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Inexpensive yet effective websites for home care companies

Wed, 10 Jan 2024 13:53:52 GMT

Discover the transformative impact of a quality website for caregiving companies in our latest blog, 'Empowering Caregiving Companies: The Crucial Role of Quality Websites.' Web Design CT shares insights based on our experience, including our successful collaboration with 'Polish Caregivers.' From building trust and showcasing services to implementing cost-effective solutions, our blog explores the multifaceted reasons why an expertly crafted website is indispensable for thriving in the digital landscape of the caregiving industry.

In the fast-paced digital age, the online presence of caregiving companies has become more crucial than ever. At Web Design CT, we recognize the unique needs of caregiving organizations and understand that a quality website serves as an invaluable asset. In this blog, we delve into the multifaceted reasons why a top-notch website is essential for caregiving companies, drawing on our experience with clients such as "Polish Caregivers."

First Impressions Matter: Your website is often the first interaction potential clients have with your caregiving company. A visually appealing and user-friendly website designed by Web Design CT ensures a positive first impression, reflecting the professionalism and dedication of your organization.
Build Trust and Credibility: Establishing trust is paramount in the caregiving industry. A well-crafted website not only conveys your company's ethos and values but also instills confidence in potential clients. We prioritize elements that enhance credibility, such as testimonials, certifications, and clear communication of your company's mission.
Easy Accessibility and Navigation: Web Design CT understands that ease of navigation is vital for individuals seeking caregiving services. Our websites are designed with intuitive navigation, allowing visitors to find essential information effortlessly. Quick access to services, contact details, and relevant resources ensures a seamless user experience.
Showcasing Services Effectively: Caregiving companies offer a range of services, and it's imperative to showcase them effectively. We specialize in creating websites that highlight your unique offerings, emphasizing the compassionate care your team provides. Clear service descriptions and engaging visuals ensure potential clients understand the breadth of your services.
Responsive Design for Mobile Users: With the increasing use of mobile devices, Web Design CT prioritizes responsive design. Our websites adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes, ensuring that your caregiving company remains accessible to individuals searching for services on smartphones and tablets.
Optimized for Search Engines (SEO): A quality website should not only attract visitors but also be easily discoverable. Web Design CT employs SEO best practices to optimize your caregiving company's website, making it rank higher in search engine results. This increased visibility can lead to more inquiries and, ultimately, more clients.
Streamlined Appointment Scheduling: We understand the importance of streamlined processes for caregiving companies. Web Design CT incorporates user-friendly interfaces for appointment scheduling, making it convenient for clients to access your services. This feature enhances efficiency for both your organization and the individuals you serve.
Educational Resources and Blog Integration: Beyond basic information, caregiving companies often have valuable insights to share. Our websites include blog integration, allowing you to share educational resources, industry updates, and helpful tips. This not only positions your company as an authority but also provides added value to your audience.
Social Media Integration: Embracing the power of social media is crucial for caregiving companies. Web Design CT ensures seamless integration with your social media platforms, facilitating easy sharing of content and expanding your reach. A cohesive online presence across various channels enhances brand visibility and engagement.
Cost-Effective Solutions: We take pride in offering cost-effective website solutions without compromising on quality. Our experience with "Polish Caregivers" exemplifies our commitment to providing affordable yet impactful websites tailored to the specific needs of caregiving companies.

At Web Design CT, we go beyond creating websites; we craft digital experiences that resonate with your caregiving company's mission. Our dedication to understanding the unique challenges of the industry sets us apart, ensuring that your online presence aligns seamlessly with the compassionate care you provide. Contact us today to elevate your caregiving company's digital footprint and make a lasting impact in the online realm.

$500 Websites for Landscapers

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 17:48:59 GMT

In the competitive world of landscaping, having a strong online presence is essential to attract new clients and showcase your exceptional services. At our website design business, we specialize in creating affordable $500 websites tailored for landscapers. Whether you're a seasoned landscaper or just starting, our websites provide a powerful platform to showcase your work, generate leads, and take your business to new heights. Get ready to power up your landscaping venture with our user-friendly features and SEO services designed to grow your business like a boss.

1. Showcase Your Skills with Impressive Photos

Each landscaping project tells a unique story of craftsmanship and precision. Our websites feature dedicated pages for your services, complete with high-quality photos of your best work. This allows potential clients to envision how your expertise can transform their landscapes into impressive masterpieces.

