Archive for September, 2007

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Do you want to have a feature rich web site with animations, sound, and an opening splash screen?

Do you want to use Flash extensively on your site but and its most important to understand if you are afraid of hurting your search engine positioning?

Do you require an opening splash page but were told that the search engines would not index your site if you or someone you know had one?

Well there are ways to have the benefits of Flash on your site and still be attractive to search engines. It is all in how the Flash is used. Some of the methods are simple while others require more programming experience. But we all can use Flash without driving away the search engines.

first let s look at the problem. Search engines index a site by looking at the content. In this case we are talking about text content, not pictures, video, sound, or animation. A basic fact to keep in notion on having a very search engine friendly site is, have high quality, targeted content in text form and limiting the use of anything that can get resource within the way of the search engines analyzing this content.

But what about Flash? Flash converts everything into a Flash file, or SWF file playable by the Flash Player plug-in. All the text in this Flash file will be converted from text to vector graphics, and since the search engines cannot read text in a graphic, they will be unable to read the text in a Flash file. Therefore they will be unable to index the information element within the site.

So how to we obtain around this seemingly insurmountable problem? It is all in how we use Flash in our site. The trick is, either wrap the Flash inside typical html coding, or by using xhtml you can easily have Flash display text from an external source. I will limit this article to the easier methods for using Flash in a search engine friendly manner.

Let s look at the three main ways we can want to use Flash on a website:

1. Splash Page
2. Flash navigation
3. Flash content

Starting with the Flash Splash page there are a couple of ways to handle this. If we just have the Flash Splash page as the opening page to our web site there will be no way aside from the meta tags for the search engines to index the page, let alone learn any more pages in your site.

The trick here is, give the search engines something to work with. This can be easily done in two ways. you can most defiantly put a text only navigation bar just below the splash screen, this way the search engines can at least establish the other pages in your site. But to allow the search engines to index the actual splash screen here is a neat trick. Place the Flash file in a layer, you can most defiantly then float that layer over the web page allowing you to hide all the plain html text you want underneath the Flash layer. This has the added benefit of giving content to visitors who do not have the Flash player installed on their system.

With a Flash navigation bar things are much easier. As long as only the navigation is in Flash the rest of the page can use search engine friendly text, plus you can easily put a text only navigation bar across the bottom of the page so that the search engines can Uncover the rest of your pages. This is a good idea anyway and one that I always follow. Plus when a visitor reaches the bottom of your page they have some links to follow without having to scroll back up the page to your navigation bar.

Using Flash content in your internet site follows the basic principles outlined above. As long as you have some text based content for the search engines to index you will be OK. I have found that having Flash animation resting on the top of my page where it fills the screen, followed by additional text is a nice hybrid approach. It gives your visitors the content rich experience you want to provide plus gives the search engines all the text based content they need for proper search engine indexing.

if you or someone you know really want or need a complete Flash site there is one more thing you can easily do. This requires more work, but it will keep your site highlight within the search engines. Create two versions of your online business, one in Flash and one using regular HTML. Have a simple home page that allows visitors to select either the Flash or HTML version of your site. Include on this home page your main keywords and navigation links to at least your site map and main pages so that the search engines can Uncover their way around your site. This gives you the preeminent of both worlds, the fully feature rich Flash site, and a search engine friendly HTML web site.

One final note, Google now is able to index Flash files, pulling out the text content from the SWF files. This is a magnificent advance and allows us to use Flash more freely on our web sites, but note that they are pulling the TEXT out of the Flash file. So in order to make your Flash files Google friendly you would include your search engine optimized text as text inside the Flash file, just like you would in a regular html web page.

So with proper planning and a few tricks we can have a very rich Flash site and still benefit from easy search engine indexing.
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Affordable web design - Web design is an art or not?

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Web design is an art. There’s no question about that. The question is: how many websites designed by real web designers are out there? With the amount of crap that purely invades the Internet and suffocates the users nowadays, there are serious reasons to doubt that web design is an art in its own right.

So called web designers create terrible made for AdSense sites, or those awful personal pages that have nothing to declare. But the Internet is a World and you could expect to Uncover , as element within the real world, tones of nonsense and digital rubbish. Such websites have no real value, are full of grammatical errors, respect no design techniques, blend colors, fonts and graphics irrationally, display flashy banners, annoying gifs and so on. Sites like these make individuals believe that it is ok to put up a website even if it is lousy. Anyone can start a website, but, can anyone design a website? Obviously not, since new websites appear online every repeated day that are not good at all.

