website design

I talked a few weeks about about the basics of search engine optimization.  In that post I talked about how SEO is art and science and it takes regular, specific efforts to make sure that your site is well prepared to be indexed well by search engines.  I told you about creating pages with good X/HTML markup, the length of registration for your domain, and making sure you're using all your meta information correctly.  All of those elements lend themselves more to the science-side of the search engine optimization pr    Read more »

I thought about this the other day while I was reading a thread on a forum talking about what's needed to get your website up and running.  While there is much to cover when creating your website (I've written on the thought process for creating your website here) the first and best step is to just get started. I would say that if you've spent a lot of time and effort thinking about the design, the CMS, your content, how you want it laid out etc. but you've still not started your site, I'd say put your planning pads aside and get to work.    Read more »

Thinking through your new website

Building an effective website is can be a daunting task.  The excitement that comes from the initial decision to get online soon can give way to confusion on what to do and how to proceed. So what to do?  Plan.  What follows is a guide that you can use to plan your site and build something that will be an asset to your personal brand, or business. Knowing what you want to achieve with your website will go a long way in helping you get it done.

Who

Who are your visitors going to be?  Figuring out who will be visiting your site is key as this will help you plan out your content.  Who is your target audience?  Can you use it for customer service to take better care of your existing customers? 

Who is going to develop it?  Are you going to do it in-house?  Are you going to hire a developer? This is important.  There are varying opinions on this, but I'm of the opinion that if it's going to be representing you to the entire world, it needs to be done right and working with a professional is never a bad idea. A competent professional can help guide you through the different phases of getting your site done right.  If you're not sure of your ability  - or those within your organization - to build it correctly get some help.     Read more »

In a recent discussion I found myself in a debate on what's the best method to use when choosing your domain name for your new website.  What quickly became apparent is that there were two distinct issues being discussed - naming and branding your website, and search engine optimization (SEO).

So, as you think about chosing your domain I have a couple thoughts to offer:    Read more »