I'm planning on relaunching one of my clients' sites in the next day or so. (Hopefully this afternoon!)
The site needed an overhaul. It was created in about 2003 and SDOC was asked to take over maintenance in early 2006.
My client decided to do a top-to-bottom review of their site this year and not a moment too soon. It had been three years since anyone sat down and really sifted through what was availalbe and what needed to be included or dumped.
I've done a lot of jobs like this - polishing up websites that are diamonds in the rough. It's easy to let your website slide and let information get dated or obsolete sections stay around. So below are the clues that I have learned over the years that it's time to upgrade your site.
1) Your look and feel are three years old or more
The Internet is about life changing at a fast pace. Fashions in color and design change rapidly. Most sites need a fresh new look at least every three years. If your design was done a couple of years ago, talk to your web professional about a new look.
2) Animations using GIFs or JavaScripts, or MIDI sound effects
If you created your own website back in the '90s you were probably tempted to use these then-new multimedia features. Today, they're usually just old and dated. Too many JavaScripts can slow down even the latest computer on a fast connection. Plus, many firewalls are programmed to detect these scripts as potential viruses.
I'll never say that older design technologies are never useful. Every time I decide some technique is hopelessly obsolete I run across that one project where it's perfect.
When it comes to animation, video, sound or any multimedia, less is more. If you're going to use this technique, stick to ONE per site. Try to use Adobe (R) Flash if possible rather than the old-fashioned animated GIFs. Lose the MIDIs: if your web professional is absolutely sure that your site calls for sound, use MP3s embedded in a Flash element and make sure the visitor has an easy way to turn it off.
3) Site Counters
Site counters sprouted up as soon as JavaScript hit the web in the late 1990s. They were cutesy gadgets that took some skill to include at the time, and it was just about the only way most small companies and not-for-profits could track their page visits.
Dump 'em. No one needs a site counter on their business website any more. All reputable web hosting companies have comprehensive site statistics available or included in their hosting package. What used to be a snazzy technique is yesterday's news. Ask your hosting provider about comprehensive site statistics, they provide much more valuable information.
4) Popup or Sidebar Ads Placed By Your Hosting Provider
"Free" web hosts are going the way of the dodo. They were great for families or groups with no budget. In this day of Facebook and MySpace, even those folks don't need a host that puts popup ads all over their page.
If you are serious about your business, be serious about how your website looks and its first impression. Third-party ads that have nothing to do with you and your company tell your visitors that you're not really in control of your business. Professional hosting is inexpensive enough that any business of any size can take advantage of it.
5) Outdated HTML
You don't have to be a website expert to notice when the source code needs updating. Are the fonts slightly different on each page? Or even within a page? If your pages are updated by a staff member, do they have trouble making sure the text color is constant? And that the size is correct? Is it hard to add new pictures or any graphic elements without throwing off whatever was already on the page? Does your site look different on a newer computer screen than on an older one? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then your HTML itself needs to be reviewed and updated. Current website coding techniques make it easier to keep your site's appearance consistent and precisely place all of your content. Ask your web professional to review the source code to see if it can be modernized.
Maintaining the architecture of a website can be time-consuming with all of the details that need attention. Make sure your web professional is on top of it so you can stay on top of your business!
The latest updates from SDOC Publishing Internet Solutions for our clients, our community, and the web design field. Our Dunwoody, Georgia studio serves clients all over the United States and Canada.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
No More Press Releases
Well, not entirely. This week the News section of SDOC Publishing was converted to Blogger. I still plan to do press releases when the situation calls for it but I can get a lot more personal with you here.
When you have a lot of irons in the fire, it's easy to forget to write about them. Soon after Dunwoody officially became a city and the first council elections were underway, I became a Founding Sponsor of the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce. SDOC Publishing is the only web development firm to carry this title and I continue to serve as the lead webmaster for the Chamber.
Last year I said that SDOC Publishing was interested in building up the business community of our new city. I said it, I meant it. Supporting businesses doesn't just involve building and promoting their website, although that is my specialty. For a business to thrive, they have to have advocates in their community. Non-business owners in this town are often suspicious of any commercial interest. But the reality is that without a community-based business organization, the homeowners and other residents won't have the goods and services they need readily available. Many won't have jobs to make a living. It is in everyone's best interest to have an open dialogue between the residential community and the business side.
I joined the Chamber and worked on its web presence from Day One and saw a bevy of growth and change in a very short time. The city is getting its feet under it, and the DCoC has had a hand in guiding ordinances that represent a compromise in many interests. I won't lie, it's chaotic sometimes. But there aren't many opportunities to watch a new city sprout from a seed. So it's worth bearing the chaos.
The Chamber website is a team effort. I work as the "architect" - determining what the information needs are and what goes where. I was able to delegate specific graphic elements to another designer so I can focus on that content. Then I'm going to train some of the office staff in keeping the site up to date. It's not difficult, but there are new skills to be learned. Server maintenance responsibilities are on the IT committee.
