Avoid dodgy photos on you website.

Bad photos of your place of business, staff and products equal a bad image. Many small business owners are loathed to hire a professional photographer, so resort to taking their own photos – but at what cost?

Photos that are dull and blurry are a bad start. Also, taking a photo of a messy workplace or dusty products reflects badly on your business.

There is only so much a web/graphic designer can do with mediocre images.

Clear and attractive photos do make for a better website. Changing your photos around every so often can also prove beneficial.

Example of a great Product Photo

If you feel comfortable with using a camera, ensure you stage your photos first. Give whatever you are photographing a clean (this can include staff too). Use props if appropriate. If it is a product, photograph it in-use, in a nice setting or on a clear white background. Whatever you do, be consistent. Also, ensure that the lighting is good for all of your photos. An example of some excellent photography is at www.jutabali.com.au. The owner has taken her time, laid out each product in an attractive setting.

DIY not an option? Go professional. If you don’t have the time, the patience or the ability - Hire a professional. Of course, ring around for prices and always view their portfolio first, but you may be surprised at how affordable it can be. Most photographers will work with you to produce a consistent and attractive collection of photos. Ask them for their ideas and tell them what “look” you are going for. You may also consult with your website/graphic designer/s - ensure your new photo/s will work with any current branding and advertising.

Remember, a bad photo can make all the difference – the wrong difference.

Ignorance is NOT bliss.

Web address ownership is a tricky topic, however one not to be ignored. Imagine you have “purchased” your website and website address. Everything is fine…until you get a massive renewal bill from your supplier. How can they do this?

Some website designers (and only some) are on the less-than honest side of the coin and register domain names under their own business names, individual names or ABN/CAN. Not that of their client. In some instances, this is okay, but legally, who ever the ABN belongs to, owns the domain name and can do with it as they want.

Don't Get Stung

To avoid being stung. If you are looking to get a website address…ensure you or your website supplier use your name or ABN/ACN to register it. You can ask for proof in the form of a Domain name registration certificate which is usually supplied upon original registration. This should state your name/business name as the owner. If not, request that it is transferred immediately if you have any worries about the future ownership of your domain name.

To check to see if your domain name is registered in your business name, go to http://whois.domaintools.com and type in your website address. In most cases, you will be able to view who your domain name is registered to amongst other information.

Learning Layout - Why good layout makes good websites

There are several elements that can help make a website even more successful. One of them is using layout to make your website more user friendly.

Most websites have common features like a menu or navigation. Having your menu located in an obvious place is crucial. What your menu buttons say also needs to be relevant and easy to read. This will ensure potential customers can find the information they are looking for quickly and easily. In turn, this reduces the chances of them leaving your website and visiting one of your competitors’ websites.

An example of a simple, easy to use website

In regards to layout; the location of your logo and business name needs careful consideration too. Customers should not have to work to find your logo, or any other imagery/information indicating who you are and what you do. A good website makes a great first impression and is obvious.

Having your business contact details in an obvious spot makes it easier for existing and potential customers to contact you. Providing your phone number and even email address, up the top on the homepage is convenient for those browsing your website. If you have a business premises, displaying your address in a prominent place on your website could also prove beneficial.

Your sales pitch or Call to action also needs to be obvious. Imagine having a “FREE QUOTES” or “20% off sale” advertisement placed down the bottom of your page. This means potential customers have to scroll down to view it. Potentially, up to 30% of visitors to your website are not seeing this and therefore are completely unaware of what you are offering.

Published in the Caboolture News

A user friendly website means happier potential customers!

Colours and fonts - Caboolture News Article

In the fast paced world of advertising, there is one thing a lot of people forget to consider. Branding!

Branding is the combination of words, symbols, designs, names and colours used to distinguish one product/service provider from another. This includes the colour scheme and fonts used on your website – Do they match? 

Good branding = better advertising results.

Using standard fonts or free online fonts can save you money. It is possible to buy fonts online, however, some of these have restrictive use/licensing terms.

Imagine how powerful your brand can be, when your business colours, logos and fonts appear in everything advertising medium you use; newspaper, Sensis, business cards, fliers, vehicle signage, packaging, letterheads and more importantly, YOUR WEBSITE. Everything you do contributes to your business branding. Being consistent with your branding can result in a more recognisable brand and business. Think of the big golden arches.

As Published in the Caboolture News

A good web designer will incorporate your existing branding into your website.

Colours and fonts.

Colours and fonts.

In the fast paced world of advertising, there is one thing a lot of people forget to consider. Branding!

Branding is the combination of words, symbols, designs, names and colours used to distinguish one product/service provider from another. This includes the colour scheme and fonts used on your website – Do they match? Good branding = better advertising results.

Using standard fonts or free online fonts can save you money. It is possible to buy fonts online, however, some of these have restrictive use/licensing terms.

Imagine how powerful your brand can be, when your business colours, logos and fonts appear in everything advertising medium you use; newspaper, Sensis, business cards, fliers, vehicle signage, packaging, letterheads and more importantly, YOUR WEBSITE. Everything you do contributes to your business branding. Being consistent with your branding can result in a more recognisable brand and business. Think of the big golden arches.

A good web designer will incorporate your existing branding into your website.

What is Hosting?

Hosting refers to the storage of your website; its associated pages, images and design files.

To make a website work, you need both, a website address (domain name) PLUS website hosting. Imagine the domain name to be your postal address and the website hosting to be the letterbox. One does not work without the other.

When your website is built, it is uploaded to a hosting account attached to your domain. As with domains, there are thousands of suppliers to choose from. There are also different types and levels of hosting. Have a chat to your website developer to find out what you need, and avoid paying too much.

In general, website hosting is available on a monthly or yearly basis. Most types of hosting also include email accounts. From a branding perspective, it is much nicer to have info@yourbusinessname.com.au versus a gmail, hotmail or bigpond email.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is another name for a website address. E.g. www.yourbusinessname.com.au.

A good domain name is short, easy to remember and easy to spell. To own a .com.au, all you need is an ACN (Australian Company Number) or ABN (Australian Business Number). .com.au addresses also last for 2 years before you need to renew it. Anyone can purchase a .com address. They last for 12 months and are generally cheaper than their .com.au counterparts.

In many cases, you can have more than one domain. Your website developer can point another domain to your existing one. Imagine having one address, redirected to another, for your home or business. Everything “lives” at your home or business address but all other “mail”, received by your secondary address, gets redirected. This scenario is great for businesses undergoing a name change. Their old website address can point to their new one, keeping them “connected” with those potential customers who have old business cards or advertising. These potential customers get automatically redirected to the new website.

Webgirl

If you have a web question, email karen@web-sta.com.au.