Friday 28 May 2010

Do-it-yourself image sizing.


A question I received the other day from one of my clients was ‘How do I reduce the size of a photo for online use?’ What follows is more of a do-it-yourself type of thing.

Before going to your intended size, you first want to crop your image to remove any unnecessary portions of the picture. After cropping, you can change the overall pixel dimensions to go even smaller. All photo editing software will have a command for changing the pixel dimensions of an image. Look for a command called "Image Size," "Resize," or "Resample." When you use this command you will be presented with a dialog box for entering the exact pixels you wish to use. Other options you may find in the dialog are:
Resample: You need this on when sizing down. This enables the software to change the pixel dimensions.

Constrain proportions or keep aspect ratio:You want this option enabled. It prevents the image from being stretched and distorted. When this option is enabled, you only need to enter one value--height or width--and the other value will adjust automatically.

Never, ever resize and overwrite your original file!

After sizing the image, be sure to do a Save As so you don't overwrite your original, high resolution file. You'll want to save as a JPEG or GIF file. Both formats are highly compressed and give you a quick download time.

When choosing the compression level, keep quality in the medium to high range. You want to shoot for a file size of 30 to 100 KB per image. Go small if you will be putting several files on the same page or sending them in one email. Try not to exceed 100 KB per Web page for the total of all images.

This may sound like a time consuming process, especially if you have a lot of photos to share, but fortunately most of today's software has made it easy to size and compress a batch of photos very quickly.

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Effective Ad banners.


Regardless to what type of banner ads you use or prefer, the concept of a banner ad is a great way to allow you to brand your products. We will have our research done in order to create the best banner ads for your products, which will give your company the highest possible Click Through Rate (CTR).

Here are a few tips to help create banner ads that will work to your site’s advantage.

Do your research: You simply cannot compete without knowing your competition. Logon to popular websites, related to your industry, and scan the hundreds of banner ads on display. Compare the ones you like to ones you don’t, and see if any common factors jump out at you.

Keep it simple: The second rule of creating effective banner ads is to keep it short and simple. Banner ads are displayed amongst a large amount of other information, competing with several other factors on the page for the user’s attention. Unlike print media, where an advertisement can grab the entire page or appear as a two-page spread, banner ads get limited display area. So it is imperative to keep the banner ads simple, easy to understand and to the point. Brief is good. Clutter is not.

Weave magic with words: Less is more in the case of banner ads. Use larger fonts and fewer words. People simply don’t have the time or the patience to read long-winded messages in tiny text to figure out what you are selling. Make an impact by using keywords relevant to information found on the site the potential clicker is on.

Monday 24 May 2010

SEO done the right way.

A client recently asked for a quick overview of good SEO practises, so I thought I’d share them with all of you at the same time. It’s something on the rough side but you need this in place to get your website up in the top ranks of those major search engines out there. Well the first item being the most important. 
Landing pages or Homepage: It’s impossible to do a good job of optimizing your homepage for every possible term people might use to find your site. Think of it as a market place where every vendor is yelling the end result is of equal volume where nothing stands out. Plan instead to add a page to your site for each search term, heavily optimized for that term using all the tips below. 

Titles: The < title > tag, which sets the text displayed in the title bar of the browser window, is very highly rated by search engines as being indicative of the page’s content. The engines differ in how much of the < title > they index, but the general rule of thumb is that the first 60 or so characters are the most important.

Repetition: The search term should be repeated as many times as possible. It’s very important to use key words pertaining to the page as you see fit increasing the position of the page ranking in search engines.

Image Names: A necessity if you’re particular to a specific image naming as these play a vital role in determining the page search outcome as well. ‘Alt’ texting images (text appearing before the image downloads) can also define greater probabilities of showing up on Google Image search, enhancing search criteria.

Saturday 22 May 2010

YouTube video embedded.

The video content site YouTube has taken the Web by storm. Videos of every conceivable topic can be found here, and you can upload and view them for free. It's also easy to add a link to your favourite YouTube videos on your blog, or even embed the actual video directly into your website.

