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Top 10 business website no-nos

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3 Web Design Mistakes

All businesses need to compete harder to push their products/ services into a declining attention span and having a strong online presence is crucial.

Over the years web design trends come and go, what seemed a great idea in 1999 is laughed at today.

As technology and development practices change what seems like every day, Point and Stare always recommend taking stock at least every 4 – 6 months – this is where our expertise comes in with keeping up with what you should and what you shouldn’t be doing online.

Below is a list of the old nasties that we sometimes see online, please take note and get them changed!

1, ‘Hacked by’ content
This is when your website gets taken over and all the content is replaced, usually, by some freedom fighters’ message.
Advertising to the world that you do not secure your website, check it regularly or are simply a security risk isn’t the best way to win new clients.
Avoid cheap and nasty shared hosting offers and, if possible, invest in your own dedicated server, at a minimum, and ensure quality security procedures are in place.

2, Blinking text
Having something blink all the time while I’m trying to read your content is just too distracting.
A fair few years ago, blinking text was all the rage and like any trend, time passes and it loses it’s novelty. Nowadays it’s just plain irritating.

3, Marquee tag
Similarly, having text drag itself all over the screen is equally annoying.
Websites need life and thanks to limited on screen effect functions a few years back, scrolling text was one of the few options. Thankfully technology has moved on and things have taken on a bit more subtlety.

4, Spam links
Your website content needs to be relevant, concise and to the point. Filling it with content solely for the purpose of spamming search engines is counter productive. You’ll do nothing but put visitors off and be penalised by Google etc. Remember, people buy from you, not search engines.

5, Over SEO’d content
Along the same lines as 4 – You are a Wedding Planner based in Norfolk – Your content should get that message across in as few words as possible, so there is no need to mention it in every single frikking sentence.
If possible, have your content written by a professional copywriter.

6, Flash intro
The equivalent to having an irritating clown standing in your shop doorway.
Imagine going to buy some shoes and to get into the store you have to wait 5 minutes while some sweaty ex-company executive shows you a card trick. You’ll simply go elsewhere.
Remove as many barriers between your customers and your goods or services as possible.

7, Huge/ heavy graphics
Although many people are on broadband connections there really is no need to use a 2mb image for your logo. Compact it down to the relevant size.
Having your website professionally designed and developed will pay dividends, will give you the look of a more professional company and make you proud enough to want to show it off.

8, No contact info
I’ve found your website, I like what you do … errm .. how do I contact you?
A simple email link with a contact form will suffice but if you are a legitimate company some company details are a legal requirement.
Don’t want to use your home phone number? Try a VOIP telephone answering service.

9, Google ads
Seriously? On a business website? Visitors are viewing your website to learn about your services/ products so why would you want your visitors to click a competitors link and leave your site?

10, Personal twitter feed
Business news/ information is fine but your clients really won’t be impressed with “i was so lashed on sat – lol”

Like any company commodity, a business website needs to pay its way, it needs to be used as part of your overall marketing strategy. Getting the message right on a local or international level is crucial to gaining trust and recognition within your industry.

Net Root

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Net Root

Client: Net Root
Brief: Convert current flat site into a bespoke CMS using the WordPress framework.

The client had a website but it was the usual story of taking 2 weeks to correct spelling, can’t access/ edit any pages etc.
We suggested the client base utilise the power of WordPress and go for a complete redesign.

The result, as you can see, is a fresh, clean, functioning platform for Net Root to show themselves off at the highest level.

Net Root

Net Root

Net Root

Triworks

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Client: Triworks
Brief: Work in conjunction with Breeze Design to create a bespoke WordPress based ecommerce project promoting new triathlon equipment store.

We were approached to develop a unique WordPress based ecommerce venue for a niche supplier that reflected their style and sophistication but at the same time made life easy for their customers and users.

Needless to say the client was very happy – so much that he gave us a glowing testimonial:
Many thanks for all the hard work you all put into the TriWorks website. It is excellent in looks and performance – we are getting a lot of very complimentary feedback on it from both potential customers and suppliers.

Thanks again form all of us.
Chris
Triworks

Triworks

Triworks

Triworks

Triworks

Katie Millman – JAM

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I asked Lee Rickler from Point and Stare for advice on using WordPress for my new blog site. Not only does he really know his stuff but he also explained in layman’s terms the difference between a basic “free” theme and what a customised template would do. He made a lot of sense and his knowledge in the area is, in my opinion, unrivalled. I would thoroughly recommend using their services, be it for WordPress design or general web development in other areas and am looking forward to working more with Point and Stare in the future.

WordPress as a CMS – Part 2

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WordPress Maintenance Packages

In the previous installment we talked about minor tweaks to the underlining code that enabled you to use WordPress as a CMS.

