Quick Facts on a Mobile Web Site Layout

Article by YouDonkey and protected by CopyScape

Design with lists, not tables. Why? here are some reasons:
1. To display a table, a device must perform floating-point calculations, which slows down the rendering of the table.
2. Different devices render tables differently; at least some browsers will render every table with equal-width columns, no matter what you do.
3. Lists enable vertical designs (top to bottom design). Tips on using lists:
a. Use ordered lists (ol) for lists where you need numbered access and do not need formatting control over the numbers. (don't forget to assign access keys).
b. Use definition lists (dl) when you need numbered lists and you need formatting control over the numbers (or you need an item 0). You'll need to render the number as well as define an access key.
c. Use definition lists (dl) for situations where you need subsections. The dt item will be left-aligned; the dd item will be indented. There is no need to define a dd for every dt.
d. Use ul or dl for other lists. ul will give you bullets, dl will not.

Here are some quickies on your layout:
1. Large graphics take a long time to download, and should only be used when the main content of the page is the graphic.
2. Don't use spacer graphics or other layout graphics take a while to download and cause the final rendering of the screen to be delayed. Keep your graphics under three items per page.
3. Avoid splash screens. These simply add time and cost to the user's experience without adding value.
4. Keep text styles simple and consistent. The small size of the screen makes a variety of text styles look cluttered and difficult to understand. Rely on only one type of text emphasis. note -> most phones only have 1 font to begin with).
5. Avoid background colors for text.
6. Use few colors. The differing screens and user situations mean that colors may not be experienced as you intend them, and may not be distinguishable from each other. Pick a small (1-3) set of colors for a page and stick with them.
7. Keep content short. Keep your site's content short and to the point.

Can your site be reached via Cellular phones? Did you know this could increase sales or increase awareness of your site? It could.

What I mentioned above is true, for today at least. With more awareness, more chances of selling items the better your future will be. The next generation of cellular phones are being invented as I type this, and the original scripts are being updated or rewritten, this list will get you involved now instead of later so you can have a chance.

Mobile Web Sites - Design Do and Don't

Article by YouDonkey and protected by CopyScape

Don't - Use external CSS. It requires more download time which is not a good thing
Don't - use drop-down menus (select lists) for navigation. Users won't understand or use them.
Don't - use tabs. They require graphics and tables, making them very time consuming to load. They also require the user to scroll past them to get to content.
Don't - put breadcrumb navigation at the top of the screen. To make it fit on one line, you would have to use graphics (and probably tables). The user has to scroll past them to get to the content. If you use them, put them at the bottom.
Don't - use black or dark background images or colors, including shading regions of the page. Some browsers do not support coloring text, so your page could become unreadable.

Do - Keep navigation simple and consistent. Use only one primary method for accessing content.
Do - use a simple graphic at the top of the page with a navigational icon suggesting what site (using graphic style) and what portion of the site (using graphic detail) the user is at, plus a brief title indicating what page the user is on.
Do - provide a link to your site's home page, preferably at the bottom of the page.
Do - Keep colors and images simple. Remember that your devices are small, have screens that don't necessarily render colors well, and are used in a wide variety of light and glare conditions.
Do - Use high-contrast colors for images and fonts. Users won't be able to see subtle color distinctions, even if their device does support 60k colors.
Do - Avoid background images if possible. Slows down the download time.
Do - Avoid blue and purple colors for fonts. These are traditionally colors of links. This suggestion is even more important on mobile devices than on desktop devices, as some devices will not underline links, and the only coding for a link is the color.
Do - Use the same, simple color palette for all the graphics in your site. This will help ensure a consistent look and feel and contribute to site identity.

Last thoughts
Know how your content is rendered on various devices and various carriers. Maybe some carriers, or the browsers on the phone may allow only validated XHTML tags. This may translate graphics, placement or other various items to be displayed differently. Or the items may not exist at all on a mobile browser. Do the research.

