Small Business Design Resources

Is It Time To Redesign Your Website?

I recently talked with a potential client whose entire website is based on Flash. Flash websites used to be extremely popular during the 1990s, but have since become pretty much obsolete, especially because it is very difficult to optimize these limited textual content websites for search engines. Take a look at this article to learn more about what is Flalsh and is it suitable for your business.

The client now wants a modern, content-rich, non-Flash website that search engine spiders can actually crawl. This is a very good reason to do a website redesign, which got me thinking about several more reasons why you should redesign your website.

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What is Flash and is it suitable for your business?

Flash is software that uses animation to create multimedia elements for websites. Flash on a web page is usually used to establish interactivity with visitors. It could be a button, form, movie, cartoon, or even a game. Take a look at the following examples of different uses of Flash:

Flash focused sites (full Flash sites):
Moodstream (brainstorming tool)
Uniroyal Fun Cup (racing game)
Chipotle (restaurant)

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Is Printed Marketing Material Still Important?

What we couldn’t have possibly imagined just a decade ago has become a reality: everything has moved online. We shop online, we do our banking online, we play online, and we even socialize online. In addition, research shows that when making buying decisions, the first place people go to for researching their options is the Internet.

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Quick Tip: Avoid Flash Intros

Flash intros or some times referred to as splash pages can be pretty, but have more negative impact rather than positive. Flash intros take a long time to load, are not search engine friendly and mostly they don’t really add any value to your users experience. Most people will either skip the intro or leave your website because they don’t have time to sit through it. Learn more about What is Flash and is it suitable for your business?

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Create a ‘Sticky’ Website: Make Visitors Stay Longer & Return Often

After putting time, energy, and money into your small business website, you’re eager to welcome visitors and show them around the place. You know some tips for attracting traffic, but how do you convince visitors to stick around and return often?

Content

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Q & A on “Designing Your Business Website” via Twitter Chat

Thank you everyone who joined me on Tuesday December 2, 2009 via Twitter #SmallBizChat discussing Designing Your Business Website.

If you’ve missed the discussion, you can download the transcript Designing Your Business Website Transcript

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Balsamiq Mockups – Software Review

Balsamiq, a mock up/wire frame software that makes the job easier for developers, designers, product managers; well pretty much anyone who’s involved in creating software or websites. Balsamiq is a small company with currently just four people, but their software and customer service is outstanding. After seeing the following review, you’ll want to buy your own copy of Balsamiq Mockups at www.balsamiq.com.

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What is your Business Image Worth?

I participate in few forums here and there and provide website critiques on numerous of them. There was one website critique request that came from a website designer that wanted some feedback on a recently completed flower shop website. I was very disappointed and a bit angry with the web designer, because the designer took advantage of a small business owner by promising to deliver a site that sells flowers, but the look and functionality of this flower site didn’t even come close. I of course dug a little deeper and found background information on the web designer, which led me to writing an article What to look for in a Web Designer.

What was wrong with that website?

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Quick Tip: Removing Checkered Background in Photoshop

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How to Start a Website

I get many questions from small business owners asking about website basics. So much of what is written seems to be written by those, and for those, who already know what they are doing when it comes to having a business website. So let’s take a step back and review a few basics, because I know from talking to small business owners that there are many of you who will appreciate this information.

The two must have things to having a website live on the Internet for everyone to see are a domain name and a hosting account. Let me explain what those are and pointers on few other things that are needed to get your website online: Read more »

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