WebTech 101   Introduction to Website Design

If you’re a web designed looking to go freelance you’ve probably tallied up how much everything’s going to cost. Don’t forget that a lot of work items can be written off when you pay your taxes, however, as this can mean big savings in the long run. Here are a few of the things you can write off if you use them for your graphic design business only
Internet – Whether you’ve got a standard cable connection or clear 4g, internet is essential for any graphic design business. You can write off your monthly plan as well as equipment.
Laptop – As necessary as the internet is your laptop so if you need a new one, now’s the time to consider offsetting the costs.
Travel – If you’re travelling for business, either down the street or across the country, you can write off expenses like airfare and even taxi rides.
Home office – There are strict laws about what counts and what doesn’t but if you have a designated home office you can write off the square footage and utilities of that area.

Whenever one is getting the key facts of using a computer and Internet, there will be a lot of questions that need to be answered and understood along the way. Such as: what is the difference between visiting a website and designing your own? This is fairly simple to understand. When you click on a link, you enter a domain address which has been assigned to a particular interest. Most often the page is unique in the text it entails as well as the formatting. When you enter and explore Read the rest of this entry »

Below are 10 skills that a fantastic, professional web designer will possess:

1) An Eye for Balance and Detail: A good web designer will know how to balance content, colors, and position all elements of the website perfectly to paint a perfect picture of balance.

2) Cross Browser Consistency: Often, website content will display differently, or incorrectly, in browsers other than the designer’s. A good designer will be sure that a site displays perfectly, no matter the browser type.

3) CSS Knowledge: CSS is an Read the rest of this entry »

People are most likely to try to find a job when those jobs are very slim. This means that when times get tough, more people start looking for work. This always makes the situation even worse. However, there are some types of jobs that just always seem to be in demand. One of those types of jobs are for anyone who can do some web designing.

It is important to remember how vital the internet Read the rest of this entry »

Many times people create a website only to be disappointed because they are not receiving the traffic that they expected or hoped for. Their biggest mistakes are either they do not know how to network or the design of the website is not attractive enough. In order to bring traffic to a website it needs to look interesting. Would you explore a site that did not catch your eye? The answer is no, you wouldn’t. When designing a website think about the things that attract you to a website, and then think of new ways to apply it to Read the rest of this entry »

It is achievable to use web designing skills to create business. Web designers may feel that their skills only limit them to creating websites for their personal reasons but there are different ways that a website designer can utilize his or her skill to create business. A web designer can “flip websites”, meaning they can create websites and sell it to other people or companies. They can also create a website, bring traffic to the website and then sell the domain to a company for a higher price since the website already has some traffic. An upside to Read the rest of this entry »

Many Website designers are excellent with the code to create a functional site, but lack the ability to add the layer of creativity to make that website shine. As such, they will oftentimes seek out a graphic web designer to help create the finished product. With some artistic talent and knowledge of an editing program, you can partner with a coder to make beautiful and functional sites for high-paying clients.If you’ve already mastered the art of creating web graphics, find a way to showcase your work. An excellent way to do this is to start a blog with an image gallery. Simply find a good blog platform, http://djdesignerlab.com/2011/01/26/20-awesome-web-blog-design-for-inspiration/ and go from there. When you’ve done that it’s simple to just point a potential partner/client to that site. In your gallery you should have available some images of basic website images, such as header graphics and post icons. Put a personal touch on everything you do and go above what is normally expected. Your potential partner/client will see that they won’t have to give you step-by-step instructions on what they need, making your talents even that much more appealing. Unfortunately, until you’ve made a name for yourself it could be difficult getting your foot into the virtual door.You may have to begin by taking assignments that don’t pay as well as you’d like. However, you’ll be able to add those assignments to your portfolio and then increase your own value. If you prove that you’re able to do projects on time, on budget and with superior skill, you’ll soon be a sought after commodity. Starting out can be a slow process, but with some talent, patience and personal marketing, you can become a highly paid web graphic designer.

Choosing the right internet provider isn’t quite as simple as just comparing prices. Instead, you must carefully consider what you’ll be getting for the money you pay. There are a lot of options out there, but we’re going to be focusing on wireless and satellite internet. Both of these options are typically chosen because they offer the ultimate in convenience. But which is best for you?

First, find out what’s available to you in your area. Wireless is increasingly popular but it tends to only be offered in larger metropolitan areas. If you happen to live in such an area, you can enjoy the freedom it brings. One of the best things about it is that as long as you stay in your coverage area, you’ll have instant access to the internet. This means that even if you move, or are visiting a friend, you can simply log into the network and access the internet.

Satellite internet is typically an option for those who live where there aren’t options of DSL, wireless, cable or others. It also offers a lot of freedom, as the internet is run through a satellite and will provide coverage virtually anywhere in the world. It’s also common for those who travel by RV to select this option.

When anyone visits your website, the first consideration is likely, “what’s in it for me?” Aside from perhaps a few close friends and family members, no one is going to visit your site simply to help you out on a personal level. Internet communication is impersonal by nature, so unless you are a bona fide celebrity launching a site, don’t expect a line for admission to your newly opened web space. Web traffic is earned through value and there is no better way to build value for your site than offering tangible incentives to visitors.For example, if you run a restaurant and are trying to boost internet orders on your new site, consider offering coupons or discounts that are only available online. In the event you don’t have a product or service with which you can alter prices to tempt visitors, say you are instead trying to promote a talent or cause driven page, perhaps you know someone or can lure in some similarly minded partners to help provide some sort of small financial or time saving consideration to induce more clicks. Selling yourself and your ideas to others before establishing your online presence can not only build anticipation for your site but help to bring about important business relationships to provide support across multiple endeavors. Read the rest of this entry »

Reeling in new visitors is a challenge in and of itself, but how can an upstart website keep visitors coming back? Though the overall quality of your page is certainly a heavily contributing factor whether it will be dismissed or bookmarked, the degree to which a visitor can interact with your site can greatly override other shortcomings. In short, people like to be heard and like to feel like they are a part of something. While a speech or lecture can be poignant and well-timed, a conversation is on-going, informative and directly pertinent.In order for this to be possible, your website should strive to engage in a constant dialogue between you or your company and the online community. Whether this means allowing comments on posts or alloting space to upload user generated content, people are more likely to respond well to a site by which their own views can be seen by others. This will also allow you to get feedback on your ideas, product or service, and perhaps tailor it further to encompass a wider range of followers or potential customers. Even those who may disagree with your opinion on issues or not find your product/service agreeable will certainly appreciate the ability to express their reasoning. In turn, you will then have a chance to defend yourself in a controlled environment and present a rational argument to expose holes in their logic or otherwise rectify concerns. Of course, if you truly standby your talent or company mission, you should have nothing to fear regarding opening your website to a public forum for critique. Read the rest of this entry »