Archive for June, 2008
June 27th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
When having a website built, it’s great to think of how you want your website to look…most designers will appreciate you having a “vision” for your site. However, do not let your vision overshadow your purpose for building the website. If you do, the site will could end up falling short of, not only your needs but also, your expectations. So, how do you avoid that pitfall? Well, in order to build a website that works-literally and figuratively-for you, the site must be functionally correct first and the visual elements used should work with the functionality.
Functional For Site Visitors & Site Owners
It is critical to keep the purpose of the website you’re building at the forefront of your mind. That’s to say, what do you want site visitors to (be able to) do while visiting the website? Are you building a community site where you want people to interact? Maybe you’re looking to sell products. Or perhaps you’re a business owner or non-profit organizer and just need an online presence so people can learn more about what you do. They’re all valid reasons to have a website built but the functional requirements for each is different. The community site needs an element that will allow site visitors to communicate with each other but the product site needs a way to process transactions and the online presence site simply needs to be informative.
Seems simple enough, right? Well, sometimes it is and sometimes it isn’t.
Many of today’s websites serve multiple purposes. Some large sites may even have different purposes for different sections or pages within the website. That may result in the overall site needing a variety of functional capabilities-search result generation, form submission, multimedia interfacing, e-commerce, or even customized databases. Therefore, asking yourself, “What do I want site visitors to do / to be able to do on my website?” may seem like an easy-to-answer question but it really is a question that anyone wanting a website designed should seriously consider before contacting a web designer.
Beautiful AND Smart Design
Once you have clearly thought out the functionality requirements for your website, then you can turn your attention to how you want your website to look. Here’s a look at some things to keep in mind as you’re imagining how you would like your website to look:
• Use The 3-Click Rule Whenever Possible.
The 3-Click Rule is an unwritten rule that many professional designers adhere to when designing website. The rule states that it should not take a site visitor more than three clicks to get to a particular function. Translation: Make sure that the website’s navigational structure you decide on for your site is super simple. If it takes more than three clicks for a site visitor to get to a particular link or page, it isn’t likely the site visitor will get there. Instead, most will give up and move on to the next website in the search engine results.
• Don’t Fight What The Consumer Has Been Conditioned To Do.
Web users are accustomed to going to certain links and locations to find certain information. For instance, most web surfers automatically look to the left or top of the screen for main site navigation options; site users have also become increasingly used to being able to click on a company logo to get back to the homepage. Don’t fight these web surfer design preferences…go with it! The exception: You can consider straying from these “norms” if you’re attempting to create a specific surfing experience for your site visitors.
• Plan To Add Purposeful Content!
Don’t just put text on your website for the sake of “having something up there.” Site visitors will see right through fluff copy…especially if you attempt to fill the site with keywords to improve your search engine ranking without providing valuable content along with those keywords.
Also, think about how you speak to your site visitors. Your tone and writing style that you choose should fit the overall purpose of your site as well as the “vibe” you want site visitors to have when visiting the site. For example, if your website is going to be the equivalent of an online brochure, make sure that the design and text read as simply as a brochure would. If your site is geared towards children, use age-appropriate wording. Or, if your site is supposed to be a profit powerhouse, generating thousands of dollars each month from product sales, make sure that you have copy that sells on every page intended to sell site visitors on your product / service. FYI: Hiring a professional copywriter or working with a website design company that provides copywriting services can come in handy here!
Finding The Right Web Designer For Your Website
Once you have determined the basic functionalities of the website you’d like developed as well as some of the aesthetics you’d prefer, the next step is to find a professional website designer to actually build the website for you. The best way to begin is to ask friends for a referral but do not stop there. Website designers have different capabilities and specialties. The referred website design company may or may not be the right provider for the job. So, the next step should be to find one or two other potential website designers. When selecting designers for your short list, keep the following in mind:
• Budget & Price: Have a budget range in mind for your website that’s appropriate for the functionalities your site requires. Let your budget determine the designers who you consider for the job. However, the designer who wins the project should be determined first by their ability to design the website as you envision and second by price.
• Professionalism: Take note of the professionalism of the provider during phone conversations and / or email correspondence. It’s indicative of what the experience of working with them will be like.
