September 17, 2009
User and Search Engine Friendly Web Design
A well-designed website is vital to attracting and retaining visitors. When many people think of designing a site, they are concerned about how it looks. This is very important, but one also has to be aware of the role that search engines play in attracting visitors. Because most people find websites through search engines, one has to make sure that their website is search engine friendly.
When a search ranks a website, they evaluate the text and link components. One needs to make sure that these three elements are fully optimized. Website content is essential to a high search engine ranking. Content needs to be rich in keywords that are relevant to the site, vision, and products and service that the site offering. Placing keyword phrases in the headlines are also important.
Make your text readable. Use a standard size of a 12 font and the preferred test color is black. You should also use a standard font type such as Times New Roman or Arial. Unusual font types will make the site look unprofessional. The site should have introductory and concluding paragraphs with clear product and service descriptions. The quality of the content should be professional, relevant to the site, and free of grammar and spelling errors.
The number of links and the quality of links are important for a high search engine ranking. Search engines are able to identify link farms so dont use them as they will lower site ranking. Your links should be to quality sites as well as having quality sites linking back to your site. . A good quality link includes a keyword rich link text and description. As well, embedded text links in content paragraphs is important to making a search engine friendly site.
The sites navigation bar must be clear and easy to follow. The titles should be professional, clear, and do not contain foolish titles. A site map is very important. Also, make sure that you do not have “page not found” error? Contact information should be easy to find.
The site layout and design is another important element of creating a search engine friendly website. Sites should have consistent layout and design. Use consistent colors, background, and white space. Images should be small and download fast and easy doe people with a slow internet connection. A web page should download in 20 seconds or less using an older type modem. You also dont want bright flashing and silly graphics. Images should professional and relevant to the site. Provide every image with an “alt” label and a corresponding text link.
The key points to remember when designing a website is that search engine spiders and robots love quality content and relevant key words. A poorly designed website that is difficult to navigate results in low search engine rankings.
Producing a website now entails much more thought and planning. Because a high search engine ranking is fundamental to having a successful website, one has to implement all of the components that will make the site search engine friendly. If you dont, you will miss out on site traffic and customers.
We utilize Canada web design to generate dynamic results for our clients. We understand our clients needs and we employ trends, tactics, and technology to deliver clear communication. To learn how to gain a competitive advantage through the Internet, please visit us!
Filed under Web Hosting by Amy Nutt
September 9, 2009
How a Professional Web Design Helps to Build Trust
The key to a successful online business is building customer trust. Establishing trust in the virtual world can be a difficult task because there are so many websites competing for visitors. One important method of building trust is to create a professional web design.
A business website allows you to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so that you are able to interact with millions of potential customers from around the world. A professional website design tells a visitor that a business is secure, credible, and provides quality goods and services. A key component of internet marketing is to create a trust building website. A professional website design should be business appropriate, well thought-out and implemented, and focused on the visitor.
To build visitor trust, a web design should utilize the following tools:
Content: A professional website should contain educational and informative articles that are relevant to the businesses vision. The articles should also be professionally written that do not contain errors.
Search Engine Rankings: Your website design should be search engine friendly so that it will achieve a high ranking. Make sure you have the appropriate key words, minimal pictures, links, appropriate domain name, a Blog, chat room, the business address, logo, and a contact email and address.
Privacy: Include a privacy policy that is clearly located on the website. Never disclose email addresses to 3rd party companies.
Email marketing: Provide your targeted audience with an opt out tool for your email marketing campaigns.
Encourage Visitor Interaction: Provide tools to allow your visitors to interact with the site. This can include webinars, discussion forums, surveys, comment section, polls, and contests.
Showcase Your Company: Include your companys history, mission, vision, and other important background information. Make sure you have a list of client testimonials. Display pictures of your business that includes both the interior and exterior. You can even include pictures of your employees working such as in a meeting or at their desk.
Create a Blog: Add a Blog to your site which will allow you to keep your visitors up-to-date about new products, services, upcoming events, special announcements, and positive news about the company.
Hire a Professional Design Company: Website design companies know the ins and outs of creating a professional website. They will help determine your needs and your visitors needs, and then design a website that is professional and user-friendly. Show that User Personal and Financial Information is Safe: Make sure that your visitors know that their payment transactions are safe. Secure Electronic Transaction (SET) uses digital certificates and encryption to perform a series of security checks verifying that the identity of a customer or sender of information is valid. Consider acquiring a trustmark.
Today, having a website is a must for every business. In recent years, web designs have undergone many changes. They have now become more interactive and a place to share information. No matter the size of a business, if you design a website that focuses on building trust, you will drastically increase the number of visitors that will become loyal customers.
We utilize web design to generate dynamic results for our clients. We understand our clients needs and we employ trends, tactics, and technology to deliver clear communication. To learn how to gain a competitive advantage through the Internet, please visit us!
Filed under Web Hosting by Amy Nutt
September 2, 2009
Most Common Errors When Building A Website
Whether you are building a website for business or personal reasons, how you design the site will affect the number of visitors you attract and retain. When surfing the internet, it is not difficult to see how many websites owners have failed at designing a professional site. There are a number of common errors many people make when creating a website.
The following is a list of common mistakes to avoid when building your website:
1, A poorly organized design is a common error that will affect website traffic. Do not use a mish mash of banners, flashing animation, many bright colors, strange patterns, and annoying music. A cluster of distracting background designs makes a website look unprofessional and takes away from the sites purpose and message.
2. A website that takes a long time loading will often result in surfers losing patience and leaving the site. To avoid a slow loading website use a high speed internet connection, do not use a lot of graphics, and minimize the amount of video clips, music clips, and flash animation. This will drastically reduce loading time.
3. Websites that do not clearly convey their message tend not to have repeat visitors. Your home page should clearly state who you are and the mission of your website. Make sure you have a professional logo and domain name that is relevant to your site. The visitor should know exactly what business or service you are promoting. Focus is essential when building a website.
4. It is important to make sure your navigation tool is easy to understand and use. You want your visitors to freely and quickly move from page to page without getting mixed up. Your navigation links should be located at the top of the webpage or on the side.
5. Having quality content is essential to creating and maintaining a successful website. Quality and well written content that is updated regularly will encourage visitors to return to your site. You should also make sure the content is relevant to your site.
6. Websites that are not search engine friendly will result in a lack of visitors. You should have relevant key words, unique content, quality reciprocal links, appropriate advertisements, small pictures, email address, domain name, and a contact phone number and address.
7. Cookie cutter websites tend not to be as popular as original designed websites. Websites that have the same layout and content as other sites will score low in the search engine rankings. A website built from scratch will attract more visitors.
Your web design represents the vision and product or service that your company is offering. A poorly designed website sends the message to your visitors that your product or service may not be high quality. How well your website succeeds depends on the overall impression a visitor receives. It is important to take the time to plan and implement a website that is professional, user-friendly, and is appealing to your targeted visitors.
Interactive Vancouver web design agency provides web development, online marketing and web design services customized to your needs. With offices in Kelowna, Toronto and California to help you build your organizations online presence.
Filed under Web Hosting by Amy Nutt