Take a look at www.dunwoodycommerce.org. Use the contact form to tell us what you need, what you want to see. Content and interactive features don't write themselves and priorities have to be organized, but if our local business community needs to be promoted, I'll be right there to make it happen.
When you have a lot of irons in the fire, it's easy to forget to write about them. Soon after Dunwoody officially became a city and the first council elections were underway, I became a Founding Sponsor of the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce. SDOC Publishing is the only web development firm to carry this title and I continue to serve as the lead webmaster for the Chamber.
Last year I said that SDOC Publishing was interested in building up the business community of our new city. I said it, I meant it. Supporting businesses doesn't just involve building and promoting their website, although that is my specialty. For a business to thrive, they have to have advocates in their community. Non-business owners in this town are often suspicious of any commercial interest. But the reality is that without a community-based business organization, the homeowners and other residents won't have the goods and services they need readily available. Many won't have jobs to make a living. It is in everyone's best interest to have an open dialogue between the residential community and the business side.
I joined the Chamber and worked on its web presence from Day One and saw a bevy of growth and change in a very short time. The city is getting its feet under it, and the DCoC has had a hand in guiding ordinances that represent a compromise in many interests. I won't lie, it's chaotic sometimes. But there aren't many opportunities to watch a new city sprout from a seed. So it's worth bearing the chaos.
The Chamber website is a team effort. I work as the "architect" - determining what the information needs are and what goes where. I was able to delegate specific graphic elements to another designer so I can focus on that content. Then I'm going to train some of the office staff in keeping the site up to date. It's not difficult, but there are new skills to be learned. Server maintenance responsibilities are on the IT committee.
Take a look at www.dunwoodycommerce.org. Use the contact form to tell us what you need, what you want to see. Content and interactive features don't write themselves and priorities have to be organized, but if our local business community needs to be promoted, I'll be right there to make it happen.
Monday, August 4, 2008
SDOC PUBLISHING LAUNCHES FIRST POLITICAL WEBSITE
DUNWOODY, GA - (August 4, 2008) Website Specialists of SDOC Publishing announced today the launch of SDOC's first political website.
SDOC Publishing was contracted to create the Dunwoody City Council Campaign website for Friends of Mary Jo Chambless, Inc. Mary Jo Chambless is running at-large for Dunwoody District 3. The site is located at www.maryjofordunwoody.org
"What greater honor could there be than to support the new city than with one of the great citizens willing to continue to serve, even after the years of work getting the city established in the first place?" said Adrienne Duncan, owner of SDOC Publishing. "As a city we have to get serious and get ready to operate. I am glad that SDOC could play some small part in that."
The work was not glamorous. "The campaign is only six weeks! This site had to be up ASAP and I managed to get it launched in about 10 days after the contract was agreed to. It wasn't just design and pretty things, there is a ton of interactive features." Duncan describes several different email-based forms in both ASP and PHP languages, as well as an opinion poll for visitors to participate in. In addition, the logo and navigation are all animated with Adobe Flash® An online donation feature will be added within a day or two.
To say that search engine optimization was a priority would be an understatement. "There's a lot of people to reach, and not a lot of time to reach them. Every last technique to make this site easy to find was employed. I'm just glad I got it launched in time before the press releases went out!"
SDOC Publishing website design and development is based in the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody. Initial consultations are free of charge and by appointment only. All design work and pricing is customized for each client. Visit www.sdocpublishing.com for further information.
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SDOC Publishing was contracted to create the Dunwoody City Council Campaign website for Friends of Mary Jo Chambless, Inc. Mary Jo Chambless is running at-large for Dunwoody District 3. The site is located at www.maryjofordunwoody.org
"What greater honor could there be than to support the new city than with one of the great citizens willing to continue to serve, even after the years of work getting the city established in the first place?" said Adrienne Duncan, owner of SDOC Publishing. "As a city we have to get serious and get ready to operate. I am glad that SDOC could play some small part in that."
The work was not glamorous. "The campaign is only six weeks! This site had to be up ASAP and I managed to get it launched in about 10 days after the contract was agreed to. It wasn't just design and pretty things, there is a ton of interactive features." Duncan describes several different email-based forms in both ASP and PHP languages, as well as an opinion poll for visitors to participate in. In addition, the logo and navigation are all animated with Adobe Flash® An online donation feature will be added within a day or two.
To say that search engine optimization was a priority would be an understatement. "There's a lot of people to reach, and not a lot of time to reach them. Every last technique to make this site easy to find was employed. I'm just glad I got it launched in time before the press releases went out!"
SDOC Publishing website design and development is based in the Atlanta suburb of Dunwoody. Initial consultations are free of charge and by appointment only. All design work and pricing is customized for each client. Visit www.sdocpublishing.com for further information.
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