Calgary Web Design Network Forum

We have planned to update the resources section of our website for quite some time and are happy to announce the first part is now ready. We have completely revamped our Free Online Games section so please go take a look through our main website or through this direct link…. 

http://www.calgarywebdesign.ca/free-online-games.html

We now offer a great selection of free games available and playable directly off of our website. We also now feature a more complete classic video game directory that includes hundreds of your old favourites. We encourage your feedback and if there is anything else you’d like to see there that currently isn’t please let us know.

Enjoy:)

Anyone who owns a business today probably has a website, it’s actually become a rarity in today’s modern culture not to have one.  If you were to ask many website owners however how much of a positive impact their website has on their business the honest answer many would give you is “not much”.  As a web designer I’ve been asked countless times “what’s wrong with my website?” or “why isn’t it generating the results I want?” Here are some of the answers I’ve had to give them…or didn’t have the heart to at the time.
 

No One Is Looking At It:  Having a website is usually better than nothing but if the only people looking at it are your mother, your co-workers and a few of your closet friends it’s invisible to the rest of the world. If you own a website make sure you know how to track the number of visits and analyze where you web traffic is coming from. Most hosting packages today come built with features that allow you to view not only the number of hits but what pages are most popular and what keywords your website is being found under. If you’re getting a small number of visitors it’s a clear sign that you need to promote your website better…and to seek out help in doing so.
 

You Think You Are a Good Photographer: Everybody loves to take pictures and since most people own a camera you might as well use it right? Imagine however if you were to pick up a magazine or newspaper and the photographs looked like they were taken by somebody’s cheap digital camera from Walmart? Quality photos can make an average website look great while poor photos can have the exact opposite effect. If you don’t want to pay for a photographer visit some of the many stock photo websites currently online. You can download professional high resolution pics for sometimes less than a dollar per image.
 

You obviously wrote the content yourself:  Don’t be offended. Most people are not copywriters and asking them to write several pages of quality web content is like asking a 5^th grader to finish their math homework. You don’t need to be a novelist in order to create good copy but it still needs to be compelling enough to keep your audience’s attention. Well written text can have an equal or greater impact on your visitors then even graphics or photos. If writing is not your thing assign the task to someone who will give it better individual attention. Remember people are there to READ your website not to marvel at how pretty it is.
 

You are not telling your customers what you want them to do: Having a strong “call to action” is one of the most important aspects of online marketing. When you get a flyer in the mail from a car dealership you’ll often read something like “no financing for a year if you buy now”.  Imagine if that ad were to say instead “hi we are a car dealership and we sell cars”. You want to say something in your website text that prompts customers to take quick or immediate action. If you want them to pick up the phone and give you a call tell them so, always make sure they understand clearly what their next step should be.
 

Your website is not finished:  Believe it or not this is actually a common one. So many websites will have “coming soon” or “check back shortly” pages which stay that way for months, or if not years. Having unfinished sections will tell your audience that your website, and therefore your business, are not a priority. Your website can be one of your strongest first impressions with customers so don’t make your online motto “I do things when and if I feel like it”. Remember your website is there to SELL your products and services so make sure it is giving you the best chance to do so.
 

You are doing nothing to promote it: Huh??? The reason I got a website in the first place was to promote my business. Now you’re telling me I need to market my very own marketing tool? Sadly yes, having a good website is only half the battle when it comes to online business. Once you have a site you must get it out there in as many ways possible. This includes getting your major keywords into search engines, submitting to online directories, blog & forum posting, pay-per-click advertising, link building and more. Once people know your website exists it can be a very powerful marketing tool but you must find a way to spread the message.
 

Your website never changes :  Once people finally get their website online you’d be amazed how often it looks exactly the same even a year later.  No new updates, no fresh content and no reason to come back a second time. Your website is an opportunity to inform your customers about the ongoing growth and progress of your company. If you have nothing new to offer your audience they won’t stay interested for long. It can be as simple as adding a latest news section, updating your product line, or writing an informative article.  Always give your audience something or you’ll get nothing in return.
 

