Web Standards and Benefits for Business Sites

Web Design Guidelines for publishing

2009-12-18T16:25:00.005+02:00

Web design and development guidelines for success
The goal of most web designers is to create an attractive, easily accessible and functional website that will convince the visitor to do something. Creating such a website requires good graphic design, easy and intuitive site navigation, logical site layout and good web copy. The following suggestions are general web design guidelines for a successful approach due to our experience.

Web content and written material
You want the visitor to see you as a knowledgeable information source and/or a reputable business. Poor grammar and spelling will immediately reduce your credibility. Remember that people use the internet to find information. Whether you are selling your own product or recommending someone else’s products, you must first provide valuable information to the visitor or they will click away and find a website that gives them what they what they want.

Cross browser compatibility and web standards
There are many web browsers in use for different operating systems and ways of interactivity. There are some web standards complient browsers that also are the most used ones by most of the internet users. You must design your website to work properly in the most widely used browsers such as Firefox, Mozilla, Safari, Opera and more. To do that you may not be able to use all of the really great special effects that are available because they may not be supported in most browsers.

Even though most web browsers are free, people do not necessary bother to upgrade to the latest versions. The average surfer may not know how to upgrade their browser or have the attitude, “If it works, don’t fix it.” Remember your visitor may have a PC, a MAC, a Linux box, a PDA or a cell phone and they all use different browsers.

Good web design requires your web pages to work in Microsoft Internet Explorer v.8 or later, Netscape, Firefox, Mozilla, Opera and Safari at a minimum. Validating your HTML code by W3C.org will help but the final test is to view your website in different browsers running on different platforms. Never forget that a website might appear different on different systems such as MAC and PC but also other operation systems. To always test and measure failure and functionality is the only way of making a site guarantee of cross browser compability.

Website graphics and photos
Web surfers are impatient and studies show that most people will click away if a webpage takes longer than 10 seconds to load. Always optimize your photos and other graphic files to have as small a size as possible without sacrificing picture quality.

Always use the height and width attributes on the picture so the rest of the page can load while the graphic files is downloading. Use the ALT HTML tag so people with graphics turned off and those using hand held devices know what the picture is supposed to be.

Background Colors
If you use anything other than white behind text, be sure to specify link colors otherwise the user’s browser defaults will determine what color the links are which can make them unreadable.

Multimedia
WHen using advanced interactive solutions we still have to be very careful or at least have in mind that mobile devices are limited in advanced Flash developed websites and it might look very bad or not work at all to use such a technology on for example iPhone or other new electronic handheld mobile phones.

Also, put any important information presented in multimedia in text as well so the visitor has access to that information without using multimedia. If a plug-in is needed to use the multimedia, always provide a link to it so the user can install it. Finally, always remember the 10-second rule for site loading when deciding to use multimedia.

Site Navigation
Site navigation should be simple and intuitive. Studies have shown if a visitor cannot access the information they want within three clicks, they will leave the site. This is called the 3-click rule. We would suggest that the number of maximum to find what you need are 2 clicks away for success. Or a easy to use search functionality on all websites with a massive menu navigation and levels of magnitude. Every area of your website should be reachable within three clicks from anywhere else on the site. If you use anything other than simple text links, make sure to test your navigation in all the major browsers.

Links
Periodically test all site links to be certain that they are valid. Nothing chases a visitor off faster than broken links. There are several free online services that will periodically check your links.

Frames
Avoid using frames, since they make it difficult to bookmark individual pages on your web site and you want people to bookmark pages so they can come back. There are other solutions for iframes but it seems that programmers are not trying to use the best solutions but are stuck to old ways of developing output of their dynamic content. We suggest that web standards always whould be used in all caseso r to find the correct solutions for any kind of dynamic implementation to a website design or development solution.

Summary
Good Web design is a combination of common sense and good planning. Your site should be attractive and easy to use and most importantly provide the user with the information or services they want.

SEO for Your Company Name

2009-12-04T09:41:00.004+02:00

Many years we have been developing websites with implementation of SEO or Search Engine Optimization. The main reson for this option is that we all want as many potential visitors to our website and to act on the website for a reason. For examplee you might have products to sell on your website and are interested in market your website with your company name.

We would not really suggest that you market only your company name as a online branding in order to force your old clients to find your online service. We would be 80% sure that they can find your site only because of your name but what you really want is clients unknown about your services to find you by your optimized keywords.

