Getting it right for the web in 2012

Contact me for a chat and I’ll be pleased to advise you, in plain English, on everything you need to know, design and web-wise, including:

• Creating a style and planning your project
• Planning and structuring a website
• Hosting your website… Choosing and registering a domain name
• Ensuring your website reflects your project’s style and image
• Making sure your website is designed to attract visitors
• How to update and modify your website
• How to publicise your website.

Why choose me to build your website? – see websites

Graphic Design for Print

It’s important that your brand that looks good both on screen and in print – and that calls for comprehensive and exceptional design skills. Design for print is quite different to designing for the web but very often both are required to provide a seamless identity which covers all media, including;

• Letterheads, Business cards, Compliment slips;
• Annual reports, Brochures, Catalogues, Promotional literature, Booklets and leaflets;
• Magazines, Newsletters, Datasheets;
• Product packaging, boxes and cartons;
• Mailshots, including data capture;
• CD ROMs, DVDs;
• Point of sale material, Marketing promotional merchandise, Mousemats, Clothing;
• Postcards, Billboards Signage, Showcards, and
• Calendars, Diaries, Labels.

Print Services and Web Design for New Business

Give your new startup small business a flying start with an all inclusive low cost web site design and print package to help establish your brand identity. Presenting the right image can be a key factor to success for new business and a well designed style will set your venture apart from the others.

Contact me and we’ll discuss your project and how I can provide original and unique material including;

• Professionally designed websites;
• Hosting and Domain name registration; find out more »
• Email forwarding;
• Logo design;
• Letterheads, compliment slips and business cards, and
• Brochures, catalogues, advertising material.

Simple one page website layouts provide a clear, attractive format that delivers relevant content without any other unnecessary fluff. The line of thought behind the single page website is that a what you see is what you get delivery is refreshing, straight-to-the-point and no nonsense, - and what you see is what you get is especially true when you really like what you see.

One-page websites are making a big comeback

Single page websites were up until recently mostly for static, low budget websites or such as online event sign-ups. Today's sophisticated, smart and practical one page website is a carefully crafted design choice for all kinds of consumer and professional needs.

Making sure that content is worthwhile

There's been an approach to website design that's often used a standard multi-page set-up; the 'Home - About us - Our Services - Where we are - Our Products' etc in separate pages is quite normal. But, also far too often, multi-page websites don’t have enough content to make those pages worthwhile, and to make the pages appear useful, they end up being filled with content that is of no real value. These pages are rarely visited - and if they are, and they are unattractive, then visitors probably exit the site quickly from them. Sparse site pages, without worthwhile content, don’t appeal much to search engines either, since they usually lack the lively and engaging content - which can easily be contained on a single page.

Better for Search Engines

One page websites are being confirmed as more than just a web design trend. Search engines will always reward websites with quality, keyword rich, & relevant content that's well delivered in a hierarchical, single page structure, over a sprawling website with scattered wordy, content. The vast majority of site visitors never even navigate away from a website’s home page. Site visitors and users have limited attention spans and want immediate gratification; if they don’t find what they’re looking for right away, they’ll leave and soon look for it elsewhere.

Elements of a One Page Design

A lot of web designers would agree that the single page website innately lends to a better user experience. The following web user interface design features are attributed to the improved UX of a single page site:

• Consistent design
• Continuous linear navigation
• Excellent use of space & clear, concise mission statement (since there’s no room for meandering)
• Clear content organisation structure
• (Only) the most important content lies above the fold, all other lies below it
• Anchor links throughout let the user easily navigate to the content they’re looking for

About.me is an example of a website that capitalizes on all the benefits of the one page design layout. It delivers a to-the-point mission statement that clearly states what is being offered; the user knows exactly what to do, since the primary focus of the page is a straight-forward call to action; all (and only) the crucial content is above the fold; the page uses clean lines that don’t distract the user from the call to action; it uses two images that are communicative visual representations of who this company is and what service they’re offering.