Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

From Idea to Design

So you know what your new website is going to be about - how do you set out to design it?You need to think of two things. What content are you going to have on your site, and secondly, what is your site going to look like? And what will the layout of the pages look like, the colours etc. (It is presumed at this point that you already know what your website is going to be about!)ContentThe fi. . .

Google Adsense Best Practices

When selecting the size of your Google Adsense code the 300x250 is by far the best performer. This square box works best when placed in the middle of the content towards the top. I commonly place the 300x250 ad block under my title and on top of my first paragraph. Sometimes I put the 300x250 ad block under the first paragraph if it is short but never below the second paragraph. Banners and. . .

The Devil Is In The Details, Miss A Deadline And You’re A...

As a consultant for real estate development specializing in launching new projects into the marketplace, I have determined the development of architectural renderings and animations are an essential component of ensuring a project’s success. Over the last 15 years I have worked on hundreds of projects, fortunately all ending in success. Over this period, I have come to understand that effective. . .

Step by Step Guide to Setting up a New WHM cPanel Server ...

This is a guide to setting up a new WHM/cPanel Server to be used for web hosting accounts. It is intended for web hosting company administrators and dedicated server owners. For under $99 per month, it is easier than ever to manage and run your own dedicated server. You can have guaranteed uptime from your datacenter, and outsourced support starting at $30/month. All you need to do is set up th. . .

Search Engine Optimisation?

Everybody wants on the search engine optimization bandwagon. By now you have probably read about the many tricks and techniques, you probably have even read many things about what I will be writing about here. Many have been doing this for years but many that are just starting out would not dare even think it: Misspelled and miss-typed keywords. There I said it. Not only common misspellings but. . .

Web Design for Speed

Have you ever noticed that some sites are much faster than others. Or that some specific websites take a notably larger amount of time to load than others? Have you ever seen a site that begins by displaying only the background, and then shows the text all at once several minutes later? This is the sign of a poorly designed website, and you should make every effort to omit this web design mi. . .

Meta Search: Internet Search Engine Directory

With the billions of web pages on the Internet, how do you drill down to find the pages that are most relevant to your search? Although most people use one of the "Big Three" search engines - and sometimes only the "Big One" - all search engines are not created equal. Depending on the type of information you're seeking, you may have more success searching via an Internet search engine directory. . .

Links Here, There, and Everywhere

I can't imagine a website without links. Well, you could actually build webpages with no links to anywhere but that will not be fun to do, will they?Links are very special part of the web because without links, our webpages will not be connected. It will not look like a web, but more like spaghetti strands — a description not fit with the vision of the smart people who created the World W. . .

BigDaddy and Google in the Spotlight

With so much talk about Google you almost forget who MSN and yahoo even are. Google is known for taking the spotlight on many occasions, both in the search engine world and in the hardware world. Since the majority of search queries are carried out at www.google.com it is no wonder that when Google decides to do something that will upset the rankings that people will make enough of a fuss to pi. . .

Creating Web Site Voice Affiliate Programs That Succeed

With the advent of Advertising Agencies, followed the fifteen percent mark up for all services the client purchases via the agency. As a radio station General Manager it was always important to have the best agency rates posted. In the business they are traditionally referred to as “gross” rates. The net rate, is the cost the advertiser would pay if they purchased direct from the radio station.. . .

Improving Website Performance

Images, graphic and flash animationMany sites have images or graphics that are too large. By too large, I don't necessarily mean the dimensions of the images, but the file size is excessive and doesn't load quickly in a web browser. There are no hard and fast rules about file sizes but if the website doesn't load in a few seconds most visitors will move on to a different website. Have a qualifi. . .

VideoLan Tutorial

As far as marketing goes I guess this article may one day bring me some hate for teaching some dumbass to build online infomercials, but I assure you my motives are far less industrious. If you live outside North America, like me, you might think watching your favorite TV provider back home was impossible. In fact for years I figured I was just stuck with crap TV and limewire downloads. Trailer. . .

