Proliferation

May 31
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The Pros and Cons of America’ s Top 3 Do-It-Yourself Web Design Programs

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For both small, up-and-coming businesses and individuals alike, building a website is key to determining marketplace success. In most cases, WordPress is the solution, seeing as how the platform stands at the head of the proverbial website design pack as an industry leader. However, there are other options available for consumers.

For the commoner, each and every web building program appears the same: confusing. Conversely, for those with a bit more experience with website design, a lack of options or add-ons can be frustrating. Regardless of your level of experience or website needs, you deserve what will not only satisfy your creative desires, but will also impress a target audience or demographic.

Instead of tackling the painstaking task of unending research, we’ve performed the dirty work for you, unearthing the pros and cons of three of America’s top, do-it-yourself web development programs.

Wix: The Good

Founded in 2006, Wix provides a cloud-based web development outlet for users to build their own HTML5 web and mobiles sites. Since its initial emergence onto the scene of website design, Wix has seen nothing but success. What users enjoy most about Wix is the site’s impressively large selection of professional-grade templates which come complete with an interface built upon intuitive drag-and-drop capabilities, rivaling those of all other industry players.

Additionally, for those first-time web developers, Wix has created an intricate web of on-site help buttons at nearly every digital intersection to make website production as simple as possible.

Wix: The Bad

As is the case with most things, however, there’s some bad to go along with the good. For starters, Wix’s free design plan comes with the baggage of painfully large interface ads. Simply put, there’s no getting around them if you’re looking for an option free of charge. Furthermore, after having chosen a working template, users are unable to change it, should future adaptations need to be made. Lastly, and perhaps most frustrating for customers hoping to make a profit off of their respective websites, this publisher isn’t designed to manage complicated e-commerce demands, making the management of digitally-transferred funds a troublesome dilemma.

Weebly: The Good

Since bursting into the world of web-hosting in 2012, Weebly has done nothing but turn heads. Even those with years of website design experience under their belts are impressed with what the system—touted as the best drag-and-drop website builder—can do for its clients. Headquartered in San Francisco, the company currently hosts over 20 million sites and lays claim to upwards of 1 million unique visitors every month.

More than anything, it’s Weebly’s ease of web-building excellence through simplicity which keeps people coming back for more. There aren’t an excessive number of tools; moreover, those that are offered are extremely simple and straightforward in usability. Also, for those looking for free website design, Weebly is probably your best bet. Even without a startup or monthly payment, the broad range of flexible, modifiable templates is made readily available for all people.

Weebly: The Bad

Unfortunately, Weebly isn’t the perfect solution. There are areas of concern. First and foremost, like Wix, Weebly isn’t capable of handling complex e-commerce needs. Also, though still offering much in the ways of templates, few are those which would quality as being of a “designer-caliber.” Finally, for the mountain of beginner website design enthusiasts, Weebly’s Free and Starter plans are severely handicapped by cumbersome page count restrictions.

Squarespace: The Good

Of the three website builders presented here, Squarespace—pegged as an SaaS-based content management system—is by far the most recognizable. More than likely, you’ve seen the commercials on television and are already more than aware of the blogging and hosting services that are also offered by the company. Based in New York City, Squarespace has built enough rapport with buyers to aggressively compete with the likes of WordPress and GoDaddy.

In large part, the service’s positive reputation has been formed by its beautiful, mobile-responsive templates. Likewise, with respect to Squarespace’s impeccable arsenal of templates, digital responsiveness and adaptability have yet to have been matched by lower-lying competitors. When all is said and done, however, what are quite possibly the system’s biggest selling points are the extensively impressive styling options which are provided for all page builders.

Squarespace: The Bad

Though currently engaged in blazing a designer trail of sorts on the World Wide Web, Squarespace has encountered its own series of flaws and blunders. Take for example the editor and preview screens; they are separate and can’t be viewed at the same time to allow for ease of editing.

Oddly enough, while still considered an industry leader, if you’ve spent any time researching page-building programs, then you already know that Squarespace is infamous for having lag-ridden, drag-and-drop features. As a final word of caution—which for many might be seen as a blessing, more than anything—this channel’s Style Editor is thorough to the max, causing many to find themselves slightly overwhelmed.

