westXdesign.com

Your turn

Renee — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:35:50 +0000

With more and more people using Windows Vista now, I am finding a wide range of opinions coming my way. Some love it, and actually use their computers more now that they have Vista instead of XP, others have gone and bought another copy of XP to just get rid of Vista entirely.

Personally, I hate it. I can’t seem to keep the systems that have Vista running happily, and they are painfully slow. The westXdesign network consists of 2 desktops and 5 laptops. Both desktops are running XP professional, and are by far the most reliable of the Windows-based systems we have ever run. They usually work just like you expect them to – which means you walk, up, sit down, and it works. Aside from the blue screen of death that occurs a lot more often than is acceptable, they get the job done. One of the laptops is my MacBook Pro with Leopard. I never have to do anything at all to get it to do what I want. Never have. Doubt I ever will. But Macs are a whole different story, and most of you don’t use a Mac, so on the nightmares: the 4 Windows Vista laptops. Various hardware manufacturers, various configurations, all with 2 gig or more of memory and at least core duo processors. Yet that ALL are slower to respond than the oldest of the 2 desktops, which is just a P4 with bare minimum memory. And none of them want to play nicely on the network with the rest of the computers OR the network attached storage. And forget the shared printers. What good is Vista if a basic user can’t get it to work with a simple home network, not to mention something more sophisticated in a business environment?

What has your experience been with Vista? Love it or hate it, I’d like to know more about how users are adopting Microsoft’s newest nightmare.

A new year

Renee — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 23:12:42 +0000

Whoa. 2008? What happened to July-December of 2007? I find it very hard to believe that 6 months got away so fast, and I never noticed it until now. Let’s see if I can get back on track!

Thumpin’ Puppies

Renee — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 20:48:14 +0000

The newest project at westXdesign includes not only a web site, but promotional video, song samples, and marketing for west Texas dunebilly band the Thumpin’ Puppies. Basic site design is done, and the 2007 Promotional Video is online. The next step is to get the albums available for purchase online, and some samples of their music. I’ll continue to post updates as things are completed, but since this is such a big project, and because I am SO happy to be doing the online marketing for my favorite band, I thought I’d post this to get you introduced to their site and work. Visit them at thumpinpuppies.com

Windows Vista Test Drive

Renee — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 14:32:26 +0000

If you haven’t seen Windows newest operating system in action, you might want to visit Windows Vista Test Drive. Before we begin looking at it, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, the test drive is only available to the US and Canada. You have to use Internet Explorer 6 or better in order for it to work, and you’ll need a plugin as well as a decent broadband connection.

When you visit the site, you can choose between small business and medium/enterprise editions. We’ll look at the small business edition. After entering an email address, your system will be checked to be sure you have JavaScript enabled, are using IE6 or better, and if the plugin is installed. If not, you need to install it before proceeding. The installation will open in a new window. When it’s complete, you can close that window and go back to the test drive.

It’s not like sitting at a Vista computer and using it, but you’ll be able to learn about many of the functions and features Vista has to offer. For example, when you select “Efficient’ from the main menu, you will see a list of some of the features of Vista. Select ‘Test Drive’ to see it in action. Another window will open, which is more like an actual Vista desktop. Follow the tasks given in a step-by-step format on the right of the desktop to try a few of the major functions. Even though this is a business version of Vista, you will get a pretty good idea of what the home edition will look like if you buy a new computer, or are considering upgrading your existing system.

My opinion? If you are buying a brand new system with Vista pre-installed, it’s fine. But don’t go out of your way to upgrade your existing system right now. Vista is still very new and the upgrade process isn’t as smooth as I’d like. In the long run, it is more stable, but we need more time for the hardware and software manufacturers out there to produce drivers and code that work well with Vista.

After talking with quite a few novice users, I have found that all of them are more comfortable using Vista than any other previous version of Windows. The interface is more intuitive for them, and they are more confident in what they are doing. More advanced users seem to have a harder time. I think that’s just due to the fact that we are used to working with Windows in a certain way, and finding files and programs in that way, and we have to re-learn the Vista way.

Problems resolved

Renee — Fri, 04 May 2007 19:10:01 +0000

Server problems should all be completely resolved now. Thanks for waiting this out with me, and hopefully now we can get back on track…

Server Problems – please bear with me!

Renee — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:06:45 +0000

My host is experiencing some server problems, and as you have noticed, the site has been unavailable off and on for quite some time. I am hoping to have this resolved very very soon, so PLEASE bear with me. The host is hoping to have all reliability restored. I’ve been with them for many years now, and this is the first serious issue I’ve had. I know it is frustrating, but I promise it will be better than ever very soon now! Well, at least I HOPE it will be! In the meantime, because of these issues, please use this email address to contact me instead of my westxdesign address:

renee.gaylor[at]gmail[dot]com

Thanks again for your patience!!!