Web design combines long-established arts with technical skills. A web designer is not just a web coder: he or she is an artist able to understand the value of image and other visual elements, and knows what impact these might have on the magnificent viewers. The web designer works with images and words to create the perfect web layout. To create unique websites, the kind of websites that really add value to the World Wide Web, skilled web designers use various tools. They might retouch pictures and graphics or create astonishing images using programs for instance Photoshop, Illustrator, Jasic Paint, Photo Impact and so on. They might use 3D software or Flash to design dramatic layouts that will transport the visitors into another world. No matter what tools they employ, professional web designers create functional, astonishing web pages.

Don’t believe that web design, as an art, is not for business, corporate or informative websites. As a matter of fact they need it the most. While business and informational websites don’t need to be artistic, they need to inspire. Corporate websites need clear designs, simple layouts so that any visitor would access the information fast and understand the purpose of the website. To create a website that sends the right message and develops brand awareness in an agreeable manner is an art. A good website can sell a service or products, but this doesn’t mean that its appearance would fade. Compare a website to a auto: you need it to transport your visitors through a space full of information. You don’t want them to be bored by what you have to offer. You want to entertain them, to enrapture their minds, to make them come back. What it will be: a Hollywood like limousine or a second hand automobile? Yes, it’s true: it’s not the car that items, but the ride. However, when you travel in an uncomfortable seat you might not enjoy the ride. And doesn’t anyone dream for a first-class ticket?

After all this being said, you do not have to hire a web designer to build a magnificent site in today’s online world. Web design is an art, but with the advent of the new high power website builders, anyone can create a high quality website for a fraction of the cost of hiring a web designer. This is especially true of web building programs that are template driven.

Online web building programs using this “template driven” technology allow the user to make their website using professionally designed templates. This means the “art” of web design has already been done. The user simply chooses their template, adds their own content and , and in a matter of hours or days, a HIGH QUALITY website is created!

Don’t be fooled. Not all website builders are the same. make sure you use a website builder that includes ecommerce capabilities without an additional charge. One such program is HighPowerSites.

in wrapping up: you can easily hire a skilled, talented web designer to create your business website but you will pay a high price as web designers are not reasonably priced. Or you can easily use a top notch web building program for a fraction of the cost. You’ll need to pay the price for either one, but high quality websites don’t come low-cost. in most cases, if you or someone that understands and has expert knowledge are serious about doing business online, you would invest in your web site. The future belongs to those that provide for quality on the excellent World Wide Web.

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Technorati Tags: logo design solutions softbean.com   Flickr Tags: logo  

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

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The famous Puma leap or the big yellow “M” reminds all of us the famous “PUMA” and “McDonalds”…

No matter how young or how established a company is, they need to make their brand accustomed to their customers. With so many similar kinds of products and services, what makes a company so unique and stand out from rest of the crowd? Or in more simple words “How will your potential customer remember you? The answer is “YOUR LOGO”. It s the company’s logo that makes all the difference.

Logos are a unique way of pictorially representing what can be said in a few words or a sentence. Logos can be simple, from a simple dot to a more complicated conglomeration of colors and patterns. Company logos could represent the company’s products or services in a single image. It could be unique enough to be differentiated from the rest, but special enough to be remembered by the company’s potential and existing customers.

Companies make their logos using a combination of icon and text or a simple icon. The text new aspect element within the logo can have the company name in full or abbreviated text and the icon or even just a symbol or a brand mark. A logo can or can not have the company’s name, but having the company’s name is an added advantage. Also there are magnificent logos that just contain the company initials, for instance Y! of Yahoo.

The size and color could not be a rampart to the functionality, effectiveness and the attractiveness of a logo. Identity of the company would be properly portrayed. Logo designers would always substain in consideration the basic design principles of color, size, clarity and consistency when designing logos. Companies would hire professional logo designers who will understand your company and your mind set.

Companies going for professional logo designers could make sure that their professional logo designers are equipped with the latest skills and well informed with the latest trends in designing. Designers would be aware of copyrights and trademark issues and one would make sure that his designers are not copying from any other logos. The use of third party fonts, too many shadows and glares are also not recommended. Another important thing to be kept in mind by designers is that the logo would be flexible enough to detain its original color and shape when transformed to a different medium.

There are now thousands of designers of logos. It is always advisable to hire professional web designing firms who are very skilled in logo designs and equipped with proper logo designing softwares.

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Websites of today have improved immensely regarding technological and artistic aspects. Websites are no longer limited to text and pictures. Cutting edge websites of today provide an effective mix of audio and visual information. Websites can also pull in resources from other programs for instance spreadsheets, charts, and Power Point presentations.

