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Landing That First Website Design Job

During the past decade, hundreds of thousands of young men and women have headed off to any number of different schools, some to art and design schools, others to trade schools, some, even to elite universities, to get an education in art and design, with the expressed purpose of landing a job as a web or a graphic designer. As the sun set on the 20th century, this field looked to be one of unlimited potential and boundless possibilities. Ten years into the 21st century, however, and it is becoming clear that the bloom is somewhat off of the rose, at least as far as job prospects and overall health of the market are concerned.

As hundreds of thousands of art and design school graduates continue to flood the job market, many are simply giving up hope, and taking out applications at fast food restaurants, and petrol stations in order to garner gainful employment.

But do not fret. There are still a few tips and tricks that can help you land a good website design job yet.

Perfect Your Portfolio

The beauty of specializing in website design, as opposed to print design, is that it allows you the ability to be constantly perfecting your chapbook. Take the time and the opportunity to make sure that every piece in your portfolio is flawless, and exactly the way you want it.

Consider Freelance Work

One of the best paths to a full time website design job is to freelance for clients on your own, and build a reputation for yourself and for your skills. If you have a proven track record and professional references from clients for whom you have designed websites, your resume will often move to the top of the pile when you are applying for steady work.

Make Sure That Your References Are Impeccable

Oftentimes, students fresh out of art school will simply give the names and phone numbers for their instructors, listing them as references, without requesting this privilege beforehand. In many cases, the instructors will either give a tacit, unenthusiastic reference, or give you an outright poor reference, simply due to your lack of following the proper etiquette.

Just Because It Is Web Design, Does Not Mean You Can Be Sloppy

Just because you consider yourself a “designer,” it does not afford you any latitude to be sloppy in appearance or in demeanor. Act professionally when applying for and interviewing for any web design job.

Be Realistic

The days of entry-level six figure salaries for web designers are long gone, so do not go into an interview or salary negotiations with unreasonable expectations for your compensation.

This post was generously provided by Firebubble who provide services for businesses such as Logo Design, Website Design and general Graphic Design. Thanks for the article and we hope you will write some more soon!

What Colour Should Your Website Be?

In reality, only you can answer the question of what colour your website should be. You know you, your purpose, and hopefully, your audience. If you still are not sure if that shade of pink is doing your baseball fan page any justice, then perhaps looking over the following tips might help you decide.

Psychology has done many studies on the ways that colours affect human behaviour. We are not saying in order to be a successful web designer you must have a master’s degree in psychology. It does not hurt, however, to learn the basic emotions that are often associated with certain colours. For example, red is usually associated with love, danger, eating, and adventure in the mind, while blue tends to be thought of as calmness, professionalism and even power. Learning the basics behind colours and their influence on moods may help you decide what your background, header and text colours should be.

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing the colours for your website is that of readability. Strong contrast like black text on a white background is very easy to read. However, yellow text on a white background can become nearly invisible on certain computer monitors. Your web audience can become easily frustrated if they are not able to make out your words without extreme effort and eyestrain. We are not suggesting that you stick to basic black and white. Just keep in mind the importance of maintaining readability so that your readers do not develop eye fatigue and give up on your website entirely.

Some demographic studies of your primary audience might be worth the cost as well. Things such as a person’s background, age and even gender can determine their responses to colours. An older audience may prefer a more relaxing colour palette. However, if your website’s primary audience is of the younger persuasion, then vivid colour schemes might be the way to go. It has been proven that women are able to perceive more colours than men are; you may want to keep this in mind when choosing the exact shades of colour for a website that is geared mostly to the female half of the species. Choosing the right colours for your audience can have a positive psychological effect on your visitors, which may help keep them coming back for more.

Pink is often associated with softness, and youth (and let’s face it, girlish youth!). Knowing this and knowing your main audience is comprised of sports-minded viewers, should compel you to choose a website colour that is linked with nature, entertainment, or sports fun. Knowing more about the basics of colour and its use on websites will help keep that web traffic flowing in.

Stock Web Design Templates – Are They Worth It?

If you are the president or the marketing and media manager for a company tasked with developing and implementing a web marketing initiative, it can be very confusing, whether you are well versed in Web design, or if you are a complete novice. Especially given the completely integrated nature of web design today, it can be quite difficult to design and follow through on a comprehensive online marketing strategy.

Obviously, it all starts with your company’s home website. The first step, if you do not already have such a site, is to register a domain name and lock it in, before someone else nabs it. You want this domain name to be something simple, and something that is easily associated with your company’s name or product.

