Viewing a website on the internet is something akin to a choreographed dance in which your web server and web browser weave in and out of each other daintily.

Well, not really, but they do have equally important roles when you’re viewing a web page. In order to understand this, you need to know the difference between client and server side technologies.

Client side: Anything that occurs via the user’s computer and web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Google Chrome, etc).

A Popular Example: Javascript

Server side: Anything that occurs on the web server before it appears on your computer.

A Popular Example: PHP

Javascript and PHP are two of the most popular examples of client side and server side functionality. When you download a webpage to your web browser, your web browser is basically receiving a file in HTML format and using the HTML code as instructions to display the website. While it may seem like you are “constantly connected” to a website, you’re actually just viewing a premade document on your computer that takes a fraction of a second to download.

If your website is using any Javascript, the effects are being executed by your web browser, and are considered client side. This is because your web browser is simply downloading a file from the web server and the web browser is executing the Javascript. The actual web server has nothing to do with the functionality other than allowing your web browser to download the files.

If your website is using any PHP scripts, the effects are being executed by your web server, and are considered server side. This is because your web server is doing all the information processing. In the case of PHP scripts, it is executing the code on the web server and outputting HTML code for your web browser to download and display.

Do server side and client side functionalities have to be exclusive? Absolutely NOT. In fact, some of the most intuitive functionality for websites comes from tactful use of both server side and client side technologies.

Example:

Let’s say you’re a photographer and you want to have customized photo galleries for your customers. You could accomplish the customized galleries with PHP web pages that are programmed to only show pictures to a specific user that is logged in. Then, you can use Javascript effects like the popular “Lightbox” effect to give your gallery a dynamic feel that is more intuitive to navigate.

Gone are the days of the internet belonging to the geek elite. It’s a common pitfall to think of the internet as a “magic box”. The key to using the internet effectively is knowing a little about what’s under the hood. By knowing the difference between what is going on client side and server side, you can put together the perfect mix of functionality and usability that not only displays information, but actively engages your visitor. It all comes with the mastery of developing the type of flawless user-experience that WEBii has been showcasing since its inception.

Everybody and their mother now owns a blog. It’s a simple fact of living in the same age as Nintendo, Teletubbies, and web 2.0. Any leg up that your business might have received by simply owning a blog is now gone. You can’t just casually have a blog if you’re going to be using it for your business. You need to make sure that it is integrated directly into your website (and your general marketing strategy). Why is that? Two important reasons:

1) Seamless User Experience

Did you know that the average internet browser spends a whopping six seconds on a web page before they move on to another one? Every second of your visitor’s experience is a tooth ‘n’ nail fight for their attention. If your blog is hosted separately from your website on a third party service like Blogspot or Wordpress, your visitor needs to be directed away from your website when they visit your blog. This creates a functional interruption as they leave your webpage, thus taking your traffic away from your website, even if it is to your blog, because it is hosted on a third party service.

If your blog is hosted along with your website, but not custom themed to match your website design, it creates a visual interruption, and the sudden interruption in visual theme throughout the site could cause your visitors to reflexively leave your website (think about the sudden visual change that pop-up adds and on-site advertisements cause).

2) Search Engine Optimization

The content that you publish through your blog is the cornerstone of your website’s online marketing potential. Blogs are commonly used as an easy way to promote interactivity within a website and publish useful content to which other people on the internet will link. If your blog is hosted by a third party service and NOT integrated with your website, you are putting your online presence at a huge disadvantage. By integrating your blog into your website, your blog content will be living on the same server as the rest of your website files. This makes it easier for Google, Bing, Yahoo!, and other search engines to index your content and properly attribute all your hard won search engine traffic to your website.

By integrating your blog into your website, you take a simple online publishing tool and turn it into an invaluable online marketing hub through which you can grow your online presence and seamlessly promote interactivity with your business both on your website and throughout the world wide web.

