English
עברית
how responsive web design works
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
More than a decade ago, before the advent of internet-ready mobile devices, people used immovable, bulky computers to view websites. Designing websites that looked good at a single resolution was standard and quite adequate for all purposes. With the advent of internet-enabled devices and their acceptance by more people, web owners had to create content designed to fit any size screen and device. This manner of designing content is called responsive web design.
Before the coming in of responsive web design, there was mobile design. Mobile design is the creation of entirely new websites or web apps to provide content for the mobile user. This meant the creation of one design for the kindle, netbook, iPad, iPhone and another for the BlackBerry. In other words, several websites for the same company targeting all the different screen resolutions imaginable. This is not the case with responsive web design.
What is responsive web design?
Responsive design means using the same syntax, same context, and the same domain that is manipulated by CSS3 Media Queries and/or JavaScript. Responsive design allows your website to respond to the different viewports – enhancing your user’s experience on any device. The different viewports available today include mobile devices, tablets, laptops, desktop monitors and their equivalent orientations.
Instead of implementing different sites for each device, responsive design acts as the underlying base of the website’s deployment. Responsive web design is possible through the adoption of three simple functions:
- An adaptive layout that utilizes media queries for modification of the web design to suit the diverse screen sizes
- A fluid grid that utilizes relative units such as percentages instead of fixed units like pixels
- Flexible images and media that are scaled along the relative units meaning they never expand beyond the containing element
Although responsive web design started as a trend, it has quickly morphed into an evolutionary step in the development and design of websites.
Advantages of responsive web design
In 2009, only 1.2% of internet traffic was from mobile devices – hardly enough to justify additional investment or attention. Fast forward to 2012, the exponential growth of smartphones and the increased network speeds saw the figures rise to 13% without even taking into account tablets. By 2015, out of 3.5 billion internet users, over half of them (1.9 billion) will be using mobile devices. So why have you not started creating a responsive website?
If the figures above are not enough to convince you, here are staggering benefits of implementing responsive web design:
- Saving money: You only have to pay for the development of a single website. No more worrying about mobile websites or apps anymore. You will only have to provide support to one site meaning lower monthly web support costs
- A time saver: Instead of spending so much time creating content for every channel you would like to reach, all you need to do is adjust layout and amount of the visual content initially created. You also do not have to worry about deploying and programming for multiple channels. A single set is all that is required – meaning increased efficiency
- It helps your SEO efforts: Consistent URLs for desktop, mobile users and mobile and desktop search bots create uniformity. Uniformity makes for better interaction with the user and is a lot easier for Google’s link algorithms, increasing crawler efficiency
- A better performing website: A mobile first approach leads to cleaner, faster performing code for desktop and mobile sized devices
- Easier location of the information for your customers: Visitors are more likely to turn into customers if they can buy your products or services via desktop and mobile devices
Even Google encourages website owners to follow the best practice using responsive web design.
5 main rules of good web design
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
Web design is a skill that embraces both the artistic and the scientific, sticking to the rules of computers while finding creative ways to make an impression. After a couple decades of fast-paced exploration, and trial and error, there's plenty of proof that some design techniques work better than others. Whether you're using Livecity to design your very first website or wanting to refresh your existing one, the same basic rules apply. There's no surefire recipe to design the perfect website, but if there was, the following five ingredients would be essential. If you can master them, you'll know how to make a website work for any demographic or industry.
1. Compatibility
With so many mobile devices dominating the consumer market, this one is more essential than ever. Your website absolutely must be compatible with different internet browsers, mobile devices, screen sizes, and operating systems. If the text trails off-screen or is too big or small to read for some people, it might as well be in another language. If you embed videos or graphics in scripts that most people don't use, they won't know why there are gaps in your page. To avoid this, you can code a distinct style sheet for each platform, or take advantage of an automatic optimization tool.