Introduction to Blogs

Renee — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 21:51:13 +0000

“Blog” is a combination of the words ‘web’ and ‘log’. People who write blogs are bloggers, and the act of writing is calling blogging. It’s kind of like an online diary or newsletter. What makes a blog different is the ability for the blogger to update their posts easily, and for visitors to comment on the entries. Each blogger has their own ‘voice’ or tone, and the way they view their subject matter. Blogs are usually updated very regularly. What you are reading here is a blog!

RSS feeds (see yesterday’s post for more about RSS feeds) make it easy for users to subscribe to a blog, and then they can read new articles without having to visit the site regularly. The greatest thing about blogs is how specialized they can be. There are blogs available on every conceivable subject, meaning you can find and subscribe to any topic that interests you. You can contribute to the ‘blogosphere’ by creating your own blog, as well. There are many free services you can sign up for and begin blogging today:

Blogger
LiveJournal
WordPress
Vox

Socialization and aggregation of the web

Renee — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:29:49 +0000

The web has always been a place for people to share ideas and post their views and comments, but it hasn’t always been easy. Today, the web has become much friendlier, with the popularity of such sites as MySpace and Wikipedia. The software behind these types of sites makes contributing, and taking part, in the online community easy and more personal for users. Even novices are finding their way into the social community of the new web.

Socialization on the web takes place through the many ways users can build communities if friends and family who share the same interests or views: sharing of pictures and videos, conversations through comments, and online ‘presence’ streams through such sites as Jaiku or Twitter.

Over the next few days, I’m going to cover some of the sites and tools that I find fun, useful, or just plain interesting. But before we get too far, an important tool to understand is content syndication or RSS Feeds, and a general defining of the term “Web 2.0″

Web 2.0 is a term often applied to a perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full-fledged computing platform serving web applications to end users. Ultimately Web 2.0 services are expected to replace desktop computing applications for many

Web 1.0                     Web 2.0
Britannica Online           Wikipedia
personal websites           blogging
publishing                  participation
directories                 tagging
stickiness                  syndication

It means distributing your resources onto the internet network. Think of it as the Internet Operating System. Almost everything you use your computer for now will done online, without software installed on your computer. And many tasks you donâ€™t use your computer for can be done more efficiently online.

Web 2.0 Meme map from “What is Web 2.0” by O’Reilly

In the 1.0 model, you bookmarked a web site you found interesting, and maybe you remembered later to return to it and check for new content. Today, syndication is major part of almost all regularly updated sites. Syndication is accomplished through RSS Feeds.
The technical acronym for RSS is â€œReally Simple Syndicationâ€, it was created to syndicate news, and be a means to share content on the web. A great (simple) explanation of RSS can be found at “How to Explain RSS the Oprah Way”

So, to make RSS much easier to understand, weâ€™ll say RSS stands for: Iâ€™m â€œReady for Some Storiesâ€. It is a way online for you to get a quick list of the latest story headlines from all your favorite sites all in one place.
Suppose you have 50 sites that you like to visit regularly. Going to visit each site everyday could take you hours. With RSS, you can â€œsubscribeâ€ to a the site, and get â€œfedâ€ all the new headlines from all of these 50 sites in one list, and see whatâ€™s going on in minutes instead of hours.

That one place where your RSS list is created is called an RSS Reader, and it gathers all the headlines from all the sites you have subscribed to.

To â€œsubscribeâ€ to a siteâ€™s RSS feed simply means that you are telling that site, â€œYes please. Send me your story headlines.â€ Itâ€™s like subscribing to a magazine or newsletter. Instead of getting a magazine or email, you will just get a list of headlines sent to your RSS reader. If the headline looks interesting to you, all you have to do is click on the headline and youâ€™ll be sent to the whole story.

In order to subscribe to a siteâ€™s RSS, all you have to do is click on an RSS symbol like one of those shown in the diagram above, or a text link of the words â€œSubscribe to our RSS feedâ€.

If youâ€™d like your RSS list to be accessible from any computer or mobile device you may have like a PDA, laptop, or cell phone, some popular RSS readers include

MyYahoo
MyMSN
MyAOL
Google Reader
Bloglines
NetVibes

And many popular email programs have the ability the add RSS feeds, as well. Then, when you check your email, youâ€™ll get your subscription feeds as well.

Another use of RSS feeds is for you to consolidate all of your own online presence streams, comments, and networks into one, such as importing all of your blog posts, Jaiku postings, photos, videos, music, and friends onto one consolidated site such Virb, Zude, or PageFlakes. (we’ll cover these later in the week…)

Feel free to add to the conversation with your comments or questions. And if you have a favorite social or aggregate site we don’t mention, please share it with us!

