Web designers at Forescene will tell you that if you want to make sure your website lands within the first page of results on a search there is no one sure solution. Designing a website that consistently produces top results in searches requires a number of strategies, that will increase your chances of search engines finding your site. Here are some suggestions.
1) Website Architecture, the site should have a common theme, all pages should be linked and easily accessible. The whole site should feel like completely inter-related and not a jumble of pages.
2) Keywords, research the keywords and phrases relevant to your niche or sector. Optimize your site to include these important words within your pages and target specifically the exact customers you want to attract.
3) Website Accessibility, make sure the bots and spiders can access your site to evaluate it. Ensure your pages are error free and check that search engines can read your site. Read the rest of this entry »
Forescene find that many customers are uninitiated into the strange world of search engine optimization (SEO) and with its white and black hats, cloaking, tags, titles and links can seem like some old magicians almanac.
Simply put, SEO are the techniques used by web designers to make sure that search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo are able to read your website and deliver accurate results to users of the internet. While great importance is attached to a good-looking site with interesting articles and clear relevant images, the background work of the SEO will ensure people find you.
SEO FAQ explained
1) White hat/ Black hat, white hat techniques are legal, ethical processes and black hat are underhanded attempts to fool the system, likely leading you your site being banned.
2) Organic or Natural SEO, places the website an organic position in relation to searches, these are less likely to be affected by new systems that the search engines introduce. Read the rest of this entry »
Have you ever read an article or looked on a website and though, “I have no idea what you are talking about?” In this constantly evolving and changing Internet world it is very easy to quick loose track with current trends, systems or programs.
FAQpal
The logic behind the developers of the FAQpal website is to allow visitors, as their site says, to be “enlightening one tutorial at a time”. The premise is that the site acts as a knowledge bank where people can leave advice and assistance about web design, blogging, social networks and a whole wide range of technical topics.
The site also produces a rich and varied blog, which produce interesting and informative articles about social media, networking and developments over the web. You can receive updates and tweets regarding new content and their comments boxes allows for interaction with other users and join the community. Read the rest of this entry »
What should the website designer look to include in your gallery to make it a unique and interesting experience for visitors. Forescene designers advise that you include some of the following on your website to attract visitors and entertain them while they browse.
1) Gallery, the obvious starting point, but make sure you emulate the real gallery world and organize your work into exhibitions or rooms. Give each show a voice and perspective of its own. Do not be tempted to put your entire back catalogue on show. Always leave them wanting more.
2) Articles, art aficionados love to understand the creative process. While many artists hate talking about their influences and the forces that drive their work, well-written and informative pieces about you will bring in traffic.
3) Private viewings, establish a registration process, where members will get preferential deals, sneak previews of work and early chances to buy your art. Just like real world exhibitions build up to that opening night, have a webcast and send out virtual treats. Read the rest of this entry »
Frequently Asked Questions or FAQ pages are a common web design feature but at times very little thought seems to go into asking, “at whom are they aimed.” When creating a FAQ page the important questions should be what will your audience require, rather than what do I know.
The importance of frequently asked questions is that they do just that and are not seen as content fillers or a miscellaneous keyword dump. These are genuine aids to website usability on not fluff and filler, remember content is king and they can provide a useful resource that people will return to.
If your company works in an every updating sector where things regularly change they should be maintained and updated, making sure the content is still current. It is no good providing answers to 2007’s questions when the market has moved on three years. Read the rest of this entry »
Forescene know that when customers visit estate agents websites they are looking for specific information. What do realtor customers expect from an estate agents website?
1) House Details, accurate descriptions and local information. If you embolden the property to much buyers will soon realize this when they visit and sellers will when you put the property on your site. Over exaggeration will lead to mistrust.
2) High Quality Photographs, customers want to see what the property looks like before they visit, blurred and obscured shots will not do your site or the sellers cause any favors.
3) FAQ page. Detail the buying and selling process. People do not move home every week and each time the procedure alters a little or they forget how stress causing it can be. Your professionalism is assured if you assist them every step of the way. Read the rest of this entry »
At the Oscar Awards on Sunday night Ric O’Barry, one of the people involved in the award winning film documentary “The Cove” held up a sign saying “Text Dolphin to 44144.” Afraid to be seen taking sides in the issue the camera’s cut away to the audience but the shot was long enough for people to note the protest. Those following up on the card subscribed to the campaign highlighted by the film and receive updates and news.
Web based and text based campaigns are becoming more familiar as a form of promotion these days as was seen by the Red Cross and its attempts to raise money and awareness for Haiti after the terrible earthquakes in January. Activists in Iran were able to twitter reports about the protests there despite the country’s repressive regime.
Campaigns like these just go to show how successful social networking can be as a way of companies or individuals spreading their message and how wide spread these incidents can become if they “go viral.” Japanese Dolphin hunters, the Iranian people and victims of Haiti all saw the direct consequences such exposure can bring and when marketing, even on a local scale getting people talking about your product is the best way to sell. Read the rest of this entry »
Gone are the days when your well-planned presentation was only subject to the occasional heckler or misleading question. These days of modern social network, if you are not careful you run the risk of turning presentations and lectures into a war zone.
A silent, deadly war of back channel, where the audience feeling disengaged from you, comments and talks over the internet as your lecture progresses. A whole series of snark bombs, twecklers and unaddressed comments can lead to you being isolated and out of touch.
The old presentation adage of “fail to prepare and prepare to fail” still holds true. So if you are to address the possibility of these occurrences and use the power of the Internet to prepare for social networking should it rears its head at your seminar. Read the rest of this entry »
Customer recommendations, staff collaborations and crowdsourcing are the new techniques to sample client awareness and comment. One of the biggest and most informed of any company’s resources are its internal market, its own staff. These are the people who have the greatest interaction with a company’s products and are most likely to have ideas about development and problems.
Increasingly CEO’s are realizing the benefits to be gained from including an internal website application for employees to chatter. Enterprise social networks are an Internet solution to the ideas box and focus forums of yesteryear. They allow project managers to co-ordinate teams, solicit comment and judge progress; Sales forces can operate on a similar level with their customers and production teams, while the management can interact with the workforce.
My Starbucks Idea
Starbucks awareness of this process in 2008 led them to develop the “My Starbucks Idea” website that encourages its employees to discuss ideas for making better business. The next big development is more likely to come from within existing staff members. Read the rest of this entry »