In WordPress as a CMS – Part 2 we will look at content display structure – defining what info is needed and how it’s built – what will regularly change (news, events) and what content is static, (about us, contact us).

Pages or posts?
Pages
Essentially any static info can be created as a page. Assuming your navigation is set up correctly, creating a new page will be added automatically to your navbar.

Using this code will create a basic, auto-updating, navigation list:
<ul class=”pages”>
<li<?php if( is_home() ) : ?> class=”current_page_item”<?php endif; ?>><a href=”<?php bloginfo( ‘url’ ); ?>” title=”<?php bloginfo( ‘title’ ); ?>”>Home</a></li>
<?php PandSWP_list_pages( ‘title_li=&depth=1&exclude=25,35’ ); ?>
</ul>

Huh? –
<?php if( is_home() ) : ?> – If this page is home do something – In this case add the “current_page_item” class.
<?php PandSWP_list_pages( ‘title_li=&depth=1&exclude=25,35’ ); ?> – List the pages, with their title but exclude pages 25 and 35.

Posts
Any info that changes regularly is best suited to being a post. Using custom code, technically you can place this content anywhere.

This code can be used, for example on the front page, to display the post excerpt with thumbnail:

<div class=”minipost”>
<?php
$minicat2 = get_option(‘remedy_mini_category2’);
$my_query = new PandSWP_Query(‘category_name=minipost2&showposts=1′);
while ($my_query->have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post();$do_not_duplicate = $post->ID;
?>
<div class=”hentry”>
<?php $homethumb = get_post_meta($post->ID,’homethumb’, true); ?>
<a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>” title=”<?php the_title(); ?>”><img src=”<?php bloginfo(‘url’); ?>/images/<? echo strtolower($homethumb); ?>.jpg” width=”100″ height=”60″ alt=”<?php the_title(); ?>” title=”<?php the_title(); ?>” /></a>
<h2><a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>” title=”<?php the_title(); ?>”><?php the_title(); ?></a></h2>
<?php the_excerpt(); ?>
</div>
<div class=”meta”>
<div class=”postmore”><a href=”<?php the_permalink() ?>”>Read more on <?php the_title(); ?></a></div>
</div>
<?php endwhile; ?>
</div>

Huh? –
$my_query = new PandSWP_Query(‘category_name=minipost2&showposts=1’); – Display the latest post in category ‘minipost’.
/images/<? echo strtolower($homethumb); ?>.jpg” – Get the name and display the file named in the ‘homethumb’ custom field.
<?php the_excerpt(); ?> – Post the excerpt content.

Disable comments
One thing that differentiates a blog to a website is the ability to comment on posts. As we are using WordPress as a CMS (therefore as a website) you might want to disable comments.
If so, go to ‘Discussion Settings > Default article’ and then make sure ‘Allow people to post comments on new articles’ is unchecked.
If you choose to, you can also edit your single.php or page.php files, if required, and delete the code that calls the comments.php file.

That’s all for now. Follow Point and Stare on Twitter or just come back soon for another installment.

WordPress as a CMS – Part 1

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WordPress Maintenance Packages

As WordPress approaches the big 3.0 more and more people are recognising that WordPress can be a very powerful CMS (Content Management System).
Clients approach Point and Stare as we are recognised as prolific WordPress developers having created many bespoke WordPress as a CMS projects.

In this short series we will explain our approach, feature tips and tricks and, finally, release our own, stripped down, free WordPress theme enabling anyone to set up WordPress as a CMS in one tidy package.

Although you will be taken through some easy to follow steps, this guide is far from the final word and in quite a few cases there are many ways to do what is outlined below. These are simply either the way we choose to carry out the task or just a simple solution.

We advise against editing core files if possible and of course cannot take any responsibility for any damage, problems or loss caused by the use of any details within this article.
BEFORE YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES TO ANY FILE – BACK-UP
It’s your website and therefore your responsibility.

Step 1, Security:
It’s very easy to spot a WordPress based website, a lot of installs stick with the default Kubrick theme but even when free, premium or bespoke WordPress themes are used there are still tell-tale signs.

Instantly this gives the game away to would-be hackers but there are ways to reduce the possibilities.

4 tips to secure your WordPress install
1, Check the footer – does it say “Powered by WordPress”?
Using one of the literally thousands of free WordPress themes available is one of the many advantages for choosing WordPress but check the license – Can you remove the ‘Powered by’ line? Probably not.
If you purchase a Premium WordPress theme, again, check the license.
Better still, if you can, create your own bespoke WordPress theme.

2, View source and check for wp-content in the code?
Everyone that knows WordPress knows that the essential elements are housed in the wp-content folder. Easy thing to do is simply rename the folder but be aware that some plugins reference the wp-content folder so you might have to edit those as well.

