Lacking inspiration for your latest website design? Escape from reality, and fuse fantasy and technology by looking to these intoxicating Sci-Fi TV shows:
Paint on some spandex and help Buck Rogers solve some of earth’s dilemmas, like clients who continue to insist on music-filled Flash intros.
Annoying error messages occur frequently on the Internet — especially 404 file not found errors, which indicate a page no longer exists or is restricted.
The following Smashing Magazine feature brings to light 50 original 404 error designs, some beautiful, some witty and others more on the practical side.
Idea block is the natural enemy of the web designer (that along with escaped tigers and David Hasselhoff tunes).
What do you do when the idea for your next brilliant assignment just isn’t pouring out of your head like an industrial drum of Mrs. Butterworth pouring syrup over your project’s fluffy pancakes?
If the idea well has runnith dry, here are are a few tips on how to get the inspiration ball rolling:
When it comes to website copywriting, design and development, simple is always better.
It makes it easier for online visitors to:
All of the above promote satisfied needs, happy customers, and a healthy bottom line.
So why are so many websites so complex? The fact is “simple” is difficult to achieve.
Consider the wise words of historic French aviator and writer Antoine de Saint Exupery: “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.”
While he was reflecting on the development of airplanes long before anyone heard of Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, his logic fully applies to the Web.
Conceptualizing and developing a simple, user-friendly website can be challenging for many reasons, from strains on time and resources to conflicting motives and objectives.
Web designers and copywriters are often pressed to churn out creations at a moment’s notice. But, whether manipulating words, images or code, it takes knowledge, experience and time to plan and develop appealing, functional and simple websites.
Good web writers invest a high percentage of time determining key messages before hammering away at the keyboard. Likewise, experienced web designers study their clients’ needs and sketch out ideas before hitting the computer.
There’s a vast difference between communicating simply and communicating poorly.
Simple website content promotes effective communications. It is easily processed, understood and connects with readers. Poor communications – whether caused by inferior writing or flawed designs – rarely hits the mark.
People are often surprised to learn web writers at Webcopyplus aim to deliver web content at a grade-eight level. Clients and students alike ask: “Won’t this offend your audience?” Many people fail to realize that most reputable national newspapers are also written at this level. Even TIME magazine, which is by and large deemed sophisticated, is written at a grade-ten level.
While there are exceptions, most targeted online audiences have varied expertise in both the Internet and subject matter. An expert can endure simplicity, but a novice might not be able to identify with or comprehend complex information.
To promote your website’s readability, scanability and usability, ensure your web designer and web writer take extra time and effort to scrap any useless elements, from extra fonts to extra syllables.
Effective web content isn’t about flashy graphics and fancy words. It’s about communicating key messages and getting tasks completed.
Simple connects.
For less than $20 you can raise your social status and credibility, and finally be able to conduct team brainstorming sessions. You can even name the cute critters to expand your design firm and justify higher rates.
Find a wind instrument, sit cross-legged at your doorway and play Star Wars over and over again, until you see the light, or you collect enough change to get your caffeine fix.
Get back to earth tones using Austin Powers’ teeth as your website’s colour palette. Select from a full range of tobacco yellows and decomposed browns.
With your deepest voice, answer the phone matter-of-factly with nothing more than: “John Rambo.” Chances are, after an awkward moment of silence, you’ll be engaged in some thought-provoking conversations with your prospect, client, or mom.
Web design can require a level of intimacy. So, to set the mood, take a cue from the 1982 classic film Fast Times at Ridgemont High: “When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.”
Not sure? Take this short quiz.
A) Providing useless second-guessing.
B) Making references to what his spouse might think.
C) Being able to create your likeness on a spreadsheet using a Sharpie and some old pipe cleaners.
D) Listening to your ideas because that’s why he hired you in the first place.
ANSWER: D of course, but that usually only happens in an ideal world where dogs and cats walk hand-in-hand sharing ice cream.
Many organizations are jumping on the green bandwagon, and consumers are witnessing vast claims of environmental benefits or greater sustainability.
However, as superficial claims continue to be exposed, consumers are distrustful of the credibility and honesty of green marketing messages — on and off the Web.
To overcome this lack of trust and avoid the greenwashing accusations, Forrester’s Cindy Commander suggests marketers need to ensure their green strategies adhere to the seven Es of green marketing:
More than 63% of Internet users indicated in a recent Webcopyplus poll the written word is their choice of communications on the Web.
However, according to psychologist, educator and neurolinguistics expert Dr. Genie Z. Laborde, only 20% of people are primarily auditory, meaning they gather and process information most effectively via written text and the spoken word.
Dr. Laborde notes 40% of people are strongly visual, and 40% are kinesthetically dominant when it comes to learning.
So while the majority of people indicated they prefer accessing information on the Web through web writing, it’s in website owners’ best interest to support and augment web copy with other communication forms to connect with a higher percentage of people.
Adobe announced July 1 it is working with the search industry to improve search results of dynamic web content and rich Internet applications. Up until now, search engines were not able to effectively view, decipher and index Flash-based sites.
Adobe has created a special Flash player, currently distributed to Yahoo and Google, which allows the search engines to crawl through Flash content and gather any text or hyperlinks within the rich content.
This is great news for businesses with Flash-based sites, which hindered their online presence.
Google has already begun indexing Flash sites, and Yahoo plans to release the technology in a future update. Adobe also plans to roll out the technology to other search engines.
Most populations read from left to right, hence, it’s best to align your web writing to the left side of your pages.
Centered or right-aligned text is difficult to read. It causes eye strain, which is bad for visitors and consequently counter-productive for your business. Centered headlines can also hinder readability.
Making your web writing easy to read is a plus for your visitors and your bottom line.
