Category Archives: Digital

27 Web Design Mistakes to Avoid

3 Mar 09

There are so many ways to do web design and so many theories about what is good web design. Unfortunately a lot of well-intentioned designers make fundamental mistakes that can reduce the effectiveness of your site. Here in Newcastle we come across poor web design every day. Many clients ask us to try to fix sites that other designers have created or to improve the SEO of their sites. In many cases it is necessary to start from scratch because these sites cannot be saved.

Of course, if you are looking for good web design for your business we think you should talk to Sticky, however if you are shopping around make sure that you look out for these common web design mistakes:

1. The user must know what the site is about in seconds: attention is one the most valuable currencies on the Internet. If a visitor can not figure what your site is about in a couple of seconds, he will probably just go somewhere else. Your site must communicate why I should spend my time there, and FAST!

2. Make the content scannable: this is the Internet, not a book, so forget large blocks of text. Bullet points, headers, subheaders, lists. Anything that will help the reader filter what he is looking for.

3. Do not use fancy fonts that are unreadable: sure there are some fonts that will give a sophisticated look to your website. But are they readable? If your main objective is to deliver a message and get the visitors reading your stuff, then you should make the process comfortable for them.

4. Do not use tiny fonts: the previous point applies here, you want to make sure that readers are comfortable reading your content.

5. Do not open new browser windows: Let the user control where he wants the links to open. There is a reason why browsers have a huge “Back” button. Do not worry about sending the visitor to another website, he will get back if he wants to.

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Google & Yahoo searches have replaced Yellow (Pages)

2 Mar 09

Australia now has over 14 million online users and according to recent research conducted by Ansearch, “each month over 8 million of these users hit one of the various search engines EVERY DAY.”

“And depending upon the source it is generally accepted that between 50-80% of all searches are commercial-in-nature.”

Compare these figures with Yellow (Pages) own published figures of over 7.7 million people using their printed directories to search for businesses EACH MONTH.

So why are you still spending a fortune on Yellow (Pages)?

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Build a web strategy to turbocharge your business

1 Mar 09

By the end of the 1990’s most businesses had a Web 1.0 website. They were basically glorified brochures and they cost a lot. Then in the mid 00’s Web 2.0 begin to emerge. Sites were more interactive, linking and sharing became de rigueur and the power of the Internet took on a whole new meaning amongst the smart online operators.

However, for much of the business world Web 1.0 sites are still being pumped out at an alarming rate. The boss realises he needs a website, or a new site, and then either the company IT person or contracted web designer dutifully bangs out a digital brochure. Build it and fill it with every detail about the company’s products or services and they will come.

No they won’t.

Your company doesn’t need a new website, it needs a great web strategy. Done well, businesses can derive an amazing number of benefits from its online presence. In fact, it’s arguable that you could build your entire marketing strategy around your web presence.

How? Let me explain.

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