Overall Site Design | HTML Encoding | Graphics Optimization | Custom CGI Scripts
Java Applets | Registration with Search Engines | Setting Up Web Tracking | Site Maintenance
Choosing Web Host | Choosing & Registering Domain Name | Setting Up E-Commerce
Obtaining Foreign Language Translation | Web Site Promotion
Overall Web Site Design
Web site design includes coming up with an eyecatching layout for your home page, defining a basic "look" for all the pages to create a coherent impression, and choosing a suitable navigation structure (either "guided", "cued", or "floating") to make it easy for visitors to find the information they need.
HTML Encoding the Web Pages
HTML (HyperText Markup Language) is the language of the Internet. To be viewed on the World Wide Web, your documents must be encoded with HTML "tags" that define how your pages are supposed to look when viewed by a web browser like Netscape or Internet Explorer. We do this encoding using an advanced text editing tool called NoteTab Pro in conjuction with Microsoft FrontPage, the current HTML editor of choice. With the efficiency of FrontPage for routine tasks and the flexibility of NoteTab Pro for fine tuning, we turn out web pages with that "handcrafted" look in a cost effective manner.
Graphics Optimization for Fast Downloads
There is no doubt about it: graphics can add a lot to a web site's appeal. However, when graphics are overdone or unoptimzed, web pages can take "forever" to download -- and that's a great way to lose customers. At DM Web Design, we know how to balance visual appeal with download time by: sizing and limiting the number of images per page, exploiting the fast download time of cached images by repeating certain images (e.g. logos, navigation buttons, etc.) across multiple pages, reducing the file size of JPEG's (photographic images) by compression techniques, and "interlacing" GIF's (drawings) to create the illusion of fast downloading.
Custom CGI Scripts in Perl
With CGI (Common Gateway Interface) protocol, dynamic elements can be added to otherwise static web pages. Unlike web pages which get downloaded from a web host's server computer to a web site visitor's client computer, CGI programs (called "scripts") run on the server and allow the server to interact with the client. They are usually written in a language called Perl and perform a variety of tasks such as receiving and processing online form data (e.g., data from an order entry form) and automatically sending a response (e.g., a confirmation). At DM Web Design, we can write custom CGI scripts to complement your web pages with tailor-made order entry, information request, subscription, searchable database, or other applications.
Java Applets
The powerful Java programming language is another way to add dynamic elements to web pages. This is done by embedding Java programs (called "applets") in a web page. When a visitor downloads a web page containing one or more of these Java applets, the programs run on the client's computer inside its Java-capable web browser (e.g., Netscape version 2 or higher or Internet Explorer version 3 or higher). This makes Java applets inherently speedy because, once the server has downloaded a web page containing an applet, the applet runs locally on the client's computer at roughly the same speed as regular applications such as word processors and spreadsheets. Java is often used to add animation to web pages including: scrolling headlines, moving pointers for tutorials, and clickable "3-D" buttons that appear to move up and down when you click them. Many Java applets are already available to the public in software libraries on the Internet and new ones are added every day. If you wish to enhance your web pages with dynamic elements like these, DM Web Design will be happy to select and customize applets to meet your needs. .
Registration with Search Engines
Although direct advertising can help, most people will find your web site through an Internet search engine or directory. They will either be looking for your company by name or for the kinds of products and/or services that you offer. So, it is important to get your web site address (called a "URL") registered with the Internet's most popular search engines and directories plus any that may specialize in your industry. At DM Web Design, we know how to do this job right. First we design your home page to facilitate search efforts. Then we handle each registration with care, customizing the information we provide to fit each search utility's input requirements. Then we confirm the registration, run trial searches, and check your position within typical search results. In short, we make sure that people can find your web site with relative ease.
Setting Up "Web Tracking"
Do you want to know how much traffic your web site attracts and who is visiting? It is easy to get that information through a good "web tracking" service. For a modest fee, these services track the activity on your web site and generate secure, online reports in terms of hit rate, visitor identity, and other valuable marketing data. Whether you are a big business, a small business, or a professional organization, DM Web Design can recommend the right tracking service to meet your needs. We can set up an account for you, encode your home page and optional other pages to activate tracking, and show you how to access and interpret the tracking data. If you wish, we can even monitor the tracking data for you and provide you with concise, periodic summaries that are easy to digest.
Site Maintenance & Updates
In addition to web site design, DM Web Design offers ongoing site maintenance and update service. Site maintenance includes keeping track of time-sensitive information (e.g., coming events, limited-time offers, or sales promotions) and deleting when they are over. It can also include periodic monitoring of external links, if any, to make sure they are still valid and dealing with any problems reported by visitors or by you. Updates usually mean page edits, deletion of obsolete web pages, and creation of new web pages specified by you -- but can also extend to compete site makeovers to achieve a fresh look. Whatever your site maintenance and update needs, we stand ready to assist.
Choosing a Web Hosting Service
If you have not yet selected a web hosting service or if you have outgrown your current host, DM Web Design can help you choose a hosting service that is right for you. We know the right questions to ask to make sure the host you select has the Internet connection capacity and range of services required to meet your needs.
Choosing & Registering a Domain Name
Most web hosting services provide minimal help with domain names. They will check to see if the name you want is already in use and, if it is not taken, they will register the name with InterNIC for you. However, for marketing purposes, a domain name should either be self-evident (e.g., microsoft.com) or "catchy" (e.g., beyond.com) and web hosts usually leave the task of dreaming up a good one to you. If you do not have the time for this task, why not delegate it to us? We can provide you a list of fitting domain names, pre-screened for availability, to help you zero in on a good choice. Registration is a snap these days. So, when you have made your choice, you can either register the domain name yourself or, for a modest service charge, we will be happy to do it for you.
Setting Up e-Commerce
With explosive growth of the Internet, businesses large and small are rushing to set up e-commerce. However, there is a lot to it and many businesses are held back because they do not have the time or people resources to explore what is needed. DM Web Design can help. We can get you set up with a secure server to handle online credit card transactions and design web pages to make your customers comfortable with placing orders over the Internet. In addition, we can create online order entry forms, electronic "shopping carts", autoresponder confirmations, order status and customer information databases, and other e-commerce utilities. The technology for all these things is well established now, so why not let us help you get on board?
Foreign Language Translation
"Global market" has just about become a cliche, but it is really true: the Internet has opened up world markets to everyone and lowered the barriers to international trade. However, to increase your success in pentrating foreign markets, your web site needs to "speak their language." We can help you do that. At DM Web Design, we are familiar with many of the web site translation services that have sprung up in recent years and we can help you select a good one. We will help you decide whether to do a whole or partial web site translation and which foreign language or languages to target. Then we will select the best web translation services for your type of business and obtain competitive bids, including getting your translated site registered with the appropriate foreign search engines and directories.
Promoting Your Web Site
In addition to search engines and directories, there are a whole host of other methods for promoting your web site including: web cards, e-mailing lists, banner ads, and more traditional means. Promotion helps drive traffic to your web site and is particularly important for expanding businesses that seek new customers or for any business that plans to conduct e-commerce on the Internet. At DM Web Design, we have helped others select the most appropriate, tasteful, and cost effective methods for web site promotion and we will be glad to help you.
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