You may not know it but you see the results of the META title and description tags every time you use a search engine.  The title and short description that is displayed on the Search Engine Results Page (or SERP) is actually taken directly from the META tags coded into your site.

META tags are a part of the underlying HTML code that makes up your website. They provide search engines with important information about your site such as page titles, descriptions, and keywords. Unfortunately, properly optimized META tags are often overlooked as many people are unsure of what benefit they provide.

The above example shows the Search Engine Result for the Google Translate page. Notice that they included a relevant description of the page in the title as well as a brief description of what the page offers.

The key with these META tags is to think of them as your billboard on the Search Engine Results Page. The META Title is the headline that grabs peoples attention and the META Description is the short summary that draws them in.

Here are a few tips for working with your own META title and META description tags:

META Title:

• Give each page a unique title
• Make sure the title is relevant to the content on the page
• For maximum compatibility with all search engine make sure your META title is no more than 65 characters
• Think of this as the heading to your “billboard” on the Search Engine Results Page. Try to make the title enticing to the searcher.

META Description:

• Give each page a unique description
• Make sure your META description is relevant to the page and is enticing to searchers
• For maximum compatibility with all search engine make sure your META title is no more than 155 characters
• Think of this as a short advertisement. Engage the searcher with action words.

It used to be the case that websites were simple text documents that you downloaded to view on your Prodigy or AOL browser. Then again, you also used to be able to have dinner and watch Saved By The Bell by the time it actually downloaded, but the World Wide Web has come a long way since then. Websites are no longer restricted to being online versions of pamphlets. In fact, they run the gamut from expansive social networking services like Facebook, which has many millions of users, to small personal websites that receive maybe 5 visitors a month.

Websites used to be as simple as HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) code embedded in a single file per page. While this was great for simplicity, it didn’t do much in the way of functionality. The pages could only display one static set of information per page. In today’s current version of the internet, one web page can display a variety of different information depending on what the user inputs. These types of websites are known as dynamic websites because they dynamically generate the web pages each time a visitor visits a page, using a set of data that is retrieved from a database.

Here is an example of the way a static HTML page works:

1) You type “www.example.com” in the address bar of your web browser, and your web browser sends a request to the server of “www.example.com” for the contents of the web page.

2) Your web browser downloads the content of the home page at “www.example.com” in the format of an HTML document.

3) Your browser reads this document, and then displays it in your web browser as a web page.

The way a dynamically generated page works is a little different. Let’s take this blog as an example. This blog runs on a popular blogging platform called Wordpress. The Wordpress software uses a combination of PHP code and a mySQL database in order to dynamically generate web pages. PHP is a server-side scripting language, which means that all the processing is done on the web server, as opposed to a client-side script like Javascript that runs on your local machine. The short explanation of mySQL is that it stores data on a database server, which can be retrieved through a series of “queries”. If you would like to know more, you can read about it here: mySQL

Here is an example of the way a dynamically generated web page works:

1) You type “www.webii.net/blog” in the address bar of your web browser, and your web browser sends a request for the contents of the web page.

2) The page “index.php” runs its PHP code on the web server, which includes mySQL queries for information from the database. This includes a query of the “latest posts” which Wordpress stores in the mySQL database. The “index.php” file finishes running its code, and it outputs the result in HTML.

3) Your web browser reads the HTML output of the PHP file, and then displays it in your web browser.

Either way, your browser still receives and displays HTML information, but the manner in which it is retrieved is very different. The “index.php” file can put out different results depending on the user input. When you click on the “about” link in our blog’s navigation bar, you are actually calling the exact same “index.php” file, but this time the page is dynamically generated to display the “About” information that is stored in the mySQL database. Neat, huh?

Dynamic websites are not for every one. If you simply need to display a couple of pages of text and images, then sometimes bare bones HTML pages can suffice. If you need something better for your organization or business (or even just your personal website), dynamically generated web pages can be designed to give multi-tiered security access, allow you to update your web page from anywhere on the web, and many other powerful features that can turn an otherwise uninspired website into a full blown online presence, a tool to help you get things done.

