Bournemouth Web Design

Common Web Design Flaws That Affect Usability

2011-05-03T05:11:00.001-07:00

Web users go to the Internet to learn, communicate or be entertained in the most efficient way possible. Most Internet surfers are familiar only with clicking buttons, arrows, mouses, search boxes or links. Unlike their techie counterparts who know their way around computers, lazy surfers who don't immediately get what they want on the first click would just have to click another button to switch to another website.

Web design flaws that impair usability do exist in many websites even with the tons of web design tools available. If users get stuck or are lost in a website, they abandon the website. If the homepage does not clearly express what the website is all about, they jump to other websites. If a website is difficult to navigate, they leave the website.

Usability is the capacity of the web design to make it easy for visitors to use the website. It allows users to go from one page to the other, jump from the first page to the last or go back and forth without difficulty. Usability is the first experience of the user with the business. This experience must, therefore, be as satisfactory and delightful as possible for the user by avoiding the following common web design flaws:

Complicated Search Tools and Processes.

Users want to navigate with some independence. Too complicated search processes easily tire them, so they usually go directly to the homepage search function. Search tools such as search boxes and links should be simple but visible. The search box should be situated conveniently at the right-hand corner of the top of the page and should have a search input field wide enough so that parts of the query are not hidden because of scrolling. Search boxes are good for complex interior pages while links are for simple interior pages.

Unchangeable Font Size

Many websites have fixed font sizes that don't allow for resizing. For aesthetics, some web designs contain varied font sizes including small ones. This is a problem especially for senior and not too senior users and those with visual impairment. Small and thin fonts diminish readability and drive users away. The web design should allow for resizing of text using layman's instructions instead of highly technical terms like pixels.

Cluttered Pages

Hoping to catch attention, some web designers include features like animation and moving objects such as scrolling, fireworks, twirling graphics, flashing banners or pop-up windows. Add some blasting music to that and you have, not only clutter, but chaos. Too many of these features disrupt smooth navigation that only lead users to the back arrow.

PDF Files That Require Online Reading

Users don't want to be interrupted with additional procedures like the opening of PDF files. Moreover, not all computers are updated and not all browsers are the same.

In creating your web design, user experience is the most important thing to bear in mind. Every user wants to use the web in the easiest way possible. Thus, web designing is not about what you, the website owner, want, but what the user wants.

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Setting Up Zend Framework With Wamp For Local Testing At Midnight...

2010-08-28T15:55:00.001-07:00

Okay. It’s 20 to midnight, I know it’s stupid, but I got really bored.

Tonight, I’ll be mostly eating…Zend Framework and Wamp for some lovely web development.

I know they’re supposed to get on like chalk and mouldy cheese, but let’s see what happens.

I’ll post back with an update on how much hair I lost, and how many Budweisers (empty of course) got thrown at my screen…

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How To Set Up GIT Client On Windows

2010-08-27T23:33:00.001-07:00

If you’re working in a development environment where the number of developers > 1, then the likelihood is you’ll want some kind of SVN / code repository / revision / version control in place. Or failing that, a good yoga teacher and some valium.

GIT has a Windows client installer that you can hit up and the installation wizard runs pretty nicely. Yes, it’s free, Yes, it’s open source, and Yes, legendary Linus Torvald is largely responsible for Git’s development.

If this is what you’re after, go get the GIT client, download and kick off the install.

Do I need to say ‘click next’ / agree to the licence / change your default installation location if required? Okay.

Some options here that are good for us Windows users:-

Make sure you check on the Git Bash Here and Git GUI Here to integrate with Windows Explorer context menus.

Now, I chose the safe option here, however if you need to be able to use Cygwin prompt – option 2.

I haven’t touched option 3 myself yet.

I’m going with option 1- on Windows desktop, but punting up to a ‘nix server, I think this is the option for us.

Hit next > scratch scrotum > pick nose >

And voila, bingo-bongo.

Hit the Release Notes if you’re particularly interested in a problem you had with a previous version.

Otherwise you’re good to go and set up your code repository, or tap into the existing code repository you’re using for a current development.

