Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Emphasing a Product with Monochrome Graphics

Nothing stands out better on a website then a product image in full color while the rest of the image and site are monochrome (shades of gray).Let me give you an example of what I mean. Let's imagine that you have a new client who is a musician, and they just cut their first music CD. You have someone take a high resolution digital photo of your new client holding the CD. With me so far?Open th. . .

Eight Simple Steps For Enhancing Your Website

To be successful with your online business, whether you are selling your own product, services or are selling for other merchants as an affiliate, you need a Web site that focuses on that subject alone. The site must be easy to build, maintenance-free, low cost, credible, and a powerful traffic-builder and customer-converter. Having the right tools or product alone will not insure the success o. . .

Finding the Perfect Web Designer 101

So, you've decided that your company needs a web site. Now what? Since we are ultimately talking about your "online business image", unless you yourself have web design experience, finding that perfect web designer to create your company site is a very important next step. If you've never had a web site created before, you will find that there is quite a lot to consider if you want your site to. . .

Seven Secrets For A Better Website

Have you ever wondered why it is that some web sites enjoy super success while many others fail miserably? Below are seven secrets to help you make YOUR site one of the winners! 1. SPEEDSeveral studies indicate, that you have only 10 to 30 seconds to capture visitor's attention. If your site is slow to open, your customer will likely lose patience and close the window. And that means bye.. bye.. . .

Make the Move to Virtual Dedicated Web Hosting

Most webmasters on the net today are familiar with what the industry calls "shared" web hosting accounts. A shared hosting account is where you rent a small amount of space on a server which is shared among many other users. This is a cheap way to get started online but it has many disadvantages - you will encounter email delivery problems because of spam complaints against other sites on the s. . .

Rethinking Your Web Site Design

People fail to understand just how important web site design is to the online image that they want to project. Having a great product does not mean everything will work out successfully. In order to achieve success online, one must have both wonderful products or services and a great design. People can be judgmental. If the web site looks unprofessional, they will think that what that site offe. . .

Color: The Root Of All Graphic Designs

Consistency should be the best practiced value in any kind of business. You also have to have a process to run things from day to day. This keeps things organized, can reduce time that is wasted and of course, saves more money. These are just some of the qualities that customers may be looking for in you.These factors are also the root of graphic design. In graphic design, all factors should po. . .

Tips for Business Websites

Web Design, as design in general, is subject to changes and trend influences. Words like “fresh, modern, innovative” seem to conquer the world of design while artists strive to discover new directions. Websites are different: objectives, resources and users are the factors shaping the profitability of a site. For a site to be successful, designers need to go ahead of the rules. Breaking the rul. . .

Abandonment - Why Visitors Don’t Turn Into Customers

Every good Internet business understands the value of conversions versus hits received. Far too often, businesses become fixated on the hits they are receiving instead of monitoring their hit to sale conversion rate. This misguided focus is the road to ruin because it fails to take in the issue of abandonment.Abandonment“Abandonment” is one of those terms that has a unique meaning when applied . . .

5 Common Mistakes of Website Design

Huge Mistake #1: Creating a Website with Flash -- Did you know in a recent study, top internet marketers discovered that having a website created with Flash, actually decreased the response from prospects and customers by as much as 370 percent? Here's why: Your prospects and customers are most likely visiting your website using all types of different computers, connection speeds and internet c. . .

Building Links For Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

In the past all you had to do to get good rankings in Google and the other search engines was to trade links with several other web sites using your key words in the link text. Although this still holds true today, I have reason to believe sites are being penalized for not using a directory style link structure with no more than 25 links per page. Having a directory style links system on your . . .

Keep it up with Microsoft Publisher

There are a lot of applications and software that most printing companies use even for those who print at home. This software makes designing and editing easier and faster. One of those applications is the Microsoft Publisher which is widely used by computer users. This makes it easy to customize, create and come up with effective design in postcards, brochures, flyers and even design in websit. . .

Keeping it Wise with 4 Color Printing

I’m pretty sure that once in your life you have seen a brochure or a postcard. Well correct me if I’m wrong but these things are not new today and they are all over the place. Business talks so much and they are considered the best means for a clear promotion. Some brochures and other printed stuffs may appear to be deceiving. Just one glance at it and you’ll know it is expensively made and pro. . .