• Work Samples: Request to see work samples but do leave room for some speculation. Work samples, unless created specifically for you, are always the result of the provider’s client’s preferences and not solely the designer’s abilities. Designers can make suggestions to clients for how a website should look or operate but in the end, it’s what the client prefers that goes.
• Value-Added Services: If you will be requiring more than just web design to make sure that you have an optimal website, consider finding a provider that offers value-added options. Some value-added services that design firms sometimes offer that simplify website operation or improve website effectiveness include website hosting, website maintenance, domain services, copywriting, and search engine optimization (SEM).
When you find the professional designer that you want to work with, explain what you have in mind for your website in detail, including your functional requirements. Then, be prepared to listen; a true professional designer will have additional questions to clarify your “vision” as well as insight about what else you may need in order to have the website look and operate the way you want it to.
The final tip for building a website that works: Be open-minded to all of the designer’s suggestions. You don’t have to go with all of the design firm’s recommendations but you should at least hear the designer out. Remember: You’re hiring a professional web design firm because of its expertise and creative abilities! Don’t cripple your designer by not allowing for at least some free flow of ideas. After all, the designer is the professional and there’s always more to beautifully designed and user-friendly websites than meets the eye!
Mauricio Navarro is the President & CEO of Rationale Hosting (http://www.rationalehosting.com/). Rationale Hosting is a web hosting company delivering affordable web hosting solutions, domain name registration & FREE web hosting to consumers and business clients.
June 23rd, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Any business that has plans for success needs to have web presence. Even if it’s nothing more than a simple website explaining your company, many customers will not even take you seriously if you don’t have a URL that they can visit to learn more about your business. Luckily, you can find many companies and freelancers who will design a quality website for your company. In this article I am hoping to address several concerns and questions you may have about website design for your business.
I need a website fast. Are there any web design shortcuts until I can hire a professional?
You can do a few things to design your website without the expensive website design programs and without hiring a professional. If you know anything at all about designing a website, you can design it using Microsoft Word or Microsoft Powerpoint. Then convert the file to HTML format and save it to your computer as a webpage. You can then upload your design onto a webpage. If it is for a business, this should only be a temporary solution until you can get a professionally made website design, so your potential customers are not distracted by the amateur appearance of your business’s webpage.
Who holds the copyright for my website?
The answer to that question depends on who paid for the website. If you are a business owner and you hired somebody to design a website for your business, you own the copyright, as long as you pay the website designer for the services. Unless there is a written agreement that states otherwise, this is how most website design transactions take place. If the website designer created the website and you have not paid for it, they will continue to own the copyright until you have paid for the services. Either way, you and the designer should have a written agreement that explains what happens for this type of situation.
Why should I design a website?
A website can serve many purposes. The biggest reason people want a website is because they have a service or a product to offer. A well-designed website will expose their business to a wider audience, as well as provide existing customers with updated information. With a website, the company’s information and products are available to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s also cheaper than printing out flyers, newsletters, and brochures. In the age of the world wide web, having a website designed for your business will help prevent you from being left behind.
What is bandwidth?
For simplicity, you can think of bandwidth as minutes on a cell phone. Every month, you are allowed so many minutes on your cell phone and then you get charged for anything over that allotted time. The concept of bandwidth works in much the same way — but with data instead of minutes. Your website server will allow a certain allotted amount of data to be transferred from your website each month. Every time a page visitor clicks on something on your page, data is transferred. Normally, bandwidth is not a concern (unless you have a large business) because there is generally not enough data transferred in one month for small companies to come close to the allotted amount.
What are some things I should put on my company’s website?
You should put as much information on your website as you can, as long as it’s relevant to the subject matter of your business. The more relevant information on your page, the more impressed the customers will be — and the higher your page ranking will be with the major search engines. You can put a wide variety of components on your website, including: testimonials from satisfied customers, a description of your services or products and a profile of your company’s history. You can also put a list of frequently asked questions so customers have a “quick reference guide” to concerns they may have about your products or services.
Lee Hopkins the author of over 130 articles on business communication, and is recognised world-wide as one of Australia’s leading experts in online business communication, including Social Media or Web2.0 as it’s also known as.