Client Notebook: Simple and to-the-point design

Renee — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:38:36 +0000

The newest site developed by westXdesign is a very very simple, one-page version of the flyer produced by the coordinators of the Shining Star Motorcycle Rally.
Sometimes, all that is needed is another venue for people to find information about you, your organization, or an event. This site in particular will add more information about who is performing, and when, as well as vendors. This type of information can’t be updated in their print advertising, but new and updated information can be found at the site. So, even though they aren’t going with a big, interactive web site, the ability to provide updates is crucial.
If you have been thinking that you don’t have a need for a web site because of various reasons, consider what the Shining Star Rally is doing, and how it is helping them promote their event more easily.

Understanding the Process of Building Your Web Site

Renee — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 23:06:10 +0000

For individuals and businesses just beginning to work online, the process of building a web site can be daunting. Here is a quick and dirty tutorial to help you better understand what it is you are doing, or what you are hiring someone to do for you.

First you will need a Domain Name. Example: www.your_business.com. Your domain name must be unique. It is registered with companies such as register.com or Network Solutions and the cost varies, anywhere from $9.95 to $25 per year. You may register your domain name for any number of years in advance. Sometimes your domain registration is included in your hosting costs (see #2). There are different extensions available. Some of the most popular are: com or biz for commercial type sites such as most businesses (com is more popular), org for organizations, and net for networks. When you register a domain name, the server you are hosting the pages on is registered with it. this enables other computers on the internet to know where your web site is located.
Hosting. Your web site must reside on a web server. There are many companies that offer hosting, including your local internet service providers. Costs on hosting can range from $9.95 to $50 or more per month.
Design. If you are not creating your own pages, you must employ a web site programmer/designer. Design and set up costs vary greatly, from $20 per page, $50 per hour, or even $1,000 or more per site.
Promotion. Once your web site is available, it is not automatically found through search engines. This is a 4th process to getting your site up and running. Your web site address and information must be provided to each of the major search engines. The quality of the design and the meta information provided by the designer will greatly determine your success here. In the beginning, the most effective way to get visitors to your web site is to include your web site address in all advertising, business cards, etc. Having your site return in online searches may take many months. Other methods that are very often employed to help promote the site and it’s ranking include having other sites link to you, participating in other forums related to the site to help establish you as a leader in your field, and ensuring that your content is always fresh and relevant.

You could be dealing with 3 different entities when setting up your web site: domain registrar, hosting company, and designer. To make the process easier, select companies that will take care of your domain registration, hosting services, and design for you in one place. Designers all have their own styles and personalities, and the ability to work closely with the designer to get what you want is very important.

Web 2.0 video

Renee — Wed, 28 Feb 2007 18:33:39 +0000

Do you need a designer or a code-monkey?

Renee — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 16:02:20 +0000

Do you need a designer or a code-monkey?

It’s an important question. Consider the following:

Do you need a professional to help you design a great web presence?
Do you expect the person or company you hire to make the decisions regarding the best layout and presentation for your site?
Are you willing to pay for their expertise regarding standards and accessibility?

Do you have a specific design planned?
Do you have your content exactly the way you want it, including all text?
Are you wanting your plan implemented exactly with no deviation?

If you answer ‘yes’ to more of the first set of questions, you’re looking for a designer. If you answered ‘yes’ to more of the second set, you’re looking for a code-monkey. The difference? You hire a designer for their professional expertise regarding design, layout, and standards, you hire a code-monkey to make your idea work on the web in any way possible.

Before you start firing off a 3 page missive about my use of the term “code-monkey”, please let me explain: I have no problem being hired as a code-monkey. I’m in a small business, in a small community, and if that’s what my customer wants, that’s what I’ll deliver. I also make sure they know my opinion concerning their chosen design/content. Usually, they listen and I can work with them to deliver a better site.

Every now and then, I can spend hours straight with a client, and they will still insist on me implementing a site with bad layout, bad color, and even worse…bad grammar. I had this happen very recently. I couldn’t even convince the client to use correct grammar in their text. I tried for hours begging for simple changes to their content alone. In the end, nothing changed, and I wasted 4 hours that I can’t bill for because all this client wanted was a code-monkey to deliver their idea in an online format. In a perfect world, I would have walked away in the first 30 minutes after having told them that perhaps I was not the best company to work with them. But I feel more strongly about helping my clients, and my community, than I do about wasting non-billable hours, and fought for as long as the client would allow.