Business Cards Design Tips

Business cards are an advantage to your business company. Business card printing may sound expensive to your ears but there are just so many ways on how to keep your budget short which is just enough for the printing allowance.Design is the essence of business cards. If you want to have your business cards captivating, your designs should bear it all. Getting a designer will surely eat up your . . .

Get Linked - Part Two

SWAPIn last week's article: "The Secret Behind the Internet" (http://www.msomedia.com/results/gr00006.htm) I discussed the vital role that linking has to play in your Internet marketing campaign. This week I'm continuing the linkage theme, concentrating on outbound links and reciprocation.THE STORY SO FARWe already know that the text that people click on to get to a site (the "anchor text") has. . .

.Htaccess

A .htaccess file is a file that works on Apache and other NCSA-compliant webservers. The name is actually a bit of a misnomer due to the fact that hyper-text access is only a small function of what it's capabilities are. The .htaccess file affects the directory it is located in and all directories below it on the directory tree unless there is a .htaccess file contained within a directory, in w. . .

How to Exchange Links With Other Sites

As a result of search engine changes, linking with other sites is becoming an increasingly iportant way to generate traffic to your website. Links done properly will repay the effort and not be subject to the whims of the search engines. No more need to be concerned unduly about algorithmn changes and the "Google dance". Why have a Links Page ? A links page should give your visitors a choice of. . .

Web Design & Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Myths – Rev...

Why are there so many Web Design and Search Engine Optimisation myths on the internet? The following article exposes some of the most common SEO myths effecting web design and looks at the reasons why they have become widely accepted as the truth by many web designers and Webmasters.Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a complex and diverse topic that’s both never constant and constantly changin. . .

Website Design

When designing or redesigning a website the most important part of the project happens before any graphics or code are created.Start by determining the primary goals of your website. Are you using it to sell your products or services? Maybe it’s intended simply to advertise your offline business, provide support to your existing customers or build your company brand. Whatever the goals are, cle. . .

Rescuing Your Graphic Designs

Take a deep breathe. It is always best to clear your mind first before plunging in on your work. This should be your starting point because you are about to solve some graphic design problem the classic way.Outline your project. Make a simple outline of the presentation graphics you will be needing. Do not get into details yet.Identify what you are trying to say. Keep your audience visually int. . .

Ensuring Design Success

With all the emergence of graphic designs nowadays, how can you assure that yours will stand out among the many beautiful creations? There are basically four C’s to remember on how to ensure success in your designs.Commitment. The first C. Once the design process is already set, commitment takes action. This is all about carrying on the missions and goals. It is crucial that the designer should. . .

Website Templates

Website TemplatesLooking to establish an online presence? Then, your most affordable solution is to buy a web template. It is important to determine what kind of templates are there in the market before you proceed to but one. The following is a brief explanation of the most popular templates that you expect to find on the market analyzing the degree of expertise to develop them, the required t. . .

Postcards Printing Companies, are they Worth it?

One of the most reliable printing strategies is the postcard printing. Sometimes, postcards are unnoticed and disregarded but they have just been helpful to many. You might not know that postcards are cheap than you have imagined it. Because it is easy to produce and it is not expensive, competition and promotion will be at large. Postcards are printed in many different ways and styles.The grea. . .

Website Accessibility – Why it Matters

"The power of the web is in its universality. Access by everyone regardless of disability is an essential aspect." Tim Berners-Lee, Director of W3C. The article covers:• What is website accessibility• The need for website accessibility• Why website accessibility matters• Improving website accessibilityWebsite accessibility DefinitionWe define website accessibility as the ability of a website to. . .

Top 10 Ways Websites Makes Me Suffer

I believe some people create and publish websites for the sole purpose of tormenting their visitors. Browsing various websites and navigating the Web can often be like trying to read on an airplane while a kid kicks the back of your seat and the baby next to you alternates between screaming, crying and drooling on you. There are some excellent websites out there to be sure, but there are also a. . .

