A website that looks good on the surface, may not have been built in such a
way behind the scenes. If the HTML code has been built poorly or is
out-of-date, it will affect your search engine rankings and could
cause major problems with future Internet browsers.

A good web designer or agency like us, will build a website that complies
with the standards set out by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C
are trying to get everyone to build to a set of rules, which will ensure
clean, precise and proper code. This should eventually solve the issues of
websites looking dissimilar in different browsers, as they will all be able
to process the code in the same way.

Search engines will naturally favour websites using the standardised code
and thus rank them higher.

To see if your website validates according to the standards, you can type
the URL of the website into the W3C’s validator. Alternatively, why not give us a call?!

http://validator.w3.org

Labels: browsers, build, SEO, W3C, web design

We have just launched the new website for The British Leisure Show, a brand new outdoor leisure show hosted next year at the Royal Windsor Racecourse.

We had a large amount of crucial information that needed to be presented to users in a clear and concise, yet fun way.

These type of Exhibition websites are aimed at three main user groups, all with different requirements:

• Visitors to the show, especially families, who need to be persuaded into buying tickets by the quality of events, exhibitors, highlights or celebrities attending


• Potential exhibitors, who need to be attracted into buying stand space by the quality of the show, the other exhibitors, sponsors, venue and packages on offer


• The media or press who need to be convinced to promote the show through their media channels.

Designing a website for three different user groups will always be a difficult task.

We split up the website's navigation into these unique user areas, so users know exactly where to look for the information they require. Although some information (such as travel directions) is repeated, users do not have to leave their "area" to find any extra details.

The design, which utilises a colourful palette but with a basic white background, appeals to all users and ages without being too childish or too corporate.

It is also essential these days to market a show website via Web 2.0 technologies such as social networking sites, bookmarking sites and forums. We have offered all users direct links to some of these channels on every page. There will also be a Community area launched soon promoting the Blog, Facebook Group and Newsletters.

As many exhibitions or expos are fully accessible to disabled visitors, it is very important that websites are accessible and follow the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) to ensure the website complies with the Disability Discrimintaion Act. We made The British Leisure Show site follow all of Level A, and a large number of Level AA guidelines.

View the British Leisure Show website at www.britishleisureshow.com

Labels: build, web design

This has become my favourite website at the moment and it plays on the old rule that you can measure effectiveness within a website in 5 seconds, or that customers make up their minds about your website in 5 seconds. Basically you upload your test site and the users then see it for 5 seconds and then comments on it.

All anonymous so generally it will be a true statement.

Its great fun…The test works by seeing on screen an image/website for five seconds, then you choose your most and least favourite things about it.

Simple, but highly effective and you choose between creating a list of your 5 things you remember, compare design alternatives or identify strengths or weaknesses. It is a great exercise and a reminder on keeping things simple and effective.

Be warned…it is addictive once you start testing other peoples sites.

www.fivesecondtest.com

Labels: build, design strategy, effectiveness