What can you learn from this? When you are working with your designer, please value their expertise and opinion. You hire your accountant and trust their knowledge in making decisions about your finances. You go to a physician and trust their knowledge concerning your health. You hire a plumber and trust he/she knows which pipe to replace and how to do it to make everything work right.

Trust your designer to help you deliver a great web site. And if you know right off that you want a code-monkey to implement your plan exactly as presented, then please, please tell your chosen design company this FIRST.

Web Site Benefits Illustrated

Renee — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 17:42:27 +0000

While a business web site can be a very modest investment in advertising and customer service, it packs a powerful punch. The availability of your business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to an unlimited audience is a valuable marketing opportunity. BUT…it’s not an overnight success. Building credibility, and search engine rankings, and repeat visitors, takes time, patience, and quality content on the site. You can’t just put up a one-page virtual business card and expect to have thousands of visitors the moment you go live. BUT, if you incorporate your site into your existing marketing plan, and are patient, you, too, may be telling a story similar to the Marathon Motel, in Marathon, Texas. This article illustrates how a web site can impact your business….

A few days ago I received a message from Daniel Self, owner of the motel:

Hey Renee, got a good one for you!
Considering the increase in my occupancy rate and the demand for more rooms
(all because of your web site :-)) The time has come put the motel on the market
in hopes I’ll find the guy that can take it to the next level!

While I am saddened by the news that the motel may be in the hands of someone new soon, I’m excited about the fact that he credits his web site for his phenomenal growth. I don’t think he’s exaggerating (much) when he says it’s “all” because of the web site…traffic stats to the site prove that the motel site is a popular destination when people are researching their travel plans to the Big Bend National Park region of Texas.

The rest of Mr. Self’s email went on to describe what he needed in terms of the web site to help promote the sale of the property. So, based on the sales brochure, we created a multi-page mini-site with a completely different look from the motel’s main page. It includes much of the information a prospective buyer would want to know: projections, current bookings, regional data, details of improvements made to the property, and more.

All of the information is quite impressive, but I wanted to touch on one point made:

… The website and word of mouth account for most of the exposure, as well as a general increase in awareness and interest in the Big Bend Region. Also on a significant increase is the number of stay-overs and repeats staying from 2 up to 5 nights. The Motel’s average occupancy rate increased 77% and had a 191% increase in income between January 2001 and end of December 2005 despite the minimal advertising and exposure. “Turn-aways” for 2005 exceeded 1452 rooms. We are booking reservations farther in advance for popular weekends/ holidays. The Motel is currently taking reservations exceeding one year in advance…

The Marathon Motel averages 100 uniques visitors per day. While that may not seem like very much to you, it’s GREAT considering the site is targeting a specialized market: travelers looking for accommodations in a small town of 600 people in rural west Texas. And these 100 visitors aren’t just coming to the site home page and leaving, they are exploring the site, checking out all that the motel offers. And the site offers them plenty to explore! They can view rooms, the beautiful courtyard, get details on RV facilities, and more, in addition to getting current rates and contact information. By the time they are done navigating through all the site offers, the visitor probably feels they

Know what to expect of the rooms should they decide to stay there
Trust the hotel since they offer so much information and provide many ways to contact the motel
Are better equipped to compare the motel to other accommodations the visitor may be considering

If they are considering 2 or more possible places to stay on their trip, the web site will heavily influence their decision, since they are choosing a facility site unseen. The more know about your business before hand, the more likely they are to bring their business to YOU.

Since putting up the sales brochure, traffic to the Marathon Motel web site has increased 20% per day. This is another example of putting your web site to work. Mr. Self is telling prospects where to find more information regarding the sale of the property, and they are not only viewing the information in that directory, they are reviewing everything the site has to offer. They are learning even more about the property than what is offered in the sales information.

What can you learn from this story? First, of course, is how positive an addition a business web site is to your overall marketing plan. But more importantly, you need to know that the first web site for the Marathon Motel went online in 2000. Seven years ago, the site had 1 or 2 unique visitors a month, then slowly that traffic built to a few dozen a week. After years of patient marketing and consistently offering the site with quality content, it has grown to the 100 unique visitors a day it has now.

In order for your online venture to be successful, you must be willing to stick with it for the long haul. It WILL pay off!

Offer quality content on your web site.
Be patient and consistent.
Enjoy the rewards your web site will bring

Benefits of having your own web site

Renee — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:21:32 +0000

A web site is a very cost-effective way to offer up-to-date information about your company to a very wide audience, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. No matter what kind of company you own, retail or service, you will benefit from the information people can find out about you online. For example:

Business hours
Menus
Contact information
Specials and sales

Imagine being able to answer frequently asked questions for your customers at any time:

Product specifications
Information about how to initiate returns and refunds
Instructions for using products or services

Your web site is also a great place to help your customers compare your business to your competitors. The more information you provide about your competition, the easier you are making it for your clients to choose the best company for their needs (which should be YOUR business if you stack up to your competitors well enough!)