Make your Christmas Shopping Hassle-free

We all know that e-commerce has improved and changed a lot especially that the Christmas season is coming. People are shopping from right to left. Say goodbye to the hassle of the good old days spent in the crowded malls. Imagine the long hours you will be spending in the malls and the thing that you had been eyeing for was gone. This is just so frustrating and tiring but you can’t don anything. . .

Getting A Website: How To Get A Better Price From Your We...

So you have decided you need a website. What next? Before you contact some web designers to get a quote, you will save yourself time, money and trouble by first sitting down and thinking about what you actually need. The more you can “nail down” your requirements, the more likely you are to get a better price, and not be surprised by getting a bill for extras at the end of the project. First, t. . .

Domain Registration - How to Register A New Domain Name f...

Domain names are site names that provide rememberable names to stand in for numeric IP addresses. Before getting a web site on line you need to have a domain name. These are the familiar web addresses such as yahoo.com that most browsers use to find a particular web site. Domain names, in fact, are pointers to a particular IP address and we use them because they are easier to remember than a se. . .

STOP Don't Buy That Web Hosting Reseller Plan!

Before you pay $24.95 a month or more for that reseller web hosting plan, read this article and at least evaluate all of your options. A reseller plan generally offers you more space and bandwidth then a regular shared hosting plan. However one thing to keep in mind that a reseller plan is still a form of a shared hosting plan. It’s not a dedicated server, and there will be other sites on the s. . .

Search Engines Basics

Just about every major search engine has basically 3 parts. The first is the spider, otherwise called a robot. The spider visits a web page, reads it, and then follows links to other pages within the site. This is what it means when someone refers to a site being "spidered" or "crawled." The spider returns to the site on a regular basis, such as every month or two, to look for changes and updat. . .

Dating Profile – does it really make so much sense?

Dating Site can be compared with a baker's and confectioner's. Why so? In the same manner as you see a delicious cake and decide if you will eat it a site gives an impression to the site visitors. These are profiles that make a dating site so delicious. There are so many examples but is so difficult to create your own successful dating profile. There are a few important concepts to remember. No. . .

Tips On How To Increase Your Google Page Rank

Are you looking into the best ways to increase your Google page rank? If you are, this article will give you some free tips on how to achieve this. I hope you enjoy the read.There are many webmasters who are looking into ways to increase traffic and on how to obtain a higher page rank for their websites. I myself have many websites which I am always looking to promote.PPCPay per click is where . . .

A Business Case For Accessible Website Design

More enlightened businesses recognise that accessibility is a huge commercial ROI opportunity rather than a regulatory straightjacket. Disability comes in all kinds of shapes and forms. The market in the UK alone is worth billions of pounds per year. There are 8.6 million registered disabled people in the UK which amounts to 14% of the population. (Disability Rights Commission)There are 1.6 mil. . .

Has Your Site Been Left in the Dust?

It’s important to keep your site fresh. What have you done for it lately? Design, fashions, search engines and almost every element of the internet changes (along with everything in this world). The same-ol-same-ol just doesn’t cut it in this world.Axiom: While we may love our current self, isn’t there always something we can improve on. For most of us (your kidding yourself if you say no) the . . .

How to Choose the Right Web Host for Your Website

If your like most people, the thought of starting an online business or sharing information via a website can be quite an ordeal. Or, perhaps you’re an experienced website operator that’s been so wrapped up with expanding your internet real estate that you’ve lost track of what services and tools are available to you. No matter which category you fall under, you need a good game plan for establ. . .

How Google Indexes Content From Your Web Directory

In a fluke, I was able to notice something about the way Google indexes content from web directories. Excluding your template, the most important line of code is the first title you add to your main body.Search through Google and see for yourself!Try searching for "something" in "yourcity","province/state" and look for a web business directory that you recognize. Once you find a directory, take. . .

Sensational Web Design Advice

Are you one of those people who would love to have your own personal or business website, but feel you are unable to afford it? In this article, I explain about how to obtain a quality web design on the cheap. There are also some superb website promotion tips.How to obtain a website on the cheap.Many people wrongly believe that you have to spend a huge amount of money to obtain an internet pres. . .

Your Company's Website – Professional Online Presence

Your Company's Website – Professional Online PresenceA website image should match a company’s quality objectives to build your company's online presence. Does yours? The truth is a poorly designed website can damage a company’s online presence. More so, your website is your online presence. Internet users expect a reputable company to have a high-quality online presence reflected in a quality a. . .