Once you have completed this, though, the rest of the process is less clear-cut. You will need to have a website designed, hosted and maintained.

Website Design

There are a couple of options for you regarding the design of your base website. Either you can hire a professional designer to construct a custom site for you, or you can go with any of the thousands of pre-designed “template” websites that many designers are making a good living selling these days.

The Pros of a Template Website

The biggest benefit of purchasing a template website is that they are usually far cheaper than hiring a designer to construct a custom site for you, and that a template website is made available to you immediately. You pay for the license and then you download a ZIP folder containing all of the fonts, CSS, and web coding for the site. From there, you have to upload all of the content to your web host, who will then get it running for you.

In addition, template websites have reached the point where they can be highly customizable in their own right, and often, the code can be changed around to suit the specific needs of your web marketing initiative.

The Cons of a Template Website

Unfortunately, utilizing a template website requires you or your IT team to have a rather broad grasp of the basics of web coding, and how to manage implementing your website through your web host.

Also, these template websites have particular glitches that are not easily remedied if you are not intimately familiar with the coding. Also, you will need to find a dedicated webmaster to maintain and administer your site. This can be expensive.

Is A Flashed Based Website Right For You?

When researching your options of building your website, you most likely have come into contact with the file format known as Flash. The SWF format is essentially animation software that is lightweight (data wise) and allows you to place animated images on your webpage. It can incorporate one small part of a webpage or it can comprise the entire site.

While Flash has its benefits, it also has many drawbacks. Here are the major pros and cons of using Flash to lay out your website.

Pros

Browser compatibility is not an issue. No matter what browser your viewer uses, be it Firefox or Internet Explorer or Camino or Safari, as long as they have downloaded the Adobe Flash Player into their browser, it can be seen and enjoyed by all your readers.

Flash action scripts make any webpage on the Internet an extremely entertaining and memorable thing, and it has the added benefit of allowing a greater level of interactivity between the reader and the webhost. Rather than passively reading content, certain Flash elements can let readers play games, answer trivia questions and send feedback.

Flash can also provide a very cool and professional design element to your website.

Cons

Flash is not text based. Unfortunately, this is how search engines read websites and rank them. If you want traffic to your page, it is best to minimize the use of Flash. Search engine optimization, or SEO, does not work very well with Flash coding, and this can hurt your website when trying to generate web traffic and make a name for yourself.

In theory, Flash is supposed to be more lightweight in file size. However, many web designers use it too much, and too often, and this can become a burden to the readers of a website, especially when they are forced to download a Flash player just to use your website.

A good rule of thumb when considering whether or not to use Flash is to consider what information you are trying to convey to your readers, and if Flash is the most efficient and effective way in which to do it. Depending upon the purpose of the website, you may be able to communicate your message just as clearly with simple HTML text. A mixture of both can also be a viable option, enabling you to provide an immersive experience to all types of visitors.

Comparing Organic SEO and PPC Advertising

Which is best? Organic search engine optimisation or PPC advertising? In determining which method will provide you with the best results, it is important to first understand the differences between the two different marketing strategies. Both methods can be effective; however, the approaches that are used can be quite different.

Organic search engine optimisation is a process that is ongoing. The purpose of this marketing strategy is to achieve a higher ranking in search engine results pages. The primary advantages of organic search engine optimisation include:

• Increased visibility over competitors
• A low cost form of advertising with a high rate of return
• Expansion of business around the world
• Increased access to a targeted audience
• Visitors tend to prefer websites that are listed organically
• Once positioning is achieved, it simply needs regular maintenance without any further cost

When using organic search engine optimisation, the importance of using only ethical SEO methods and techniques should be kept in mind. The use of unethical methods can result in being banned from search engines. In addition, remember that in order for organic search engine optimisation to remain effective, it must be practiced on a continual basis. This is not a method that produces overnight results; however, when performed correctly, it can produce very good results.

PPC advertising is a type of search engine marketing that involves obtaining website traffic from search engines through paid advertising. PPC refers to pay per click advertising. Whenever a visitor performs a specified action, you pay for the advertising. This type of advertising makes it possible to achieve top search engine results ranking; however, you must pay for each click performed by each visitor. It is possible to stop a pay per click advertising campaign anytime you like.