Twitter is one of the hottest trends on the internet right now. For those of you not in the know, it’s what is called a microblogging service. It’s basically a page that stores any number of text updates, limited to 160 characters maximum. It’s almost like uploading SMS messages for everyone to see, allowing you to follow what your friends and acquaintances are up to 24/7.

You may have even seen little Twitter “badges” on people’s websites. These are little modular paces of code that will display your latest tweet right on your own webpage. It’s a pretty neat widget to have if you have a personal page, or own a business and want to keep your customers updated on your latest specials, but don’t want them to navigate away from your web page.

Putting a Twitter badge on your website is actually really easy, because all the hard stuff is done for you already. After you’ve setup your twitter account , visit this website: TwitStamp.com

Once you’ve customized and fiddled with your shiny new Twitter badge and you deem it satisfactory, simply scroll to the bottom where it says “Use it”. Click the first field that says “HTML”, copy the code, and paste the code, exactly as it is, into your website’s HTML page.

The next time you reload your page, you’ll have a widget displayed, just like it is now, after I inserted the HTML into this blog post.

As you can see, there are a variety of ways in which you can customize your badge, so have fun with it, keep it relevant, and Tweet on!

You don’t need to be intimidated by the internet. It’s merely a collection of interconnected websites, and websites are actually very simple things. They are files that people can access through Internet Browsers such as Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome. See? It’s not so scary when you break it down to its simplest elements.

You will need to do 3 things to make a website and publish it online: Create your Website Files, Purchase Web Hosting Space and Register a Domain Name, and Upload Your Files to a Web Server.

1) Create Your Website Files:

The website files are what visitors see when they visit your website. Basic websites are constructed with HTML code, but if you don’t know how to code HTML, there are programs that build websites in an environment similar to word processors (I.E Microsoft Word) and can generate your HTML files for you. Adobe Dreamweaver is a popular program, but if you’re looking for a free solution, Mozilla has a free HTML editor named SeaMonkey. (You can use any program you want, these are just recommendations).
Download and install the SeaMonkey program on your computer, then open the program.

In the SeaMonkey program, go to File > New > Composer Page.

Starting a New Web Page in SeaMonkey

This is where you can build your web page. Once you’re finished with a page, make sure to Save it. It will automatically save as an HTML document, with the file extension “.html”.

Great! You’ve now created your website files, and they’re saved on your computer. Now you need to find a company to host your files on the internet.

2) Purchase Web Hosting Space and Register a Domain Name:

A Domain Name is the name that will point to your website, such as “example.com” or “example.net”. Web hosting companies have servers that specialize in storing websites for people to access over the internet. Purchase some web hosting space from a company that offers the domain name as well, because it will greatly simplify the process. Some hosts even offer free domain name registration with the purchase of web hosting space. Example: Webii.net

Once you’ve purchased hosting space and a domain name, make sure to ask the company for your “FTP connection information” so that you can move onto step 3.

3) Upload Your Files to your Web Server:

In order to upload the website files that you created in step 1 to the web hosting server space that you purchased in step 2, we’re going to use something called an FTP program. There is a great, free program called Filezilla (made by the brains behind the Firefox web browser), and you can download it here: Download Filezilla

Download the the appropriate file depending on your operating system, install Filezilla on your computer, and open up the program.

In order to connect to your web server, you’ll need the following information, available from your web host: FTP Hostname, User Name, and Password. You can enter this information into the fields at the top of the Filezilla program and click “quick connect”. You should now be connected to your web server.

Connecting to your Web Server

Once you’ve connected, you can use the left window pane to navigate your computer’s files, and you can upload files from your computer to the web server. Ask your web host which directory contains your website files. You will upload the HTML files that you created on your computer onto the web server, into that specific directory.