Press releases
Price comparisons
Client testimonials
Awards, degrees, specialized recognition in your field

Your web site can open your business to a whole new market

Travelers researching available services and stores in the places they will be going through or staying at
Customers from around the world to purchase your products
Targeting specialized markets such as hobby enthusiasts

You can scale your web site to offer services based on your company profile.

Sell your products online
Offer product information to entice customers into your store
Offer more information about your service so customers will know what you offer
Schedule service calls
Initiate quotes
Answer frequently asked questions
Receive feedback and suggestions from customers

These are just a few of the benefits you’ll receive from a business web site. It’s great tool to provide better service to your existing customers, and a wonderful way to win new customers.

Later, we’ll look at how web sites can help social and civic groups and even individuals.

Tuesday Web Tour

Renee — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:03:59 +0000

Todays links include online training for small business owners, and learning more about today’s web technology, such as Web 2.0 and RSS. I hope you find something to entertain, enlighten, encourage, or empower you and your business. Happy surfing!

SBDC Online Training: Free online business courses from the South-West Texas Border Small Business Development Center (SBDC). From starting your business to managing your finances, they offer many quick beginner courses. Examples of available courses: Advertising, Building Your Brand, Valuing a Business, Balance Sheets, and Legal Structures.

RSS: Really Simple Syndication provides a method for you to get the headlines, or even the full text, of all new content from your favorite sites and blogs. This web site explains RSS in a non-technical format, with links to resources to get you started using the many feeds available on the web.

What Is Web 2.0: by Tim O’Reilly. “This article is an attempt to clarify just what we mean by Web 2.0.”

Better Invoices for Better Business: by Kevin Potts. Invoices that obfuscate information, incorrectly state terms or arrive incomplete can be a massive headache for all parties. Strategic timing and attractive presentation are also important, as they can help â€œsoften the blowâ€ by making your invoice seem less like a stale demand for money and more like a friendly letter.

UC Berkeley web casts: Listen to free lectures from Biology through Sociology from UC Berkeley. Subscribe to your favorite course and get the latest lectures delivered to your podcast software. If you love to learn, here’s higher education at no cost.

Tuesday Web Tour

Renee — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 16:09:38 +0000

Creating Passionate Users: Who’d You Make Smile Today? Going beyond the text-book formula of customer satisfaction and actually making them smile.

Free Fonts: Download hundreds of open-source font styles for free.

Texas Gas Prices: Monitor and submit gas prices in your area. Great resource to find the cheapest gas, and to avoid the gougers. Free.

LibraryThing: Create and maintain your own library catalog. Easy to use, easy to search, easy to share. Great for all bibliophiles. Free.

Texas Best Cowboy Culture: Artists, poets, real cowboys and more. All the best people, places, and things in Texas.

Web 2.0 Design Style Guide:Â Describes various common graphic design elements in modern web design style and attempts to explain why it works,as well as how, when and where to use, and not use, these design styles

That’s it for today’s web tour. I hope you find something to entertain, enlighten, encourage, orÂ empower you and your business. Happy surfing!

Internet – Email etiquette and forwards

Renee — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:30:16 +0000

Tina asks…

Hi Renee,
Have a question…how do you delete the addresses from something that was forwarded to you? Some of these fw’s are really neat, but have a gazillion addresses on them that makes it difficult to forward.
Appreciate your help.

Hi Tina!

The easiest way to clean up all of the excess ‘junk’ that accumulates in forwarded emails, including the mile-long list of email addresses and the half mile worth of signatures at the end, is to copy the portion of the email you want to forward, and paste it into a brand new email message.

Depending on what email interface you are using, you can usually hit the ‘forward’ button, then delete out the portions of the email you do not want to include. Sometimes, this is good practice when replying, as well. Make sure that the portion of an email you are responding to is included in your reply, but delete things that aren’t relevant like duplicated signatures and parts of the conversation to which you are not replying. This makes it easier for the recipient to know what you are referring to, and also results in a shorter, cleaner message.

Thanks for the question!

What to gather before you build your web site

Renee — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 14:31:37 +0000

I apologize that this post is a couple of days later than I promised. But, here it is none the less. Before you, or your chosen designer, can begin designing and building your web site, you should answer the following questions and gather related information. This will help determine not only how the site should look, but what should be included.

General

1. Do you have an existing web site?

1. What is your current domain name?
2. Where is your site currently hosted (ISP)?
3. Do you plan on switching hosting services?
4. What do you like about your current site?
5. What do you dislike?