Whatever your web building project might entail, odds are that you’ll be content with any one of the aforementioned website builders. That being said, in order to be completely and totally happy with your site, it’s important to pay attention to the subtle details. With the specifics having been presented here, the power is now yours to make great things happen out on the ever-expanding Internet.

Fusion 360 - The Pros and Cons of 3 Web Design Programs (Fusion 360 Web Development)

May 28
0

3 New Interactive Design Tools for Web Developers Looking to Make a Splash

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Technology and the development thereof changes quicker than just about anything and keeping up can be a difficult matter. What was once new and exciting, in literally just a matter of months, is now branded as being nothing more than old and mundane.

Joined at the hip, when technology advances, so too does the world of web development. Whether you’re a seasoned web designer or looking to build your first blog, it’s important to stay up to date with the latest trends to more fully connect with your target audience.

1) New and Improved Animations and Transitions

Thanks to the likes of HTML5, Javascript and CSS, web development specialists from all over the glove are now able to provide a more enjoyable experience for their respective site visitors through animation. While the concept of animation might not be all that new, in today’s day and age, without them, you’re definitely shooting yourself in the proverbial foot. Animation can be anything from a bouncing icon to a basic cartoon that plays in the background while a page loads.

Though seemingly simple, these detail-oriented animations and transitions make a site’s navigability all the more pleasant. Sure, they’re visually appealing, but without them, site context feels awkward and visitors often find themselves struggling to understand quite how they’re supposed to interact with what’s being digitally presented. As reported by TheNextWeb.com, the primary function of site animations and transitions are as follows:

  • “Animated notifications
  • Revealing information
  • Highlighting content
  • Collapsing forms and menus
  • Scrolling, especially fore one-page websites”

Even though animation is widely being used by web development experts, there’s always a great deal of disparity between those who know what they’re doing and those who are relatively new to the design game. Simply put, users are going to expect high-quality, pixel-perfect design and anything less than that is bound to be lambasted by visitors. Needless to say, take the necessary time to create animations and transitions worthy of your target demographic’s attention. In the end, you’ll be glad you did.

2) Webgraphics Are Now Replacing Infographics

The advent of social media has made the quick, timely consumption of information a necessity for digital marketers. For graphic designers working at advertising and marketing agencies, this meant—and still means, to be honest—that helpful infographics needed to be produced at an astounding rate. They’re visual. They’re engaging. They provide a tremendous amount of information in an easy-to-read format. What could be better? Webgraphics.

Webgraphics are similar in function to infographics, though they are entirely interactive, thus helping to improve upon user engagement. Thanks to invaluable tools such as HTML5, CSS3 and jQuery, your site can provide site visitors with an interactive experience through the brilliant colors and slick animations that webgraphics provide.

3) Micro Interactions: The Most Minute of Digital Interactions

Unbeknownst to most web and app users, hundreds of micro interactions take place each and every day. Micro interactions are the simple experiences that link a user with another digital entity. For example, if a Facebook friend of yours likes a photo that you recently posted and your phone dings, you’ve just been part of a micro interaction. Though small and insignificant to those without a background in web development, micro interactions are of the utmost importance. In fact, recently, FastCo Design went as as far as pegging micro interactions as “the future of design.”

If you’re still not convinced, imagine how long it would take you to completely abandon a site if you couldn’t quickly set your username and password or control the amount of push notifications that your mobile device receives. These are very real issues that web development experts face on a daily basis. By properly understanding and implementing micro interactions, a user’s experience is enhanced and a return visit is bound to occur. Generally speaking, micro interactions should seek to bring about the following:

  • Help accomplish a specific task, such as logging in or setting an alarm
  • Link two relevant elements like a website and smartphone
  • Make an adjustment, according to user preference
  • Check specific data or information, such as an area’s weather or traffic

Whatever your web development needs might entail, by continually working to stay informed with what’s going on in the world of website design, you’re bound to keep both clients and customers satisfied.

May 06
0

6 Unique Sites for Web Developers Seeking Exceptional Free Images

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From all parts of the country, be it in Utah or New York, everyone knows that great images are an essential part of any solid web development strategy. Unfortunately, most website design specialists aren’t freelance photographers in their spare time and have little to no access to a robust portfolio of remarkable photos.