Some of the links on your pages DON’T WORK: Really there is no excuse for this and it is something even professional web developers can be guilty of. If you are serious about your business and how it is being perceived by the public take 10 or 20 to go through your site and make sure there are no broken links. Clicking on a link that leads to an error page or an inactive URL just looks BAD and so will your business. If you are struggling for time assign this task to a friend or love one, it’s the easiest improvement you’ll ever have to make.
 

You are cheap: You have decided a website should only cost $300 or $400 dollars, a random figure you have come up with in your head or that has been thrown around by a clueless associate of yours.  This has lead you to hire an inexperienced freelances off of Kijiji or your cousin’s nephew instead of getting the job done right the first time around. Ironically some will pay thousands of dollars for yellow page ads or large scale mailouts but peanuts for their very own website. Your website is arguably your most important marketing tool, show it the respect that it deserves!
 

You have obviously put off getting an upgrade: Technology is always advancing in the world of web design with new things being done now that weren’t even 2-3 years ago. Having your website done properly will improve its shelf-life considerably but you will still need to consider upgrading eventually. Older websites begin to show their age and won’t produce the same wow factor they once did upon first launch.  Be prepared to upgrade your website at least every 3-5 years depending on your market and audience. This means planning ahead with your marketing so when the time is right you are ready to move.
 

You’re too involved: Web design clients are an interesting bunch, some want to just get out of the way and let you take the reins while others want to be involved in absolutely EVERYTHING. Make no mistake you should be involved in creating your website as you will likely know your audience and their tastes best. Remember though you are not a designer nor do you have experience selling products or services online. Most web developers are flexible regarding their client’s wants but if he/ she is telling you repeatedly something should be done a certain way try to heed their advice. In the end it’ll be you kicking yourself if something YOU demanded is not generating the results you had hoped for.
 

Find out what the CWDN is up to daily….look for CDWNOwner to follow us!

Hi everyone this is Jeff Moyer the owner of The Calgary Web Design Network. I want to thank all of you who have been reading my blog so far although I realize it has not been updated as frequently as we’d like so far. For this reason we will eventually be bringing in some quality guest authors (I hope) and we’d also welcome any website interested in doing article exchanges with us.

Please contact me directly if you’d like to contribute articles to our website or do an article swap at:

contact@calgarywebdesign.ca

I’d also like to know from our readers what topics you’d like to read more about and I’ll do my best to accommodate you.  Leave me a comment or e-mail me directly with your thoughts. Also be on the lookout for some changes in our resource section as well, visit www.calgarywebdesign.ca Thanks all!

Enlisting the services of a web design company can feel much like taking your car to a mechanic for repairs. Unless you work in the industry personally there’s it’s hard to tell if you’re getting a fair price or quality service. Here are a few basic pointers to help you avoid being taken advantage of by those who may prey on your lack of industry knowledge.

There is NO regulated price in web design: If you call both Future Shop and Walmart about the price of  a TV (same model) you can assume the price will be similar within reason. In the web design industry it is left up to the developer or company to decide what rates they charge for their services. Price can be based on a variety of factors but it you ask 3 different companies for a quote you expect a price difference of several hundred or even several thousand dollars.
 

Higher Price Does Not Always Equal Better Quality: There is no bigger unfortunate truth to web design than this. Due to the fact that web companies have different expenses and bottom lines they need to address people can be stuck paying a lot more money for no real upgrade in quality. Some companies have more employees or pricier equipment to pay for while others may need to rent office space with a monthly lease. Price is not determined just by the value of the work alone, so do your homework on which company you sign with.
 

Many Companies Make Their Money on the “Little Extras”:  Some companies may offer what seems like a great deal on a website but will overcharge on the little things like web hosting, updates, and other maintenance services. Web companies know their clients aren’t really aware of what the average company charges so they’ll test the waters hoping for a bigger payoff. As an example, some web companies charge over a thousand  dollars a year for web hosting where you can find it elsewhere for as little as $3/month.
 