Think thin vertical, not fat horizontal (design from the top down) because most (if not all) cellular devices have a small vertical layout. Keeping the site lean and mean will keep your customers attentive and not argumentative. Avoid navigation bars, tabs, and side-by-side positioning... this goes with the whole "showing up properly" and "attentive" thing.

Think clean and basic. Devices have small screens, small processors, limited memory and restricted text input mechanisms (example: limited buttons). Keep your pages small, your text input reduced, tables minimized (or not used at all), CSS minimized and local.

Use all possible parts of the markup language. Although many devices do not support certain extensions to XHTML Basic, the features can greatly enhance usability. Most cellular devices support the WTAI library, enabling phone calls to be made directly from your page and some browsers support the CSS extension -wap-format-input, allowing you to restrict input in a text field.

Cellular Sites are You Mobile?

Article by YouDonkey and protected by CopyScape

Why is it important that you and your web site are viable for the mobile age? If you didn't notice already, the internet is unplugged and more and more people are using their cellular devices to make purchases. They can do it without laptops (or notebooks) while standing in line for their coffee.

Maybe not today, but within a few years it will be VERY popular and so wide spread that the computer I'm using to type this article will be in some museum about ancient history. This is possible because more and more inexpensive, mainstream, wireless hand held devices are being sold everyday. The industry is growing everyday and the devices are becoming cheaper and cheaper too. That means more and more people will turn in that direction instead of using their heavy lack luster computers.

So why is it important? Look at what Apple did with the iPhone and what the iPhone can do for you, the consumer. With out the idea of change, or the knowledge to do so will leave you behind in the dark, while your competitors are basking in the sun taking your customers.

Also as I type this, technology is changing and the next new thing, the Blackberry Storm touch phone was released opening the door for losing more and more money to your competitors. Who knows what is next? Is the T-Mobile G1 a threat? Yes.

Stop building or using useless absolute-size websites and start building websites that fluctuate and change and don't hope that the standard HTML legible mobile browser will be your "saving Grace", because it won't.

Frames - Why or Why Not! Your Choice

What are FRAMES and why should I care?
- Frames allow web masters to create and show many pages in one view, which may be independent windows or subwindows. Example:
within the main window, one frame might display a banner ad, one frame a navigation menu, and another could contain main text... all could be scrolled independently without hurting the others placement.

There is a downside to FRAMES besides the GOOD and BAD facts listed below. Many Web masters say frames are a little outdated but all agree they do have their uses even being outdated. Many Web masters agree if you can use CSS or PHP (just two examples) to achieve the frames look and many of the frames strengths without all the weaknesses... then do so. You will be ahead of the game! Especially when the "rumored" internet laws on FRAMES comes through.

The "rumored" law only deals with frames and internet companies and making them liable on how their shows it's content. I did not see anything on personal sites... but I wouldn't be surprised if they make it in the "rumored" law. When I say "rumored" law, I mean just that. All the books I've studied on frames, and the sites I've seen, only three or four of those medias speak of this law. But I won't be surprised if this is true.

Good Reasons
- Frames provide a simple way to create and update a Menu for your site:
It's simple because you only need one page to create this menu... which means you only have to update one page when you need to add or remove a link. Why do multiple updates over and over when you can do all your Menu updates once.

- Create an advertisement that is always present:
Advertisements may be annoying, but it is the easiest way to generate revenue for your Web site. Link to a "sale page" your site may be running, link to your "banner exchange" program or just advertise another business. Either way, it's always there, and may generate cash.

- Frames allow you to easily brand your site:
You can create a space for your Web site logo or Company Information (just like an advertisement) and keep it in a frame so that it is always in view of your readers. This helps your audience remember your site, especially if you have an eye catching element.

Bad Reasons
- More than two or three frames on a page can be cluttered:
Frames are hard to navigate in them especially if they all are scrollable or positioned wrong. Having multiple frames makes it very difficult to follow where to read and where to scroll. Don't confuse.

