Make Your Website Easy to Read

Too much content placed haphazardly throughout a web page will make it not only difficult to understand and read, but may even turn off a visitor before they have a chance to see what your site is about.

Heritage Internet Technologies has a few simple tips for you to keep in mind when creating your website.

Guide the Reader
Your site design should guide the reader to the important content. We read from the upper left of a page to the bottom right. Text should be used in a way we typically read, excessive text boxes should be avoided. Graphic elements should be used to direct the reader to the most important text on your page, your call to action.

Add Movement to Your Page
Another way to promote good page flow is through a simple animation. Using a simple animation like a Flash Element or Flash Banner can help direct a visitor to your site to important information or promotions. HIT Web Design has several options that can add that special touch to your site.

Keep it Simple
Have text that is concise and easy to read. If you have too much text on a page consider additional web pages, or Divided Files (Divided Files make it possible to hide text on a page until you select the appropriate tab). Do not overuse capitalized words or punctuation in ways it is not properly used, this can actually make your text harder to read. Use pictures and graphics that add to the concept you are trying to convey throughout your site.

By keeping the design simple and guiding the reader to the important content through proper placement of text, graphics, and simple animations, visitors to your site will find your site easier to use and pleasing to look at.

Increasing Website Accessibility by Adding Links

Almost every website has a link of one kind or another. It could be a link from one page on the site to another (from a home page to a services page). It could be a link to another website. Links can help drive users to the right place. A “Click Here to Order Now” link can take a customer to your order page.

There are three things to consider when adding website links to your site: choose the right links, make sure the links works, and keep the number of links to a minimum.

1. Choose the Right Link: When deciding what links to put on your website, you should choose links that will be resourceful for your visitors. Choose to link to companies that you do business with or ones that complement your business. Having links that help your visitors is a great way to keep them coming back to your website. For example, if you own a landscaping business, you may want to link to a company that builds swimming pools. Don’t be afraid to email other businesses and ask if they will do a link swap.

2. Make Sure the Links Work: Clicking on a link that takes you to a wrong page or doesn't work at all can be very frustrating. Making sure you're imputing the correct link and that it works properly is important for customer satisfaction.

3. Keep the Number of Links to a Minimum: You do not want to overload your website with links. It can confuse the customer. Choose a few links that compliment your website and put them in a location that is easily seen by your visitors.

By following these three steps you can increase your website's accessibility to the public while providing a useful service to your visitors. HIT Web Design offers other ways to improve site accessibility, through site maps, web traffic directors, shopping cart modifications, and many other products.

RSS Feeds and Blogs

RSS Feed Drives Traffic to your Site

Want to drive people to your site in droves? Of course you do!

One of the best ways to increase web traffic and web ranking is by distributing news and updates about your business or products that are, in turn, picked up by other websites. If you do this on a regular basis, you can't help but drive people to your site as they see your news items and click to learn more, ultimately ending up on your site. This process is easy, and effective, and is made possible through use of the “RSS Feed” feature. Originally made popular by Netscape, your site popularity can benefit tremendously by integrating RSS Feed into your overall marketing strategy. Writing the code for RSS Feeds is a bit complicated, but at HIT Web Design, we take care of everything, so you don't have to worry.

Blogs Bring Business

Another strategy to bring people back again and again to your website is to incorporate a Blog. Blogs provide an opportunity to constantly update your site with new and fresh material, thus making your site relevant and useful. Blogs also introduce an element of interactivity to your site, and open dialog translates into open doors—more business, more connections, more knowledge, and more website visits. In a list of reasons to blog compiled recently, people gave blogging credit for new jobs, new opportunities to share important information, and the chance to connect with people they considered important. If you are still wondering what value a blog can bring to your website, consider that blog structure matches the “skim and scan” mentality of website visitors, thus providing an easy way for them to get the information they are looking for. If you need a little help with your blog, don't hesitate to consult your HIT Web Design professional for advice. (see HIT Enhancements.)

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Is a zFeeder For Me and My Website?

What is a zFeeder? A zfeeder adds RSS functionality to a website. The RSS provides notifications about newly posted or updated information to all subscribers. The FSS feed contains either a summary of content from the associated website, or the full text, depending on how it is set up. For more detailed information, call the technical department of Heritage Internet Technologies.

An RSS feed makes it easy for anyone to receive notices about matters of particular interest. When a user registers with a site’s RSS, the user’s RSS reader will regularly check fort new content, download any updates it finds, and publish the information for the user to see. RSS fees are often used in connection with news sites, blogs, and other frequently updated sites.

Features and Benefits:

• Impress and Inform: A zFeeder is an instant way to liven up a site and keep it up-to-date, not only on the latest newscast, but on the newest Internet innovations.
• Draw Visitors: A zFeeder provides current news alerts for specific interests. The news alerts can be tailored to update just those news items that are related to the focus of purpose of the website. For example, a financial website could display in real time the latest mortgage and loan rates, a sports memorabilia website would display the latest sports scores and updates, a vacation planning site could display the current temperature and weather for various travel destinations, etc.
• Establish Viewer Loyalty: Over time, the website can become the first point of contact for many viewers interested in “the latest”, whatever the latest may be. The benefits that accrue then to that particular website increase in value and importance in the minds of the viewer.