Furthermore, you can temporarily halt a campaign when you have maxed out your budget for a specified period of time. You are able to maintain complete control of the advertising campaign, as well as your budget. One of the main benefits of pay per click advertising is that is provides you with the ability to achieve fast results. Of course, the main drawback of pay per click advertising is that you do have to pay for this type of advertising. This means that you need to make sure you establish an advertising budget in advance of beginning a pay per click advertising campaign.

The Most Essential Tools for Your Website

If you are a webmaster overseeing the installation and maintenance of a company website, then do not underestimate the importance of these essential web tools and applications. First, be sure to have the latest web browsers, including Internet Explorer 8 (with full HTML 5 support), Firefox and Google Chrome.

Star Office is a popular application that lets you put documents online. Front Page Express is regarded as one of the best WYSIWYG editors, though Netscape Composer also has a following. Side Wiki is a Google tool that allows users to comment on your web pages. If you plan to present videos, then you should have software capable of displaying and editing videos, extracting images, compressing images, moving large movie files, and converting file formats. Some of the most popular programs for video content include Adobe AIR and Silverlight 3.

Statistics tools for webmasters are of vital importance if you want to track and analyze your user activity. This is crucial data if you are trying to adapt your business to the market. Some of the most popular tracking software includes Google Analytics, Stat Counter, Webalizer and AW Stats. Stats information can give you reports on overall ratings, ratings according to region, click-through or buy rates, and even key phrases that brought you the most traffic.

There are also some handy Google gadgets like Countdown (countdown to a specific date and time; great for time-based promotional offers), Translate My Page and a Slim RSS Reader. You can also benefit from tools that allow monitoring and maintenance of the site, verification of links, piracy guards and SEO promotion. Other tools include a META tag generator, which will help in targeting keywords, a copyright generator and an online banner generator.

Since many users have “graduated” from online surfing to mobile phone surfing, it makes perfect sense to have a web tool that makes your website compatible with mobile phones. The mobile phone version of your site should have limited Java and Flash options, and focus on simple text so fast downloading is possible. You can also invest in an application that reports graphical information on the loading speed of your site. There is even a new application out there that lets you “grade” your site content readability. In other words, you will be told if your site is too academic to reach a mainstream audience.

Remember, completing your website is just one goal. There are many more tools and applications you can add to enhance the user experience.

Guide to Page Titles and Meta Descriptions

There can be a strong temptation to only pay attention to the content or the text of a webpage and ignore items like the page title and the meta description. This can be a tremendous mistake that can cost you the traffic you desire for your website. Meta tags and page titles are important not only for the visitors who will come to your website, but also for the search engines as well.

When a user performs a search on a search engine like Google, the search engine will often display the information written for the meta description. This is particularly true if the search term that was used can be found precisely within the meta description text. Because of this, it is imperative that your titles and description be both useful and descriptive. Even with just a few words, provided they are well enough written and useful, you can easily persuade readers to click on your search engine listing and visit your site.

One thing to keep in mind when writing page titles and meta descriptions is the importance of letting readers know precisely what they can expect when they visit your webpage. For instance, you should include information about how the reader will be able to benefit from the useful information they will find on your site. When written well enough page titles and meta descriptions can often convince a reader to click on your listing, even if it is a lower ranking, over a listing that is in a higher listing but is poorly described.

You should also remember that you must write the titles and descriptions for the search engines as well. The most popular search engines will generally attempt to determine what your page is about in order to list it appropriately. Making sure your webpage is confined to one subject will make it easier to write page titles and meta descriptions as well as for the search engines to properly identify your keywords and phrases. Remember that search engines will be on the lookout for clues to help in identifying the topic of your webpage. Keeping this in mind when writing titles and descriptions can provide you with the best search engine ranking results. While there are certainly many other elements that are important in a website for search engine optimisation, titles and descriptions are also of crucial importance.

Avoiding Common Mistakes in Website Design

Search engine optimisation, or SEO, is the process of making a website search engine friendly. There are numerous methods that can be used to help a website appear in earlier search engine results for increased traffic. Unfortunately, when designing a website, many people often make several crucial SEO mistakes. Understanding those mistakes and how to avoid them can help you to steer clear of possible pitfalls and make your site is more search engine friendly.

One of the most common mistakes that many people make when designing their website is to incorrectly design the website. When a website is inadequately designed, it can make it difficult for visitors to use. Examples of poor design include huge graphics that take too long to load, insufficient navigation and the use of frames on the website. When a site is not well designed, not only can it be difficult for visitors to use, but it can also block search engine spiders from crawling the site. You can avoid such problems by making sure that all links on your site are in HTML instead of a script language that could prevent your site from being crawled. In addition, try to avoid having large images on your site. Instead, use low-resolution files or thumbnails of larger images that can be opened in separate pages.