- Not all browsers support or understand frames well:
Frames can mess with your BACK BUTTON or ANCHOR TAGS functionality and make it impossible to go back.

- Bookmarking in a framed site:
When your visitor puts one of your pages in their FAVORITES, they could be putting only one frame in, instead of the full page. So when the visitor clicks your link in the FAVORITES, only one frame shows... not what you want.

- One Web master linking to your informative page:
To create this link many Web masters (without paying attention) will take the address that is shown in the browser! And once again it is EXPECTED that this address leads to EXACTLY the page the visitor was looking at when he/she grabbed the address and not the whole frame.

- Frames create additional work for your host or server:
When you create a frameset with two frames in it, you have three pages to maintain at all times. If you decide that you want your name branded on the bottom of every page, you have to change three pages, not just one. Also, every time you create a new frameset, there is a minimum of two (with one frame) or three (with two frames) hits to the server. Meaning the more framesets you have, the more hits to the server you generate, without the additional page views. If you have a limiter on the amount of traffic allowed to your site, you'll be eating away at your transfer allowance... by viewing ONE PAGE?

Side Notes
Put the GOOD and BAD aside for now, you should always use a <noframes></noframes> version of your site for people with non-framed browsers. And when I mean a noframes version, I don't mean a page that simply has a "get Netscape" or "get IE" button on it but a page built for that audience. So build two sets of pages... FRAMED and NOFRAMES.

Using frames you need to use <noframes></noframes> tags.

The Importance of Keeping A Focus on Your Site

Article written by Marc McDonald.

What's the focus of your Web site? If you can't answer this question in one short sentence, you're going to find it difficult to build an audience.
It's important to remember that when first-time visitors click in to your Web site, you've only got a few seconds to grab their attention. Web surfers are an impatient bunch. If they can't figure out the purpose of your site quickly, then they'll click off elsewhere.

In my Web business, I get a steady stream of submissions from Webmasters who want me to review their sites. I'm constantly surprised at the many submissions I get for sites that lack a clear focus.

We're not just talking about shoestring sites that have been set up by newbies on GeoCities. This goes for even large, corporate sites that are run by teams of Webmasters. In the latter case, I can only surmise that it is indeed true that "too many cooks spoil the broth."

The fact is, your visitors shouldn't have to play a guessing game in trying to figure out what your site is all about. Merely having all the information somewhere on your Web site is not enough. If your welcome page doesn't offer a clear picture of your site's focus, then you can't plan on your visitors finding it on a FAQ buried on an inside page. Odds are, your visitors will never find such information, because they won't bother to explore your site beyond your welcome page.

How can you ensure that your site has a clear focus for your visitors?
1. Consider coming up with a short, snappy slogan that basically sums up what your site's purpose. The slogan should be prominently displayed on your welcome page "above the fold." (That is, clearly displayed without the visitor needing to scroll down your welcome page).

Your slogan should be displayed in plain, easy-to-read HTML and not as part of a graphic image. The problem with the latter is that you want to grab visitors' attention right off the bat. Graphics take longer to load. (Remember, even in today's "broadband world," most Web surfers out there are still using plain old 56K dial-up modems).

Additionally, if you sum up your site's purpose in a plain text slogan, you increase the odds that you'll fare better in getting desirable positioning in the search engines.

2. Don't overdo your welcome page. Keep it as simple as possible and keep the focus clear and to the point. Too many Webmasters go overboard with information overload on their welcome pages. The focus should be to get the crucial information (and only that) on your home page. A well-designed welcome page offers just enough to "hook" in a visitor and encourage him to explore the site further.

3. Forget the gimmicks and eye candy. I've seen a number of Web sites, (particularly those run by large corporations), that offer state-of-the-art streaming video and Shockwave and Flash animations on their welcome pages. On a broadband connection, some of these sites appear quite impressive at first glance.

