Here are some common terms explained in more detail:
Accessibility Ensuring a website is available in a coherent form to all visitors, regardless of how they access the site.
Blog News, thoughts or comments updated on a regular basis - rather like a diary. If enabled, visitors can leave comments and start online discussions.
Browser The software used to view Internet sites. Popular browsers include Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari.
Domain Name A recognisable name that when entered into a browser will link to and display the website associated with it.
Hosting The files that make up a website need to be stored on a publicly available server. This is called hosting. Professionally hosting offers a fast and reliability connection to your website, as well as other facilities such as database access and visitor statistics.
SEO Search Engine Optimisation. A process to improve the ranking of a website in search engine results. Typically achieved by carefully writing the text content of a site to include keywords that visitors might search for.
Twitter A popular social networking service where users can post short messages (called ‘tweets’) on what they are currently doing. Users can even use normal SMS text messages to post their tweets. Celebrities such as Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry are famous Twitter users.
W3C World Wide Web Consortium. An international organisation that develops standards for the web.
There are many elements that need to be carefully blended together to create a successful website. An accessible and well-designed site is an important factor in attracting visitors but there are many other considerations.
An ideal website will:
• Be easy to use and navigate
• Deliver the information that the visitor is looking for
• Be consistent with existing brand identity
• Work across different browser software and devices
A couple of important points about our service:
• We follow official W3C standards to ensure compatibility and accessibility
• All sites are custom designed - we don't use templates
Initial Steps
We will setup an initial consultation with you to establish requirements in four key areas: Purpose, Style, Audience and Content. It is also useful at this stage for us to study your existing branding and any literature in order to create a consistent style for the new site. At this point we can provide a reasonable cost and time quote for the project.
Design and Build
Once we know what the site needs to achieve, we will produce one or two custom page designs for your approval. When the basic design and layout has been agreed upon we can discuss the finer points of the content including whether graphic images will be supplied, bought in or whether a custom photo shoot will be required. We can then get to work and complete the site.
Making Your Site Stand Out
There are various tools that can be employed to enhance the appeal of your site and differentiate it from the competition. For example by providing a search function, an interactive slideshow or a 'Blog' with news that your customers might find interesting. You may also want to consider using Google maps or Twitter updates. Or you may want a custom feature that is specific to your business. We can discuss appropriate options at the design stage.
Testing and Validation
It is vital that your website works properly no matter what browser software or device is being used. We always adhere to published web standards and fully test the site in all of the major browsers.
It is also important to design the site so that visitors with impairments can still use the site. For example, some people may increase the font size - this should not 'break' the page design and cause elements to appear out of place. Other people may turn off scripting or use screen reading software. When creating the initial design we take these scenarios into account.
Hosting
Your website will need to be uploaded to a web server. This could be the free web space that was provided with your normal internet access account although we recommend a professionally hosted server to ensure a fast and reliable service. Professional hosting is not expensive these days - a small site will cost around £60 per year. You will also be able to access statistics so you can get information on visitors to your site, such as their location and what pages they looked at etc.
You will also need a domain name - e.g. www.yourcompany.co.uk. Again these are not expensive but of course many common names have already been taken so you may need to think creatively here! We can manage domain names and hosting on your behalf if you wish.
Updates
Once your site is finished and live on the web, it is likely that, over time updates and changes will need to be made. We can do this for you at regular scheduled intervals or on an as-needed basis. You could also update the site yourself - we can create secure 'admin pages' that you can login to and update content as required.
If you are interested in setting up that initial consultation, please contact us by using the form on the home page.
Activity Express
A website offering parents, teachers and minders of young children a wide range of activities to download and print. The design is easy on the eye and organised, yet friendly and informal.
UK Steam Irons
A new type of product comparison site that aims to list the most comprehensive range of steam irons and steam generator irons on the market, with detailed specifications and the best prices. A custom price comparison engine find the best prices daily.
The Joke Shop
A prominent local fancy dress hire and partyware retailer wanted a new website to establish their presence on the web and encourage more visitors through the door. This fun and colourful site was developed, with animated graphics for certain events such as Halloween.
Tony Fresko Limited
For this local ice cream firm a bright and contemporary yet professional look was created with a small page count to focus on core activities. A photo shoot was staged to create many of the graphics and give the site a unique feel.
Ridge House Tobago
Developed for the owner of a luxury holiday villa in the Carribean, this compact site features an automated slideshow and a facility for visitors to check availability. An admin page allows the owner to easily update booking information.