Our experience tell us that people are searching internet in many different ways and some even search for yahoo.com when they are at google, yes thats true, and seems very unneccessary to a professional. What we mean is that regular people has not understood what Internet is about. A search engine on Internet has the job so find things by keywords. That is why we optimize a website for specific keywords, Every page has to have a specific formula in order to be found and registered by the search engines and thats not a one day job.

We spend about two hours a week for each client optimization in order to get the results we need and make our clients happy. We dont suggest to optimize the company name as a keyword as it is much stronger to optimize each page keywords and descriptions in order to get new clients into your system and grow in traffic and new clients by time.

Web Design and Marketing Seminars

2009-09-16T20:05:00.005+03:00

Cleverclick offer a series of workshops both in group class format and private consulting sessions. Each class includes instruction from a seasoned web professional and hands-on project guidance.

Learn Web Design, Online Marketing, Search Engine Optimization.

make your website shoot to the top of the search engines and understand why!

The process of creating a website

2009-07-07T19:57:00.003+03:00

Ideas and imaginary success is the basics of making a website. It is not easy but its neccessary to implement the ideas with functionality and services.

The easy way is to find a template of a blog and create a websie like that. We dont suggest that ever, but as a compliment to a website it is very important and intersting for the online marketing options.

A website idea is easy to make becase actually any idea or service can be a business online, thats when we are thinking website, and proceed ot the stage of creativity and design. Well many people are thinking design as the first job in order to be able to make a website but in general, design is only the packaging of the idea in order to make a nice presentation and a successful impression as well as attractive service.

Webite creation is mostly about information strategy, technology and esthetics for how informations will be presented, what is importnat and what is the goal of the services.

We can also control the way a person interact with the information and lead them to the information we want, creating attractive content for the services we want them to reach more then the psice list, for example. Web design is a way to distract and attract a website visitor to the content we need them to read, be impressed by and also act and maybe buy something. it is not a easy way of doing things but it is also integrated with business models and interactive information architecture.

We have been succesful with our goals of the produced websites for our clients and we believe we know what we are talking about.

Domain name as an SEO option

2009-07-03T15:59:00.004+03:00

Thinking clearly to make a website top ranked we have many options to consider as important in order to fulfil the recipe of the total optimization. Through the years of developing websites and suggest domain names to clients, It has been clear to me that many websites are not you using a proper domain name, which could help the search engine ranking long term. A domain name should contain specific information for the company, activity and location in order to have a better results in the search engine ranking.

It has been proven and NOT that this matter has any kind of effect of the domains but as it is impossible to prove it, why go against the proper way of showing the search engines what any domain contains and clearly include the keywords from the first step of a any kind of business that also need a business name and also a website for the publication of the company.

I could give you thousands of examples that have been wrongly created, most often by a company name that also have not been considered important in the creation of the website for success online.

My suggestions for creation of a website domain name has a specific rule where I always consider the business name to be in line with the activity and then to have a domain name that follow the same idea.

For example. Mr Johnson has been running his pet shop for years and are thinking of having a website for online shopping, The name of his pet shop is Goofy pet shop. Considering goofy to be a keywords its just a imaginary idea of someone created a store before internet came to us and so on Search Engine Optimization. Goofy is not a name, not a considerable word for any kind of serious business related to animals, pets or any kind of activity what so ever. Pet Shop is a good idea but it needs more than that.

In order to locate a business by a online search the search engine need to know a location, refined by a search we would normally search for a pet shop nearby where we live in order to not have to travel to another country, right? So the domain in this case could have been pet-shop-atlanta.com or any other location in the planet. The most important with a selected domain name is to include the services, speciality and location.

You might think that Cleverclick is a bad domain name for a company called Cleverclick and yes it might be, but as experts in the field of search engine optimization we can handle that and work on strategic marketing that our clients don’t have time for or even money to invest on. Its a very time consuming work to get at top ranking in the search engines, also needed for success and to establish your business online for future.

create your business for future, not only for tomorrow...

web design greece

2009-06-26T22:04:00.004+03:00

We have been developing websites in Greece since 2000. Implementing Web standards we were probably the first company in Greece to do so. We have practice all our web design sites for our clients with web standards due to W3C and all website design for Greek companies we have consulted have also been updated as web design standards.

