Shari Thurow says, “An optimized website is easy to navigate. In fact, one of the main reasons that people switch to a competitor site is navigation difficulty. So I created this navigation checklist to help web professionals ensure that their site’s navigation system is effective for both humans and technology. In Part 1, I went over the following navigation design and architecture best practices: Website Navigation Supports & Enables Task Completion Website Navigation Supports & Reinforces The Site’s Information Architecture Website Navigation Should Be Noticeable & Distinguishable... [...]

Erez Zundy says, “Most companies spend thousands (and thousands) of dollars looking to give their Web designers the tools they need to do their jobs efficiently and successfully, but are they spending their money on the right tools? There are some staples in every designer’s toolbox that should stay and some others that deserve a first look. Here are nine crucial tools for Web designers. 1. GITHUB Both individuals and teams can benefit from the features offered by GitHub. Sometimes you are not exactly sure how to integrate your next design idea, so asking for independent”. 9... [...]

Pete Prestipino says, “Minimalist Web pages have been popular among designers for quite some time, but the trend is evolving in some elegant and sophisticated ways.  Today, for example, you might see standalone websites use video backgrounds on these often sparse pages. One incredibly lightweight (coming in at just 3.6K) jQuery plugin to check out, if a Web page video background appeals to your design sensibilities, is Vide. The plugin works on all modern desktop browser (including IE9+), and while it has some trouble working on iOS and Andoird devices”. Create a Video Background... [...]

Don VanFossen and Andres Tobar are releasing the latest version of Serp Shaker. These two are a natural pairing. People have made money with Don’s products. And Andres has proved that he build useful tools, too. In fact, using Serp Shaker (not selling it to other marketers; using it himself) he reports that he made over $600,000 last year. Serp Shaker evolved from an original plugin that was released byTobar and VanFossen, along with a former partner. That original plugin was called Local Page Ninja.. Thousands of copies of Local Page Ninja were sold. In many cases, buyers were excited... [...]

There’s a new WordPress theme marketers are finding just right for building a marketing site: Cotton WordPress theme. This new theme is not only easy to use to build a professional-looking site, it also: • Helps you engage your visitors in that crucial 30- second time window when they decide to go or stay • Loads very fast, further increasing visitor engagement and impressing the search engines • Is easy for you to use to build the site you have always wanted and get it done quickly Cotton WordPress theme comes with all the features you need for a custom, professional look... [...]

Shari Thurow says, “People make assumptions about website navigation, often to the detriment of findability. We assume that the web designer or developer is naturally knowledgeable about effective site navigation. Does the designer’s or developer’s home page have a jqueryhomepage slider that takes up the majority of the screen? Or cool drop-down and fly-out menus? Granted, any designer or developer naturally likes to show the breadth of his or her expertise. I have a different reaction than most people when I see those items on a website. My immediate question is why the “wow” factor... [...]

Rachel Chilson says, “The economic potential of online communication is $45 trillion, according to research by Common Sense Advisory. Clearly, the Internet is rich with opportunities to sell your products globally. According to that same study, however, if you have only an English version of your website, you’re limiting yourself to one-third of that revenue. Your website is your storefront to the world. If you want to reach targeted locales around the globe, you’ll want to consider localizing your website to meet your audiences’ unique needs—and there’s more... [...]

It gets results. In fact, there are over 32,000 marketers who are using Keyword Advantage to: – Find Profitable Keywords – Lucrative Niches – Discover Opportunities for Page 1 Rankings – Identify Commission-Sucking Products – Local Keywords Worth Targeting Here’s an example of what it can do for a struggling marketer. Despite being legally blind, Joan Lewis still managed to to get all the traffic she needed to make a living online. In fact, Google ranked her site on page 1. Joan’s secret (not to mention the other 32,000 users) is Keyword Advantage. Now... [...]

Ben Davis says, “More and more we are used to slick mobile websites that focus on functionality above all else, and quite right, too. Arguably when we visit web entities we have less patience than ever before. Certain generations are starting to build up some serious hours of learning online, navigating websites, social networking and getting stuffdone. These users are developing an innate understanding of web design, even if subconscious. What this means is that the online world is fast finding its own feet, its design conventions, when viewed as a channel for interaction and productivity”. Does... [...]

The latest article on HubSpot blog is titled “3 Common Homepage Problems (and Their Solutions)”. Laura Hogan says, “There are two types of homes. The first are homes that make you feel cozy and comfortable enough to put your feet up. The other group are homes that make you feel uncomfortable, stiff, and afraid to touch anything. The former is the feel we want on our website homepage. When visitors feel at home, they stay a while, get comfortable, poke around, look at your photos, and feel like they belong. If your homepage feels like a museum, they’re likely to leave before... [...]