Another common mistake frequently made when designing websites is the use of content that is poorly written. One of the single most important elements in determining high search engine ranking is content, so it is imperative that your content be of high quality. Common mistakes include content that is poorly written, not relevant and not updated on a regular basis.

The key to receiving high search engine rankings is making sure you include content on your site that is well written and includes highly targeted keywords and keyword phrases. The lack of such targeted keywords and keyword phrases can spell destruction for any website. When users type in particular keywords that are related to your website, your site will not come up in the search engine results pages if you have not entered those words and phrases in the body text on your website. Relevancy is extremely important when it comes to the use of keywords. Irrelevant keywords and phrases might increase your site’s ranking, but it would be for a term that has nothing to do with your site. Taking the time to perform comprehensive keyword research can save you time and money.

Before You Start – Basic Tips for Designing Your Website

Do you have an idea or product that you are just dying to get out to the web surfing public? Perhaps you are a brand new web designer and have your first paying gig. Before you slap together a bunch of bric-a-brac and launch it out into cyberspace, it might be wise to sit down and write out a website game plan. A good web designer always takes time to plan his approach before beginning any new project.

The first mistake made by many new people in the website design world is not establishing the objective of their website. You have to have a goal in mind. What it is that you want to express? Is this website going to be used for educational or informational purposes? Are you just promoting your services, or are you selling something over the Internet?

Another point to decide before you begin is what colour combinations you want on your website. Different colours can have different effects on people. Calming shades like blue and purple will help your web audience relax, whereas brighter colours like red and orange are known for producing excitement. Knowing your targeted audience is key here, because you can decide what mood you want to convey using various colour combinations.

The next thing you will want to do is figure out what important pages need to be on your website. A homepage is required and things such as a “contact us” page and a “privacy policy” are important. An “about us” and “testimonials” page are pages that benefit most websites. If you are selling products through your website, then having features like pricing, refunds, product reviews, guarantees and “frequently asked questions” are all important. You want to include these features to make a customer feel safe when making purchases.

You also need to learn how to become friends with major search engines. Keywords and phrases throughout your website that have to do with your mission or product will help search engines pick up your website and display it in search results. Some research into the key phrases that are being used might help you in optimizing your placement on a search list. You also have to give careful consideration to images, video content and other multimedia features. Complement the journey, do not distract from the goal.

Follow these basic tips before you begin your website designing, and your site is sure to beat out the other upstart competition.

Backwards Tutorial: Easy Ways to Drive Traffic Away

If you are a government agency or secret society that has to provide information to the public, but want as few people as possible to read any details provided by your site, then follow these helpful tips to drive web traffic away and keep your X-file website buried.

You know that MIDI file on many web design newcomer’s homepages, that little annoying and unwanted ditty that blasts forth into users’ speakers? That is the perfect way to get web surfers to run screaming from your website. Remember to have your selected song on constant loop for it to be truly effective. This works particularly well if the song is a mushy love ballad dedicated to your dog. If you really want to ensure a low volume of web traffic, then be sure to have that same piece of music from your homepage playing on all pages throughout your entire site.

If you are selling something you do not want anyone to buy, be sure to avoid including any pictures of said product. A lack of visuals is detrimental to sales in the online world, so you will soon be on your way to selling nothing. Be sure not to list helpful details such as size, weight or colour of any item. Certainly avoid listing a price. You can have a large “buy now” button that will make your customers fill out all of their details including credit card before they even get to see a total cost. The more elusive the price and details, the more likely you are to make your customers crazy and abandon any purchases they were thinking of making. If you are really sadistic, you can provide all the details, and then hide the buy now button!

The best piece of advice for losing traffic is to have popup windows, lots of them. Make sure every link opens in a new window and every page transition should result in numerous pop ups. Remember to include valuable information (such as the elusive price of items they have been looking for) in the pop up ads that are sure to be blocked or closed before they finish loading. Many people have now installed a pop up blocker because they are getting wise to these annoying tactics.

If you are a government agency or other secretive alliance, then congratulations! By following the above, you have surely cut down the flow of traffic to your website. Your secret is now safe on your abandoned website. If, for some reason, you do actually want visitors to your website then the above tips should be viewed as a satire only and the advice should be reversed. Now why not focus on attracting traffic through good SEO writing?