2. Dominate Lead Generation: Contact Forms, Click to Call, and Click to Email

We've got you covered when it comes to lead generation. Our websites for landscapers include contact forms, "click to call," and "click to email" buttons. Say goodbye to chasing leads - these features make it easy for potential clients to reach out for information, quotes, or consultations. Streamlining lead generation helps convert inquiries into loyal customers, putting you in the driver's seat of your landscaping success.

3. Transparent Pricing: Showcasing Your Competitive Rates

It's time to show your clients who's boss. On a dedicated pricing page, we showcase your transparent and competitive rates. This builds trust with potential clients and attracts budget-conscious customers looking for a real deal. Stand tall among the competition, knowing that your pricing structure is clear and appealing.

4. Command Credibility with Reviews and Testimonials

Trust is the cornerstone of your business's success. Our websites feature glowing reviews and testimonials from satisfied customers. Positive feedback acts as a powerful endorsement, showing potential clients that you're the go-to landscaper they can rely on. Own your reputation and let it speak for itself.

5. SEO Services: Conquer the Online Landscape

We're not stopping at just a website. We offer SEO services that give you the edge in the online battlefield. By incorporating relevant keywords and local SEO tactics, we ensure your landscaping business ranks higher in search results, dominating the competition and attracting more clients to your turf.

6. Let Us Craft Your Website Text: Words That Mean Business

Focus on what you do best – landscaping – and leave the words to us. Our experienced writers will craft compelling content that highlights your expertise, services, and unique selling points. Your website will deliver a clear and persuasive message to potential clients, proving you mean business.

Are you ready to take charge of your landscaping business? With our affordable $500 websites, you can attract more clients, generate leads, and establish yourself as a leader in the landscaping industry. Our user-friendly features and SEO services will empower your online presence like never before. Get ready to step into the spotlight and make a bold statement in the world of landscaping.

Visit Guilford Landscaping for an example landscaper website.

Websites for Restaurants: Elevating Your Online Presence for $500

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 17:29:10 GMT

In today's digital age, having a captivating online presence is vital for restaurants looking to attract more customers and boost reservations. As a leading website design business specializing in creating websites for restaurants, we understand the unique needs of the food industry. Our fee to build a 1-10 page website is only $500 . Hosting is $400 per year. Our affordable websites for restaurants offer an irresistible combination of features that will tantalize taste buds and drive more hungry diners to your establishment. Discover how our tailored solutions can optimize your restaurant's online visibility and elevate your success in the competitive culinary landscape.

1. Websites for Restaurants: The Key to Success

In an increasingly competitive market, a well-designed website is your restaurant's best marketing asset. Our websites for restaurants are built with precision to engage visitors, showcase your culinary creations, and streamline the reservation process, giving your establishment a significant advantage in attracting more diners.

2. A Taste of Convenience: OpenTable Integration

Our restaurant websites come integrated with OpenTable, making it effortless for diners to reserve a table at your eatery. Embrace the convenience of this popular reservation platform and watch your bookings soar as customers enjoy the ease of securing a spot at your delightful dining destination.

3. Tempting Menus, Instant Updates

With editable restaurant menus, you have the power to whet appetites and keep diners intrigued. Our websites empower you to showcase seasonal specials, update menu items, and feature enticing dishes with just a few clicks. Presenting mouthwatering options will leave a lasting impression on potential customers and ensure repeat visits from satisfied patrons.

4. Easy Navigation with Google Maps

Finding your restaurant should be a seamless experience for diners. Our websites include Google Maps integration, providing clear directions to your location. As customers effortlessly find their way to your doorstep, you can focus on delivering an exceptional dining experience that keeps them coming back for more.

5. Savor the Experience: Photos and Reviews

Captivate your audience with visual delights and genuine customer reviews. Our websites feature stunning images that showcase your delectable dishes, evoking excitement and anticipation in viewers. Coupled with glowing testimonials from satisfied diners, these elements instill trust and confidence in potential customers, prompting them to book a table without hesitation.

6. Stay Connected with Events and Newsletters

Engage your loyal customers and attract new ones by keeping them informed about upcoming events and special offers. Our websites have an events section where you can promote themed nights, exclusive dining experiences, and other exciting occasions. Additionally, visitors can subscribe to your newsletter to receive regular updates, establishing a strong connection with your restaurant.

7. Social Media Integration for Wider Reach

Expand your online presence and engage with a broader audience through our websites' seamless social media integration. A direct link to your restaurant's social media profiles allows diners to stay updated on the latest happenings, creating a vibrant online community around your culinary venture.