SEO: Simulating Organic Growth On A Busy Schedule

When you first launch a website, you naturally want all the content crammed into it that you can lay hands on. But if it's real traffic you're looking for, consider taking a more patient approach.Anyone involved in SEO can tell you that organic growth of relevant content is the most successful long term strategy for search engine placement. When people read that, however, their brains toss th. . .

Create An Effective Website Color Scheme

One of the hardest parts in web design is creating a unique, effective color scheme. Not only will your site's colors give it personality, it will create a lasting impression on your visitors.ContrastPick colors that provide enough contrast to make your text stand out. Stay away from using light on light or dark on dark. Remember your emphasis is on getting your message read. An unread message . . .

Purchasing Websites vs Building Your Own

When you decide that you want to run your own online business, the question will soon come up in your mind about whether you should purchase an established website, or build one from scratch. The answers may surprise you, and in this article I want to go over both strategies in detail.Building your own website from scratch is a lot of work. You will have to work very hard, and unless you have t. . .

Learning difficulties & web accessibility

Accessibility is about making it as easy as possible for all members of society to fully take part in that society. It is about removing barriers. It is about inclusion and empowerment. It is about creating the sort of world that we all want to live in - a message that should resonate with us all.Where the UK government standsThis year, the UK government gave "a clear commitment to ensuring tha. . .

Websites Are Not Television

Have you noticed that websites today are adapting the concept of television? Nowadays, web sites are complete with state-of-the-art graphics, sounds and videos. To top it all up, advertisements are also rampant. On a single page alone, you get to see a lot of products or services being offered. Makes one wonder if websites are giving television a run for their money. But what website owners are. . .

Web Site No Worries

How should it be promoted? What should it look like? Can it be done on my own or should a professional be hired to do it? These are just some of the questions that need to be answered first before designing a web site. Experts on this field can be turned to help and do the job for you. Doing it yourself would also be an option if you are taking into consideration the expenses and the time that . . .

Getting Back To Basics: Creating A Logo From Start To Finish

When I began my career in the graphics industry, almost 17 years ago, I would approach the design of any new logo by first taking out a pad of paper and a pencil and sketching out basic ideas before diving into any real concept creation. As computers and design software became more and more a part of the design process I tended to find myself heading to the computer immediately to put together. . .

Some Ways To Improve Your King Content

There are thousands of articles, books and forum posts which showed that content is king in search engine optimization (SEO). In this article, you can find some ways that can help you improve this king content for your web site.* Content for people first, not for search engines - Some webmasters make a common mistake that they optimize everything for search engines but forget about web visitors. . .

Dot Gov... Dot Dull?

Most government Web sites are about as exciting as a Senate appropriations hearing. Besides lacking charisma, sites are difficult to navigate and a bear to search. But the possibilities of the Internet make having an effective Web site too valuable to neglect.The “musts” of good government Web site designThere are five major “musts” to any government Website. The site must be:User-friendly Dire. . .

E-Commerce Hosting - Factors to Consider

So you have decided to take the plunge and take your business on the web. This most likely means you will need a reliable hosting service to host your e-Commerce website. What are the key factors that you should consider when considering various web hosting companies?When considering a web hosting service you should consider at least three factors, how reliable the service actually is, how know. . .

Does Your Local Business Need A Website?

A few days back, on a weekday afternoon, I was chatting with Peter. He is an old time friend of mine. Peter was always passionate about cars and finally he left his mundane insurance company job and started his own Auto accessories shop in North Clark St., Chicago. He is happy with kind of business he is getting since the past two years, but it seems to get stagnant at a point. “Yeah I’m doing . . .

Avoid Getting Ripped Off - Spot Bad Web Hosts

Getting ripped off in the web hosting industry is very common and a lot of people fall victim to scam artists each year. This article will reveal how to spot the bad hosts and give you tips on how to avoid them.The easiest way to ensure you are not going to be scammed is to only sign up for a hosting company that is recommended to you by a reliable source. A good source of information and appro. . .

Very Cheap Web Design Service In England

Are you looking for somebody to build you a website, however do not have a very large budget? This is the position many people find themselves in and are on the lookout for very cheap web design services.There are companies out there or people who are just starting out in a career building websites who to start with will often offer their services at a very reasonable rate, basically to build u. . .

