Tag Archives: business
What Is Good Web Design?
Anyone can design a website. There are plenty of templates, freeware and online instructions that allow anyone with access to a PC and a bit of free time to try their hand at web design. But once you start putting a website together you begin to realise that there is far more to good web design than first meets the eye. Simply putting a couple of pictures up with some text that may contain a few random keywords is not going to see your site powering its way up the Google rankings. So what are the vital ingredients for good web design?
Content, content, content
For many years, the established web design practice was to put together a site first and then create the content to fit the ‘gaps’ left over. Now, because of the emphasis placed on original content by the search engines, good web design incorporates killer content right from the start. There’s no point having a website that looks pretty if the information contained is totally irrelevant, poorly written or just plain wrong. So good web design has to take into account both the visual elements and how the content works with that to create a website that’s pleasing to the eye and delivers on its promise of being interesting, informative and engaging.
Pointing the way
Good web design has to have a ‘plan’ – a roadmap that guides the visitor around the site and works towards an end goal. That end goal could be heading towards the checkout on an ecommerce site or signing up for a newsletter, subscribing to a blog or other interactive processes. Clear, concise signposts that encourage a visitor to explore the site in more depth can prevent them from ‘bouncing’ to a competitor’s site before they have completed their ‘mission’ – namely to buy your product or answering your call to action.
Speaking of which
What is a ‘call to action’? Is it an important part of good web page design? The simple answer is yes, it’s a vital component of good site design, particularly for a business site. A call to action can be something as simple as ‘click here for more details on our latest special offer’ (always include a ‘tempter’ to encourage them to click the link) or it can be more subtle, gently leading the visitor through the site towards the end goal. A strong call to action encourages visitors to interact with the site more pro-actively than just reading a block of text or looking at a picture.
Is a website ever ‘finished’?
Web design is an ongoing process. It’s never ‘finished’ but is always a ‘work in progress’. Sitting back and hoping that your ‘completed’ website is going to continually climb up the Google rankings and keep pulling in new customers is a misnomer. Unlike traditional printed marketing materials, a website is an organic thing that continues to grow and develop with your business. As your business expands, so should your website. Good web page design continually tweaks, updates, refreshes and renews, encouraging visitors to return regularly and to build up a relationship with your site. Interesting sites get linked to, and those juicy inbound links in turn encourage the search engine ‘bots to sniff you out and push you up the rankings. And all of this happens organically on the foundation of good web design.
If you’re determined to grow your business online and want to know more about what makes up good web design, talk to an agency with a proven track record in producing effective web page design concepts for businesses online.
What Is Good Web Design?
Anyone can design a website. There are plenty of templates, freeware and online instructions that allow anyone with access to a PC and a bit of free time to try their hand at web design. But once you start putting a website together you begin to realise that there is far more to good web design than first meets the eye. Simply putting a couple of pictures up with some text that may contain a few random keywords is not going to see your site powering its way up the Google rankings. So what are the vital ingredients for good web design?
Content, content, content
For many years, the established web design practice was to put together a site first and then create the content to fit the ‘gaps’ left over. Now, because of the emphasis placed on original content by the search engines, good web design incorporates killer content right from the start. There’s no point having a website that looks pretty if the information contained is totally irrelevant, poorly written or just plain wrong. So good web design has to take into account both the visual elements and how the content works with that to create a website that’s pleasing to the eye and delivers on its promise of being interesting, informative and engaging.
Pointing the way
Good web design has to have a ‘plan’ – a roadmap that guides the visitor around the site and works towards an end goal. That end goal could be heading towards the checkout on an ecommerce site or signing up for a newsletter, subscribing to a blog or other interactive processes. Clear, concise signposts that encourage a visitor to explore the site in more depth can prevent them from ‘bouncing’ to a competitor’s site before they have completed their ‘mission’ – namely to buy your product or answering your call to action.
Speaking of which
What is a ‘call to action’? Is it an important part of good web page design? The simple answer is yes, it’s a vital component of good site design, particularly for a business site. A call to action can be something as simple as ‘click here for more details on our latest special offer’ (always include a ‘tempter’ to encourage them to click the link) or it can be more subtle, gently leading the visitor through the site towards the end goal. A strong call to action encourages visitors to interact with the site more pro-actively than just reading a block of text or looking at a picture.
Is a website ever ‘finished’?
Web design is an ongoing process. It’s never ‘finished’ but is always a ‘work in progress’. Sitting back and hoping that your ‘completed’ website is going to continually climb up the Google rankings and keep pulling in new customers is a misnomer. Unlike traditional printed marketing materials, a website is an organic thing that continues to grow and develop with your business. As your business expands, so should your website. Good web page design continually tweaks, updates, refreshes and renews, encouraging visitors to return regularly and to build up a relationship with your site. Interesting sites get linked to, and those juicy inbound links in turn encourage the search engine ‘bots to sniff you out and push you up the rankings. And all of this happens organically on the foundation of good web design.
If you’re determined to grow your business online and want to know more about what makes up good web design, talk to an agency with a proven track record in producing effective web page design concepts for businesses online.
Hosted PBX fulfilling SMBs communication demand
When looking for a phone system it wont take long to notice that there are an overwhelming amount of options. Smaller businesses are often looking for an affordable solution that will provide many of the features that larger companies use. Business phones have gone extremely high-tech which is why Hosted PBX systems were created. While most businesses are in need of the intelligence that PBX systems offer, they are often prohibitively expensive and most businesses do not have the hardware or know-how to implement these systemsbut they do have the need for the business intelligence that they offer.
Hosted PBX provided from the premises of the service provider, so the small business can now enjoy numerous benefits without installing all the hardware or software typically needed with a new phone system.
With Hosted PBX system, company will be provided with a special router or switch that attaches to the network and is then connected to the external world. The router or switch communicates directly with the hosting service that provides the Hosted PBX. A Hosted PBX system is an IP phone system. Most of the hardware is hosted by a service provider on a monthly or annual basis, so that all connection to or from your website or sites go via the service provider.
There are several reasons why businesses are switching to a hosted PBX solution:
To reduce hardware costs.
To eliminate maintenance costs
To free up IT resources.
Easier management, tracking and reporting through online consoles than non-virtual PBX systems.
Versatile services that adapt to your changing needswithout need for hardware upgrades.
One of the biggest selling points of hosted PBX systems is the wide variety of features and add-ons that they make available to businesses. Features that were once reserved only for extremely large companies are now available with most hosted PBX systems. Popular features include Find-Me-Follow-Me technology, Outlook integration, extension dialing, call forwarding, and music on hold. The Follow-Me feature allows calls to be easily forwarded to cell phones or other alternate locations. This allows for the possibility of a completely virtual office and reducing office overhead expenses. Also, many of these systems also have an auto-attendant which allows calls to be directed during business both and off-business hours.
Another reason businesses are moving to hosted PBX services is that the business has gone nationwide or even global. Small-to-medium sized businesses can have offices and customers around the globe and a hosted PBX system can offer cost saving features plus long distance numbers and plans. The cost of can be just fractions of the cost when using a hosted PBX system versus standard phone line systems.