Finding your website without www.

2009-04-08T09:23:00.004+03:00

There are many sites online that needs the extension of www to be accessible and working to reach on a direct request. I find this very irritating as many websites have to included the www.domain.com in order to be working an come up on request.

As far as I know i never use www when accessing a website i know. Any known website that i access does not need to have the www written to it in order to work and I find it totally unneccessary. The way to make your website accessible wihout the www can be managed by the Google webmaster tools. Its very easy and as you need to use the Google webmaster tool anyway for SEO optimizing and some important settings, its good to know how to manage your site to a better accessibility from direct request.

To not activate this option it could be bad for your so called new clients that got your business card and comain name but didnt get to access your website because you didnt prepare it for a optional accessible function that is just a click away from accessibility direct.

Here is how to make it work:

1. Login to your google webmaster tools controlpanel.
2. click on your domain name
3. go to settings to overview your settings for Preferred domain
4. select the 2nd option such as, Display URLs as www.cleverclick.gr

Save and exit

Online marketing or internet marketing

2009-03-06T07:57:00.002+02:00

The Internet has brought many unique benefits to marketing, one of which being lower costs for the distribution of information and media to a global audience. The interactive nature of Online marketing, both in terms of providing instant response and eliciting responses, is a unique quality of the medium. Internet marketing is sometimes considered to have a broader scope because it refers to digital media such as the Internet, e-mail, and wireless media; however, Internet marketing also includes management of digital customer data and electronic customer relationship management (ECRM) systems.

Online marketing ties together creative and technical aspects of the Internet, including design, development, advertising, and sales. Online marketing does not simply entail building or promoting a website, nor does it mean placing a banner ad on another website. Effective Online marketing requires a comprehensive strategy that synergizes a given company's business model and sales goals with its website function and appearance, focusing on its target market through proper choice of advertising type, media, and design.

Brand Strategy for Online Marketing

2009-02-21T12:26:00.005+02:00

Developing a brand strategy can be one of the most difficult steps in the marketing plan process. It's often the element that causes most businesses the biggest challenge, but it's a vital step in creating the company identity.

Your brand identity will be repeatedly communicated, in multiple ways with frequency and consistency throughout the life of your business.

Creating your brand strategy can be done easily by following the step by step guide below.

Developing Your Brand Strategy Email Course If you are ready to begin the development of your brand strategy, but need guidance and feedback the Brand Course is just for you. Each week you will receive a new lesson delivered to your email box and assignment to complete. When you have completed the assignment you will post the assignment and I will review each lesson and coach you through the 6 weeks, by the time you have completed the 6th week you will have created your Brand Strategy.

online marketing, internet marketing

2009-02-21T12:16:00.002+02:00

Internet marketing can attract more people to your website, increase customers for your business, and enhance branding of your company and products. If you are just beginning your online marketing strategy the top 10 list below will get you started on a plan that has worked for many.

By following the below tips you'll be on your way to creating a concrete internet marketing strategy that could boost your business substantially.

1. Start with a web promotion plan and an effective web design and development strategy.

2. Get ranked at the top in major search engines, and practice good Search Optimization Techniques.

3. Learn to use Email Marketing Effectively.

4. Dominate your marketing niche with affiliate, reseller, and associate programs.

5. Request an analysis from an Internet marketing coach or Internet marketing consultant.

6. Build a responsive opt-in email list.

7. Publish articles or get listed in news stories.

8. Write and publish online press releases.

9. Facilitate and run contests and giveaways via your web site.

10. Blog and interact with your visitors.

graphic design vs. web design

2009-01-20T10:18:00.004+02:00

graphic designers can create amazing material and creative work for art and prepare a printing job in a minute but are they really ready to make a design approach for a website that has many technical issues and a different audience and visitor?

I have been working with some great designers but still its a struggle with loading time, graphics quality and technical matters that a graphic designer need to understand and have in mind when creating a website interface.

Can a graphic designers art work be converted into a website directly or can we change the graphic designers mind in order to convert it for interactive design? Yes we can but its not a easy approach. A Designer is a very creative person with a lot of art and heart in the job. A website structure can often seem very simple and to put a design to it might be a waste of time of art work and creative expression.

Graphic designers needs to understand technical issues within a web designers mind and also need to think converting to a interactive approach.