2. Readability
Compatibility plays a big role in how readable a website is, but there are other rules you need to keep in mind too. The most responsive web design is easy on the eye, letting readers get straight to the content and keep reading without distractions or eyesores. Left-aligned text is the easiest for Western readers, so don't center everything on the home page. The text needs to be simple, too, so stick to three fonts or fewer, and avoid clashing colors or dark backgrounds. Take up the whole window to make your information as accessible and prominent as possible, and of course, proofread thoroughly for any typos or misspellings.
3. Consistency
Your formatting should be consistent throughout the entire website, so if you're not working within a set template, make sure your design tweaks apply to every single page. The color, size, and position of your headers shouldn't change from page to page, and the size of your font shouldn't change from paragraph to paragraph. Even the numbers and punctuation should be uniform; don't use Oxford commas half the time, or write out "nine" and put the numeral in the next paragraph. Just remember: reading the whole site should feel seamless, not erratic.
4. Organization
Every example of good website design includes layout and display decisions that make the website easy to navigate. Readers shouldn't have to hunt for any information, especially if they want to contact you, make a purchase or explore the pages within your website. You can ensure a responsive design by putting your most important content first, tagging blog posts, providing a navigation menu on every page and placing important elements like forms and links in intuitive places.
5. Content
This might sound like a no-brainer, but it sometimes gets lost in the rush for lucrative keywords and user-friendly formatting. High-quality content is the only thing that will make your website last. Good web design incorporates polished fonts, high-resolution images, error-free text, and a server that can support instant downloads. Don't skimp on one part of the process or procrastinate on building good content. Promotion is just one step of the process, and it won't pay off if there's nothing solid to promote.
What is Google Fonts, and why should I use it?
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
If you're new to the world of web design, you might not be familiar with one of the Internet's most useful freebies of all. Google Fonts [http://www.google.com/fonts] is a free service that offers hundreds of original typography creations, all free of charge and available to download or link to. If you want your website or blog to have a distinct, professional look, you can now skip the default fonts that scream "template" and choose your own family of Google web fonts instead.
A free and easy tool for amateurs
Google has long been the reigning king of free software and content. From Google Maps and Gmail to the almighty search engine itself, Google makes the Internet (and life itself) easier to navigate. So it's no surprise that Google cornered the market on free fonts too, offering this open source platform for completely free, original fonts. Google's many web fonts were created by real people and divided into helpful categories. You can count on them to be compatible with your readers' devices and browsers, and they're easy for newcomers too.
Livecity software, like so many other site-building platforms, supports the web fonts archived on Google Fonts. That means you don't have to download, unzip, or upload any files in order to implement these fonts across your entire website. All the font families are open source files that are shared freely, so all you have to do to customize your own website is enter the code that Google generates for you.
Find a font that fits
One font doesn't fit all businesses. Some websites call for more casual, informal fonts and others require professional or traditional fonts, but no matter what the style, it has to be user-friendly. That means every word should be easy to read, and there shouldn't be too many different fonts. You can customize every corner of your website by replacing default fonts with a Google font of your choosing.
You can preview all of Google's web fonts before committing to a few of them. The directory includes a box for preview text, so you can type your company name or website title, choose a size, and scroll through examples of the customized text. If you're used to Microsoft Word's list of font names, this will be a refreshingly easy way to visualize the final product and see if any individual letters will be a problem.
Limitless typography choices
Google classifies its web fonts according to category and type of script, and you can also filter your search results by thickness, slant, and width of the letters within each font. Categories include fonts that resemble handwriting and those that were made for display purposes, as well as the ever-dueling serif and sans serif fonts. This is actually an important distinction for web design purposes, so make sure you know the difference before making a choice.
Serif is a typography term for the "feet" or strokes that are on the ends of some letters. Examples of serif fonts include Times New Roman and Courier, and in print publications they help guide the eye across the page. Sans serif fonts are more casual, and they're also ideal for most screen resolutions because it can be small or big without losing important details.