To connect with him, please call him on +61 8121 4444 any hour of the day or night; if he’s asleep you can leave a voice message!
Visit his site at http://www.LeeHopkins.com to find many more articles on business communication. Whilst there, why not pick up a complimentary copy of his ‘Social Media White Paper’, which explains all about this latest seismic change to the business communication landscape!
June 19th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
1921: Crown Prince Hirohito of Japan commissioned Henry Poole & Co, a respected Savile Row Tailor, to create Westernized suits for his state tour of Britain. A representative of Poole’s sailed to Gibraltar with pattern templates where he met The Crown Prince’s destroyer and cabled measurements to London.
So the order would be accomplished three weeks later when the Prince was due to reach the UK. Japan consciously embrace western culture and looked to Savile Row as the finest example of suiting.
This is just one episode in its illustrious history. Countless creations have been channelled to the world. If you try and chart the course of style creations, Savile Row is a good place to start.
Thanks to scientific intervention, information could be cabled immediately around the world, similarly to emailing, but far less open to abuse.
Many clothing styles and fashion accessories worn on a day to day basis are often products of an accident or created purely for functional uses. It has taken many decades to achieve “Designer label” status. No Catwalks were apparent, models, or fashion media in the early days of fashion/style creation. A gradual evolution aided by such brands as Jaeger, who remained at the fore front of style for many decades, using (science) photography in fashion.
Thomas Burberry Noticing how local shepherds and farmers wore linen smocks, which were cool in summer and warm in the winter, he attempted to apply the same principles to other clothing.
In 1879 he developed a fabric which was weatherproofed in the yarn before weaving, using a secret process and then proofed again in the piece, using the same undisclosed formula. The new material was untearable and weatherproof, whilst cool and breathable. He called the cloth ‘gabardine’ and registered the word as a trademark.
It became the choice mackintosh for British officers during the Trench War in Europe, hence the name Trench Coat. It remains true to original form apart from some colour additions
Another example is English Madder Print. The “madder” part of this lovely phrase refers to a natural dye from a Eurasian herbaceous plant, Rubia tinctoria.
Its continuing success through decades of rise and fall owe much too scientific intervention. The colouring agent in madder root called alizarin was in fact first chemically extracted and then synthesized in 1869 by two English chemists. Although the dyeing process, even today, requires a variety of painstaking steps, synthesized alizarin brought the price within the reach of commercial producers.
The fashion industry is a very repetitive one, naturally so, you don’t see many people walking down the street with wearing clothes fresh off the catwalk. Everything is watered down to meet demand. Believe it or not, we’re all very conservative.
We can’t change history but can learn a lot from its turbulent past. Many fashion designers have drawn elements from the past and given them a lick paint to create contemporary fashion accessories.
During the eighties, Vivienne Westwood did well launching her “Pirates Collection” elements of this are still being mimicked today, and by very conservative brands.
If you’re a dedicated follower of fashion you will have noticed how often the look of the seventies makes regular visits. Style is constant, fashion comes and goes.
Science has underpinned every movement in fashion, evident even more so in today’s high tech world.
The next time to you don the favourite designer silk tie, or admire your collection of cufflinks, remember it’s elementary.
If you would like to learn some interesting historic anecdotes about the evolution of style and fashion follow this link http://patrickmcmurraysfashionaccessories.blogspot.com if you would like to see some stunning silk ties, cufflinks, belts and wallets, follow this link http://www.patrickmcmurray.com
June 10th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Will you be wearing skinnies? Will you be tucking them into your boots this fall and winter? Will you be wearing them with your gorgeous heels or open-toed high sandals? Maybe with your favorite ballerinas or pointy-toed flats? What will or would the effect be on your total look? Remember, we’re likely shooting for SLIMMING aren’t we. We all know our body-type intimately, so get real and make the right choice to flatter.
