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  1. Website Usability: Designing for Mobile Devices

    In the quest to make your website more user-friendly, there comes a time when you need to give great thought as to what type of device and user you are designing for. As mentioned in part 1 of this series, many people today are accessing the web via mobile and multi-touch devices. As Steve Jobs commented just days after the release of the iPad," Elements that rely only on mousemove, mouseover, and mouse out or as a CSS pseudo-class hover may not always behave as expected on a touch-screen device such as the iPad or the iPhone."1 As a result, web developers should keep in mind that anything designed for the web and requiring a hover state has an uncertain future and may face serious website usability issues. Not sure? Consider this telling fact, "There are two smartphones being purchased for every one desktop computer."2

    iPhoneThere are a variety of steps you can take to keep a website, whether
    being viewed on a desktop or mobile screen, from being unpleasant at
    best and unusable at worst. Here are a few common elements you may wish
    to consider avoiding as you design or edit your next site.

    • Splash
      pages that require an extra click to get into a site -If you must, make
      sure there is a good reason for it. Not just to "Be cool."
    • Videos or music that plays automatically on load – Unless you
      want to compel a large percentage of your visitors in public places to
      scramble for the "Close Window" button.
    • Using drop down menus or
      hiding content that is critical for people to get to easily – Although
      the popularity of the drop down menu has helped to reduce it’s inherent
      counterintuitiveness, consider other, more simple navigation techniques
    • Hyperlinks that are not totally obvious
    • Javascript tool tips or other pop up boxes – Use these only for supplemental information, not critical info
    • Build intentionally and specifically for the touch screen devices

    Although
    many of these items relate to Javascript, that doesn’t mean that one
    should quit using it (It can be a very useful tool, actually), but
    rather that it is necessary for web designers (and website owners) be
    aware that every "special effect" should be there for a purpose. Whether
    it is getting more content on the page for SEO reasons without making
    the page look so text-heavy, or hiding a  login area that comes to the
    forefront only after a click, if only 20% of a site’s visitors may need
    to login, etc.

    Website usability for the mobile generation also means some natural constraints3.
    According to Luke Wroblewski, website usability for the mobile device
    means that pages should be designed for a screen size of 480-320 pixels,
    which is only 80% of the size of a low resolution desktop screen. As a
    result, designers need to focus on what aspects of the site are most
    important to your customers. You will also want to keep user interface
    elements geared toward these "finger usable" sizes:

    • Use extra big buttons
    • List components should have plenty of line spacing
    • The width of a finger limits the density of items on the screen. If
      the items are too close, the user will not be able to choose a specific
      one.

    With all of the browsers, devices, and programming
    choices today, it’s easy to get caught up in implementing too many
    features. However, ensuring website usability is a critical aspect of
    increasing sales and that is the bottom of line for any business. After
    all, the average user is not going to stay on a site that is difficult
    to use, challenging to focus on, or takes too long to load. If you want
    to increase your website’s usability, be sure to ponder these
    suggestions. And remember that Page Progressive is happy to help you make your website all it can be 🙂

    Sources:

    1. http://trentwalton.com/2010/07/05/non-hover/
    2. (.net/standards, Sept. 2010)
    3. Practical Web Designs, Sept. 2010

  2. Website Usability: 7 Reasons Why It’s All About the User

    As you begin examining your website to see if it is usable to your visitors, there are many aspects you will want to research. Not only do you want it simple yet informative, you want your visitors to recognize, among other things, that they are important to you. Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, after much research and combined years of experience have released the following website accessibility guidelines to enhance a website’s usability.

    Website Usability Design Guidelines

    1. Provide content that is engaging, relevant and appropriate to the audience; this is the most critical aspect of the web page.
    2. Use all available resources to better understand the user’s requirements.
    3. Make sure the website’s format meets user expectations. It should
      be easy to use, have helpful content and be well organized. This will
      also encourage others to want to use your site. Also keep in mind the
      guidelines for Section 508 standards for being friendly for those that are visually impaired.
    4. Focus first on the users; get them involved to better meet their
      requirements. Some websites are better at this than others. Remember,
      just because your company personnel does not have trouble using your site
      doesn’t mean that your customers will experience the same thing.
    5. State and set goals; recognize and determine the goals of the site
      before beginning the design process; be clear and concrete. As King
      Solomon said in Proverbs, "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
    6. Consider the numerous interface issues during the design process. These issues include:
      1. Context within which users will be visiting
      2. Experience levels of the users
      3. Types of task users will be doing
      4. Types of computer and connection speeds
      5. Evaluation of prototypes
      6. Results of usability test
    7. Implement good SEO practices so that
      your site will be listed in the top 30. Studies show that users do not
      look at web pages that are not in the Search Engine’s top 30 results.