Happy Days.

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How To Use Wordpress Codehints Dreamweaver CS5

2010-08-26T09:57:00.001-07:00

So, you’re developing your shiny new Wordpress theme with Dreamweaver CS5…

Here’s how you enable site specific code hints for Wordpress. Dead simple.

We’ll assume you already have your site defined and have set your Testing Server server model to PHP MySQL

Now, do the following:

1. Click on Site > Site Specific Code Hints

2. Dreamweaver should pick up you want Wordpress in the Structure dropdown at top (as you’ve already defined your site and assuming you’re currently working on a theme / other wp project). If not, just select it.

3. Click OK

4. Voila. Bingo.

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Multiple Screens Easy Setup - need 3?

2010-08-26T03:45:00.001-07:00

Neat software to add your laptop or 2^nd PC monitor as an extra display monitor. Free trial, but it’s so smooth I’ll be shelling out the $39 on this one immediately.

If you’ve already got 2 screens set up, and it’s not enough (it never is…), and you’ve run out of card slots in your PC for an extra graphics card, and the 2 machines are networked already – then try it, it’s sweet. No, I’m not affiliated, I just think it’s great.

You can also take control of the second machine from the one you’re on, and view files, copy / paste, run programs etc etc.

Love it.

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How To Use Original, Fresh Content To Boost Your Website Rankings

2010-07-23T00:21:00.001-07:00

Fresh Content

This is very important for search engine optimisation. Search engines love, and I mean Love with a capital 'L', websites that post regular, fresh, original content. The search engine robots are highly likely to visit your web site on a regular basis to scan for new content you've created if you post original, fresh content regularly..

Referring to other publishers or websites, or quoting authoritative sources is not intrinsically wrong when publishing content, nor is entering a link to another website if you believe the topic you link to is related to your page. The content must be written by you, or by someone for you, it must be original, and you must have the legal right to use it.

If you want your website to be crawled regularly by the search robots, then unique, fresh content is one of the ways to go. Within your overall SEO strategy, this is a fairly small, but very very important part. You won't achieve the success you are looking for if you don't produce your own unique copy for your web property. If indeed you could ever create a website that ranked consistently well over time from scraped, begged or borrowed content that time has passed.

That is not to say that syndicated content does not have it's place. RSS feeds, including news feeds relevant to your particular business niche, can be a valuable addition to the information you provide to your visitors, and can help to provide even more on-topic, relevant information. But these sources should be used in addition to, not instead of, the original content you are posting on your own site.

Need help with your business website design or Search Engine Optimisation? Calll us today, we're happy to help you with your questions.

Lloyd Roberts | 123 Web Design Bournemouth

123 Bournemouth SEO

http://www.123webdesignbournemouth.co.uk

Web Design Tips - How To Choose The Right Colour

2010-07-12T02:05:00.000-07:00

Colour Themes - Quick Tips

Start with your company's primary logo colour, or even another website you like the look of.
If you don't have graphic editing software already, download Gimp or another free or open source solution
Create a new shape, and use your primary colour sample for this shape.
Copy the shape and paste, then use the colour palette within your chosen software to lighten or darken the colour.
Repeat for a 2nd copied shape and you have a swatch of 3 colours.

We may not all have the eye of Van Gogh when it comes to combining colours, but there is help out there if you know where to look. You could start with your company's primary colour sampled from a logo or letterhead. Then in the graphics editing program of your choice (a few examples: GIMP is free; Photoshop or Illustrator are what most people in the web or design industry would probably use) you can choose lighter or darker shades of that primary colour to complement your primary colour.

There are also various websites - just do a quick search on Google for 'online colour theme designer' and you'll have plenty of options to help you choose as many variations on a colour swatch as you'll need. I've previously use one called colourschemer - quite handy as you can copy out the RGB, CMYK, or hexadecimal values as you wish depending on what program or situation you're using the colour in. Hexadecimal values are great if you're specifying the colour within your html.

Need more help with your business website design? Call us today, we're happy to help you with your project.

Lloyd Roberts | 123 Web Design Bournemouth
Bournemouth Web Design