However, there are serious problems with using such cutting-edge technology on one's welcome page. In only very few cases, is it really needed. And only rarely does it offer anything that's going to encourage a visitor to actually bookmark a site.

In fact, when you go with a high-tech approach on your welcome page, you open up the door to a lot of potential problems. In reality, that nifty multimedia presentation that looks so good on your office's T1 line may take the average user forever to load in his or her browser.

Technology can also present other problems. As a general rule of thumb, the more cutting edge it is, the more potential bugs it has that have yet to be ironed out. Remember, if a visitors' browser crashes the first time he comes to your site, then odds are he won't be back.

In summing up, try to keep a clear focus on your Web site. Not only should your welcome page load quickly, but your visitors should be able to determine how your site can benefit them as quickly as possible. (Of course, ideally, your inside pages should load quickly as well--but the load time of your welcome page is the most critical).

How can you tell if your site has a clear focus?
A good, simple way to determine this is to occasionally take off your Webmaster's hat, step back, and pretend that you're a typical visitor, clicking in for the first time.

Ask yourself some basic questions.
Is this site's focus clear to me? If I were a typical visitor, would I bother to stick around and explore the site further? And most importantly, would I be likely to bookmark this site?

It's also important to enlist the help of friends and colleagues in this task as well. Encourage them to give you straight, blunt feedback and to tell you honestly whether they found the site a helpful resource, with a clear purpose.

Lastly, pay close attention to what your site's visitors tell you. Don't be insulted if you get E-mails critiquing your site. Instead, utilize any and all feedback you get in fine-tuning your site and making it a better resource, with a clear, easy-to-understand focus.

Why Have A Web Site?

One of my clients once asked me, why should I have a website when so many fail? What is the reason my business should have web site?

To put it in to simple terms:
1. Improving Your Brand - the ability to project an identity and to build your brand equity, both over a shorter period of time. This can be done with promotions to increase your communications to your client base.

2. Increased Reach without Hurting Your Bottom Line - bringing in new business online with a professional web site because you are expanding your business nationally and to international markets. The internet gives you and your business the ability to reach new markets that would have been potentially out of your reach before. Plus this is all done without extra payroll. More sales with the same payroll before going online equals better production rates.

As I mentioned many times over, going online isn't as easy as it sounds. For many businesses it will feel like you never left work at work because you will be building/ tweaking and promoting your website to people and search engines at the same time.

I can only give you the tools, you need to do the building...

Where is My Traffic Coming From?

It is very important to track all your visitors to your website so you know you are targeting to right people. Why is it important to know where your visitors are coming from? Simple Answer is: So you know if you are targeting. If you only ship inside your country, then you don't want to attract other countries.

There are a bunch of tracking software that will provide you with a wealth of information about your visitors while helping you improve your web content, navigational structure and stickiness. Good information will help you lower your costs and increase your revenues.

Most, if not all, trackers will provide answers to the following questions:
1 - What country did my visitors come from?
2 - What search engine was used?
3 - What words and/or phrases did they use?
4 - What site besides a search engine gave me the traffic?
5 - What pages did my visitors navigate through my site?
6 - Which pages are the most and least popular?

By regularly analyzing your stats and information, you will make some amazing discoveries and improve where you need to improve! Like many webmasters before you, you will find that only 2 or 3 search engines are sending you traffic. You will likely discover that a very few of your pages are receiving 90% of your hits. Just these two bits of information will help you improve the overall design of your site, your need to improve the textual content of your site and the use of cross-promotions on other pages.

An example:
One of my blogs, not YouDonkey, but another one that I just started a year ago. I was receiving 10 people per day. Once I studied a month or two of statistical information, I realized that blog wasn't attracting the correct clientele. After a few adjustments, I saw an increase of 50 people per day. I continue improving and adding new things to keep increasing my traffic. Advertising clicks alone on the banner ads also increased adding a more profitable campaign.