For some of us the look will be most excellent and slimming, for others of us, this may not necessarily be the case. For those of us who run from the skinny- don’t despair, there are cool trouser styles a plenty this year! Skinny jeans are not for you? Move on then. But, if you haven’t yet made the skinny jean commitment and are just now choosing to head away from the baggier boyfriend style jeans, and to embrace the skinny . . . Well then, here are a few helpful hints for you in your skinny jean adventure:
- Legs less than pencil thin? Choose your shoes wisely. A chunky boot is the best bet. Keep up the balancing act. Your goal is to make those legs look slim and to enhance your height, thus your slimness as well. If you choose tiny, cute, little shoes, you are only going to draw emphasis to your less tiny, less-than-little legs.
- Be brave! Roll up your skinnies to reveal footwear that is anything but understated. Does the roll-job need to be perfect? No way. An imperfect roll belies a bit of artistic, confident and casual chicness.
- Got thighs? Disguise and hide, while still wearing your fashionable skinny jeans. Do this by wearing a cool long white top, tunic tops, jersey tops, blouses with volume or even a chunky cardigan sweater. Or you can do it up with a super dress to middle thigh range or even longer. Dresses can be any style: shirt-dress, empire, wrap, smocked or baby doll. You know which styles are your best friends! Pair these with your new pair of skinnies and all the problem areas will be covered.
- Choose a pair of skinnies wisely. Don’t go less than 2% Lycra to retain shape. Also, despite your aversion to ankle zippers . . . remember that those will help you pass those oversize tootsies through the leg-holes!
- Don’t skimp on a perfect fit. Finding yours will not be easy, so be prepared to try a bunch on in the beloved dressing room. Your perfect fit will eventually come to the forefront with a bit of patience. Your perfect skinny may actually be a slim-fit (if you’re not pencil thin.)
- Color is key. Go for the darkest of blue. If black is for you, then black will be smartest at it’s very best, that would be jet black. Avoiding the dirty, washed out shades to keep your skinny look sharp. Like it’s been said to me, “Keep it simple stupid.”
- If you are uncomfortable with the hip-factor that you call your own, avoid completing your look with a trendy belt over your skinny jeans.
- If you have skinny-jean legs, but a less than skinny or balanced torso, you may want to skip the skinny jean look altogether. Remember, flatter your figure. Larger upper-body frames will balance best with wider legged bottoms. This may not be the best news if you are large busted or plus-size. It’s better to know now and choose a more flattering style to keep looking your personal best.
Happy skinnies hunting, or moving on . . . , whichever it is. The great truth here is that the best fashion trend is one that actually works best for you and your bod. Shed no tears if the skinny is not for you. You can always splurge on the shoes!
Robert Carney is publisher and owner of Old Crappy Tee. To stay informed on the latest fashions, visit http://www.oldcrappytee.com
June 6th, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
We live in a mass-produced world. With the ascendancy of chain store culture, individual style has become harder and harder to achieve. We are encouraged to be consumers, not producers, of our own culture.
In days gone by, most everyone possessed a craft by which to live by. However, when the industrial revolution steamed by in the early eighteen-hundreds, the call for individual craft was replaced by the driving force of mechanized production.
But now, when we as a society rely most on mass-production, the time of the artisan is on the rise again. A concept previously associated with poorly-knitted sweaters from grandma, handcrafted products have made a resounding appearance on the fashion market once more.
The movement is still fresh off the line, but already there has been a boom in popularity for handcrafted accessories. Bags, jewelry, hats, and scarves are just a few examples of items so popular that their creators hardly have time to complete the last stitch.
And it’s no wonder, considering the benefits. A handcrafted item is not only one of a kind, but often much better quality than something one would find in your local department store. It possesses a human attention to detail that a machine cannot affect.
When you buy handcrafted, it has much broader positive effect in that you’re supporting local and small businesses. By paying artists and craftspeople for their goods, you are supporting them and your own local economy. Also, the accumulating environmental effects of mass production are a major cause of global warming and the poisoning of our air, water and soil, so you would be doing your part for the environment as well in buying handcrafted.
Pioneers of the handcrafted movement include the website, Etsy.com, Nashelle, Maya Moon, Susan Shaw, oSo Accessories, and Lavish. Each of these companies promotes handcrafted, quality items that are easily accessible to the everyday consumer.