How to Build a Search Engine-Friendly Web Site: Understan...

As a seasoned search engine marketing professional, I’ve optimized hundreds of W eb sites over the years. A vast majority of the time, I’m brought into the W eb development process late in the game. Rarely am I brought in at the ideal time: during the planning phases of a site design or redesign. This oversight typically means higher costs and delays in the development process. Due to this fact. . .

Keep Your Website Contents Fresh by Adding RSS Feeds

RSS is a method that has been used by many webmasters and publishers to publish information and news online. The readers then be able to read the information and the news with their RSS readers. But many webmasters also use RSS feeds from other webmasters to provide dynamic contents on their own websites.Usually, in order to provide contents on your website, you have to copy articles and paste. . .

Consistency In Web Design

The human mind constantly searches for patterns in everything that it sees everyday, striving to find the unified picture as a whole. If the mind cannot find pattern in what it is seeking, it has a high tendency to look elsewhere.When doing web design, it is important to design the website in such a way that makes it easier, not harder for the mind to see the pattern. It must be clear to a visi. . .

Intelligent Design - Basic Design Guidelines

When talking about intelligent design, we are not talking about the creation of man. Nope, this is more important! The creation of your media and site products.There are some very basic things about design that one can learn that can vastly improve one's ability to make appealing and intelligent creations. Some of those things are: 1. Lining Things Up 2. Using Variation 3. Giving Breathing R. . .

The 5 Most Important Rules for Designing your Company Web...

Have you ever visited a website that was so bad that you felt like it was sucking the life out of you? Sure you have, we all have. We all know what a poorly designed website looks like. And the sad thing is, internet surfers will more often than not judge your company by your website. These web-surfers are your potential customers, and the last thing you need is them fleeing from your website j. . .

Forums A One Way Ticket To Easy FREE Traffic

If you are not using forums in your website now may be a good time to get started. With Google and Yahoo putting the emphasis on fresh new content, it is important for search engine optimization purposes to be adding fresh new content to your site on a daily basis. Forums can help get you that fresh new content. If done correctly you will have fresh new content added on a daily basis from your . . .

Picking the Right Web Hosting Company

You have decided to build yourself a website. You know what you want the site to be about, you have some potential names for the website picked out in your head, and you are hoping they are still available. You know what you want the site to look like. But, you are wondering how you actually get it on the internet. You have read some articles that explain that you need a web host to put you. . .

Use Websites - Make Money the Easy Way

For most people, webpages in the internet is its main folly. It is the most eye-popping aspect of the internet. The pages of the web holds a vast range of information produced by most people who are in academic, government, business background, and even by enthusiasts who just wants to share their information with everyone. A typical web page is like a magazine page, it contains text and pictur. . .

Important Considerations Before Choosing A Web Hosting Pr...

The first thing before choosing a web hosting provider is that you should be fully aware of your hosting requirements. If you are a beginner wanting to host a personal web site, then your only concern is that you get a decent amount of disk space for your web site with a host that is as cheap as $5 per month. However, if you are a developer, an online entrepreneur or an online business looking . . .

How To Unclutter The Content Of Your Website

To the search engines, content is king. However if your whole site is cluttered with content, it can look really boring and might scare your visitors away. Identify Your AudienceDo you really need to unclutter the content of your site? The answer to this question will depend on what type of web audience you are targeting. There are usually 2 types internet users. The first type of users know wh. . .

Designing Your Website

‘First impression lasts’ is very much true for online business. Website content (texts, graphics and animations) must create a 3D picture of product/service in the mind of the consumers, and entice them to buy it. Content can make a business click or sick on internet.A website is like your online shop, your virtual interactive portfolio. For web design tool, it is important to determine your ta. . .

Top Tips for Attracting and Retaining Web Design Clients

Quick Response Customers are immediately impressed with quick responses to questions and service sign-up. Be sure to mention how important customers are to the success of your business and strive to respond to their message as soon as possible. In this case, under promise and over deliver. I will typically state on my web site that I will respond to emails within four hours. Customers are often. . .