2. Do you need domain registration and/or an ISP to host the site?

What domain name would you like to register? Your domain name should be easily identifiable and easy to explain over the phone and print on a business card. Due to availability issues, make sure you have at least 2 alternative names chosen.

Business specific

1. What is your budget for the completion of the web site and yearly maintenance?

2. What is the purpose of your web site? For example:

Brochure or Informational (brief introduction to your company and/or products)
E-commerce Site (sells items directly or through affiliate links)
Customer Service (answers to frequently asked questions, ways for your customers to contact you)

3. Here are some common reasons for building a site. Rank them in order of importance to you. List any additional reasons you have that may not be listed

_____To provide customer service.
_____To sell a product. (E-commerce)
_____To build familiarity.
_____To provide general and/or product information.
_____To build customer loyalty.
_____To make an announcement.
_____Show my business in a favorable light
_____Encourage clients/customers to contact us
_____Make money
_____Name branding
_____Other (List your reason(s) )
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________

4. What are your short and long term goals in having a site?

1. Donâ€™t leave something off the list because you think it may be â€˜too expensiveâ€™.
2. List everything your dream-site will have.
3. How will you decide if your site is effective?

5. Write a short description of your business.

1. Clearly and concisely describe what you offer, to whom you offer it and why they should choose you.
2. What does your company do?
3. What are the features of your products and/or services?
4. Is the company local, regional, national or international?
5. What areas do you want to specifically appeal to?

6. Who is your target market? Be specific. This will help you determine which site style will appeal to most of your visitors.

7. What is your current or planned marketing strategy?

8. Who are your competitors?

1. List some of your competitorâ€™s web sites.
2. What do you like about your competitors websites?
3. What do you dislike?
4. What makes you better than your competition?
5. Why should someone use you business instead of them?
6. What unique content do you provide that other sites do not?
7. How can you add value to your products and services? (free bonuses, lifetime warranty, free shipping and handling, free upgrades, etc.)

9. Your companyâ€™s identity

1. Do you have a slogan?
2. Do you have a logo?
3. Do you have company colors? Your company logo and colors as well as the website URL and your slogan should be on everything relating to your company.

10. Do you have any custom graphic needs or will you be able to supply all of the images required?

11. How can your visitors contact you?

1. How to you plan to encourage feedback?
2. Do you want to use a survey form to gather information from your customers or visitors? If so what questions would you like to ask and can you offer something in return for filling out the form (a free report, discount, etc.)?

12. List any related web sites that provide services or information useful to your target audience. Reciprocal links with these sites will be beneficial to both your customers and your ranking in the search engine.

13. What types of components other than still photos and text do you want to include (affiliate programs, virtual reality images, java applets, backend database integration, survey forms, feedback forms, opt-in newsletter management, referral forms, etc.)?

14. Please list and gather any existing materials and information that will help in the design your site. For example:

Text, Brochures, Business cards, Flyers
Product images, Product samples
Press releases
Price and part lists
Frequently Asked Questions
Shipping and handling charges, Warranty/Privacy/Return policies, Guarantees
Testimonials and/or endorsements, Bios, History, Education/Certifications/Awards
Photos of yourself/staff/location
Maps and directions

Commerce sites:

1. If you want an E-commerce site (selling items online), what type of e-commerce solution do you require?
(Listed in order of complexity and cost)

Â¨ $ Non-interactive. Visitors print and fax order or phone order in
Â¨ $$ Single page order form that sends each order as an e-mail
Â¨ $$$ Multi-page order form with shopping cart, where visitors can pick products while continuing to look at the site, change their order, preview order and submit on-line
Â¨ $$$$ Full e-commerce shopping cart with automated real time credit card processing, integrated with backend database

2. List all methods for payment you accept. (Money order, check, internet check, various credit cards, etc.)

3. Do your customers have buying seasons? Does the site need to be changed for each season? What will you do to entice shoppers in the off seasons?

All Sites

After gathering all of this information you should have a clearer picture of what your website should look like and offer, and who your customers are. The next step is to make a list of at least 10 keywords or phrases. Also, write a one-sentence description of your web site and what you offer there. Search engines use this information, as well as the actual content of your site, to know whether or not your site is relevant to searches. In order to rank well in search engines, your site content and description should all use your keywords, and these words and phrases need to relate closely to what it is you offer, so choosing all of your site content carefully is very important.