Power Point presentations have been new as the main method of presentation for many offices for the past several years. Power Point presentations are easy to create, are portable, and the Power Point program is affordable. Why not take your Power Point presentation to the next level by turning it into a web presentation?

How do you turn your Power Point presentation into a web presentation? The answer to this question can be different then what you have done resource within the past. highlight within the past you can have provided a link on your web site to your Power Point presentation. Users clicked on the magnificent link and watched the basic Power Point presentation. This method provided the information to the customer, but did not provide an experience.

you can easily convert your Power Point presentation to a Flash presentation in order to create an experience for your customer. Flash technology is accepted by 98% of the world which makes it a viable technological resource. Flash turns your basic Power Point presentation into a multimedia experience that you can most defiantly share on the excellent Internet.

A robust Flash program that you can most defiantly use is glib Presenter. you can easily peruse their website at . glib presenter enables you to add audio and interactive video elements to your presentation. These features spice up your presentation and engage the customer more successfully.

It doesn’t matter whether you have 10 or 110 slides because the eloquent Presenter will build a multimedia presentation for you. This program is designed so that anyone, no matter how technology savvy they are, can use it. This program will create multimedia presentations that work on any sort of Internet connection speed from hi-speed internet to a dial-up connection. In addition, you can most defiantly create CDs using this program.

The eloquent Presenter is often new in Internet commercials, seminars, and home study course creation. Another advantage is that after a customer views your multimedia web presentation you can most defiantly automatically send them to your web page. Your customer will be more likely to purchase a product immediately after watching the web presentation so gain the benefits of this window of possibility.

Use the power of Flash to add pizzazz to your web presentations. Flash enables you to reach your customers by stimulating their senses and tugging at their emotions. Show your passion and enthusiasm for your product through a multimedia presentation. Your customers can just jump on your bandwagon when they witness your dedication to the product, service, and customer satisfaction.
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Affordable web design and hosting - Let s design a great website

Sunday, September 30th, 2007

Are you stuck in different types of buttons? Square, round, flashy buttons? List of buttons are going on and on? If you are after these faulty activities, think again. Will these buttons are going to serve you any more in designing a better web page? Will this bullets will increase the number of your visitors?

Now take a deep breath and read some really helpful tips for professional web sites:

1. Select a colour scheme and stick to it. Choose couple of your favorite colour and stick with it. Here is how a most common colour scheme should look like:

    * Red, yellow and white
    * Blue and white
    * Red, grey and white
    * Blue, orange and white
    * Yellow, grey and white.
You are not very sure about which colour scheme to choose? Then surf the internet and find a website that you like. You can even model colour scheme from what really interests you out there.

2. Make use of templates:

If you are one of those who can’t really decide what they like, you have another option too. That is to choose a template. If you really intend to find them, you will find several pre-set design templates. It could be your web-designing software or even some web-sites which specializes in webpage designing.

3. Let them navigation freely:

When it comes to designing a website you should not forget to provide them an easy to Navigate system where they can find what they want. You can place your Navigation bar on the left or at the top. And since most people are used to this type of navigation, it s best to stick with it. It also helps to include your navigation bar at the bottom of each page to save your visitors from having to scroll back to the top.

4. Special effect need to be special:

What we mean here is you should not use special effects at the drop of the hat. It will only increase the uploading time and you will lose your potential clients.

5. Backgrounds: Lights are right!

Be sure your visitors can read the text on the background, also be careful that your links are visible before and after being visited. The default for links in most programs is blue, and burgundy (before and after visited) so, if you have a dark background, please ensure your links are light.

6. Watch that External Links!

Help your visitor s time, by letting those busy bees open links to other websites in a new window. That way your visitors can easily return to your site when they are finished browsing the external link.

7. Map is important for your Site

If you website have more pages, say 15 or more, than it is useful and recommendable to have a site map or a Search feature to ensure your visitors can easily find what they re actually looking for.

8. Text is the most important factor:

Never refrain yourself from giving some information just to give yourself an excuse to make it look simple or clean. Remember, content is the king and it will always be. People come to web with some clear purpose in their minds, try to justify their needs by never cheating them when it comes to choosing between adding information or just saving some space.

Professional websites will exclude these things:

   1. Flash intros or animated boxes
   2. Pop up
   3. music :( which will play automatically).
   4. Hit counters
   5. Date and time stamps
   6. Backgrounds that are busy.

If you really want to make professional websites try focusing on simple facts given here. We are sure you will not go wrong with the information given here.

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