Now, try visiting your domain name in a web browser. You’re on the web! You see? Publishing a web site onto the internet is easy. Making a web site that looks good? Now that is a different story.

Would you ever consider asking a friend to fly the airplane so you could get to your destination cheaper?  What about a part-time student pilot?

Unless you are a dare devil, I imagine you said no.

This is a point I like to make when I hear that someone has decided to “save money” but having their friend, or friend’s friend, or a part-time student – do their web site.  Sure, there is some new and upcoming talent out there, and there always will be people aspiring to be a web designer.  But what about your business?  How much does it mean to you?  Is your marketing worth so little to your business that you would risk it on an inexperienced, part-time, and possibly unreliable person?

I put “save money” in quotes because, unfortunately, there are many occassions when a business owner does go this route and finds out later that they lost money

- all that time that went by when the web site still wasn’t complete and no one could visit it…
- the poor results of a badly designed or badly coded web site, which actually scared away customers…
- a not-so-professional designer who stole copyrighted images and the owner later found themselves fined by the stock photo company…

The truth is, there is great value in hiring a professional web site designer/developer to create an attractive, functional web site, that actually markets you well on the Web.  The Internet is different than other marketing media, and your professional web developer will understand and strategize that for you.

People are always trying to keep up with the latest trends. Whether it’s the latest trend in handbags or shoes, people are stopping to take notice and see what is emerging on the fashion scene. For all of the fashionistas out there, this post is for you. Let’s take our fashion sense and translate it to what works for our businesses and website design. Stay with me as we touch on the top trends and translate them into design that works!

Trend #1: Canary Yellow is hot hot hot! Use splashes of color within your website design to create contrast and highlight important services or features. A pop of color is not only visually pleasing, but can also help you stand amongst the millions of other websites on the Internet. (Keep in mind, I said to use a POP of color – you don’t want your whole website to be a montage to a bright color that blinds your visitors.)

Trend #2: Braids, braids & more braids. It’s all the rage to braid your hair and I don’t mean the boring, one big braid we saw in the 1990s. Now it’s all about being creative with your braids – maybe it’s a small, side swept braid on just one side of your head or intricate braids tied into an up-do that paint a beautiful weave. Whatever the choice, there is something very hip about being creative with your braids. You are probably thinking how does this translate into my website’s design. It’s simple. While you want your design to be clean and modern, you also want a design that is creative and shows off your personality. Even when it is simple, creativity must be integrated into your website’s design.

Trend #3: Watch your step with those 4 inch heels. The world can be tricky to navigate, especially in four inch heels. However, the height advantage can really work for us shorter folks. However, don’t make your website a maze. Make it easy to navigate. Granted heels make it easier to see farther, but our feet can start to hurt if we have to walk too far. Your website navigation should be a breeze for visitors. The easier it is for them to find the information they need, the longer they will stay on the site.

Trend #4: The oversized handbag is your secret weapon. Inside your oversized handbag is all of your tricks. Use your website to hold a similar arsenal. Not only do you want to have the necessities in your purse (wallet, sunglasses, cell phone) and on your website (contact information, information about the company, products & services), but you want to have the helpful extras. For your website, this means having useful information and links readily available for your customers. It also means highlighting your own expertise for the visitor; you can do this easily through a blog or through posting helpful articles on your website.

Trend #5: Printed graphic tops show what you are made of. One of the most defining aspects of your website is the photography you use. You want to use high-quality, professional photography. Stock photography is very reasonably priced and provides you with the professional look that is necessary. The last thing you want is a website with low resolution images that provide an unpleasant viewing experience for your visitors, who are often potential customers. Fashion rewind … just as your photography translates into what people think about your website, your graphic tops should have prints that are meaningful and reflect your personality. Otherwise, who are you trying to show off to?

Trend #6: One shoulder, please! The perfect top … one shoulder exposed … stunning! Plus, it’s a sassy and fun summer look. Your website should show off your best shoulder. You want to highlight the important information about your company, the products & services you offer, and why folks should choose you.  However, you don’t want to give everything you’ve got away. Use your website to drawn them in. Make sure there is a clear call to action. Basically, you want to entice them to want more, so they will contact you directly.

