Archive for January, 2011

Understanding Web-Based Content, Optimization, and the Social Networking Relationship

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

One of the number one complaints regarding web design it that it is too single faceted. Too many would-be web designers focus on just one main element and forget that there are other contributing factors regarding whether or not a website will do well in the chronic quest for high SEO page rankings. There are many different ways to go about building a website. Hiring someone who understands the various relationships between your website and the other websites on the internet can make all the difference in the world.

Some web designers choose to build for visual impact alone. Visual impact is certainly part of building a successful website but that’s not where it should end. Creating visually stunning graphics or graphics that are entertaining will help to hold the user’s attention once he or she lands on your website. But of course, if they can’t find your site to land on you can always enjoy looking at the visually stunning and entertaining graphics to your heart’s content.

Visual stimulation should not over ride the content. Content that is unique to your site and SEO friendly is important when it comes to helping you be readily visible on the internet. Content is also one of the elements to keeping a visitor’s attention once they have found your website. Content provides information, education, and entertainment. Really good content will provide all of these in one page. If your webs designer considers content to be an extension of the visually stunning graphics, you’re on the right path.

Of course, these days the structure of search engine optimization is changing rapidly and we can’t forget the importance of implementing social networking links to social networking pages. Sometimes this is as simple as just having a link that encourages people to click through and join your friend list or your follower list. Sometimes there is more to it than that. The placement of such information, incentives to follow you, and other insightful and creative additions can help increase your popularity through the social networking pages which helps increase your SEO ranking.

When you find a web designer that can incorporate all three of these elements into your website design you have a web designer that is ready and willing to help you become more successful. It’s not just about a single element and when you can not only have numerous elements working together to help improve your website’s interface with users but also help attract more users you have a winning combination.

Web design continues to grow and develop. At one time it was only vital to have a web designer piece together a web page that would look cool. The competition online has become staggering and the basis of website design has changed so much that any designer that isn’t continuing his or her education isn’t going be in the business for long. With the ground rules for competitive websites changing so quickly, the success of your website is going to be directly linked to the success of the web designer. Just as the relationship between various online sites will play a role in your overall success, the relationship between the web designer and intimate knowledge of the changing internet will play a vital role of your website’s design success.

Beyond Web Design: Branding, Trademarks, and Logos

Thursday, January 13th, 2011

When you are considering having a professional website built, enhanced, or revamped one of the many aspects to consider is whether you are easily recognizable among internet users. One of the things that you might want to investigate is using your web designer to help your brand, create trademarks, and develop logos. This can help to improve the basic user recognition of your site, services, products, and business. Recognition can easily translate into a nicer bottom line and greater profits for your pocket.

Branding is not usually completed on a single website but it can certainly be started on one. When you think of branding you may very well think of repetitive use for your business name or the product you sell. This isn’t the most accurate method of branding because doing it this way just clogs up the flow of content and creates the overall stuffing of words that search engines frown upon.

Branding is more about building a reputation through recognition. Ask any 12 year old what kind of car they would like to own someday and you aren’t likely to hear the word “minivan” come out of their mouth. Why? Because the branding of the traditionally “cool cars” has been well established. You can name some of the coolest cars right off the top of your head even if you’ve never seen one, driven one, or have any desire to do so. Car manufacturers take the time to ensure that their branding hits the right target audience. It’s about being recognized for what you want to be recognized for. This, in turn, has the majority of the public overlooking potential flaws (especially when it comes to those cool cars) and embracing the images that they’ve been told to buy into.

You can do it with any product or service. You just have to start by creating the website with branding in mind. What is it that you want people to remember about your business and your website? This is where your image is built. The website will have to reflect that.

The same is true when it comes to developing trademarks and creating logos. While there are some legal ways to protect each of these, they become a symbol of recognition. Most of us can call to mind the logos and trademarks of the most popular soda companies, the aggressively advertised cleaning products, and even pet products.

Logos can be one of the most beneficial visual components on your website because if it is distinctive and easy to recognize you can start to litter it all over the place. You can use it on social networks, you can use it in regular internet advertising, and you can even have it displayed on other people’s websites as you make exchanges with cross promotional products and services.

The use of a logo is imperative if you are planning to expand beyond the small home based business part time income. If you are looking to become significant throughout the world, you will need a logo to show up all over the world. It’s really that simple.

The creation of logos and trademarks are necessarily that simple. You will want it to be compatible with your website, and compatible with the material you promote. You want it to be unique and yet keep it simple enough to repeat its use.

Your web developer can be helpful when it comes to incorporating these simple business ideas into a website. Offline businesses have been using all three components since the dawn of advertising. Using them online is just as important.