8. Enticing Visuals: Instagram Feed Integration

A feast for the eyes awaits your visitors with an integrated Instagram feed showcasing your most visually appealing dishes. Our websites provide a gallery of your restaurant's culinary masterpieces, encouraging visitors to share and engage with your mouthwatering creations.

Your restaurant's online presence is crucial in today's digital landscape. Our tailored websites for restaurants offer the perfect recipe for success, combining user-friendly design, OpenTable integration, editable menus, and captivating visuals. With streamlined navigation and features that entice and engage, our websites ensure your restaurant stands out from the competition and enjoys increased reservations. Elevate your culinary venture to new heights with our affordable website solutions.

Visit https://www.lennysnow.com/ to see an example website that we build.

Our Newest Web Development Solution | Affordable Web Design Packages

Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:12:17 GMT

Affordable Web Design: How to Level Up Your Website on a Budget

The last decade has delivered countless changes to the way we build and interact with web content. Responsive design and content management systems (CMS), in particular, have produced user-friendly websites that are easier than ever to navigate from a variety of devices.

While recent advancements have dramatically improved web experiences for modern consumers, they've come with a notable downside: the rapid increase in web development expenses. This is, in part, due to the exceedingly high expectations held by today's internet users. While such demands have produced beautifully designed sites, they complicate matters for small to midsize businesses dealing with modest budgets.

Not only can the initial cost of web development prove surprisingly steep, but the same can also be said of updates. However, without regular changes, businesses risk losing the consistent traffic and conversions they so desperately need. It doesn't take long for consumers to lose interest and brand awareness to fade.

Thankfully, exciting new solutions promise to address the budgetary concerns of building and maintaining a website in today's quickly changing digital world. Web Design CT’s newest website design package may be the most viable strategy for businesses struggling to keep up.

What Does the Web Design Package Involve?

A revolutionary model for dealing with the most urgent web building concerns faced by modern businesses, our newest website development service relies on the power of data to drive optimization where it's needed most. This approach assumes that companies lack the resources necessary to make consistent improvements in all areas of web design or content development. By taking baby steps, however, even financially struggling organizations can make steady improvements in the key areas capable of delivering excellent return on investment (ROI).

The successful implementation of this solution relies on the initial use of a basic but effective content strategy. Upon initial rollout, the site will provide the standard services and simple navigation that users require, all while being completely unique to the brand with the high-quality look that’s desired. From there, a series of tweaks can be made over time based on data regarding the site's performance.

Low Cost, High ROI

At Web Design CT, we want to help you maximize your web presence. That’s why we’ve created an effective solution for building a functional website for a reasonable cost. This allows businesses to limit early investments, and, instead, save budgets for data-driven developments and marketing services that will deliver real results.

For only $500 a month, you can get up to 10 webpages with no upfront costs, no annual hosting fee, and no additional charge for edits or changes that may be needed down the road. We offer hundreds of straightforward templates on our easy-to-use platform and customization opportunities include making changes to colors and fonts – and more importantly, images and written content – can easily be adjusted as needed.

Our approach is less expensive, but that's only the beginning. Additionally, businesses that take advantage of this solution enjoy significant time savings, reduced security concerns, and exceptional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) .

Here’s how our web design package compares to a more traditional website build:

Of course, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to web development . While our platform is ideal for small businesses with limited resources, we still recommend WordPress for large corporations and BigCommerce or Shopify for eCommerce clients. However, for smaller enterprises looking to level up their web presence, our website design solution could make all the difference.

Are you ready to move beyond the stagnant web development approaches of the past and take on a system that delivers the results you desire on a budget? Look to the Web Design CT team for help. We're happy to provide the guidance you need as you embark on this exciting journey.

Can You Get Over 100% Return with Email Marketing - Web Design CT

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:38:00 GMT

E-mail marketing is one of the most cost-effective ways of marketing and generating traffic to your site.

One company received 140% response rate with an e-mail broadcast. When I first heard this, I thought is was a typo. After all, even if every one who received the e-mail responded, that would only be 100%, right?

The e-mail was so compelling and the product was so interesting that the people who originally received the e-mail forwarded it on to other people they felt would be interested, so the reach of e-mail extended beyond the original list to include friends and colleagues in their address book.

An interesting illustration of the power of people telling others.

