WordPress 3.3 Update
It’s been a while since I posted an update and this one goes down to the core a WordPress has released an update on the core system aptly named WordPress 3.3 a.k.a. “Sonny”. The new update showcases a new dashboard interface which has a very intuitive design. Kudos to Matt and Co. for this release.
Website Design and Development
There's two ways to get a website developed – pay, or design it yourself. If you've chosen the latter, you'll need several things. First, you'll need web hosting. Web hosting can range from $2 to $200 per month, depending on your needs. Consult a web hosting review site for more information. Next, you'll have to have some background in computing or internet programming. You'll need to know at least HTML. Thirdly, you'll have to have a way to upload your files. Some hosts have online uploads, others require FTP.
Today's web design encompasses many different technologies that must blend seamlessly to allow for the best combination of form and function in a site. If you've decided to design your first website, it can be a daunting task. Rather, most professionals suggest finding a low-cost alternative. Many web developers have a forte – either design or programming. Finding a well-rounded website design firm or individual is difficult, but the business' portfolio is the best indication.
In order to be certain of the firm's abilities, further scrutinizing is imperative. The firm has a nice looking site that flows well and has an aesthetic appeal, a great testament to their abilities. But does this eye for the creative flow through its clients' sites, too? It's importance to be certain of this question. Browsing through the portfolio alone often isn't enough. Get feedback from the clients if possible (with the firm's approval). Are they satisfied? Do they feel that the firm was easy to work with? And moreover, is there site an adequate representation of what they wanted?
Once you've found a firm that you feel is worthwhile, it's time to ask for a quote. Hopefully, the firm has a questionnaire that you can easily fill out. These surveys will ask questions about how many pages your site will have, whether writing is necessary, and if there is any extra functionality. You probably already have a budget in mind, but it's better for a company to tell you what they think the work is worth. They know how many hours of work are involved, and will (hopefully) break down the price for you to let you know exactly what you're paying for. Web design can range from $5 to $100 per hour, and many web designers have a forte that they will charge more for. Sometimes, it's even necessary to work with multiple firms to get the best deal.
Today's trend is outsourcing. Many Indian and other overseas programmers and designers are willing to work for exponentially less than American web designers. This trend has its pros and cons. While the money saved is beneficial, the overseas designers rarely speak fluent English. Communication is an imperative part of web design, and often projects can go awry without it.
Obviously, you have a difficult design ahead of you. With all the great web design firms out there, sometimes cost does equal quality. Make a decision, get a second opinion, and always be thorough in your explanation of what you're looking for.
How to Add the Google +1 Button on to your WordPress Blog
There are two ways to install Google +1 Button on your WordPress blog The first method is to insert the Google +1 Button manually on your WordPress theme You can grab the Google +1 Button snippet at Google+ 1 Button Webmaster's section
The second (and easiest method) is to install a Google +1 Button plugin. There are several wordpress plugins for Google +1 Button but I would recommend the WordPress plugin – Google +1 Button
How Important Is Website Design?
In this article I will be writing about Website Design, how it affects sales, and how it compares in importance to other aspects of Website Management. Lets list the different aspects of owning or managing a Website.
Domain Name: How important is the domain name you choose for your Website? Many people say it is not important at all, yet I have number one listings in Google, Yahoo, and MSN for the key phrases that exactly match my domain name. It matters a lot.
You need a domain name that matches keywords and phrases you will also use in your Website that people are searching for. Many people think their company name should be their domain name. If you have a lot of money for advertising to make your company name something people search for, I agree with you. If you do not have that ad budget, then you need a generic domain name that is a phrase people already search for.
Improving usability for screen reader users
Simply ensuring your website is accessible to screen reader users is unfortunately not enough to ensure these users can find what they're looking for in a reasonably quick and efficient manner. Even if your site is accessible to screen reader users, its usability could be so incredibly poor that they needn't have bothered coming to your site.
Fortunately, there are plenty of simple-to-implement guidelines you can follow, which not only drastically improve usability for screen reader users, but for all web users:
Tips For Using Photoshop When Creating A Web Site
Photoshop is a wonderful tool for creating web sites. It allows even a novice the ability to create a fully functional web site without much knowledge of HTML or JavaScript. You can create an entire web page template with Photoshop, and then use Image Ready to slice up the image and create the HTML for you. Or you can use Photoshop to create just the navigation for your web site, or to optimize images on your web site. No matter how you use Photoshop, it will definitely make your web site look much nicer, and also help it to run faster.
Photoshop can help you to create an entire web site without coding much HTML by hand. You can draw a complete web site in Photoshop, and then transfer your image into Image Ready so that you can slice up the image into smaller elements, and then save the images and the corresponding HTML to render the page very easily. Then all you have to do is use you're newly created web site and entire content into the blank spaces that you have left in the template. After you have added the content to your pages, you will be ready to post your new web site to the web.
