stronger relationships between customers and local businesses. As a customer you may be more inclined to leave a comment or review of a business if it has a Favorite Place sticker, or if your favorite spot is not listed as one of Google's Favorite Places, you can try and help promote it by going and leaving a review on their businesses’ Place Page.
This increased interaction between businesses and consumers in turn will create more valuable information which will help Google further their philosophy of providing the most relevant, personalized search results.
To learn more about Google's Favorite Places check out Google's Blog.
Based upon the amount of searches through Google's Local Business Center and Google Maps, Google has designated over 100,000 local businesses throughout the US as Favorite Places. Each of these locations will get a sticker which includes a unique bar code (QR code) which can be read by mobile devices. When scanned you will be taken directly to that business Place Page. In other words, potential customers see the sticker, take a picture with their phone, and have instant access (through Google) to information about the business.
What does this mean for your business?
If you are not currently a part of Google's Local Business Center you should be. It is a free service that can be a great way to advertise your business locally. Your Place Page can have information about your business, pictures of your business or products, reviews from customers, links to your actual website, and more information that can help bring a window shopper through the front door.
If you are using Google's Local Business Center you should keep your information updated and encourage people to post reviews. The more active your Place Page, the more likely your business can become one of Google's Favorite Places.
Simply having the sticker in your window from Google will show window shoppers that many people are interested in your business. It's free advertising from Google, one of the most recognized names out there.
This simple bit of advertising creates more interaction and potentially stronger relationships between customers and local businesses. As a customer you may be more inclined to leave a comment or review of a business if it has a Favorite Place sticker, or if your favorite spot is not listed as one of Google's Favorite Places, you can try and help promote it by going and leaving a review on their businesses’ Place Page.
This increased interaction between businesses and consumers in turn will create more valuable information which will help Google further their philosophy of providing the most relevant, personalized search results.
To learn more about Google's Favorite Places check out Google's Blog.
Top 5 Reasons Why Links are Essential for Your Website
When Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts were asked to weigh in on the most important elements of getting good rankings on search engines, they said it was links...and links, and links. Seomoz.org, a leading resource on SEO information, used a panel of 72 experts to determine what search engines look for when ranking sites well in 2009. The top five overall factors are:
1. Keyword Focused Anchor Text from External Links – 73%
2. External Link Popularity (quantity/quality of external links)– 71%
3. Diversity of Link Sources – 67 %
4. Keyword Use Anywhere in the Title Tag – 66%
5. Trustworthiness of the Domain Based on Link Distance from Trusted Domains – 66%
Links came up as four out of five most important factors. Though nobody knows for sure, it appears that Google and other search engines are trying to rank sites based on how popular they are among Internet users, not just how optimized they are for search engine crawlers. A good way to measure how relevant others think a website is can be the amount of other sites that link to it.
If search engine crawlers can get to your site directly from sites they already consider highly relevant, then you're in good shape. But therein lies the trick—getting good sites to link to yours. The best way to get other sites to notice you is, frankly, creating a good site that others want to link to. You can do this by regularly updating and adding relevant information to your site and through blogs that link to your site, among many other tactics. Spend some time on building links to your site.
1. Keyword Focused Anchor Text from External Links – 73%
2. External Link Popularity (quantity/quality of external links)– 71%
3. Diversity of Link Sources – 67 %
4. Keyword Use Anywhere in the Title Tag – 66%
5. Trustworthiness of the Domain Based on Link Distance from Trusted Domains – 66%
Links came up as four out of five most important factors. Though nobody knows for sure, it appears that Google and other search engines are trying to rank sites based on how popular they are among Internet users, not just how optimized they are for search engine crawlers. A good way to measure how relevant others think a website is can be the amount of other sites that link to it.
If search engine crawlers can get to your site directly from sites they already consider highly relevant, then you're in good shape. But therein lies the trick—getting good sites to link to yours. The best way to get other sites to notice you is, frankly, creating a good site that others want to link to. You can do this by regularly updating and adding relevant information to your site and through blogs that link to your site, among many other tactics. Spend some time on building links to your site.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Preparing Websites for Mobile Device Users is a Top Priority
Mobile technology is fast becoming a primary tool of accessing the Internet for many. That's good because it lets Internet users access online sites more often regardless of location. A website that is optimized for mobile users opens itself to a growing and very promising market.
Capitalize on the Mobile Trend
As the recent post-Thanksgiving Black Friday and Cyber Monday testify, mobile Internet use is surging. Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sears, and Macys saw four- to eight-fold increases online among shoppers using mobile devices on Black Friday alone. Gearing their websites to accommodate such traffic allowed them to reap from a market that may not have been able to tap otherwise.