The post Can You Get Over 100% Return With E-mail Marketing appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

Effectively Use Data From Google Analytics - Web Design CT

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:27:00 GMT

Due to the current economic situation effecting businesses around the world, executives are being forced to cut back even more on spending in order to help their companies survive. Unfortunately some of these cut backs tend to include critical marketing budgets. Ensuring the right cuts are being made is more crucial then ever. This article has a few suggestions on how to use your web analytics data to help you make better informed decisions.

The best approach is to find campaigns or parts of campaigns that are not efficient and to cut them while supporting the more efficient campaigns with the leftover marketing dollars. Here are a few places that I would check first to find these inefficiencies:

Cost per Conversion Comparison

Compare the cost per conversion for each of your campaigns. In Google Analytics you will find this information under All Traffic Sources. From there click Traffic by Medium and finally select the Conversion tab. The cost per conversion for each traffic driving mechanism (I.E. medium) should be displayed if you have set up your goals properly.

Compare by Geography

Compare the cost per conversion by geography. You will find this under Map Overlay in the Visitors section of the reports. You may find that some regions have a high cost per conversion for whatever reason. Eliminate them from the geo-targeting of your paid marketing campaigns.

Time of Day

Review the cost per conversion by time of day. You can do this by going to the goals section and clicking the Graph by Hour button. You can also run a custom report to get more detailed information about the cost per conversion for each hour of the day.

Sources

We also recommend you dive more deeply into your reports to see if there are specific referring sites in paid campaigns with an abnormally high cost per conversion. Then check the cost per conversion against the creative or message used for each campaign.

If you monitor your reports closely and track the trends over time you will be able to eliminate inefficiencies and improve your ongoing campaigns.

The post Effective Use of Google Analytics Data appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

Text Optimization Tips For Great SEO Results - Web Design CT

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:25:00 GMT

There is a saying in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that “Content is King”. This means that the visible content on the page is the most important factor in search engine rankings. We recommend focusing on one SEO target per page. Focusing on too many different phrases per page will dilute the effectiveness of the page, and the page will not rank highly for any of the target keyword phrases. The text on the page should match with the target of the META tags for maximum effectiveness. Text that is on the homepage is weighted more heavily than text on subpages. For the homepage we recommend pulling keywords from each of the subpages to make the home page contain the optimum level of keyword rich content.

Here are some other tips for optimizing text

1. We recommend that each page have 100 to 900 words.

2. Each page should have 1-5 target keyword phrases. These phrases should become keyword research that needs to performed to make sure the targeted phrases have a high number of searches. The target keyword phrase should be incorporated into the website’s visible text, headers, subheaders, image alt tags and META tags.  

3. Use optimized headers at the top of every page and optimized subheaders throughout the page. For instance, each page should have a header at the top of the page that contains the subject of the page. In the body copy try to incorporate subheads that describe the paragraphs of text.

4. Place your target keyword phrase close to the beginning of your page. Early appearance of your keyword shows its importance in the context of the entire page because it is mentioned at the very beginning. We recommend that keywords be placed in the first 25 words in the visible text of this page.

5. Your keyword should constitute at least 2 percent density on your page. The density is the percent that the keyword phrase is used within the text. You can test the keyword density once the page is live using the following tool: http://totheweb.com/tools/spider-test/index.php . You can increase the density of the phrase by increasing your usage of the keyword phrase or by eliminating unnecessary text that does not contain the phrase. Also consider the possibility of using different forms of your keywords. During the ranking process search engines consider not only direct matches of keywords, but also their various alterations. In addition, the modification of your keyword makes the content more user-friendly, so your page doesn’t look like a readability puzzle stuffed with one key phrase. The best approach for writing page copy is to write naturally and write what feels comfortable to you.

6. In #4 we explain the effectiveness of placing a keyword phrase at the beginning of you page. If possible, you can also include your target keyword phrase close to the end of your page. Your page will be more relevant if your keyword appears at the end and the beginning of the visible text. To do this, put your keyword in the last paragraph of your copy. We also recommend adding a call to action at the bottom of every page with a link to one of the conversion point form pages.

The post SEO Text Optimization Tips appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

Choosing Colors When Designing A Website - CT Web Designer Branford

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:22:00 GMT

Many web designers overlook the importance of color when designing a web site. Color should be one of your first concerns when it comes time to start your web site design. If you don’t pay close attention to the colors you chose, your site you will end up either plain and boring or so chaotic it’s hard to look at. The color you use should only be chosen after careful consideration.