If you do choose to rename the wp-content folder, make sure you update the wp-settings.php file:
– Open wp-settings.php in a text editor
– Search/ replace wp-content with the new folder name
– Upload the changed file

3, Does the header code contain ‘meta name=”generator” content=”WordPress …’?
Assuming you have the latest version this isn’t such a bad thing to announce but if you haven’t upgraded for a while this can leave you open to many attacks especially if you are stuck on WordPress 2.8.3.

Some things that we suggest that you can do:
– Depending on your theme you can either edit the line out of the header.php or if it’s included as part of the PandSWP_head() hook you can then edit the general-template.php (core file)

– Add the following to your theme’s function.php
if (function_exists(’PandSWP_generator’)) {
remove_action(’PandSWP_head’, ‘PandSWP_generator’);
}

– Install and activate JR Remove Generator Metatag plugin

4, Who’s the Admin?
Easiest way to hack into the admin is … well … log in as admin.
As soon as the install is set up:
– Login as admin
– Add a new user with a unique password and make this user ‘administrator’
– Log out
– Log in as the new user
– Delete the original ‘admin’

That’s all for part 1. Now onto WordPress as a CMS – Part 2

Technical SEO

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Technical SEO

Everyone needs their website to have the SEO once over, preferably at the planning stage, but lately we’re finding companies that have an established website now looking to improve their current standings and rankings.
Google for SEO companies and you’ll get thousands of results (actually you’ll get around 3,220,000). Amongst those results you’ll find many, many companies claiming to be SEO experts but only a select, dedicated few are actually any good.

Overall these companies all concentrate on the obvious – keywords, directory listings, back-links etc but at Point and Stare we focus on the elemental structure and build – in effect Technical SEO.

It’s great having a keyword rich website or online store but if the back-end development is archaic then you’re simply wasting valuable time and money.

As part of our Technical SEO service we will run an overall Technical SEO report that would flag up structural and technical anomalies that could stop your website from listing let along being anywhere around page 1.

Technical SEO is at the the heart of any successful website so contact us today for a Technical SEO report and let’s get your website working as hard as you do.

The Importance of SEO, Being Earnest

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Importance of SEO

There’s a lot of talk about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) and everyone and his uncle has seemingly overnight, become an SEO guru.

SEO is a frequently discussed topic and for good reason. Implementing quality SEO features is essential to building an effective, high ranking website.

As a web development company it is our job to advice and implement SEO techniques and features into every website and online store we produce. Even the most basic SEO can have a positive impact. Something that we have learned over the past 14 years, not just last week!

This list contains a few basics highlighting the importance of SEO both in front of and behind the screen.
So, as a beneficiary of our skills what should you look out for?

1, Page title:

Very important as this is the main area that SEs use to categorise and list your website.
Use relevance wisely.
If the page content is about ‘Lady Bracknell arriving’ don’t leave it as ‘Untitled Document’.

2, Keywords/ description:

Although not as important as they used to be, keywords and descriptions written into your website’s header are necessary to describe what your website is about.
A description of –
‘Algernon, an aristocratic young Londoner, pretends to have a friend named Bunbury’ is more beneficial than ‘’.

3, Image tags:

As well as what you see you also need to consider partially sighted/ blind visitors. Again, it’s no use calling an image image_2.jpg. Give it relevance.
A screen reader will read “image_2.jpg” rather than what you should use – “a_handbag.jpg” Each image also needs alt and title tags alt=”A handbag” title=”A handbag”.

4, Readability:

Visual layout is just as important as coding semantics.
Use structure and grids to layout content. There are no laws regarding structure but cultural requirements need to be considered – For example Arabic is written right to left.

Essentially, is the writing succinct, precise and attention grabbing?
Does it scan well?
Is it to the point?

Remember the age old phrase about ‘first impressions’? This applies just as importantly to the online as well as offline world.

So if your website fails any of these basic SEO features have a word with your web development company or better still, give us a call.

Laundry Maid Jeans

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Point and Stare would seem to have achieved a rare thing – practical, reliable and reasonable website solutions for small businesses hoping to reach exciting global markets. Previously at Laundry Maid Jeans we had received bewildering quotes of wildly differing prices, and wasted a year of work in the hands of our first web designer. However Point and Stare came to the rescue and quickly created us a striking front end to meet our image and a simple database that we feel confident we can service and make simple updates to, without additional help.

Aarons Promotions

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I have found Lee at Point and Stare a great person to work with. Back in June 2008 I realised that the website that we had just had built was a complete mess behind the nice design. I spoke with Lee for hours and he was honest and told me he could try and fix the mess but it would be better and cheaper to start from scratch. We couldn’t afford to shell out for another site so we made do.

A few weeks before Christmas we gave Lee the go ahead and within a few weeks the new site was live.
Thanks Lee

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