Choosing a web design company

Renee — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 02:02:15 +0000

There are a number of things for you to consider when the time comes for you to choose a design company for your web site. A great list of questions to ask yourself and the prospective company can be found on Paul Boag’s web site. Paul is a founder of the UK design company Headscape and has many resources for beginner web designers, and those considering outsourcing their web site. He co-produces a free podcast I highly recommend you listen to, as well. Don’t worry – the information he provides is very low-tech and easy to understand, and is helpful to anyone with a web site. You will also get some good ideas about what you can do with your web site. Here are just a few of the questions he suggests you ask:

Are they a full time web design company?
A strange question to start with I know but it is one worth asking. There are a surprising number of students working out of their parents’ back bedroom. If you have a limited budget that might be fine, but if you are talking about a serious web development project these kinds of groups will get out of their depth very quickly.

How many people are in the company?
The size of the company is a good indication of its capabilities but also of its overheads. A large company is often unresponsive and tends to have a higher charge out rate. A one-man band can be much cheaper and keener to please but can sometimes be overwhelmed by larger more complex projects. Look for a company that is of the size that best suits your project.

What is their portfolio like and can you view the live sites?
You must see some published work. Starting with the design company’s own web site, and some of their clients’. Do you like them? Are they visually appealing? More importantly, are they easy to use. Also check that they are capable of tailoring their designs to fit the client and that they don’t have too strong a house style.

Do they have clients willing to talk to you?
Is their service of a standard that their clients will recommend them? If they are good and competent designers then they should have clients who are prepared to discuss their experiences.

Do they have long-term clients?
Not only does the presence of long term clients demonstrate a high level of customer satisfaction, it also shows an understanding by the web design company of the need to build sites for the long-term. All web sites have to grow and evolve over time and agencies that work with clients over the long-term know how to design a site flexible enough to change with the company’s requirements.

In addition to Paul’s questions, you should consider a few other things..especially if you are a small or home business:

Are you comfortable working with the designer?
Are you able to communicate with them easily?
Do they seem to understand your needs?

And finally, have you thought out what it is you want your web site to accomplish, and are you prepared to provide the needed information to the designer? Tomorrow, I will post a check list and questionnaire of items and information to have ready to give your chosen designer.

New services!

Renee — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 02:26:43 +0000

westXdesign has changed the pricing structure of our web hosting, starting at $10 per month, and we’ve added new domain registration services starting at $11.75 a year. If you aren’t sure what hosting or registration services you need, please call or email and we’ll help you decide what services best suit your needs.

Client Notebook – Darwin Harrison Photography

Renee — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:23:27 +0000

The newest addition to the westXdesign portfolio is Darwin Harrison Photography . To showcase his stunning photographs, Mr. Harrison knew exactly what he wanted. With the design already planned and a very clear idea of how the site should interact with visitors, he was well prepared to get his business on the web. Having a clear idea of what you want, or at least what you do not want, is very helpful when you work with a web designer. Working to make Mr. Harrison’s idea a working web site was an easy process, because he provided continual feedback during the entire process, and had the site tested and reviewed by his acquaintances, as well as the testing we were doing on the design end. The end result was closer to his conceptual design than I could imagined. And in no way is that credit to me as a designer. The credit goes to Mr. Harrison for his communication with me during the process, already knowing what he wanted, and working closely with me to reach the desired final product. I’m proud to have this gorgeous site part of my portfolio.
The lesson here for you? Before you decide to hire a designer, think about what it is you want your web site to accomplish, what goals do you have in mind? If you envision your business web site before you begin, not only will the site have a more tailored appearance, but you’ll save money on the design. When a designer starts with a concept of their own, then presents it to the client, that’s often when the client finally begins to visualize their site for themselves. And then they’ll like this part of the design, but not that, and keep this element, but get rid of that, and hate the whole color scheme and want something…brighter. You can imagine that this process can go for quite a while before the client is happy with the site. And the whole time, they are paying for designs and programming that the end up throwing out the window. Don’t let that happen to you!

Great Gifts

Renee — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:16:34 +0000

Christmas is just around the corner, and I know you want to find that unique perfect gift…and I have a few suggestions to help you out…and I’ll even guarantee that you’ll find something here that is as unique and special as the person you’re shopping for…

If you’re in Fort Stockton, start by stopping in at West Texas Custom Cycles . No, it’s not just for bikers! You’ll find great gifts, from jewelry to original clothing, and even a large variety of Christian merchandise. With one-of-a-kind Christmas merchandise you won’t find anywhere else, like biker boot and jacket Christmas tree ornaments and beautiful leather jackets and vests. Here are a few of my favorites:

These picture frames are high-quality, and just really great to look at. I had to buy one in black diamond plate and one in single row bike chain. I know that the person I get these for won’t get another like it this year, and that he’ll love them. Pictured here is a silver diamond plate and double-row bike chain.

A wide variety of Christian gifts makes shopping for everyone on your list easier. Pictured are necklaces, writbands, headbands, hats, rings, bibles, shoelaces, and earrings.