Unfortunately web browsers can only see 256 colors. Even that number is hindered because all browsers don’t share the same 256-color pallet. Currently web browsers only share 216 common colors. When designing key elements in your web site you should stay within the 216-color pallet.

If you go outside the 216 color pallet you start to use colors that do not exist within that browser. The browser has to mix the colors that do not exist. In order for the browser to display the color, it needs to take tiny dots from the colors native to that browser to come up with an approximate color. This is known as dithering. Some displays will distort the tiny dots to the point where the image is so speckled that it does not appear to be a solid color. This makes text very hard to read if it is placed over the dithered color. You should always use a browser safe color when using solid color as a design element. Some of the browser safe colors should be used with caution though.

Most of the eye operations are muscular and just like all other muscles it tires out. I will illustrate with an example. (This is a test I learned about 7 years ago and is very effective to get the point across). This is a simple test that should take only 45 seconds. If you do this short test, you will be better able to understand what I’m about to say.

1) Look at the black dot in the red box for 25 seconds from about 10 -15 inches away from your monitor. You must keep your focus on the black dot for this test to work.

2) After the 25 seconds look at the dot in the white box for 20 seconds. (You must focus on the black dot)

3) What color did you see in the white box?

What did you see when you looked at the white box? Did you see a bluish green color? (If not go back and do the test over). No this is not a trick or hallucination. There is a simple explanation. Without getting too technical, I’ll tell you what just happened.

In the back of your eye there is a thin layer of tissue that contains millions of tiny light-sensing nerve cells called rods and cones. Cones respond to specific wavelengths of light. Your eye is filled with color decoding cones. When you looked at the red box the cones that detect the red wavelength become tired and fatigued. When this happens the opposite cones in your eye start to kick in. Hence the bluish green color you saw. Now that you know there is a scientific reason behind eye fatigue you should apply it to your web site.

I’m sure you have you noticed that caution signs are usually yellow. Pure yellow strains your eye more than any other color because of that, it is the first color your eye will fix on. Using these colors (I still advise you to use it sparingly) for banners and advertisements will receive more attention from the viewer’s eye. Once the visitor comes to your site there is really no reason you should irritate the visitor with bright colors. You have done a good job if they are viewing your site.

You should use yellow and red colors sparingly in your web site itself. Only use them in areas where you want the visitor to focus on. Do not make large parts of your web site with bright color. It might get your visitors attention but they will either consciously or subconsciously notice their eyes getting fatigued. This will make them not want to look at your web site for long periods of time. There are enough reasons why a visitor would leave your web site. You don’t need to add to that list by using irritating color.

The post Your Website Color Choice Is Important appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

Learn The Language Of The World Wide Web - Web Design Connecticut

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:16:00 GMT

If you are already on the web or thinking about it then you must know the terminology used on the web. Here is a GLOSSARY of a few must know Web Terms.

Visitors – The number of distinct people who visit your site.

Page Views – The number of web pages that have been viewed by the visitors to your site. If a single page is viewed many times by a visitor, each view is treated as a new page view.

Hits – When a visitor views a page that has 3 graphics or images on it, he / she will give you 4 hits. 1 for the HTML page and 3 for the graphics. As hits are meaningless, you must not express your site statistics in terms of Hit count.

Referrer URL – It is the web site from which the visitor has arrived to your site. Assume that the www.xyzsite.com web site has a link to your site on all its pages. When a surfer clicks on your sites’ link and arrives at your site, www.xyzsite.com becomes your Referrer URL. Thus a referrer url indicates the sites which are giving you traffic.

DirectVisits – If visitors type the url of your site in their browsers or click on a browser bookmark to arrive at your site, it will be shown as a Direct Visit.

WYSIWYG HTML Editor – This is short for ” What You See Is What You Get “. It is pronounced as We-z-Wig. A WYSIWYG HTML Editor will create the HTML page for you. All tags are automatically inserted by the editor when you click buttons. You only need to type in the text of your document. A WYSIWYG Editor is very useful while working with tables as it displays the table structure i.e. rows and columns.

HTML Validation – A HTML validation tool is used to determine if the HTML code in your web page has any errors on it. Validating your HTML code ensures that your web page will be displaced correctly by most browsers.