The less your website looks like a pre-generated template, the more professional it will seem, but it's important not to overboard with the personal touches. As a rule of thumb, most web designers try to limit their arsenal to three distinct fonts, in order to keep it simple and consistent. That means all the text on your website should belong to one of these three font families. Don't forget to make sure that applies to extras, like widgets; it will be distracting if the only text in Times New Roman is the headline scrolling across your RSS feed reader. After you incorporate your custom Google Fonts codes throughout your entire website, it will start to take shape as your own unique corner of the web.
5 Logo Makers That Will Make Your Life Easier
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
A great logo is essential for any business to have effective branding. A visual representation of your company is something that will stick in a customer's mind far better than just your name or website address. It also gives you a set image that you can include in all of your materials across digital and traditional media, giving a sense of unity to all you produce.
Creating a great logo can be a challenge, particularly if you don't have a background in art. Before you dig out a sketchpad and waste hours or days trying to come up with a perfect logo on your own, consider whether you should outsource this part of your branding. If you don't want to work with a professional designer, you can use an online logo maker program. Here we take a look at five of the best.
1. GraphicSprings
This online service offers a reasonably priced logo design that is suited to your industry. You can select from their templates, which are updated regularly to ensure you get a fresh, contemporary style. You can customize the color, font, and other elements to get a truly unique logo for your business. The logo maker is free, so you can be sure you have a logo you're happy with before paying.
2. DesignMantic
The main selling point of this online logo maker is that with an HTML5 tool, you can work on your logo on any device. This is a great choice if you want to tweak your logo while on the go, as it is compatible with mobile browsers. They also offer a large library of graphics and fonts, allowing you to get a custom logo for a low price. Like other logo makers, you only pay when you want to download your logo image.
3. Fiverr
If you don't want an off the shelf customized solution, Fiverr offers the opportunity to work with professional designers for a very low price. You can select a logo designer's services, pay their fee, and get a great logo back for your company. Prices do vary, but you can get exactly what you need and want for your business with the benefit of an expert eye.
4. DesignCrowd
The internet is full of great designers, and DesignCrowd helps you find the one that is just right for your logo design. By crowdsourcing your logo, you can get plenty of logos to choose from. For this service, you set up a design contest with a fixed fee going to the designer whose logo you choose. The better you are at writing a brief, the better results you'll get from this service.
5. LogotypeMaker
For simplicity, LogotypeMaker offers an easy to use interface that is ideal if you struggle with knowing what you want. Simply type in your company name and you'll get a dozen logos. Some can be further customized and some are free to use. If you don't like the options presented, all you need to do is click a button to see a different 12 designs. When you find one you like, select it or bookmark it to come back to. After setting up an account, you'll be able to download your design for use on your website.
Why do I need a good logo for my business?
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
Whatever type of business you are in, you want your company to stand out from the crowd. Of course great service, an excellent product, and fantastic prices will be a big help, but one thing that can help you stick in a customer's memory is a great logo.
Creating a brand
One thing that sets very successful businesses apart from the rest is that they have developed themselves as a brand. Branding gives your business a reputation and recognition. It makes you unique among your competition and gets you remembered. A big part of any branding strategy is the visual aspect of it. This is where having a great logo comes into play.
Think about any brand and you probably bring their logo to mind. Whether it's your favorite soft drink, a football team, a television station, or a power company, the mental image of the company is almost certainly their logo. Logos are such a strong part of branding that they have even been made into board games!
Logos for SMEs
While the examples of brands above are bigger enterprises, that doesn't mean that logos should just be for multinationals. Small businesses can benefit greatly from a logo. As a SME, your company needs to compete as best it can. This means grabbing the attention of customers and making them come back to you time and time again, and recommend you to others.
Just like those big brands, having a logo for your company can make you more easily remembered. By giving customers a visual they can associate with your company, you reinforce their memory of your name. When asked if they know anyone in your field, you'll be much more likely to come to mind.
How to use a logo
Getting a great logo is important, and using it right can make a big difference, too. Your logo should reflect what your company is all about, and a logo designer can help make sure it works the way it should. Once you have that logo, though, you need to get it out there.