    If, upon reading these guidelines, you realize that your website needs
    work, don’t despair.  According to a recent Public Accounts Committee
    report, one-third of government sites did not comply with its own
    accessibility guidelines. Of course, this doesn’t make having a website
    that is difficult to use acceptable, but it does show that even with the
    best of intentions, there are many websites that need more work. If you
    recognize that your own website needs an overhaul, keep these tips (and
    those in the upcoming posts) in mind as you consider how best to revamp
    or contact Page Progressive and allow us to improve your website’s usability!

  3. 4 Ways “Less is More” Regarding User-Friendly Websites

    In a day when technology is constantly changing and improving, building a unique website has become more than choosing a WordPress template and plopping in your content. After all, there’s Flash, Javascript, a rainbow of color choices, gradients, boxes, bars, animated GIFs, widgets, gadgets, thingamajigs and many other programming and design elements to choose from, right? But does a website really need all of these "latest and greatest" web elements in order to be effective and usable? Many website developers and interface design experts agree the answer is a resounding "No." In fact, the wealth of possible website effects and features has lead to the detriment of many a website, when it comes to being user-friendly. And shouldn’t that be one of, if not the goal in any design?

    GoalsSet Limits, Guided by Goals

    One paramount way to increase website usability is in setting goals and limits. All websites should be built with a few goals in mind. Those goals may be actions that you want to encourage your users to perform on your site, like sign up for your mailing list or it could be to sell as many of a particular hot product as possible. If you don’t have any goals, your website will lack structure and purpose and more than likely not give you the best results. There are several ways you
    can actually improve you website by setting limits:

    Limit the Color

    Just because there’s a color wheel to choose from doesn’t mean every
    shade of green has to be used. Bill at GoMediaZine states, "Reducing the
    number of colors we use in our design will make the piece feel
    consistent. Keep the color palette small but vibrant." (Examples: Nike,
    sports teams, chain restaurants)

    Limiting Typography

    Like colors, keeping a consistent font is easier for the eye to
    follow. A fancy font may work well for headings, but body text should be a
    standard font that is easily read – even at small sizes. However, do keep
    in mind that the over-use of a single font within a single design can
    also be confusing and difficult to read. Often a layout can combine the use of 2 fonts to emphasize the different between a heading and the body text.

    Limiting Size

    Website usability also means keeping the size of a magazine spread in
    mind when designing your site. In fact, according
    to web entrepreneur, Luke Wroblewski, websites and web applications
    should be designed for mobile devices first, rather than the more common
    order of designing first for the desktop. He supports this argument
    citing that mobile use is growing rapidly. Designing for mobile devices
    forces you to focus. Of course, page size is one of the many factors that has no hard set rule. In the planning stage, this should be one of the factors considered. For example, will your site be accessed more by people who have older computers with smaller screens? Will a mobile version of your site be necessary? Will people on iPads or other tablet devices make up a large number of your visitors?

    Minimize, not Maximize

    Rather than using a little bit of every cool idea you’ve ever seen on a website,
    you should use a few things really well. Products like the iPod or iPad
    are remarkable not for all the options they have, but rather for what
    they don’t have. Instead of having a dozen buttons like many other devices, these products have 4
    buttons, making them easy to use and some of the most popular portable devices of all time.

    Simply put, much of the
    features that improve website usability can be filed under the old
    acronym K.I.S.S. Keeping it simple can go a long way to making visitors feel comfortable and eager to spend time there. And, that is
    the point, isn’t it?