This Business Is Full of Non-Qualified Professionals With Limited Experience:  Web design is one of those rare businesses where you can get started with nothing more than a computer, an internet connection, and some software.  It’s one of the most popular work-from-home jobs as people see the potential for a quick buck without much commitment.  Many developers are starting fresh out of school (or even with no formal training at all) thinking “what do have to lose” by trying? Honestly they don’t have much to lose really, you on the other hand…
Most Web Design Companies Are Freelance Companies: There are very few web design companies per city that are large scale operations. It’s very much a business where the rich get richer and the poor…turn to freelance work. You can count the number of web design companies on one hand that are actually “companies”, the majority are small groups of 2-3 people if that. Freelancers are not a bad route to go as they typically offer cheaper rates due to small overhead costs, just make sure you check their qualifications first.

Many Companies Who Are Here Today & Gone Tomorrow: There aren’t many industries out there with more fly by night companies than web design. Many get into this business on a whim with little preparation or long term planning. There companies may get contracts here and there based on their networking skills but few of them have the business background to get consistent regular work.  If a web company’s portfolio hasn’t been updated in ages consider it a good sign they haven’t been doing much work lately.

Only a small percentage of web companies have the power to actually make a difference for your business: This is something I often stress to people because picking the right web design company can often significantly help or hurt your business. Many designers can build a website and put it online, but only a select few can make it actually generate revenue for their clients. A good design company doesn’t only build your website but knows how to bring in the right traffic and convert it into sales. Ask your web company what their sales record is before hiring them, if the question makes them nervous and sweaty move on.

Most people today are regular online users and believe they can tell the difference between a good or bad website within seconds of looking at it. Although in certain cases this can be true there are many factors to consider when evaluating the components of a successful site. A good website will possess many, if not all, of the following traits…

Search Engine Friendly: The main purpose of a website is to bring visitors to your site, preferably those with an interest in your product or service. Without visibility in search engines your website may look great but do little else to help promote your business. It is critical customers are able to find you in sites like Google or Yahoo using keywords or phrases relating to your business. If you are unfamiliar with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) find a company who can help, the investment can be well worth it.

Quick Load Times & Minimal Distractions: There is nothing more frustrating than going to a website and waiting long periods of time to access its content. Whether it’s due to slow loading images or annoying popup ads these kind of annoyances can drive customers away in a hurry. Making sure visitors can use your website quickly and easily should always be a top priority. Avoid things such as excessive flash animations, large video clips, or music tracks without an off switch.

Clear Message or Purpose: What does your website do? Why is it actually there? If you sell vacuum cleaners how you present your site should make this fact clear instantly. This is done not only by your choice of text or wording but also your logo, images, slogan, and even colour scheme. It is possible for a website to look great visually but not properly convey the message you are trying to send to consumers. People’s attention span’s are short and not getting to the point quickly is an incentive for your users to look elsewhere.

Strong Call To Action: Once people have found your website and want to do business with you tell them what their next step should be with a strong “call to action”. Should they give you a call to schedule a meeting or appointment? Can they purchase your products or services online….how so? Don’t ever assume your customer knows what to do next, tell them how you want them to react to your website to prompt a quicker more impulsive response.

Easy To Use & Navigate: Making your website easy to use is crucial in visitors staying at your website once they find it. Key or important information should be easy to access within a couple of clicks and arranged in a way that is simple and logical to your user. Your customer shouldn’t have to “figure out” how to use your website, it is your job to make navigation easy. Also be sure to develop your website in a manner that keeps all demographics in mind, whether it be seniors, children or even those with disabilities.

Professional Design & Quality First Impression: The professionalism of your website is a key factor in establishing your company’s credibility and heavily influences a person’s decision to do business with your over a competitor . Although it may be tempting to cut costs by having a friend make your website or using a template you will get out or your website what you put into it. Your website is often your first point of contact with potential customers and must introduce your company in a way that inspires trust and confidence. A poor looking website may generate a lot of traffic but fail you in terms of creating business leads or increased sales.

Strong & Relevant Content: It’s often said in the web design industry that “content is king”. Although it is great to have all the other bells and whistles that come with a quality website what you actually say is as important as anything. Remember websites are primarily a READING tool so make sure your text is informative and has depth. If you were to try and make a book out of the written portion of your website alone how well would it hold up based on its own merits?