Link Popularity – Is measured in terms of the number of sites which are linking to your site. High Link Popularity for a web site helps to improve its ranking in the Search Engine listings. To determine the number of sites linking to the site www.yoursite.com in Google, type “link:yoursite.com-url:yoursite.com” in the search box. The – stands for minus and it will exclude links from pages within the yoursite.com domain. You can also determine Link Popularity using Google toolbar. Display the required site and check “Backward Links” in the Google toolbar. The toolbar is free to download from http://toolbar.google.com .

Spider – When you submit a web site to a Search Engine (SE), the SE will send out spiders (software program) to your site. These spiders will record information about your site and bring it back to the SE. The info brought by the spiders is added to the database of the SE. This process is known as indexing. After your site has been indexed it will be ranked and listed by the SE, so that the site shows up in the search results.

Autoresponder – It is a software that sends an automated reply or replies to emails sent to it. The reply or replies are pre written and saved on the web server by the web site owner. As the replies are automated, it saves time & effort for the web site owner. Autoresponders can be used for sending product details to customers, to handle subscription requests or to send follow up messages to prospective customers.

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Tips To Help Improve Website Performance - Web Design Connecticut

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:11:00 GMT

Image Utilization

DO NOT use excessive graphics or banner images on a single web page. They tend to slow the loading of your Web page. Impatient surfers might close their browser and move on. Usually your web page must load within 10 seconds. If you have many images on a single page, consider reducing their file size (resolution) deleting few of them or moving them to a new page.

Add Essential Elements

You should include these elements on your website: About Us [Brief description of your company and its products. You can include personal details about yourself and your employees], Contact Us [Provide the postal address, telephone, fax, email of your company or business along with a lead capture form.], A Links to Related Sites page, A Home Page link on each page and Site Search tool to allow visitors to find information on your site.

Give something FREE on your website

You can offer free ebooks, articles and/or software. The stuff that you give away should be related to the topic of your website and should benefit your vistors in some way. This helps to keep people coming back to your website.

Color Selection

You should specify colors for page background, text, active link, visited link and Url links in the body tag. This will ensure that your site is displayed exactly as designed. Consider the readability of your text when choosing the text color and the background color of the page.

Keyword Meta Optimization

In the Keywords Meta tag try to use both singular and plural variations of the words. e.g. internet cafes, internet cafe. DO NOT use a keyword more than 3 times and DO NOT repeat a keyword one after the other.

Keywords Expanded

Other than the Keyword and Description Meta tags, you must try to use keywords in following areas: the title tag, description tag, the Content of the page, Image names, Image alt tags, Href title attributes and in the Text of a link.

Target Phrases

Most surfers are using PHRASES for search terms. This means that you should also use phrases in the Meta keyword tag. For deciding the keywords use the suggestion tools provided by Google.

Small Page Size

Try to keep the total size of your web page under 1000 kilobytes[kb]. The size of the web page is the sum of the size of the HTML file and the sizes of all images on the web page. Always check the web page/s for errors in spelling and grammar before uploading it to your server. After uploading the web page/s get friends and colleagues to read through your site and point out any errors they see.

Fix Broken Links

Check for broken links on your web pages on a regular basis. You can do this manually or use a software program to do this for you. Links to website which have shut down or sold out will lead to broken links. Google Webmaster tools offer a handy online tool that can check your website for broken links.

Double Opt-in

If you have an Autoresponder to build an Opt-In list, use a double Opt-In. The first message should ask for confirmation of the Opt-In and have a link that allows users to remove themselves from the list. Only if the user sends the confirmation, should the 2nd message be sent.

The post Tried And Tested Tips To Improve Your Website appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

How To Conceptualize, Build, Publish A Website - Web Design CT

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:00:00 GMT

All of us knowingly or unknowingly, use a standard decision making process in our day-to-day lives. The very first step of this process is to decide whether TO DO or NOT TO DO. If the choice is TO DO, we think of the various ways and means of attaining our objective/s, compare their pros & cons and take a final stand.

This aim of this articles is to make you aware of the resources that are needed to achieve your TO DO objective. The TO DO objective is to conceptualize, build and publish your web site.

If you are convinced of the fact that you do need a web site, then the next step is to decide what you want from your web site. Do you want a site that your near and dear ones can visit from time to time ( I assume you are far away from them. ) or do you want a site that sells a product, service, brand or image? Whatever the purpose of your web site, the absolute essentials to have a site up and running are as below.

The 5 Essentials

Spare Time – You must have lot of spare time at your disposal. So if you are a house maker whose kids have grown up, a worker who has just been shown the pink slip or college student on vacation then time shouldn’t be a problem for you. Those hard pressed for time can contract the web page design work to a professional web design company.