How Do I Make My Site Work Best for Mobile Users?
Because mobile technology is still catching up to traditional computers and laptops, not everyone will have a device that can manage complex graphics and animation. Some mobile devices may only work with text. That means that simple is better. Keep in mind that mobile visitors will have a smaller screen size and possible limited navigation tools, so make sure your mobile-friendly site allows visitors to easily move around—especially for shopping.
Also, remember that people may have to use other means than a mouse or touching the screen to click buttons and navigate your site. Try to make your product browsing and purchasing steps as simple as possible. Consider giving your website the ability to detect users who are using mobile devices so it can display a smaller pixel version for their mobile device screens.
Chances are you're not a designer, so optimizing your site for mobile users might be difficult. Have a professional help make your website mobile friendly. It will be worth the investment if you want to make your site available to a market that shows every indication of becoming a mainstay in e-commerce.
Capitalize on the Mobile Trend
As the recent post-Thanksgiving Black Friday and Cyber Monday testify, mobile Internet use is surging. Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Sears, and Macys saw four- to eight-fold increases online among shoppers using mobile devices on Black Friday alone. Gearing their websites to accommodate such traffic allowed them to reap from a market that may not have been able to tap otherwise.
How Do I Make My Site Work Best for Mobile Users?
Because mobile technology is still catching up to traditional computers and laptops, not everyone will have a device that can manage complex graphics and animation. Some mobile devices may only work with text. That means that simple is better. Keep in mind that mobile visitors will have a smaller screen size and possible limited navigation tools, so make sure your mobile-friendly site allows visitors to easily move around—especially for shopping.
Also, remember that people may have to use other means than a mouse or touching the screen to click buttons and navigate your site. Try to make your product browsing and purchasing steps as simple as possible. Consider giving your website the ability to detect users who are using mobile devices so it can display a smaller pixel version for their mobile device screens.
Chances are you're not a designer, so optimizing your site for mobile users might be difficult. Have a professional help make your website mobile friendly. It will be worth the investment if you want to make your site available to a market that shows every indication of becoming a mainstay in e-commerce.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Black Friday andCyber Monday: People are Using Mobile Devices
Black Friday and Cyber Monday: People are Using Mobile Devices
After putting down the turkey knife, people picked up their mobile devices for a surge in holiday shopping, according to a study by Novarra, which showed that mobile web traffic went up by a whopping 1,209 percent during the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and 110 percent on Cyber Monday.
The study's findings suggest just how vital mobile technology is becoming as a marketing and commerce medium.
"This is further confirmation that consumers increasingly rely on the internet via mobile phones for their daily habits and routines," said Scott Cotter, senior director of marketing of Novarra in a December 1 press release. "For many shoppers, browsing special deals, comparing products, pricing and other information while they are on the run—even at a retailer's location, has become second nature."
Several of the top retailers saw large spikes in mobile device shopping on Black Friday, the study found. Mobile device users shopping on bestbuy.com jumped by 792 percent. On walmart.com, 740 percent; sears.com, 492 percent; and macys.com, 447 percent.
As these indicators suggest, businesses who have not made their online marketing and stores compatible with mobile devices will be at a distinct advantage in the coming holiday shopping season.
Learn more about how HIT Web Design can help you optimize your website for mobile devices.
After putting down the turkey knife, people picked up their mobile devices for a surge in holiday shopping, according to a study by Novarra, which showed that mobile web traffic went up by a whopping 1,209 percent during the shopping frenzy of Black Friday and 110 percent on Cyber Monday.
The study's findings suggest just how vital mobile technology is becoming as a marketing and commerce medium.
"This is further confirmation that consumers increasingly rely on the internet via mobile phones for their daily habits and routines," said Scott Cotter, senior director of marketing of Novarra in a December 1 press release. "For many shoppers, browsing special deals, comparing products, pricing and other information while they are on the run—even at a retailer's location, has become second nature."
Several of the top retailers saw large spikes in mobile device shopping on Black Friday, the study found. Mobile device users shopping on bestbuy.com jumped by 792 percent. On walmart.com, 740 percent; sears.com, 492 percent; and macys.com, 447 percent.
As these indicators suggest, businesses who have not made their online marketing and stores compatible with mobile devices will be at a distinct advantage in the coming holiday shopping season.
Learn more about how HIT Web Design can help you optimize your website for mobile devices.
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