Avoid Graphical Overload

When designing a website, it's easy to start loading it up with graphics. While tempting, you have to resist -- otherwise, you'll end up with graphical overload. Why is that a bad thing? Here's why.It Takes Too Long to DownloadThe first reason to cut down on graphics is that the more there are, and the larger they are, the longer it will take each of your pages to download. People are impatient. . .

Design vs. SEO: Can My Site Look Good And Rank Well?

Do you have to sacrifice all of the creative and artistic elements of your web site to rank in the search engines? Later in this article I’ll show you a real case scenario and the design and SEO approach used.Thanks to the birth of professional search engine marketers the top ranks are saturated with the pages of companies that can pay for such insight. That said, it’s certainly possible to emp. . .

Without Multiple Domain Hosting, Your Web Host Is Making ...

If your web host only allows you to host 1 domain name with 1 hosting account, please read on to learn why you have been taken advantage by your web host!Also, if you own multiple websites and you are hosting each of them with a different hosting account, you are paying too much! You can actually host all your websites into one single hosting account and save a lot of money. This type of hostin. . .

Using the Web Accessibility Toolbar

Testing a website for accessibility can be a time-consuming and laborious process. The free Web Accessibility Toolbar can do most of the hard work for you though and is an indispensable tool for anyone interested in accessibility.The toolbar is not an automated testing tool so does require manual work from you. It's therefore able to avoid the many problems with automated accessibility testing . . .

Private Domain Names

When you register a domain name, ICANN (the domain names governing body) requires that your name, email address, mailing address, and phone number are made publicly available. Anyone can see your personal information using a Whois lookup anywhere and anytime. Spammers and junk mailers often search through the Whois database to create mailing lists. That's right. Your personal information is exp. . .

Factors Affecting Color Accuracy

Color is one of the most difficult parts of a design to show accurately to a customer. The reason behind this is because color perception is affected by many factors. Many people and printers are aware of this fact that is why they know how to closely monitor the factors to help get more accurate colors.What are these factors?Human Perception. The way a person sees color can vary, depending on . . .

Do I Have To Be Number One in Google To Have A Successful...

Imagine what your business would be like if you were listed number one in Google when someone searched for your product or service. At no cost to you, you'd have hundreds or even thousands of highly targeted potential customers coming to your website every day. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. If you sell a quality product or service, your profit potential is unlimited. I see people . . .

Killer Content!

With the multi-millions of web sites that are competing for attention, attracting new visitors is a tough task. Once you get them the visitor there, the hard part is convincing them to stay or even buy. Web designers often turn to flash, fancy graphics, killer sound and other catchy features. While these devices might draw visitors into your site, it’s what and how you say it that makes the rep. . .

Amazing And Free Web Design Tips

In this article I give some amazing tips about web design and web promotion and its for free. I hope you enjoy the read.Free web design tips.There is no longer a need for people to spend hundreds of pounds to have a website designed and built. I believe you should only have to pay around £100 to have a standard or simple website built. The amount of competition in the internet web design sector. . .

How To Pick Your Website Colors

Before you can consider the finer points of your design, you need to make the big decisions. Few decisions are more important than the color scheme your website is going to use.Pay Attention To ContrastYou need to pick colors that provide enough contrast to make your text stand out in order to promote readability. Stay away from using a light colored font on a light color background as it would. . .

Running ColdFusion on your Web Server

Designing a Website in ColdFusionLinux, Solaris, and Windows Servers can run an applicationcalled ColdFusion for accessing web pages. A request forweb pages is made through an HTTP server in conjunction witha ColdFusion Web Application Server. When a request for aColdFusion web page is made, the ColdFusion Server assemblesthe data and sends it back to your web browser.ColdFusion can help you . . .

Web Based Application Development, Software Development R...

Hi All!The World Wide Web (WWW) has changed how today's businesses communicate. WWW is not anymore only used to get and disseminate information but employed as a tool for performance. Today's websites are not just static pages but interactive tools that enhance your business capabilities in real time. These responsive sites are powered by the web-based applications that are capable of respondin. . .