HTML Knowledge – HTML is NOT a programming language. Its basics can be mastered within a month and the learning curve is not too steep. The fact that anyone can learn HTML and create Web pages is the reason why the internet is so popular and has such varied content. Learn the HTML tags and how to use them. Buy a good book on HTML. It will teach HTML and also give links to various online HTML resource sites.

HTML Page & Site Creation Tools – The main reason for using these tools is to speed up the process of page / site creation. However, most of the tools do not produce correct HTML and editing by hand is necessary. Your HTML book will provide reviews of these tools and links to their web sites. If you know HTML and plan to have 5-6 web pages in your site, a rudimentary editor will also suffice. For managing a site with huge number of pages you will need to use a Site Creation Tool.

Make provisions for a fast internet connection and a room where you can work without distractions.
Find a web hosting company to host your web site.

Crystallize a Concept

With the 5 main things taken care of, you should be ready for Conceptualization. Consider that you would like your site to accomplish, who you are targeting and what appraoch will be most effective. Viewing your competitors website will help you to get a feel for what your up against.

Build your Site

Once you have arrived at a concept, use your HTML Knowledge and , HTML Page Creation Tools. Edit the HTML to make the visual just right. Load the pages with content. Keep in mind that Content is King. Keep the page design simple yet elegant. Value content over flashiness. Don’t use too much graphics, if you do the page will take time to load. Impatient surfers might close their browsers and move on.

Publish your Site

To enable surfers to view your web site, you must publish your pages to a server that is connected to the internet i.e. a web server. When you publish a page to a web server, you upload that page on to the web server. You can upload the pages on the server of an ISP (Internet Service Provider) or on the server of an IPP (Internet Presence Provider) i.e. a web hosting company. Usually it is better to use an IPP because:

Once you have published your pages, type your site url in the browser and view the site. Test all url links to ensure that they are working correctly. If your site sells a concept or product you must publicize the site so that surfers get to know about it. Publicizing the site and generating traffic to it are issues in themselves and would need another article. For more help on these topics search for ebooks and articles. Plenty are available.

The post Conceptualize, Build And Publish A Web Site appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

Building Your Opt-in Email Subscription List - Web Design Connecticut

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 13:41:00 GMT

The most successful Internet marketing gurus know that the secret is in the LIST. The list of subscribers they’ve built, an audience that WANTS to hear from them every month and eagerly reads the newsletters and other communications and frequently buy from what is offered.

While people hate spam, they also do sign up for information they WANT to receive.

Here are some tips for building your own targeted subscriber list:

It is critical to your Internet marketing success that your organization has a subscriber building program in place and that every team member understands their role in building a profitable subscriber list.

The post Building Your E-mail Subscriber List appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .

Where To Begin When You Need A Website - Website Design Company CT

Thu, 29 Oct 2015 13:09:00 GMT

You know you need a website, but you don’t know where to start. This is the situation we find many companies who come to us are in. Ask yourself… Who is my audience? Who am I trying to reach? What are the goals for my website? How do we achieve these goals? With the answers to these questions in mind, we typically recommend starting with a simple sitemap. A sitemap is a list of the pages that you will use as the structure to your website. You will need a Homepage and a Contact Us page where people can fill out a form to email you. You should also include an About Us page which describes your company, your mission, your approach, etc. If you are a service based company, you should have a Services page or a page for each service. If you manufacture products, you should have a page for each product (whether the site is eCommerce or not). Other pages to consider include: FAQ, Testimonials, Privacy Policy, Photo Gallery, Newsletters, Articles, Maps and Directions, Clients, etc.

Once you have your sitemap we recommend taking a look at some competitor websites to see what your up against. DO NOT COPY their text. Use what you see for ideas only. You may decide that you want to add pages to your site based upon what you see. You can also start brainstorming possible web design layouts, color schemes, font preferences, navigation preferences, and image ideas.

Your next step should be to meet with a web design company to discuss your options. Show them your sitemap and some of the sites that you like. Consider the website’s color scheme (you can pick a good one by visiting Kuler ), the layout, the navigation, use of animation, position of conversion points, and the content. Tell them what you like about the sites that you show to them and why you like it. Showing them things that you do not like is also very important. This should facilitate a discussion about your new website. When we meet with new clients, we like to “whiteboard” or list ideas until everyone at the table feels we have the best concept for a site established. It is also a good idea to pick and register a domain name early in the process before yours gets registered by another party. We recommend that you own your domain name as opposed to having it owned by your web design company.