The Return Factor: Once you get someone to visit your website, what is their incentive to return in the future or come back regularly? Websites that garner a lot of traffic do so not only by reaching a large amount of new users but maintaining a healthy number or existing ones. Common examples to include could be a latest news and headlines section, free articles or resources, a community blog or anything keeps web surfers coming back.

Goal Orientated: In order to judge or measure the success of your website it is important to set goals or benchmarks. Everyone wants their website to bring in more business….but how often or how much? A large part of your website success is determined before it is ever designed or put together. Make sure you decide in advance what you want your website to accomplish in terms of results to understand if your site is performing up to the expectations you want or need.

Building a website can often be an expensive task for many small business owners, especially when you factor in costs for advertising and promotion. Fortunately there are several simple and inexpensive ways to get your website noticed without breaking the bank in the process. These methods require a time investment only and can make a big difference in the number of hits your website receives. In no particular order they are…

Link Exchanges: Link exchanges are a very important part of website promotion as they boost traffic to your site and play a major factor in your search engine ranking. Try to approach as many companies as possible about featuring your link on their web page in exchange for the same favor. Remember websites with similar or complimentary content to your type of business carry much more weight in search engines than simply random links.

Include Your Website URL on Everything: By everything we mean EVERYTHING. Make sure your website address is always included on every e-mail you send, any advertising you send out or even on your vehicle. Be a walking billboard and get into the habit of letting as many people know you exist as possible. This may sound excessive but you’ll be surprised by how many customers learn of your business this way who would have no idea otherwise.

Submit to Online Business Directories: Did you know there are countless online business directories who will let you list your website for free and provide a backlink to your website? Places like the online Yellow Pages or Yahoo Classifieds allow you to submit your website and general business profile upon registration. Better or more prominent listings in directories need to be purchased but this is a good way to test the waters and see which one might be a good fit later.

Post on Blogs or Forums: Blogs or message boards generate loads of traffic as they are used daily by hundreds, or even thousands, of regular members. Join a forum or two that relates to your particular type of business or subject matter and participate in some of the discussions that interest you. This is not only a great way to learn but also to demonstrate your knowledge with others who in turn may visit your website and inquire more about your services.

Network With People: Quite simply meet as many new people as possible and let them know what you do. Word of mouth is one of the most avoided but most critical ways to advertise your website. Go to parties, social events, or even volunteer your time to a worthy cause or function. There are even many small business meetup groups in your area looking for new members to join and discuss business ideas and strategy. Get yourself out there and meet the public.

E-Mail Campaign: The great things about e-mails is that they cost nothing and you can send as many as you like. Though some are weary of e-mail advertising due to the high volume of spam and junk mail nowadays if done right it can be just as effective as a mailout or newspaper ad. Make sure any e-mails you send are written professionally and also consider hiring a designer for help with the design or template.

Write Articles: Writing articles for online publications, e-zines, or forums is a great way to get free publicity for your business and also establish credibility as an “expert in your field”. There are also countless websites online designed exclusively for the purpose of publishing articles as a means of sharing information on a variety of topics. If you are blessed with decent writing abilities be sure to make the most of them in regards to your website.

Add a Bookmark Function: Encourage people to remember your site once they find it by adding a bookmark function. It is relatively easy to incorporate a button or link on your website that allows visitors to add you to their favorites list. You want people to keep you in mind both short term and long term so being added permanently to their address book will accomplish exactly that. Talk you your web master or developer about adding this feature if you believe it might be helpful.

Exceptional Customer Service: There is NO substitute for this. The best way to promote your business online or elsewhere is to provide customers with a memorable experience when they do business with you. Good service and a quality product will sell itself and is still one of the best ways to get referrals and get people talking. Always remember advertising itself is useless without a quality product and good people to sell it.