Etsy.com is an online marketplace for buying and selling all things handcrafted. In offering viable alternatives to mass-produced objects in the world marketplace, Etsy encourages consumers to be aware of the social and environmental implications of their purchases. Etsy was conceived by Rob Kalin in early 2005. Etsy now has 870,000 registered users, 160,000 of whom are individual artists selling more than 1.5 million of their handcrafted creations.
Other companies offer more specialized services in not just vending the handcrafted items, but designing and creating them. Maya Moon Designs offers handbags that are personally handcrafted with the quality leather and unique textiles. With a focus on durability and uniqueness, coupled with a passion for funky and adventurous fashion, Maya Moon bags are intended to reflect your personal fashion statement for years forward. Maya also gets it that function is essential in a handbag. Sturdy inside and outside pockets, high quality zippers and notions, and pattern design are all chosen for the marriage of functionality and flair.
Handcrafted jewelry is especially popular due to the available variety of design and materials that may be used. Nashelle Jewelry is an intimate company based in Bend, Oregon. Each piece created at Nashelle’s is hand-made to order with the guarantee to never mass-produce or outsource.
Another handcrafted jewelry contributor is Susan Shaw Accessories. Susan Shaw designs the latest fashion trends with carefully selected glass beads and a growing collection of sterling silver, pewter and semi-precious stones. She then combines these to create her beautiful jewelry collections. Susan is also proud of her “Give-Back Program”, whereby the company donates a portion of its proceeds to selected charities. The company plans on continuously expanding its “Give-Back” collections.
oSo Accessories is yet another budding company that specializes in hand-crafted jewelry. Their unique selection of semi-precious stones and luminous metals combine for a vibrant style of jewelry. Lavish Designs are similar to oSo Accessories in their use of fine wirework in their designs with not a single item mass-produced.
While the prices of handcrafted pieces may be slightly higher than that of their mass-produced cousins, take into consideration that you’re paying for a quality and singular style unheard of in most commercial venues. It’s going to last longer, and twenty-thousand other people won’t have it. So the next time you set out to search for that perfect handbag, consider the benefits of buying handcrafted.
June 2nd, 2008 -- Posted in Uncategorized |
Every woman needs at least one little black dress!
It’s the one garment you can always rely on when you are undecided what to wear. If you have the right dress, you can simply add some accessorizes for a chic and stunning look.
Let’s look at what makes the perfect little black dress and how you can wear it for maximum impact.
The height of fashion since 1926
Coco Chanel introduced the little black dress in 1926 and it has become the symbol of timeless fashion. A fashion must for every women, the appeal of the little black dress has never waned.
Other trends and fashions come and go, but you will always be the height of chic with the little black dress.
Here are five tips to look chic for that special evening
1. Identify your key assets and show them off! You can highlight your back, shoulders arms breasts and legs. Pick a style that shows of your key assets
2. Choose a dress that’s comfortable and fits well. Your little black dress should allow you to move, suit walk or dance comfortably. A knee-ish length (just above, or below) sleeveless sheath is a safe style to buy that always looks great.
3. Choose a well-constructed dress generally light wool or silk crepe with a lining are good and comfortable. The lining has the advantage of smoothing your figure to give the impression of a perfect fit.
4. Use the 3-1 ratio’ to really standout - Three parts conservative but use one for a daring touch. A daring touch would be something like, a low cut back, a daring plunging neckline, or a deep slit in the side. Always remember to keep legs bare or in very sheer hose for the classiest look.
5. Accessorize your little black dress to really set off your look. A standout bracelet, a choker, or killer heels with a slim matching bag to add the final touch.
Versatility
A Little Black Dress is great for work as well as evening wear. Wearing your dress with a blazer or sweater and some knee length boots is a great look for work or an interview.
Your dress can also go on holiday with you and will be perfect for a stunning look quickly. Be sure to choose a material that resists wrinkles and dries quickly and you are ready for any fashion emergency.
Before Coco Chanel made it a fashion color, black was associated with mourning and death.
The great thing about the little black dress is that it doesn’t draw attention to itself and looks completely different on different people.
The little black dress is and will remain a timeless classic, so make sure you use it to its full potential.
More fashion tips and FREE style guides
If you would like more fashion and style tips, as well as FREE fashion guides and regular newsletter keeping you up to date with the latest fashion,then visit our website:
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