  4. What is PHP Programming and Why Should you Care?

    So you want to develop a website where that you can track phone calls, emails and follow ups, as well as manage billing , inventory/ and the status of team projects. Or perhaps you want to create your own online community or social media website. No Problem! Thanks to the versatility of the open source programming language PHP, you can do that and more! Designed by Rasmus Lerdorf in order to pass his resume online and then collect data, PHP has continued to be used by web developers for a variety of needs and web-based applications.  PHP is lauded by programmers for many reasons, but these factors are best summed up as follows:

    • PHP can be used to create exceptional web pages and interact with info on the web
    • It can be used as a go between with users and databases (Such as MySQL)
    • Compatibility with almost any Internet server
    • PHP/MySQL-based open source solutions are free to use and can be found easily online, such as ImpressCMS or WordPress
    • The syntax is simple and has many similarities to C or Java. In addition, it can be used easily on Windows, Macs, UNIX and other programming platforms.
    • PHP, though free, is also secure, when used properly

    PHP LogoSome of the more common uses of PHP programming are:

    • Online inventory management systems – track what you have in stock and who is ordering what products/service
    • Content management systems – manage your website yourself easily online
    • Online photo galleries – store photos of products, customers, family, etc.
    • Ecommerce systems –  sell products online with a shopping cart
    • Community social portals – create your own version of Facebook, perhaps?

    In addition to the many uses of custom PHP development are several attractive benefits that make it practical for everyone involved. These benefits are because PHP is an open source framework.

    • PHP custom programming costs less than other languages, typically.
    • Because it is simple, it takes less time to have your website live.
    • The flexibility of PHP makes it perfect for an abundance of website designs and customization options.

    PHP is one of the more versatile tools in the programmer’s toolbox. If you are looking for a way to ramp up your website, PHP is just the tool. Contact Page Progressive to see how custom PHP can be used to help you.

  5. Privacy Policies = Higher Page Rank?

    It has been suspected by many web knowledgeable individuals in the SEM realm that having a privacy policy can improve your site’s page ranking, although there is no hard proof of this fact. However, one thing is certain; if you do have a privacy policy, it is mandatory that you follow it.  In fact, if you are selling a product or services, it is true that people are more willing to give you their information if they feel you are trustworthy, so a privacy statement along with a RatePoint seal is a great way to garner trust.

     

     

    Privacy PolicyWhy Should You Have a Privacy Policy?

    By definition, a privacy policy is a document telling site guests
    what information you collect and what will be done with that
    information. So, if you don’t see the need for a privacy policy, and
    depending on the type of business you have, one may not be absolutely
    necessary.

    The main goal of a privacy policy is to be transparent
    with your site visitors and offer a token of trust. Not only that, but
    to be in accordance with any laws or legislation that pertains to your
    business any website that shows Google Adsense advertisements, must have a privacy policy. (See SerpRank) Even if you do not use Google Adsense, you will want to consider these perks of having a privacy:

    • A privacy policy builds trust by establishing what will (or will not) be done with the information collected
    • The policy helps protect you by stating acceptable behavior
    • A privacy policy creates a better electronic environment on the web
    • A privacy page is another opportunity to SEO!

    What Should a Privacy Policy Contain?

    If your website does not have a privacy policy and you would like to
    add one, or if you want to upgrade your current privacy statement, then
    you need to be sure that it includes the following:

    • What cookies are
    • What information is collected
    • What is done with the information
    • How to accept/reject or delete cookies
    • Assurance that there are no harmful technical results or risk

    It
    should be noted that there are some who suggest including key
    words/long tail words as you write your privacy policy. After all, they
    do make a difference in page ranking, so why not use a few?

    How to Write a Privacy Policy

    When you write a privacy policy it doesn’t have to be so full of
    legalese and computer technology terms that the average person cannot
    understand what it is you are saying. Rather, do yourself and your
    guests a favor, and keep the following tips in mind:

    • Keep the language easy to read
    • Make it friendly
    • Design the policy and publish it like the rest of the site
    • Be sure the policy is accessible throughout the site

    If you want additional help or input regarding a privacy policy, talk to the professionals at Page Progressive or check out FreePrivacyPolicy.com.

    Having
    a privacy policy is a simple way to build good public relations for
    your business. Will it increase your page ranking in Google? Maybe, but
    it certainly won’t hurt.  Just having a privacy policy will add to level
    of comfort and give personality to your business. If you don’t already
    have one, take some time to develop a privacy policy page soon!

  6. ImpressCMS: A CMS to Keep Your Eye On

    The "CMS" in ImpressCMS stands for Community Management System, not "Content Management System" which many might think. ImpressCMS is a system that runs on a PHP and MySQL framework that is designed for not only facilitating the easy editing of a website’s content, but also manage an online community. It is a "fork" from XOOPS, meaning that ImpressCMS started with the XOOPS code but launched into it’s own individual project, as many open source projects do.Consequently, many XOOPS (eXtensible Object Oriented Portal System) modules will also run on ImpressCMS or can easily be modified to. ImpressCMS utilizes "modules" that add extra functionality to the core system such as creating contact forms, posting news, having online forums, etc.  The base system offers a long list of features, some of whichare its relational databases, personalization, user and group management ability, modules administration, themed-based skinnable interface, detailed permissions and personalization.