If you want one of these, you better hurry! A variety of Christmas tree ornaments, but they are going fast. Pictured here are a bike jacket, riding boot, and saddle bags stuffed with presents, and “Season’s Greeting” mirror-back ornaments.

For these gifts, and a whole lot more, stop in at
West Texas Custom Cycles
701 West Dickinson
in Fort Stockton, or visit their web site at www.wtcustomcycles.com

If you order now, you can have unique gifts shipped in time for Christmas…….

How about custom jewelry from Kevin Heady in Austin, Texas? These beautiful pieces speak for themselves….

And one last suggestion for that special gift…a limited edition print from Darwin Harrison . These gorgeous photos will fit any room and lifestyle…

I hope everyone has a VERY Merry Christmas!

Client Notebook – Marathon Motel & RV Park

Renee — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 15:12:57 +0000

I thought it was about time I introduced to you some of the wonderful people and businesses we have had the opportunity to work for over the years. I can’t think of a better place to start than the Marathon Motel in Marathon, Texas, owned by Daniel Self.

He purchased the motel in August of 2000. During a Spring Break trip in 1999 to the Big Bend with his daughter, they spent a night at the Motel. Danny got up for a run the next morning and saw the â€œFor Saleâ€ sign in front of the office. Lured by the beauty of the Marathon Basin, the friendly people, and the history and natural charm of Marathon, he decided to purchase the motel. His vision was not only to maintain the comfortable, casual atmosphere, but to continue the efforts already begun to enhance the natural charm, beauty and guest comfort.

We have been working together on his web site, marathonmotel.com , for so long that I really can’t remember if it was in 2001 or 2002 that we set up the first design. And like the beautiful landscaping in the motel’s courtyard, the web site has developed and grown and changed it’s appearance many times. My skills and ideas about web design have changed a lot, as well. One of the most important factors any business needs to take into consideration when selecting a web designer isn’t the price of the end product, but the ability of the designer and client to work together to reach a common goal. And Mr. Self has been a great person to work for.

If you find yourself heading for the Big Bend, stop in and spend the night at the Marathon Motel…. enjoy 10 acres with ten newly decorated duplex cabins and relax in the adobe-walled courtyard with flowering native plants, fireplace, fountain, and spectacular views of the mountains and starry skies.

Windows – keyboard Shortcuts

Renee — Thu, 31 Aug 2006 15:52:13 +0000

Alice asks:

Is there a windows keyboard shortcut for increasing and decreasing the indent?

Hi!!
This one is easy:
I assume you’re using Microsoft Word, and the shortcut to indent is CTRL+M.
I’ve posted a PDF file of other handy Word shortcuts.
Hope this helps!

File name: wordshortcuts.pdf
File size:8639 bytes

Hardware – Cleaning a keyboard

Renee — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 16:14:25 +0000

MOM asks:

Hey! Renee, How do you clean a keyboard? lol

A quick reminder for everyone who follows this guide: I can’t be held liable for any damage that you cause to your keyboard. If you follow the directions and do it correctly and carefully, your keyboard will work fine.

Basic cleaning
Shut down the computer and unplug the keyboard.
Hold it upside down and shake to remove loose dirt and crumbs.
Use compressed air to loosen and remove more dirt and crumbs
Turn it over and shake more to remove what you loosened with the air.
To clean the surface of the keys, use a damp (not wet) lint-free cloth to gently clean off the keys. If they’re not particularly dirty, plain warm water will do. You can also use diluted solution of standard liquid dishwashing detergent if needed. (Don’t ever use harsh cleaning solutions.)

WARNING: The next cleaning method should only be undertaken if you are extremely patient and your keyboard is extremely filthy! Don’t use these steps with laptops, or with mechanical keyboards (the kind with springs under each key).
Before you begin, use a copy machine or a digital camera to record the layout of the assembled keyboard so you can return each key to its correct location. Keep track of the keys. Remove all of the keycaps by using a small screwdriver and carefully prying up each key. It should pop off easily. Do not remove the spacebar or large keys such as , , or . Putting those back on can be difficult.Loosen and remove leftover particles using compressed air. Use a cloth dampened with warm water or the doluted solutiuon I mentioned before. For stubborn stains, use cotton swabs dampened with 90 percent isopropyl alcohol. Then use the compressed air again. Replace the keycaps. Carefully snap each keycap back on. Plug in the keyboard, and test all the keys when finished.

If you’ve spilled liquid on the keyboard, turn it upside down after you disconnect it to let the liquid drain out. If there’s a lot of liquid, or if the liquid is sticky, wash out the spill with running water. (Do not immerse the keyboard.) Let the keyboard drain for 72 hours.

Wait until the keyboard is dry before reconnecting it to the computer.