It is fun to see how two completely separate items – fashion and web design – can relate to each other on so many levels and how you can translate that to success for your business’ web presence.

On a side note, remember to be fashionable in all that you do!

A lot of web site owners hear the term “meta tag” at some point and aren’t really sure what it is.  Then they start to panic and wonder if their web site designer included this. This topic can be rather extensive, so I will just cover some brief points.

Firstly, there are many types of meta tags.  These tags are within the code of your web page.  Basically what the tags do is define certain information about your site that may be important to a search engine or computer.  A few examples are: title, description, keywords, and author (but there are many more).

So are they important? Yes, sort of.  They are based on earlier Internet technologies, and many search mechanisms ignore them. However, some tags – like the title tag – are still considered important to include, especially for search engine exposure.

Should your pages have meta tags? Yes. At least title, description, and keywords tags are a good idea.  It certainly does not hurt your site to include these, and it might help.

The most important ‘meta tag’ is the title tag. This is the title you see displayed in the web browser (in the top bar).  Even after a couple decades of Internet behavior changes, experts still agree that the title tag is an important communication tool that tells both browsers and search engines what your site is about.  It should be one of the first things in your code, so it is one of the first opportunities a search engine has to read about your site.  So – this is an ideal place to include strong key phrases about your business.  Furthermore, search marketing professionals will stress that you should strive for variation on each title tag page to page.

How can I tell if my pages have meta tags? View your web page in a browser, right click (PC), and select the View Source option (might be called Page Source or something similar).  This will display some of the code for your page (excluding certain programming like php or asp).  Toward the top, there should be several lines that start with <meta name=….

WEBii can help with enhancing your site for search friendliness, and this is one of the things we look for in that process.  Contact us if you would like assistance improving your web site’s code.

Every business needs a media/press kit (the two names are interchangeable). Your media kit is a go-to guide for others to learn about your business. It should be enticing and informative. It should provide viewers with a good snapshot of your company, and make them want to learn more about your company, products and services.  You want your media kit to shine and stand out amongst others.
Traditionally a press kit was used to pass to journalists and media outlets to give them quality information about your company. Many times this was used as filler information for their stories about you. It also helped when you pitched them on a story because you already had all the information they need to know. Granted a good reporter will verify your information, find supporting evidence and back it up (or refute it, if that’s the case).

Today there are vast ways you can expand your media kit’s reach and expose it to larger numbers of individuals. A key medium to tap into is the Internet and your website. Your website is already an important tool for marketing your business, now you can add to it.  You can include a press section on your website, and provide these resources for your customers and your prospects with the click on a button. Having a press section on your website provides easy access for your clients, prospects, business associates, etc. to get needed information any time of day.

Key features to include with your press kit:

• Backgrounder – this is a short biography of your company
• Company timeline – this can be a brief, bullet-point list of the major happenings your company has experienced over the years
• Key facts – include important, and relevant, information that consumers need to know about your products & services, and your company.
• Price sheets – use this for your products and services
• Staff biographies – if you have a key employees that you want to spotlight, or all of your employees – this is a good way to put a face with a name
• Product / Service Sheets – keep it concise, but this is your chance to showcase what you have to offer
• Recent Press Releases – you want to show you are generating buzz
• Testimonials – ask your customers to share some kind words about you and how you’ve helped their business
• And more — add items that you feel are pertinent to your company and what will showcase your offerings.

It’s always good to have “paper” versions of your media kits so that you have tangible items to pass out. Don’t forget to tap into the resources you have and get that kit on your website. The exposure it will get is unmatched. A good design company will be able to help you integrate the new press section into your existing site fairly easily.

One reminder: once you get this press room open on your website, don’t forget to update it. There’s nothing worse than old news!