As a method of branding, your logo should be everywhere. It should appear on every page of your website, on letterhead, on business cards, and in any promotional material you have created. A new logo can even be a newsworthy event. Some big brands have managed to create huge viral advertising campaigns based around a change of a recognizable logo.
When it comes to your business' logo, you should make sure it gets the attention it deserves. An easily updated website, made with a drag and drop editor, can make it possible for you to add your logo as soon as you have it ready to go. The sooner you begin to use your logo, the more time you'll have for it to make an impact on new and existing customers.
Making your business a brand is a key part of marketing success, which in turn leads to long term success for your company. Having a great logo, and using it across digital and traditional media, can be a huge part of any branding campaign.
5 Tips for designing a great logo
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
A logo is a crucial part of any branding and marketing plan for your business. You need a logo that reflects your business and what you offer customers. Designing a great logo can be tricky, but it is worth all the effort you put into it. Here are five tips for designing the perfect logo for your business.
1. Choose the right color
The color or colors you choose for your logo are very important. Many brands have logos that can be recognized simply by their colors. Swap the colors and the logos are suddenly unrecognizable. This is because colors are easy to remember and associate with a brand. Think about anything from soft drinks to social media and you'll know the colors associated with each brand and their logo as much as the logo itself.
2. Know the audience
A great logo is suited to the target audience. If you're aiming a product at kids you'll want a different approach than if you're aiming it at senior citizens. The same is true if your customers are high end businesses or middle class consumers. The audience should be your target demographic, and the logo should be something that fits in with the tastes and preferences of that demographic. Don't be afraid to ask for opinions, either. Friends, family, and customers are all vital resources when it comes to finding the logo that is right for your brand.
3. Keep it simple
The biggest failing of many logos is that they are over-complicated. Whether you choose to use an image logo or a logotype, simplicity is key. You need something that can be easily recalled and that will look great across a variety of platforms. One way to think about it is to think about whether you'd be able to describe and quickly sketch out the logo for somebody who had never seen it before. If not, you might need to think about how you can simplify your logo design.
4. Know the brand
Knowing what the brand stands for is at the base of any great logo. The logo doesn't have to be a blatant image of what you produce, but it does need to convey something about the company as an entity. Are you sleek and modern or traditional and reliable? Are you offering a product that will make the world better or make a single consumer happier? A great logo should aim to encapsulate this type of idea in a visual way.
5. Make it adaptable
Many of the best logos can be adapted for different uses. In some cases this is a matter of having a big logo with a graphic and the company name, and a shortened version with just the graphic or just the name. In others, it is a single design element that can be carried across different platforms, such as advertising, the product itself, and media. In some cases, such as on your website, you can include multiple versions. This can offer a way to reinforce that they are all to be associated with your brand. With drag and drop editing on a website, this is easy to do.
How to create the right logo for your company
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
You are using the terrific templates and tools here at Livecity to create a stunning business website. As part of the process, you may well be designing a logo to both represent your company and make it identifiable. Here are some key points to consider as your creative juices flow.
What is a logo and what does it need to achieve?
A logo is a graphic device or a symbol that helps your business to be publicly recognized. Read the previous sentence again. It’s very important that your logo helps your business to be recognized, not that it simply be recognized in itself. If it only achieves the latter, it’s like ads you’ll see and enjoy on TV for themselves, but not then be able to remember who is actually advertising! On the other hand, very few people would ever see the “golden arches” without knowing who they represent.
Your logo reflects and brands your company through the use of a combination of shape, form, font, color and perhaps images. Those reflections will be built up by people as they use your business and should include recognition and a positive reaction.
What your logo needs to be
As well as being recognizable, your logo therefore also needs to be remembered. It should be lurking in the sub-conscious for that moment when an individual suddenly needs a product or service you offer. It should be understandable and describable, therefore simplicity is another key. A complex logo might simply confuse.
Technically, it should also be scalable to work in different sizes and locations and also be effective in mono as well as full color. Finally, it should be relevant both to your business and to how you intend to conduct business.