The main issues and lack of understanding has to do with technical issues like loading time, graphics quality and internet in general.

When graphic designers understand the technical issues of a web product, they might be ready for a web design job and that day, noone would be more happy than me to have all this experience and knowledge in one person to achive the best of both art, heart and technicality a website are in need of...

Web Standards with Opera

2009-01-09T15:02:00.005+02:00

Most corporate websites are today something created in the end of 90's or at least it looks like that under the hood of development. Its increadible how big, supposely serious, companies have not got a clue about their online appearance of accessibility, usability and corporate profile.

Developing websites since 1997 and I ran into the web standards as late as 2005, surpricingly i was very negative to the new ideas of making websites with 80% Cascading Style Sheets, separating the content fomr the layout and design but today I understand how stubborn I was trying to convince other web developers they were wrong in applying the new standards as noone used it.

I have for the time being probably produced at least a 50 websites with the new standards since i started to learn and implement web standards XHTML and CSS development model. I also came accross the W3C validation tools and other useful online services that insured the quality of the production, cross browser reliability and a modern way to make websites without TABLE structured heavily appearance of any website published.

Today there is still a lack of implementing these web standards into real serious websites online and there is a lack of understanding to the quality and ease of the work to it. I myself used the most restricted standard development model, XHTML 1.0 strict which gave me a hard time for learning but the best of that best and if one wants to learn the basic there is no shortcuts.

Im very glad that Opera has taken the resposibility of the web standards curriculum and created a fantastic guide for new developers as well as the old ones that need updates and a simple guide for upgrading their skills and actually create musch faster websites for any kind of services or size of websites.

I have analyzed some of the websites i would have made in Table style compare to the new XHTML/CSS standards and to be true, the loading time of a website can be decreased with up to 500%. This is only one of the advantagess one gets in order to use web standards in the website development.

I think anyone that are on the way to make a website should read the Opera Curriculum Guide in order to have a clue about what they need for a future investment and really spend their money on web standards and search engine optimization, as its a related option to the full package of a modern website.

Web Standards Education

2008-12-16T17:39:00.004+02:00

Education is the key to understand the value of the web standards use. Our clients will be educated by cleverclick as tgo walk along the road to make them understand the quality and expertise we have.

cleverclick is reaching for the clients that are interested in a future investment and understand that the investment in web standards will be a value to them as we get online and start reching our goals for the online marketing issues. What we are talking about is that the online marketing is a big part of the website planning and the structure of a website content and architechtural management. We are experts in guiding our clients to the best possible solution and we normally have no issues in getting any of the client websites ranked highly for its purpose.

That is the advantage of working with cleverclick and also make your website a future investment for your business.

SEO is web standard

2008-12-13T11:26:00.004+02:00

Web standards is very important to the future and cross browser appearance of a website production but also it is in general nothing special with web standards except it has the option to make a fantastic Search Engine Optimization as a core option in the XHTML/CSS development directly.

Using Semantic Mark-up in the development of a website gives different options to SEO and have the opton to give a very good ranking as a kick start.

Cleverclick are using this option and we believe thata SEO-packages are not an option to give a better ranking accept using Search Engine Marketing as an additional service to boost the ranking and keep the positioning longer.

Search Engine Optimization is not an option in a web standard developed website but gives a very good basic ranking option at once.

Benefits Web Standards for Business

2008-12-12T13:26:00.006+02:00

Web standards for businesses. Quite often, a company needs to manage several kinds of Web sites — usually an external Web site (Internet), one or several internal sites (intranet) and sometimes, B2B sites (extranet). Within each of these Web domains, individual sites can be very different depending on their function and purpose. For example, it is common to see combinations of corporate sites, marketing, customer support, portals, knowledge bases, forums and online applications. In large international corporations, one can count hundreds, if not thousands, of sites — often managed by different teams. These teams deal with the following issues:

corporate style guide (consistency in image and branding)

content management (creation, publication, maintenance)

design and development (methods, tools, in-house team work and/or agency management)

information technology (support, technologies, infrastructure)

All companies are organized differently; in one company, the Webmaster role might be attached to the marketing/communication department; in another, the same role might be managed by the Information Technology (IT) department. Therefore, we will endeavour to focus on the benefits of Web standards in relation to the above issues rather than to a specific organizational role.