Play Region

Revolutionary Guide to Web Designs

The Big Idea

There are a thousand of people and companies who would want to
advertise their services for web designs. The question here is,
are you sure if the services that you have bought would be the
one that you really like or the best deal in town? Think twice.

In this article, I would like to share tips and advises to Web
designs. Yes, your own creation. But before we begin, we have to
make sure of 2 important things. First, analyze your goals and
needs then make a plan. Second, create a site specification on
what you intend to do, what trend and technology (including how
much you are going to spend) and the most important, the content
you’ll need . If you are able to decide on this part, then you
are ready to begin. Here’s the step by step process.

First and foremost, create a site definition. This is the
initial stage where in you have to define your specification and
objectives for the website you are going to make. Analyze the
goal you have in mind and justify the budget and things
required. In this stage, you also need to define the site
content, the information resources that you will need to meet
your prospects needs.

Second, website architecture. Programming, database design,
search engine design and data entry is performed in this stage.

Third, site design. This is the stage wherein you have to
obtain its appearance as that of the page grid and overall
graphic design. You have to visualize the content for the site
that needs to be created. Plan, research, write, organize and
edit the text content is done in this stage.

Fourth, website construction. This is the stage wherein all
pages are completed and programming components linked. This is
the time we could possibly say that it is now ready for beta
testing.

Fifth, marketing of website. This is where optimization of site
is done. Basically, this is the time that you need the expertise
of a SEO (Search Engine Optimization) Specialist to promote your
site in many ways. Your website must be part of all marketing
campaigns and corporate communication programs. Article
submission, Link popularity, press releases, etc., is performed
during this stage.

Sixth, keep track of your progress thru evaluation. By
analyzing the server logs for your website, you can develop a
quantitative data on the success of your site. There are a
number of popular software packages wherein you can track down
your visitor including their locations (state, city and country)
and time, the keywords that they have used to find your site,
the referrer sites, etc..

Now that you are done with it, after making all the links
“live,” please do not abandon your site. It doesn’t end there.
You have to maintain your site. You need constant attention and
constant development changes in order to make it more and more
capable. You must also need to check periodically if the links
are intact and functional.

In website designing, you need not to set a budget that is too
high. You need not to get an expensive service. You just need
appropriate research and familiarity to make your own. Careful
planning of an objective and clear purpose are the main keys to
success in building websites.You can create the most unique or
simplest design. What’s important is that you have done what you
have always want it to be.

If you are looking for catalog printing, business cards printing
or poster printing, it is always advisable to have a printing
company to handle your printing services. However, sometimes you
will be confused as to what type of printing you are going to
apply for a specific project. If you want to come up with the
best decision, take the most of your time to get enough
information and research about the type of printing services.

You can ask from the different companies about their preferred
printing services. You can ask information from those who have
stayed long in the business world and those who have already
tried it. You can even ask the different printing companies for
advice. They would always ask what type of products you are
going to advertise. They know the best solution to your printing
problems.

Whether you are only starting your business or have been with it
for a long time, you will need the best printers for your
printing services. This is very true in all applications. Your
brochures, catalogs and posters should not be taken for granted
because they give a lot of impact in bringing out your company’s
profile.

Most business companies do not engage in printing companies
because they think that it is expensive. However, on second
thought, ask yourself if you can provide your company with the
best printers and materials. Mind you, you do not need just one
printer but many different types of printers.

Printing companies can handle your printing services quickly and
efficiently. You do not have to wait for days for it to be
finished. Sometimes, you can even have it earlier than the
desired time. This is advisable if you want to cut your printing
cost. They have all the equipments for all types of printers.
Printing quality is not taken for granted and you can have it
with a crisp.

The more orders, the more printing cost gets lower. If you order
in a bunch, you can have discount prices but if you are going to
order only a few pages, you can skip it if you have your own
printer. You might pay at a higher price because the materials
are generating for a large sum. If you ask printing companies to
handle your printing, you can save a little and use it for other
purposes that will be helpful to your company.

For more information regarding the author and the article
please visit 4 Color
Printing Services

The solution lies in creating a ‘Database driven website’, through which web pages are created dynamically which further gives a web site visitor an up-to-dated view of information stored in the database. When the information in the database is updated, site visitors will immediately see the changes that have been made.