Options are as follows: you could take the photos yourself, purchase them from a talented photographer or simply download them from a stock image site. Generally speaking, the later is preferred. That being said, when shopping around on the Internet for a digital archive of complementary images, some sites are simply better than others.

1) Unsplash

For many web development experts, Unsplash has proven to be an incredible resource. Visit its home page and the first thing you’ll be met with is the website’s mantra: “Free (do whatever you want) hi-resolution photos.” Unsplash specializes in blog-style photos of landscapes which almost always come with astounding lighting and extraordinary effects. Not only are 10 new photos submitted every 10 days, but each image contains a link to the credited photographer, just in case you’d like to learn more about the genius behind your newly acquired visual aid.

2) IM Free

Truthfully, IM Free is relatively new to the stock image scene. Separating the aforementioned site from its competitors is the fact that it contains helpful templates, buttons and icons—in addition to stock photos, of course—to more fully further the web development industry. If digital depictions are all you’re after, however, you’ll be pleased to learn that this library is known for well-organized photos that are conveniently grouped by category.

3) The Amazing Pattern Library

Technically, this site’s not actually for stock photos. In reality, The Amazing Pattern Library differs heavily from the other domains on our list in that, you guessed it, it’s main focus is to provide web development enthusiasts with a wide variety of patterns, many of which have impressively been created by some of the world’s most talented designers. Though spacious and detail-oriented, this collection’s high-quality pictures quickly download with just one simple click of the mouse.

4) Foodie’s Feed

Exclusively, Foodie’s Feed features edible items in its image arsenal. Believe it or not, visually showcasing delicious foods in a presentable manner is substantially harder than you might’ve originally thought. In fact, says DesignModo.com of the culinary compilation, “From beautiful deserts to simple garden veggies, Foodie’s Feed has images of almost any edible item you can imagine.” The website uploads a minimum of five new images—many of which come from a single take—each and every week. Foodie’s Feed is supported by user donations through PayPal.

5) New Old Stock

Though a bit oxymoronic in name, New Old Stock does a splendid job of combining the perks of modern-day file sharing with the splendor of vintage photography. If any one of your current web development tasks requires black and white images from decades past, consider New Old Stock your ideal supportive reserve. On this site, the vast majority of images are readily available on the public domain for widespread use due to their age.

6) Free Refe Real Life Photos

Believe it or not, a person can actually accomplish a great deal of artistic good with nothing more than a cell phone camera. Free Refe Real Life Photos is virtual proof of such an assertion. All of this website’s provided images were taken with nothing more than a mobile device. Said images primarily cover simple objects and landscapes which make them useful in divers amounts of web development ventures. Unfortunately, many presented images might be too small for print.

Whatever your web development undertaking may be, stock images are bound to play a role. Armed with the necessary visual outlets to make any project pop, you’re bound to see a sharp increase in both pleased clients and site visitors.

Fusion 360 - 6 Unique Sites for Web Developers Seeking Exceptional Free Images (Fusion 360 Web Development)

May 01
0

4 Top-Tier Methods for Designing a Landing Page That Intrigues Potential Customers

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Putting together a landing page worthy of the most stubborn of Internet enthusiasts can be a difficult task. Not all of us are website design specialists. Furthermore, innumerable are the factors that, for starters, bring a person from one remote catacomb of the World Wide Web to your brand’s website.

Getting them to browse and interact for a healthy amount of time all while also building a bit of investor intrigue? Well, that’s an entirely new digital design beast worthy of a sound investigation. That being said, there are a handful of tried and proven methods to make such a miraculous occurrence happen on an astoundingly regular basis.

1) Meta Titles Descriptions and URLs

For starters, look to meta titles and descriptions to make a difference. When used properly, any digitally-driven traffic which makes its way to your landing page will, more than likely, be of a higher quality.

Additionally, make your landing page SEO-friendly through relevant keywords. SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads—direct mail or paper advertising, for example—have a 1.7% close rate.