    ImpressCMSFounded in 2007, ImpressCMS quickly began gaining recognition as a community/content management system, thanks to the developer’s attention to features, functions, security and usability. These attributes have earned ImpressCMS several awards:

    • Third place in the PackT Publishing’s Most Promising Open Source CMS in 2008
    • First Place for the same award in 2009
    • A 2008 finalist in SourceForge Community Choice Award

    However, the developers of ImpressCMS were not content to sit back and coast. Rather, they have continued to make improvements and over thepast several months there have been a series of updates released, each one making ImpressCMS even more user-friendly and offering more featuressure to delight web developers everywhere. ImpressCMS focuses on being:

    • Open Source
    • Open Development
    • Open Philosophy
    • Open Community

    Itis this focus that makes it a favorite of web developers everywhere. Tofully appreciate the advancements of ImpressCMS, here is an overview ofthe more recent releases. 

    ImpressCMS 1.2

    Impress CMS was released in December of 2009, just 14 months after CMS1.1, and contained an assortment of changes that make programming easier for website developers. The changes consisted of more enhancement features and better functionality. Some of the most important changes made to Impress CMS were:

    • Rewritten Image mangager with online editing
    • Customizable profile module aimed at social networks
    • Inclusion of a content module
    • Pseudo-cron system
    • AJAX Redirect-no more redirect pages
    • HTMLPurifier configuration in admin backend
    • Themes for Admin area
    • Each user group can have separate home pages
    • Text-sanitizer plugins
    • The Installer has a new look thanks to AJAX
    • AdSense management in Admin area
    • Centralized ratings and Mimetype management

    ImpressCMS 1.2.2

    TheImpress CMS 1.2.2 was introduced in March of 2010 in recognition of some issues that were reported by users of Impress 1.2. If you are usingImpressCMS 1.2 and have had some problems, then take a few moments to get the upgrade. The download package can be found at SourceForge whereyou can choose between a new installation of ImpressCMS (or XOOPS) or get an upgrade from an earlier release-based on your needs.  Some the Impress CMS 1.2.2 changes included:

    • Control Panel
    • Core Functionalities
    • Design and templates
    • Installation Process
    • Registration Process
    • Upgrade Process

    If you like to stay current with new technologies, then you will be delighted to know that along with the improvements to ImpressCMS, ImpressCMS is also working towards supporting the more stable versions of PHP 5.3 which will soon include a variety of programming and design features. And if you prefer onject-oriented code structur, then you will also be pleased with ImpressCMS.

    Page Progressive has been implementing both XOOPS and ImpressCMS websites now for years and we feel that it is a wonderful platform due to it’s versatility, tight-knit community and attention to security and performance.If you have not yet tried out ImpressCMS, now might be a great time to check it out 😉

  7. MailChimp: A Great Newsletter System Worth Checking Out

    If you are looking for a tool to create E-newsletters, or improve your internet marketing campaign, check out MailChimp. With MailChimp, you will find an assortment of features that allow you to increase the productivity of your business and stay in contact with the people you care about most. In fact, here at Page Progressive, we use it and love all that MailChimp can do. Recently, MailChimp has added several new tools. Check out these new features, along with some of those that have been around a while, and decide if MailChimp is right for you.

    MailChimp

    Time Warp

    Time Warp is a free service for up to 500 subscribers. It allows you to set up e-mail campaigns based on a recipient’s time zone. Just pick the time of day you want your message/campaign to begin, and it will start at the same local time in every time zone on earth. This feature is possible due to a MailChimp geolocation service which allows them to find the location and time zone of your subscribers, and then send a targeted campaign to all subscribers within a 150 mile radius around any point on the globe. In addition, Time Warp allows you to check your MailChimp account to see how many members of your list are in each time zone and see if their e-mail has been delivered or check how your campaign is doing by hovering over each time zone.

    The Delivery Doctor

    The Delivery Doctor analyzes your e-mail, running a plethora of tests, and then lets you know why you are being blocked, along what you need to do to fix it. Some of the tests ran are: subject lines, email content, and images. The results and any recommendations will be e-mailed to you. However, keep in mind that this diagnosis option is only available to users on the paid plans.