There are many sites, which are bounded up by a dry, outdated design because, rewriting the hundreds of existing HTML files and implementing it into the new design would be a very time consuming job that no enterprise can invest. The only solution to this is a database-driven site design, which portrays the collection of information organized and presented to serve a specific purpose.

If you want to showcase hundreds or thousands of items/ products it can become a very tedious job to maintain a static web page for each item and in such situations a database is very essential. On a database-driven site, a web page is put together drawing on different fields in a database. Since the pages are generated again each time the user clicks on the link to go to them, a database-driven site is dynamic as opposed to static.

When we create a Database driven website, we see to it that our clients can do their own maintenance via a set of web-based data entry forms or by working directly with the database which is customized according to the clients needs. We design the web page in such a way so that it is connected to the database, which in case of any transformation, changes accordingly and automatically without interference from the programmers end.

Professional database driven website design is a cost effective method of developing a website which stores a large amount of information. Instead of designing all the static pages in advance, it is better to produce dynamic pages, which generate the relevant information requested by the viewer.

The most popular database management system is MySQL, because it is free, and flexible, and most web hosting Companies have it installed. This can be used in combination with a language such as PHP or Cold Fusion to create a website which interacts with the database. An E-commerce site is a bright example of the use of a database to store the client’s online orders and billing information.

PHP is possibly the most popular of languages for interacting with MySQL databases. It can be easily used to create web pages for your site dynamically. This means that, rather than a site consisting of many static or unchanging web pages, each page is generated based on information in your database, at the time the page is accessed by a user.

The primary scripting languages that we use include JavaScript, ASP/VBScript, Cold Fusion, Perl and PHP. Our primary databases are Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, MySQL, and Oracle.

The Database driven websites that we at CWD Web Design Company develop are very efficiently developed because we see to it that the site is dynamically generated or customized to display the information that is relevant to each visitor. We develop the website in an interactive way and store information the user enters, for use in the rest of their visit to the website, or for use in other activities.

Web Architect and SEO for last 6 yrs

When Designers and Site Builders begin the process of making a website for themselves or clients, the first question they need to ask themselves is:

“What is the Purpose of this Website I am about to create?”

If you are only trying to impress friends and family with your amazing flash animation and techno beat rhythms, then the site is only limited to your prowess and imagination. I’ve personally seen sites that are absolutely incredible in their presentation and music. I’ve even felt like I was at the movies with some- watching a great sci-fi flick (albeit for only a few minutes).

If that is your goal, and that is what your clients want, then I say “Go for it!” Give it all the slow loading bells and whistles you can think of.

After all, if your friends and family wait for them to load, potential clients will too, Right?

“WRONG!”

Depending on whose statistics you read, you have between 6 and 10 seconds to explain who you are, what you do, and where to go for the next bit of information that could lead to a sale or a lead. So, for our example, let’s say its 10 seconds…

That gives you an average of 3 seconds to quickly and concisely convey who you are, 3 more seconds to convey what you do, and 4 seconds to guide the viewer to the proper sequence of events that could lead to a sale.

Depending on your presentation AND the bandwidth of your potential client (over half the USA still use phone modems to access the internet), your wonderfully beautiful, high tech flash presentation could take 30 - 60 seconds or more to load.

So during the first crucial 10 seconds…

Do they find out who you are? Maybe- if your company name is “Loading Presentation, Inc.”.

Do they understand what you do? If you have VERY slow loading website -that’s about all they will understand for 30 - 60 seconds (IF they decide to hang around because they have nothing else to do that day).

Do they know what to do next? Most make that decision easily- “Forget this- I’ll click on another site to see if THEY have what I’m looking for…”

So What Can You Do?

That’s easy, just four simple words… “Make Every Second Count!”

How do you do this? Not so simple, but I can give you some important guidance.

Winston Churchill once said “If you want me to give an hour and a half long speech, give me 5 minutes to prepare. If you want me to give a five minute speech, Give me an hour and a half to prepare”.

This great statesman recognized the fact that if he only had five minutes to impact a crowd, he absolutely needed to pare down the frivolous, non-important facets of his speech so that every word, every expression, would accomplish exactly what it needed, in as short a time as needed.

He also realized that it takes more preparation to present in a short few minutes, than if he had all the time in the world.