Website Design Company CT

Based upon the meeting with your design company, you should request a proposal for your website. If your not 100% confident in the company you meet with or not sure that they are giving you a fair price, you should request proposals of other web design companies. We recommend that you do not just pick the lowest price company as you often get what you pay for. Take a look at each vendor’s portfolio of work and consider if they can represent your company successfully through the website and can deliver it in a timely manner. These questions will help you decide which companies will provide a poor quality website and which companies that will take FOREVER to complete the site. Depending on the complexity, a small 1-10 page site should be complete in no more then one month. We also recommend that you consider if the site that they build for you will help you to achieve your goals. Most of our clients want to receive a lot of visits which means that the site will need to rank highly in the search engines. If the company building the site doesn’t also specialize in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) you may want to look elsewhere, otherwise you may receive a site that looks nice but doesn’t achieve your goal of driving traffic to your site.

Once you have selected a web design company to build your site you will likely have a kickoff meeting to get the design team started on the initial mockup of the site. This is where you will discuss the details of the site with them and how you would like the site to look. After this initial meeting they will present ideas to you based upon your prior conversation and research that they have done about your brand and the competitive landscape of your industry. Your account representative should tell you what content you need to develop and should present a schedule with everyone’s tasks to be completed (yours and the designers). You may also need to pick some stock images (designers may also pick them for you) or schedule a photoshoot.

If you’re having the site optimized for the search engines (and you should), you will provide the SEO Specialist with a list of keyword phrases which you think the site should rank highly for. This list will be used to plant a keyword research project where all keywords that can be targeted will be collected along with data about each keyword phrase including the competitiveness of the phrase and the number of monthly searches. Together with the SEO Specialist, you will pick the phrases that you would like to target. The best phrases to target will likely be ones that have a limited amount of competition, a high number of monthly searches, and most importantly, phrases that are highly relevant to exactly what you do. It is best to pick very specific phrases that target your niche in the market rather then targeting broad terms. Having the target keyword phrases defined at this early stage in the process will give you the ability to work them into the text for the website as you write it. See the text optimization article for more tips on incorporating the keywords into your website text.

The SEO Specialist SHOULD write custom meta tags that target the keyword phrases which have been agreed upon from the keyword research. The SEO Specialist should also review your text and make recommendations for you to incorporate additional keywords if the frequency of keywords within the visible text is not high enough.

The design team will present you with a mockup or mockups of your site and ask for your changes. This is the best time to make changes to the way that the site will look as changes made later will be much more time consuming. Make sure that you are 100% happy with the design before approving it and moving to the next step.

Once you have delivered all of your finalized content to the designers (text and images), and your design is approved, it is time to “build-out” the site. The web designers and developers will build each individual page, create the navigation and build any other features such as site search, XML sitemaps, social media link buttons, custom 404 pages, etc. The custom META tags will be inserted into the website and the SEO Specialist will ensure that all other SEO best practices have been adhered to including adding header h1/h2/h3 tags, alt tags, cross links, etc. The site will then get uploaded to the server (not live to the public yet) for testing. Email addresses will get set up and forms will be tested.

Once the testing is complete, you should review the site very thoroughly to ensure that it is perfect before it goes live. The web design company will have done this also, but there may be nuances about the text that you wrote that only you will notice. This last round of changes will ensure that everything is correct when your customers first view your site. You should already have a domain name purchased. If you don’t you can buy one at Godaddy or any of the thousands of other domain name registrars. The website design company will need access to your domain name to make the site live.

YAY! Your site is live!! You can just sit back and wait for the leads to pour in, right? No, sorry it’s not that easy or that quick. Natural SEO can take some time so you need to promote the site in other ways. We typically recommend a Google pay-per-click campaign to help launch the site. We also recommend link building to help your natural search rankings. We recommend email marketing especially if you have a sizable opt-in email list. Social media is another great way to promote your site. You will need Google Analytics to track and measure the effectiveness of your website marketing efforts. We really could go on and on about how to market your website, but that is for another article (or many).

We hope you found this article enjoyable and informative. If you have any recommendations pleas email us to tell us what you liked or did not like, or what you think was missing. Your input is appreciated.

The post I Need a Website – Where Do I Start? appeared first on Web Design CT - Branford, Connecticut .