The zFeeder can be customized to match the look and feel of the website, thus complementing the other elements of the website. For questions relating to zFeeders or any other web-related matters, remember the friendly professionals at Heritage Internet Technologies are just a phone call away.

Logo Design—Setting Your Company Apart

Can you imagine the Chevrolet automobile without the metallic-colored cross, or the Pepsi soft drink can without the red, white and blue ball? Heritage Internet Technologies, one of the nation’s premier website and logo design companies, is a strong proponent of having a company logo.

A logo is one of the most basic and important elements of an organization’s identity. A logo, combined with its logotype, forms a trademark or commercial brand. Logos, consisting of various shapes, colors, fonts, and other images help customers identify a company as well as associate merchandise of a type of product with that company.

Well-known examples of logos include Nike’s swoosh, McDonald’s golden arches, and Michelin Tire’s roly-poly Michelin Man. Non-profit organizations and efforts like the Red Cross and cancer awareness also employ logos to further their message.

Benefits: The benefits of having a logo are three-fold:

Brand Recognitions: When a symbol becomes synonymous with a business, it
is much easier to stimulate customers into thinking about that particular product
on a day-to-day basis. This has worked for years with large businesses, and is
available to all businesses for a modest design fee.

Image Creation: Combining a professionally designed logo with a professionally designed website can substantially enhance an organization’s
image. From classy and sleek to kid-friendly and fun, the options and
possibilities are almost endless.

In a visually oriented society, a logo makes it possible for people to remember
your company, even if they can’t remember it by name. A custom logo is also
the perfect opportunity to build your corporate identity and represent your goals
and beliefs.

Continuity: The power of the logo is particularly effective in creating
continuity—a seamless bridge between all visual company communication.
Websites, letter-head, business cards, yellow page ads, newspaper and magazine
ads, etc. are all tied together into one consistent, standardized message.

Business owners should never underestimate the effectiveness of a well-designed logo. For questions and help related to the creation of a company logo, remember the friendly professionals at Heritage Internet Technologies are just a phone call away.

Does Your Text Betray You?

The French moralist, Joseph Joubert, wrote, “Words, like eyeglasses, blur everything that they do not make clear.” Especially online, text plays a vital role in site content, how the site is organized, and even how visitors interact with the site. Recognizing this, many website design firms such as Heritage Internet Technologies offer professional writing as part of an overall design package.

Mike the mason, Paul the plumber, and Sue the seamstress do what they do best, i.e. lay brick, fix water leaks, and create beautiful clothing. However, when it comes to telling others in writing about their exceptional skills, they often fall short. Their text betrays their expertise.

Many small business owners have solved this dilemma by engaging the services of a professional writer. The benefits warrant the added expense.

Benefits of Professionally-Written Text:

• Proper Presentation—Well-researched, well-written, and well-edited content makes a website easier to understand and increases the likelihood a visitor will stay on the site longer and continue reading. Especially online, effective text can be the difference between a visitor quickly moving on, and someone purchasing products or services.
• Maintain Continuity— Poorly written text can destroy the otherwise professional image, and the attractive look and feel of the website. Informative, interesting text complements the design and layout of the website. It lends an air of professionalism and excellence, lending value to the products or services promoted by the website.
• Cost-Effective—Writing services can be engaged for modest fees. The income generated by compelling text will more than offset the modest fee paid for professionally prepared text. It will pay for itself many times over.
• Save Time and Anxiety—The time it will take a professional writer to interview Mike, Paul, and Sue will be a fraction of the time it will take them to figure out what they want to say and how to say it, not to mention the stress it will eliminate.

For further information on this or any other matters relating to designing and hosting websites, remember the friendly professionals at Heritage Internet Technologies are just a phone call away.

Blogs: Don’t Do Business Without Them

Household phrases of advice like “Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you are in an accident.”, attributed to the mothers of the world, and a popular credit card company, “Don’t leave home without it” are joined by another timely piece of advice; “Blogs—Don’t do business without them”, recommended by the marketing department at Heritage Internet Technologies.

Blogs! What the heck are they? A Blog is comparable to an online journal that allows the owner to post comments, stories, personal viewpoints, etc. It also gives the visitors the ability to comment on what’s been posted.

What are their benefits?

Gain Popularity: Find others who share similar opinions and interests. The site will accrue popularity as others develop a habit of reading the Blog. Any type of website that has the potential of attracting a “following” can benefit from a Blob Database.

Control the Conversation: The administrator has access to features that will enable them to control the conversation. If there is harassment, negativity, or obligatory postings, they can boot and block the offender as well as update comments and entries to encourage visitors to keep checking back to see what’s new.

Search Engine Ranking: By making regular posts at least once per week (minimum) a Blog can boost the placement in the search engines. In order for this to work, users must use an update service to advertise the fact that an update has been made. This is also made more effective when the Blog is integrated as a part of a site. There are many services that can be used. A couple of these are: http://pingomatic.com, and http://blogsearch.google.com/ping.

Create Value: Keeping readers informed for free fosters trust. When visitors to a site begin trusting the opinions and advice posted on a site, they are more likely to purchase services or products from the site.

For questions and further information on how Blogs can benefit your business, remember the friendly professionals at Heritage Internet Technologies are just a phone call away.