You too, must approach your design issues this way. Yes your friends, colleagues, and family will ALWAYS take the time to watch your work. And, if you’re any good, you will probably get the “OOhs and Aughs” as they watch.

Good for ego, bad for business.

Now, let me clarify. There are industries and businesses where a super duper “check this out” type site is justified. But if your client wants a site that actually converts to sales or generates leads - You MUST change your thinking process.

You must look at the project from the prospective buyers’ point of view (POV). Think of yourself as an incredibly busy executive- you have 30 minutes carved out to find a purple widget for your business. You Google it and see 25,000,000 competing sites. You’ll look at the first ten, maybe. You’re in a hurry, click on first site, “Hmmm interesting.” you think, as you click a couple more links. “Looks good, I’ll check a few more sites”.

You are already in a “click and see” mode, there’s momentum building, you’re on a mission and you have a deadline….

Then you click on a link with a slow loading behemoth of a flash presentation. You hear the theme from “Jeopardy” playing in your head doo doo doo doo doo dah doo…

Are you going to stay there while it loads? NO way! Click, you’re gone. No time to wait. Have a life. Need Info.

And your sites’ opportunity to acquire a new paying client evaporates into the aether along with its Profit and Loss statement.

FOCUS Brings Profits!

SO where do you go from here? First of all, you must focus your design in the key areas that a client will browse when first approaching your site.

Huh? Let me explain…

There are Thermal Eye Imaging Results that Reveal How People View Search Results!

Yes, there are secret, critical design paths that very few designers and site builders know. Recently, a research foundation set up instrumentation to detect and follow where the eyes of internet surfers go as pages load in front of them.

They used a thousand people, so this was no mom and pop test with 3 family members. They had thermal eye imaging cameras set-up with sophisticated software, tracking even the smallest movement of the eyes as they perused the sight.

The results were astounding and conclusive. There were consistent, measurable, pathways that people would follow as they looked at a site.

If look at a picture of those results, you will see that most people’s eyes tend to fall immediately on the upper left hand side of the page and move down center/left. Knowing this- consider some of your recent designs….

Where does your site lead surfers?
Do you have your critical information in the KEY areas where people look?

Let’s Do The TWO-STEP:

Here’s a two step process that will help you…

1) Decide what ONE major action you want a visitor to your site to do (click here for more info, sign up for our newsletter, special discount here, etc).
2) Put that ONE major action in the “Hot Spot” as seen in the Thermal Imaging report.

EVERY site that we have done this to, we’ve seen increases in the action desired. If it’s opt-ins, they’ve increased. If it’s “click here for more info”, more people click through.

Think about it. If you want to build a list, but your opt in form is at the bottom right hand corner of your site, you think you will have the same results as someone who puts it smack dab in the middle of the bulls-eye? No way, Jose`.

Now, take the cool test below- it will be a real eye opener…

TEN SECONDS to breakthrough:

TRY this test called the 10 second challenge.

Go to your site and let it load. If you have a fancy flash presentation, go fix yourself a ham and cheese sandwich, make a pot of tea, and mow your neighbors’ lawn first.

For the rest of you, sit in front of your screen, about 2-3 feet away. Close your eyes for 10 seconds (no cheating). Now, open your eyes and observe WHERE your eyes want to naturally go.

Is it to your logo? Is it to the number one action area? Is to an area of color or text that isn’t anywhere near where you want them to go? Or do your eyes wander aimlessly trying to find something of value to focus on?

If you’re unsure of the results, do it several times. You will begin to get a feel for what’s happening.

Now, take the information you have about the thermal eye charts. Do a quick re-design using those parameters. Then repeat the 10 second test again and see if it impacts your results. Once you feel comfortable with your design issues, use your family or friends as lab rats (ok, guinea pigs), and do the 10 second test with them on your site.

See if they see the same thing you do.

Take My Hand, Please…

Your customers or potential clients MUST be easily and clearly led exactly where you want them to go. If there is one scintilla of hesitation or confusion, you could forever lose them. BUT, if you make the path of little decisions very clear, and you put the signs for that path in the proper places where you know they will be looking, you WILL see some very positive results.

I’ve given you some key information that professionals use to get tremendous results. We use them with our own sites, and most of our clients’ sites. They work. I encourage you to do the same.

Keep tweaking, keep testing, and you WILL see a difference in your conversion AND lead responses.

