Responsive Web Design: Why Bother?

Put yourself in the shoes of an internet user for a moment. You’re using your mobile device to look for a shop to buy something you need and you want to check the prices and other information. You find a website and when you open it you have to zoom, pan, and scroll a lot to view the information. Wouldn’t that be frustrating? For most users, it is—and their next step would be to leave the site. Sometimes they won’t even bother trying to view it; they’ll just leave right away if the site is not optimized for their devices.

You should care about this if you have a website for your business. Why? Mobile devices, particularly smartphones and tablets, have a significant and steadily growing share on what people use to search the internet. You definitely want your site to be viewable and usable on these devices.

What’s your play, then? One of the viable options is responsive web design (RWD). This is a design approach where the website detects the device and responds according to the screen size. This offers mobile users optimal experience and allows for a single URL for your website, making maintenance easier compared to having a separate mobile site. What’s more, Google favors responsive websites. In today’s multi-device scene, RWD could be your best bet.

 

Web Design in Dallas: Watch Out for the Penguin

Web design trends this year go beyond being responsive into keeping online readers glued to your website. All your web design efforts, however, will be a waste if your site failed a look-see from Google Penguin.

Penguin is Google’s spam eradicator algorithm designed to ensure users of the best search results and spam-free content. Even if your web design includes infographics and maps for online readers, Penguin may demote or remove it from results pages if it detects bogus content on the site.

 

More Than Just Connecting: Facebook Marketing

Facebook started out as a way to connect people, from old friends, to teachers, to relatives in another country. It was a great way to stay in touch with everyone you know and stay abreast of what they’ve been up to. Over time, though, it has evolved into an essential online marketing tool for many businesses. Its millions and millions of users make it a way for companies to make themselves and their products known.

One of the things to remember when using Facebook for SEO is that besides wall posts, links, media such as photos and videos, and notes are equally important. External content such as blog posts should be keyword optimized, especially in the title. Remember that these can appear on search results as well.

 

A Good Website Has Solid Web Design

While web designers have their own idea of how to build their website, there are still certain elements that are essential for every website. They are:

• Space and white space – space is crucial to any website because it controls the readability and the ease of navigation. It is important for creating a focus for users and good use of space can make some elements stand out.

• Unique typography – you would notice that companies may have their own font style. This helps customers associate them with that font as well as distinguish them from their competitors.

• Simple navigation – it should be easy for users to get around the website and not get lost. Don’t overwhelm the site with dozens of menus, and try to group them so that it is easier to jump pages.

• Flat design – while it may have been amazing to see 3D graphics on websites in the past, people are starting to tone down. Nowadays, simplicity is key. Minimalist designs are more appealing today and makes the site look clean.

• About Us page – this is a must for any website. Users who want to know more about a company would look for this page and expect to see who they are, what they do, and maybe some history.

These are only a few elements that every website should make use of. As time goes by, however, people’s preferences may change and the website design should adjust accordingly to keep up.

 

The Most Common SEO Myths

SEO’s ever-changing landscape, with all the shifting algorithms and regular updates on search-influencing factors, makes it a field bound to swirl with myths formed from outside. Some of these misconceptions have been around so that they sound pretty common—to the detriment of SEO marketers and their clients alike. Here are some of them:

It’s all about keywords and links – While keywords and links certainly play a huge role in effective SEO, they aren’t the only driving factors. Everything related to web design, content and development —from responsive web design to content quality and optimization—plays a role in driving up the site’s ranking in organic web searches.

 

What a Professionally-Designed Website Should Be

Web design in Dallas constantly changes with trends, much like fashion. Since your website makes an impression on customers, doesn’t it make sense to work on putting your best foot forward? Here are some qualities a website should have for that professional feel.

Clean and Clutter-Free

Ads, banners, icons, badges, signs, and other clutter can test any visitor’s patience. Adapting flat design and white space can do wonders for your site visitor’s experience. Try to keep everything minimal with only the important content highlighted. Sometimes, less really is more.

 

What to Avoid When Using SEO for Your Website

Search engine optimization is the process of positively influencing a website’s visibility in search results, thereby attracting more visitors. Although it sounds easy, SEO is a delicate process that involves numerous techniques to help a website become more noticeable and still abide by the rules set by major search engines like Google and Bing. The right SEO approach can do wonders for your website while missing a few key steps can have damaging effects.

Faulty Site Structure

A faulty site structure will almost always be difficult to use for your customers, burying content that could otherwise be useful. Inefficient navigation is the source of the problem here, and it could be resolved if the web developer incorporates SEO practices throughout the process of building the site. If the content on your website takes too much effort for your visitors to read, it’s time to restructure for easier navigation. For instance, you can use breadcrumbs and drop-down menus for easier access.

 

Positive Effects of Web Design on Customers

If your business highly depends on your website for profit and attracting customers, you should put a lot of thought in its design. Business isn’t just about revenue; it’s also about connecting with your customers. Effective web design is definitely a factor that can help.

The Look

Aesthetic appeal is something that a website’s visitor notices first. Within a few seconds, he or she can immediately form a decision whether to buy your products or not. Consistency in design is important no matter what page a visitor is on. The colors, themes, and textures you choose also have an impact on consumers.

 

NAP: So Simple Yet So Significant in SEO

Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are one of the most basic information about your company. Indicating them in your pages and in local directories should be easy-breezy. As you tackle your online presence with a comprehensive marketing campaign, however, they’re among the most common data that are neglected along the way.

While they are basic or simple information, they also pose great risks to your brand when they are incorrectly published on any online page. On a practical level, wrong information can mislead or confuse your target audience and make you appear unprofessional, which can drive customers away. Some errors may even lead them to your competition if you have similar names.