    E-mail

    Email through MailChimp allows you to decide what language you want to use (or let MailChimp do it for you based on the subscriber location) and then with one click, your e-mail will be sent in their language.

    Additional Free Features

    MailChimp has a variety of features that are free to their subscribers that can help you build a profitable business. You won’t want to overlook these great business enhancing choices.

    • Free email marketing guides on step by step instructions, start up tips, solutions to common problems and many others.
    • Free HTML Email templates-MailChimp has 4 basic templates to help you get going.
    • ChimpCharts allow marketers to track sales, set goals based on industry, study metrics an more to measure and deliver more effective campaigns.
    • Monkey Wrench Newsletter-free letter with the latest in tips, tricks, news, email marketing stats and even prizes.

  8. 6 Ways to Use SEM to Build Your Business

    There is much more to having a successful business than merely having a website. This is because online business is fed by search traffic. This has resulted in a whole industry focus on improving a website’s visibility or Search Engine Marketing (SEM). Originally in 2001, Search Engine Marketing was defined by Danny Sullivan as “The act of marketing a web site via search engines, whether this be improving rank in organic listings, purchasing paid listings or a combination of these and other search engine-related activities.” Today, however, not everyone is in complete agreement as to exactly what SEM is and often uses the term as a synonym for paid search (PPC or Pay-per-click). Now, a commonly accepted definition as stated on Wikipedia is “A combination of search engine optimization and the use of paid and contextual advertising in order to bring a website’s articles or product pages to the top of search engine result pages (SERPs).

    Line Graph

    In 2008, the US spent $13.5 billion in search engine marketing; however, according to Street Insider, global industry analysts are predicting that the world market for SEM is going to reach US $50.68 billion by 2015. It is thought that this increase will be driven by factors such as:

    • an increasing demand for cost effective advertising and marketing strategies
    • raising popularity of organic and paid search
    • the growth of the mobile Internet market

    The report goes on to say that the US remains the largest market, likely due to the “high usage of web search and the continued evolution of search engine technologies in the nation.”SEM is composed of 2 basic factors which must be employed in order to be effective. The first of these are listings. These listings can then be divided into two groups: editorial and paid. In editorial searches, also called “organic” or “natural,” the listings appear without being paid for and are provided by search engines. In paid searches, also known as CPC (cost per click) or PPC (pay per click), the premise is simple, you pay to be listed; the ad is usually displayed alongside the editorial content and should not influence the editorial coverage.

    The second factor in SEM is the type of activities utilized. There are 3 main forms of SEM activities that should be used by business owners: SEO, link building and Paid Search. Using SEO is the equivalent of good PR; good SEO, like good PR, doesn’t necessarily guarantee good search engine coverage, but it can increase the odds if done correctly. In addition to SEO, you should use paid search, CPC or PPC which allows you to “pull in” your potential customer at the exact time they are seeking your products and services regardless of any declines in the marketplace. So, what can you do to make sure that your website is SEM optimized to bring you the full potential? After all, just knowing what SEM is is not enough. You need to be doing it.

    Consequently, be sure these 6 jobs are on your “to do” list.

    1. Be familiar with SEO practices. This is the single most important thing you can do.
    2. Use tools such as Website Grader to asses where your site is or where your website isn’t optimized for SEM. If you don’t know where the problems are, then it is difficult to correct them.
    3. Make quick changes first! These would include concerns like metatags, keywords in title tags, etc. Once the “little things” are accurate begin working on any big changes/corrections.
    4. Use SEM optimized CMS software and plug-ins like WordPress or ImpressCMS. These are the preferred choices at Page Progressive and we have been very pleased with the various features each of them affords.
    5. Test PPC and landing page strategies. You may want to keep lists of which keywords and advertisements bring the most traffic, as well as what happens when the guests arrive. You can also use Google Analytics to help you track what guests do.
    6. Remember, inbound links are critical to point traffic to your site.  If writing articles and posting them to a blog or site such as E-zine, or Hubpages does not appeal to you, then hire someone else to do it. It will be money well-spent.

    SEM, like many aspects of business, is something that must be maintained. But it can be a bit of a trial and error process as you determine what will work best for you, so don’t get discouraged. After all, SEM has the ability to improve your business and should not be overlooked or deemed unnecessary. If you are interested in implementing SEM, but don’t know have the time to do it yourself, talk to the professionals here at Page Progressive, we’ll be glad to help. Our designers and writers will be glad to give your website a makeover so that you can begin seeing more traffic to your site with positive results being the outcome.

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