You’ve probably heard the old saying “you get what you pay for” thrown around once or twice in your lifetime right? For whatever reason people seem to believe that their website is the exception to the rule, taking every shortcut imaginable in order to save a quick buck. If there is one area of your marketing that deserves the proper financial attention it’s your website. Try to avoid these common mistakes people make when trying to do things the easy way…

Getting My Friend Or Neighbor To Build My Website: Here we have the most common alternative to hiring a reputable web design company, pretty much guaranteeing that things won’t be done right the first time around. “My friend’s nephew Billy is a computer whiz…and he will only charge you a couple hundred dollars!” Sounds great at first but what Billy doesn’t know is there is a big difference between simply getting your website to work and having it actually DO SOMETHING to help your business. Remember a website is essentially a marketing tool so it’s important to hire someone who can not only build your site but understands the fundamentals of promoting it properly.

Building The Website Yourself: If you are seriously considering this option than this is the one time I’d recommend giving Billy a call instead. Many people fall in love with the “do it yourself option” because it is cheaper and they don’t have to trust their online future to somebody else. Once they get their site up and running they think they’ve saved a lot of money not realizing their new masterpiece may actually be sabotaging their business. Unfortunately most home made websites LOOK homemade and will often portray your company as low budget and unreliable. Remember first impressions are big when it comes to the web so make sure yours isn’t doing more harm than good.

Using A Pre-made Template: It can be tempting to use a template when building your website as they do offer certain advantages. You get to choose the design you want, you know what it will look like in advance, and it is can be up and running within hours. The problem with templates however is they are often generic multi-purpose designs used for all types of businesses, not yours specifically. A good website should give your company it’s own sense of identity and atmosphere, something more likely achieved through the help of a skilled designer. Templates are also search engines headaches as you often have less control over important SEO factors such as what you name your files and images.

Making Your Website An Online Billboard: There are many online services today that will actually pay you to put their banner ads on your website. If someone clicks on one of these ads you in turn receive a commission….sounds great right? Truth be told unless your website is a large scale e-zine or blog that generates large volumes of traffic any profits you make will be minimal at best. All these ads will do is clutter up your web page in an unattractive manner and take focus off the product or service YOU are trying to sell. Make your own business the center of attention, not your paid sponsors.

Using a Free Domain Or Hosting Service: Why pay for a domain name or hosting service when this cool new company you found online is offering one (or both) for free? Simply put any company offering anything “free” has an agenda which is the promote their own business first, even at your expense. Most free hosting services will plaster their company logo and banner ads all over your home page making your site look ugly and more importantly cheap. Your first goal is to establish trust with your audience, something that won’t be accomplished if you come off as an online telemarketer for your hosting service.

Low Brow Or Un-ethical  Search Engine Practices: Since most amateur web builders know very little about search engine optimization but still want high rankings their first instinct is to try and “fool” or “trick” the search engines. They do so by overstuffing their website with keywords, building backdoor or gateway pages, or finding shady online services that will provide them with an endless supply of backlinks. Little do they know that search engines have gotten wise to these tricks a long time ago and will penalize your site accordingly. There is no quick way to the top in Google or Yahoo so don’t go looking for one.

Frequently Submitting Your Website To Search Engines: There is a popular online scam that goes something like this. For a small fee a supposed “expert SEO company” will submit your website to literally thousands of search engines on a regular monthly basis .This leads people to believe that frequent submissions lead to higher rankings, a theory that is far from true. In reality you only need to submit your website once and doing so repeatedly will often hurt your long-term ranking. Shift your focus to constantly updating and optimizing your web pages instead as your rank is determined by the quality of your content, not the number of times you submit.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising: People often shy away from hiring an SEO company due to the often hefty price tag, prompting them to find a more affordable alternative. Many will turn to pay-per-click advertising, a service that lets you advertise on other company’s websites with similar or complimentary subject matter. You only pay a fee when and if someone clicks on one of your ads. Although appealing in theory where your ads appear are often very random and don’t often result in solid leads or sales conversions. PPC advertising can be an effective extension of a properly planned SEO campaign but should never be used as your only source of online advertising.

Most companies today will acknowledge the importance of doing business online and the influential role a website can play in their overall success. What exactly are the advantages of owning a website though and in what ways can having one actually improve your business? When done properly, and professionally, here are a few of the best answers… 

24 Hour Around the Clock Service: A website is available to your customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and that includes evenings, weekends, and holidays. People can visit your website at any time to get information or even purchase goods & services online. Having a website makes sure your business is “always open” even when you are closed. 