How to Build a Quality Website

The other day I received an email from a guy asking whether we could build his eCommerce website. Since Rusbiz is a company which has a full service web solutions development department, I sent him our executive brochure by email and asked if I should send him our website building checklist. The answer I received was “Can I work directly with your web programmer and tell me what your hourly rat. . .

Launch Your Site, Before It Is Finished

When you launch a site, you face three major problems: The search engines don't know you, the users don't know you and you might not have any meaningful amount of content. These problems can cost you time, before your site starts to pay off. Three solutions to hit the ground running on launch day.Waiting for the search enginesTelling “Google” your new web-address is only getting you a spot in . . .

Misconceptions About Personal And Special Event Websites

There is no denying it, the Internet is a part of almost everyone’s life these days. We shop on the internet, pay bills, find information and learn about things that interest us, make new friends and stay in touch with old ones all via our personal computers. Over the last decade, virtually every sort of business, state or local government and civic organization imaginable has established at le. . .

A Website of Your Own

What could be better than owning your own little piece of Cyberspace? To have the thrill of telling all you know to “e-mail me at me@my-website.com!” It is such a thrilling thing to be in complete control of your very first website. Akin to owning your first home.I’m serious, let’s explore the two for a moment.First you test things out, you see this wide world and decide to try ex. . .

Web Hosting - The Importance Of Choice

There is a whole multitude of domain registration and website hosting offers in the market today. I had an offer the other day to register domain names from $1.99 per year plus a whole lot of other bonuses. Admittedly I am already a customer of theirs and this offer was for existing customers only. There are hosting sites that will host for nothing. Yes $0.00Why would there be any excuse not to. . .

Does Your Website Induce Seizures?

Q: We promote our web site in all our ad campaigns, but according to my website statistics program, we are getting very few visitors who click past the first page. The site has a cool Flash intro page that the designer said would impress visitors, but it doesn't seem to be working. What can we do to get people to spend more time on the site? -- Christopher O.A: The first thing you should do, Ch. . .

Business Web Page Templates Provides Effective Branding S...

Web page templates are pre-designed templates that are easily customized and are effective in providing any type of business an effective branding solution. Web page templates that are designed for business purpose are called business web page templates. These web page templates are available in Photoshop and HTML format. Rare and one-of-a-kind designs are sold by most web developing companies.. . .

Using XSite Pro To Produce Websites On The Fly!

The New website building software called Xsite Pro allows you to create websites easily and without having to use html. The software developer, Paul Smithson hasn't re-invented the wheel, he has simply improved on it! Xsite Pro was developed to allow anyone to create either a complex website or a simple niche website quickly and easily.There were some teething problems and a few bugs that nee. . .

Web Site customization and personalization

To truly get to know your customers and provide the service they are looking for, learn as much as possible about their likes, dislikes, needs, and preferences. Important questions include: What incentives will I offer site visitors to identify themselves? How will I gather and process information on customers' preferences? How can I use that information to customize the site for the individual. . .

Customization Is All You’ve Got

Websites are the primary key to invade the world of business internationally through the means of online communication. Like every business, custom creation of web development are based on customer requirements, business process, and technicalities. This is the few reasons you may want to try custom creation rather than having a template on your business.Customer RequirementsCustom solutions ar. . .

Valuable Success Tips for Displaying Affiliate Marketing ...

Banner links can be a powerful promotion tool for advertising your affiliate products. Almost all affiliate programs offer them and smart affiliates take advantage of their advertising power by using them on their affiliate sites.Using banner advertising is a valuable resource but how you use them is key. The success of a banner's click through rate is often determined by where a banner is plac. . .

Conversion is King

Some time ago I came across some incredible statistics. A study done by the e-tailing group showed a conversion rate for websites. A stunning a 64% of businesses surveyed had websites with less than a 6% conversion ratio. A further 19% "didn't know". If we make a leap of the imagination, and suggest that the 19% who 'didn't know' had relatively low conversion rates, we might conclude that in an. . .

No Frills Website Design Company

There are a very large amount of people and companies offering web design services and therefore it should not be difficult to bag yourself a bargain. There is a market for no frills web design where you should be able to obtain a website for under a £100.Web design companies are in a very competitive market and some offer some great deals at various times of the year, especially around christm. . .