You will be amazed at the results.

And so will your clients…

Bob Volk, Founder of VolkNet Enterprises, is an Internet Entrepreneur and has started/co-founded many sites including http://volknet.com, http://seo-elite-services, and his newest venture, an automated link exchange program with a unique twist at http://Link-Blaster.com He specializes in Web Site Design, Marketing, and SEO Consultation for both small and medium size businesses doing $30 - $40 million a year.

Get a website and boom your sales!

If you just decided to build a home based business then you must get a website. Good, so that seems obvious… but some things are not so obvious. Or at least not at first. If you are planning to get in direct sales or network marketing, you may have a company provided website, meaning that your website is just like everyone else’s and this is not good! If you ask yourself how came then keep reading this. There are several reasons why you need to get a website of your own.

Get a website today so that you can get visitors tomorrow.

When you get a website of your own, you can optimize it for search engines and get totally free traffic. Having a “Company customized website” (the one provided by the company you just decided to work with), you typically cannot change their website, and if you can, the changes you can make are extremely limited. If you are very serious about taking your home business online, this is a bad thing, because you will need to be able to make changes to your site in order to optimize it for search engines. Have you ever thought of what good is having a website if no one can find you?
Get a website and be sure that the world is your market!

Don’t limit yourself to just one geographical area when you can get a website and market to the world? If you have young children, you can do more business from home instead of spending so much time doing the “grip and grin” around town. Of course, there is no replacement for the old fashioned, high touch feel of home parties and the like, but more and more people are searching online for the products and services they need. Why not market to those people too?

Get a website so that you can earn money while you sleep

That may sound farfetched, but your website can “sell” for you, educate your customers and train your distributors, while you play with the kids, nap or clean the house. Isn’t that what we’re trying to accomplish with our home based business? More life and less work!

Get a website so that you can be unique.

Honestly, no matter how impressive the company website is, most people’s eyes just glaze over when they get there. There is usually too much information, the product and opportunities are all running together, and it’s difficult to contact anyone real if you have questions. It’s intimidating. If you are sending traffic to a company replicated website with classified ads and business cards, you are losing money.

You want your customers going to your site so that they can get a feel for who you are, and why they should be doing business with you. You can let your personality shine through! If you get a website of your own, you can have a newsletter to keep in touch with your website visitors, run specials of your own, have contests, etc. You can get creative with your marketing.
Get a website and get publicity for your home business.

When you have a website you can create a powerful free publicity campaign with press releases. You will have a place to publish your press releases, wow your site visitors with your media attention, and also give the media a place to easily get information about your business.

Get a website so that you can be unique.

Honestly, no matter how impressive the company website is, most people’s eyes just glaze over when they get there. There is usually too much information, the product and opportunities are all running together, and it’s difficult to contact anyone real if you have questions. It’s intimidating. If you are sending traffic to a company replicated website with classified ads and business cards, you are losing money.

You want your customers going to your site so that they can get a feel for who you are, and why they should be doing business with you. You can let your personality shine through! If you get a website of your own, you can have a newsletter to keep in touch with your website visitors, run specials of your own, have contests, etc. You can get creative with your marketing.

Get a website and maximize your income.

When you have a website of your own you can promote affiliate products that are related to your main product and increase your income without any extra work.

Get a website, a real one! One mistake: a lot of work at home entrepreneurs make is that of using the free web space that they can get from their Internet Service Provider. Big mistake! Why? …because if a entrepreneur in business is unwilling to spend a few dollars a month on paid hosting, it screams “not a real business” to the customer. You want the world to take you and your business seriously, so act like a business person and shell out for decent web hosting. Free hosting usually puts ads on your website that you cannot control, or annoying pop ups. At the very least, they limit what you’re able to accomplish by offering cheap looking templates and cheesy stock photos.

So, what are you waiting for? Get a website today!

Matt Bacak became “#1 Best Selling Author” in just a few short hours.
Recent Entrepreneur Magazine’s e-Biz radio show host is
turning Authors, Speakers, and Experts into Overnight Success Stories.
Discover The Secrets To Unleash The Powerful Promoter In You! Sign up
for Matt Bacak’s Promoting Tips Ezine ($100 value) just visit his
website at http://www.powerfulpromoter.com or http://promotingtips.com