Easier Access & Convenience: A website offers your customers better flexibility and convenience when dealing with you. Users can inquire about your company on their own timetable, without placing a phone call or driving to your location. Once online your business is always just a click away making communication quick and easy. 

Instant Credibility: A quality website will give your company a strong first impression and “instant credibility” within seconds of viewing it. If you are a small business or working from home a strong web presence becomes even more valuable. A website is often your “first contact” with customers and can make or break you with new clients. 

Constant Advertising: Traditional advertising such as radio, newspaper, and mail-out ads are often quite expensive and only last a couple of weeks if not days. Your website is always there to promote you with no time limit or expiry date, making it one of the best long-term investments for your money. 

Reach a Bigger & Broader Audience: As a business owner your consumer base is often limited to the regions and areas around you. With the World Wide Web you can expand your audience to other cities and even other countries. A website opens up new markets you otherwise wouldn’t have access to, meaning better exposure and greater sales potential. 

Easier to Find & Remember: Typing in a website link is often easier then flipping through the Yellow Pages or fumbling through your wallet for a business card. A website makes it easier for customers to find you and then remember you once they do. The phrase “a picture is worth a thousand words” definitely applies with websites. 

Everyone Else Has One: Your parents probably told you this is not a good reason to do anything but a website is an exception. Websites are longer considered a luxury item, they are a standard and recognized way that companies do business. The absence of a website can make your company look dated and out of touch with today’s business scene. 

Have Business Come To You: Many companies need to constantly be approaching new customers or soliciting business on an ongoing basis. A website will help bring customers to you by finding your company in search engines or other online advertisements. If done correctly a website can be one of the best sources of continuous revenue available today.

Hiring a web design company can be as difficult at times as finding an honest mechanic or real estate agent. The web industry is still unfamiliar territory to many, therefore knowing who to talk to or what to ask can be intimidating. What information should you have about a web design firm before enlisting their services? Answering these basic questions will help you make a better more informed decision. 

How Long Have They Been Around? 

This may send some so-called web professionals running towards the nearest exit but it’s a fair question. Unfortunately the web industry is full of fly-by-night companies who often have good intentions but limited experience or reliability. Remember your website is a long-term investment and you should have every confidence that the company you choose will be around 5, if not 10, years from now. 

Do They Have a Strong Portfolio or Work Samples? 

A credible web design firm should be able to provide you with several quality examples of their work, giving you a realistic idea of what to expect. You might be taking a gamble by trusting a company with a limited amount of finished projects and an unproven track record. Also don’t be afraid to ask for references from previous clients; a legit company has nothing to hide and will appreciate your interest. 

What Kind of Quality Assurance Do They Provide or Offer? 

Before you agree to a price on your website make sure you know what this amount covers and under what circumstances it is subject to change. It is important to get all major details in writing so you are not charged with any mysterious hidden fees or charges later. Also ask about their refund policy, payment options and even any discounts that might be available to you. 

What Are Your Rights In Terms Of Copyright and Ownership? 

Once your website is completed what ownership rights you have over any graphics, text or images that were produced? Are you free to change the design of your website at any time, even if you leave this company for another firm? Some comapnies will make it difficult for you to leave once you have signed on the dotted line so make sure you agree on any copyright issues in advance. 

What Are The Long Term Expenses Of My Website?  

A company may offer you what seems like a great deal on a website but may have much higher rates for ongoing fees such as web hosting and updates. Make sure you are aware of the long term costs of running and maintaining your site. Many companies can increase monthly maintenance fees with little or no prior warning so make sure you stay locked into the same deal when agreeing to terms of service. 

How Will This Company Help My Business? 

It’s one thing to build a website but what will it actually do for you once it’s up and running? Get an idea of what this company’s strategy will be in terms of accomplishing your website’s goals and promoting your business effectively. How a web design company brings in traffic and then converts it into sales often separates a good amateur firm from a professional one.