Adding a video to your Blog.
Visit the YouTube website and log into your account. Once you have logged in select the video you wish to upload to your blog. Highlight the entire video URL from the address bar and copy it. Add the URL to your blog. Some blogging programs automatically make a link clickable, while others require you to insert the code. Publish your blog by following the specific instructions outlined by your blog software.


Adding a video to your Website.
This is just as simple if you have a fair knowledge of HTML or if you’re using an editor like Dreamweaver. Open your webpage where you wish to insert your YouTube video. Visit the YouTube website and copy the code. After this insert the code directly into your hard coded HTML page. Remember to insert it in-between the section of your page.


Why should I embed my video from YouTube?
Firstly embedding YouTube videos into your site keeps your website light. This means your website server is free of the additional MBs those high quality videos will occupy. Secondly it does not affect the performance of your website and finally the compression and streaming video content given out by YouTube only makes it a pleasure for your users.


Thursday 20 May 2010

Google map, got one?

A Google map can come in handy to any user looking for your physical location as opposed to a line drawing. One of the biggest advantages of Google maps is the three different map views it supplies. There is a normal map view, a satellite image view and a terrain view, depending on the need of the user. Another advantage is that if the user needs directions that include numerous stops, Google maps easily adds a new destination to the route with a single click. The simplicity of the maps is that they are very cut and dry without confusing the user. The zoom functionality also plays an important role in helping users pan across the map thus giving an overall view of what’s around.

Step ahead of the game with a Google map on your ‘Contact Us’ page. All you need is a Google account to get started @ http://maps.google.com

Tuesday 18 May 2010

7 Tips to a top website!

As a web site designer, I spend a lot of time online. I also spend a lot of time at other sites. These are the top seven tips I have discovered make or break a web site other than its design appeal.

WHERE ARE YOU?

When creating a web site, tell people where you are, or whom you are targeting. Always give a physical location.

CONTACT US

When gaining the trust of an individual, possibly a person who is new to the Internet, letting them know how they can make contact is vital. E-mail is most important. It needs to be easy to find.

TIMELY INFORMATION

404 Page Not Found, Server Errors. 
How many pages at your site are not where you say they are?
404 Page Not Found Errors. Always be up to date with your server it’s very frustrating for a user to get that error. Also how many of your pages have broken links? Some sites excel at broken links and missing images. This translates as lack of interest in your customers.

RESPOND 

Auto-responder. You send an email and promptly you get a reply. But if your telling your customers you will get it done in 24hrs done it really happen?

NAVIGATE 

I get to your site. Now what? Am I expected to know what I'm looking for? How do I know what’s on the site if you don't provide an easy way to get around? Provide simple navigation at the start, so your visitors can get into your site quickly. Too many options are daunting. You need to achieve a balance that will depend on your content.

Sunday 16 May 2010

An effective site map.

Planning
Without planning and organization, you will end up with chaos.To create your plan for a new or existing site, sit down and consider what your site will achieve.
Get out a piece of paper and a pen, draw a circle in the middle and mark it 'Home'. Draw boxes connected by lines radiating out from the centre circle and mark them with each of the main areas your site will cover. Don't forget a site map if your site has more than 8 or 9 pages. Repeat this process for each secondary circle until you've planned your site.

Good navigation is vital and poor navigation leads to visitor frustration. Once you've created your plan, you can create logical navigational links. You don't want to confuse your site visitors with too many options. You can offer more choices later, as visitors drill down into your site.

Content

This applies equally to new and existing web sites. Do make your text easy to read. Do use short sentences; break up your text into paragraphs. Do use bullets and lists to make your point.

Create textual variation with heading size and color but don't make your text too small to read. Be consistent - consistency creates a professional image. Don't use weird text color/ background color combinations. Leave white space to create a 'clean' looking design. Remember less is more.

Ask two or three friends (who's opinions you value) how they find your site navigation and layout.



Friday 14 May 2010

8 rules for a domain name.

Rule 1. Keep it short.

Some places allow you to register domain names up to 63 characters. Does this make sense? Well always keep in mind people have to remember your domain name so keep short. A domain name precise to your unique company name or line of business is the best option.

Rule 2. Dot What?

If you’re a business the best option is to go with a .com suffix. It’s the first extension that most people search for and has been out there for several years. A .com suffix shows that your business is serious and has been around for long.