2) Calls to Action

In most cases, when people hear the term “call to action” (CTA) being tossed about, they think of intrusive telemarketers or pushy door-to-door salesman who make a living by “assuming the sale” and then “closing” as soon and as often as possible. However, unbeknownst to many both inside and outside of the website design community, a CTA is completely ethical and, most assuredly, will separate your landing page from those of your competitors.

Whether it be a “call now,” “find out more” or a “visit a store today,” CTAs are not being used with nearly enough regularity. In fact, 70% of small business B2B websites lack any sort of CTA for consumers. The most common of landing page CTAs involve newsletter/blog subscriptions, product demonstrations, free consultations, case study downloads or special offers.

3) Benefits Over Features

People don’t like the feeling of being sold. Fast-talking salesman who focus on the “newest upgrade,” “latest add-on” or “groundbreaking update” appear to be trying to meet regulatory sales quotas without having made any sort of connection with their audience. Normally, it shows in their sales success or lack thereof.

With website design, generally speaking, when pushing products or services, it’s better to “show” rather than simply “tell.” Since features work on a factual level rather than an emotional one, their value is often viewed as confusing, less than applicable and, unfortunately, sales-centered. Testimonials or product demonstrations by way of shareable Internet video are excellent tools for website design experts looking to make some noise.

4) Useful Footers

Web users allocate about 20% of their attention to a site’s content found below the page’s fold. Though seemingly insignificant, they’re almost always looking for additional information. Apart from showing that your site represents a reputable business, footers allow your landing page to direct potential clients to other pages which may further interest them.

Even more important, footers often contain social sharing buttons and contact information for those serious about taking the next step to get to know you and your brand. Needless to say, when building a company from the ground up in this, the digital age of communication, an impeccable landing page is of the utmost importance.

Fusion 360 - Tips for Designing Landing Pages: How to Intrigue Potential Customers (Fusion 360 Web Development)

Apr 20
0

The 3 Most Common Website Design Blunders Which Visitors Simply Can’t Accept

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The Internet is a massive place. So massive, in fact, that—according to research conducted by Netcraft in March of 2012—there are over 644 million active websites. Considering how large the Internet is, however, that number is relatively small. Case in point, there’s plenty of territory left to be claimed out on the endless frontier that is the World Wide Web.

Regardless of whether you consider yourself an expert of website design or not, in order to build and maintain virtual audiences, there are a handful of website design errors which must be avoided at all costs. Simply put, digital audiences consider them completely and utterly inexcusable.

1) An Absent Search Box

In theory, any given website should be an archive of valuable information. Whether you’re dealing with a Fortune 500 website or simple blog, a visible search box couldn’t be more important. More often than not, visitors already have a general idea of what it is that they’re looking before your page has even loaded.

With a search box properly in place, site frustration is greatly minimized as users are quickly directed to what it was that they were originally hoping to find. In order to make certain that site searches take place in a neat, effective manner, consider using Google Custom Search or similar programs.

2) Subpar Navigation

Poor website navigation is one of the biggest turnoffs for users. Like any well-designed community, navigability shouldn’t be much of an issue. Though there aren’t many website design norms for seamless navigation within a site, it’s key that transfers from page to page occur in an intuitive and consistent manner.

Says Hongkiat.com in the ways of navigational advise, “If text is used as navigation, it should be concise. Visual metaphors should not be re-invented. If hyperlinks are used, then they should stand out from the body of the text. Dead links should have no place on any web page whatsoever.” As a canopying rule of thumb, structure navigation so that it works closely with the widespread theme of the website. By so doing, prevailing confusion is avoided in its entirety.

3) Cumbersome Registration Forms

This is by far one of the most annoying of unforgivable website design mistakes. Before a site’s design is completed, it can be helpful to take a figurative step back to see how much information you’re requiring of your guests. How many fields are present? How many mandatory fields are required? Could what’s being solicited be interpreted as intrusive or overbearing in any way?

Furthermore, it’s important to keep automated validation filters in check. If users are unable to comply with your registration standards after a few tries, they’ll most likely opt for one of your competitors instead. Registration for a site should require little to no information and encourage the consumption of information, not the giving of it. Needless to say, as proper website design tactics are put into practice, real results can be expected.