Rule 3. Avoid those Trademark Names please.

In the past a few people picked up valuable Trademark Names and sold them off for millions of dollars only to cash in and retire. Always remember that those companies like yours have spent a lot of money getting their branding done and what goes around comes around. So instead of some multi- millionaire-dollar company knocking on your door to have the domain back you may just end up with a lawsuit on your hands.

Rule 4. Get your domain NOW!

Domain names are being snatched away really fast these days so it is best to get your domain name fast and not be left with “the-domain-name-no-one-wants.net” You don’t even need a web host just get out there and purchase your domain now.

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Argh! It's time spent.


Being in the business of web design is both rewarding and disheartening. Ever wondered what really goes on before you had your website up and running? Well, let me give you the run down.

So you have your company up and running and well all this talk about being online has really bogged you down. You searched and searched to find someone out there that really understands your business and is creatively inclined to get you what you need.

It’s the initial stage and wow you have all these ideas buzzing. You call in the web/ graphics company and phew you’re in a pickle. Is it a static website is it animated? Do you want CSS? How many pages and so on and so forth. God damn, I just need a website you think, what’s all this?

Well here it is. Let me bring it out to you loud and clear, that initial meeting is crucial to you getting what you want. I know this is harsh but make it a point to get a little research done so you don’t end up wasting your time and that of the chosen design company.

Monday 10 May 2010

Don't get toasted!

If you have a web site or are even planning to build one, you would have been advised to pay attention to the content placed on your web page, because "It’s all about Content ". Get a professional web design company. Quality content not only helps to draw in traffic, it also helps improve the search engine rankings of your web page if you publish well-written articles incorporating strategic keywords. There is no doubt that quality content is an important part of a wholesome Web Page Design process.

There are many web sites that are plain bare bones with little content and there are websites stuffed with volumes of content that is of no use to the reader– the end result is that such websites flop.

At PlanetWorkx.com we know exactly what it takes to bring your target customers and visitors back time and time again. From rich web graphics to simple but aesthetic pure designed web pages.

DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND!

Get in touch and be well assured that you’re in good hands.
Email: nigel@planetworkx.com or call Nigel on +971 50 7882371

Saturday 8 May 2010

The Know How?

Let me make something perfectly clear: No matter what you think you know right now, it’s not enough. Sorry to say, but YOU are not fully armed with the necessary knowledge required to choose a web designer. However, if you are still reading this, you are probably wondering why I made such a bold statement. It's simple. As the owner of a professional Web Design Company, I assumed it would be easy to put myself in your shoes and choose a designer – after all, who would know better than me who's good and who's not? But, boy was I wrong! I did exactly what you're doing right now- going from website to website, requesting quote after quote until I drowned in a sea of doubt and confusion!

EVERY COMPANY APPEARED TO BE THE SAME!

So many web design companies on the internet are offering the same services and saying the same thing; and it's awfully difficult to know which one to pick - even for a guy like me! That's when I decided that it is crucial that I make things EASY FOR YOU so I can save you from a similar horrible fate! After weeks of research and talking to literally hundreds of website and graphic design companies, I compiled a list of "the most IMPORTANT things to look for that will SAVE YOU from getting thrown into the street and pan caked by a monster truck..."

If you want to succeed, always be on the look out for these crucial elements:


  1. Check for portfolio and samples
  2. Number of years in business***
  3. A growing active portfolio
  4. Works with Adobe programs
  5. Can cater to your unique needs
  6. Willing to work with your own ideas
  7. Willing to sign a contract
  8. Enforces strict deadlines
  9. Requires only a 50% deposit up front
  10. Available for emergencies
  11. Provides you with a copy of all files
  12. Knowledgeable in design & layout
*** 9 out of every 10 new web design companies go out of business in the first year.

What do you think will happen to your business if you choose the wrong company? So now you know what to look for, don't end up as road kill! But we're not done yet... Now for the Big Kahuna Question that we know YOU want the answer to...

"How Much Should I Pay For My Website?"
GET A QUOTE or call (Cell) +971 50 7882371, (Office) +971 4 4332127