Key logo creation tips
You are now ready to start on your own creation, or you can use one of the logo creation packages that are widely available. Either way, here are some key points to consider. Firstly, select a quality font. Choose one that accurately represents your company – from the traditional to the businesslike, the modern or funky. Whichever you choose, make sure your name is instantly recognizable when it’s viewed in a series of locations such as your website stationery and business cards, banners, posters and the like.
Tie any image, if you use one, to the name, because together they should tell a story. Never choose an image simply because it’s outstanding or clever, although this is fine as long as it is still relevant to your business and makes sense as a complete graphic presentation.
Choose a color that stands out but also reflects your business – bright pink might be fine for a fashion boutique for young girls but probably not a long-established accountancy firm! Make sure your selection of colors also works together, as you would when decorating a room.
Final point
You might well create several options, or variations on a theme, even ask for the opinions or input of others. That’s fine – but when you decide, then that’s it. Your logo is there to stay, you simply can’t change it after a short period because you’ve changed your mind. Yes, tiny tweaks are okay, and many businesses do this. Your logo needs to build recognition through permanence and presence, so choose wisely and then stick with your choice.
How do I choose the right website colors?
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
When you are thinking about how to create a website that attracts visitors and keeps them coming back, how much thought do you give to the color palette of your website? Believe it or not, the color you choose for your website can have as much of an impact as your content. The principles of using colors to attract visitors or customers goes back much further than the internet, and successful companies such as Walmart and Amazon still use them today.
3 principles for choosing the right colors
- Choose colors that sync with the background you have chosen. It will be important to choose light fonts with dark backgrounds or dark fonts with light backgrounds to have enough contrast to make your text readable.
- Keep your purpose in mind. The colors you chose will inspire emotion in your audience, and you will want to make sure that those emotions match the message that you are trying to convey and what action you want your viewers to take.
- Use no more than three colors. If you go to successful websites and play count the colors, you will invariably find that the most successful ones always choose three colors in their website palette. These are usually most recognizable as colors found in their logo. Used correctly, colors can be a powerful branding tool and people will think of your brand even when seeing the colors you choose elsewhere.
Did you know that...
- Red can generate energy, passion, and excitement or give a sense of power... but also implies anger, aggression, and danger
- Blue is a color that implies spirituality, freedom, patience, and serenity; yet can also imply coldness, sadness, or depression
- Yellow is generally a happy color full of brightness, optimism, happiness, and joy. It has very few negative connotations
- Green is seen as a natural and positive color that implies abundance and prosperity, yet can also allude to poison or decay
- Orange is a friendly and warm color that is among the most approachable of the spectrum. It is also the only color you can eat
- Violet implies wisdom, age, and a measure of sophistication
- Black and white are the absence of color and all colors at once respectively
- Gray is often considered neutral and boring, yet implies maturity and security
- Pink often is pigeonholed as a feminine color, but the more pale the pink the less noticeable it is
No matter what the purpose of your website is, the choice of color can clearly have a big impact on accomplishing what you want to with your site. While it may be fun to just play around with your color palette, always be aware that you color choices are sending a message. Be sure that message is exactly what you intend to send.
For more insight on how to create a website with great color schemes, visit www.livecity.com and check our their free website builder.
How do I choose the right website font?
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
There are lots of things that you need to consider when you are building your website, but the first thing on your mind probably isn't fonts. Nevertheless, fonts are one of the most important components to web design and choosing the right one could mean the difference between a successful website and a mess than nobody wants to look at.
We are only talking fonts, right? Well, Steve Jobs famously kicked a developer off a project because he didn't share his enthusiasm for calligraphy. Choice of font has been shown to have a big impact on readability, retainability, and comprehension. You want all three things in your readers no matter what the content of your website is. So how do you know which font is right for you?
Let's take a closer look.
Fonts are a visual medium
Your fonts will need to have a structure that makes it easy for your readers to scan your content. Some fancier fonts such as gothic or comic sans may not be the best choices. Take into consideration if a given font is distracting from the message that it is designed to convey. The very best fonts are easy on the eye and do not make the reader think too much about any given character.
Focus is key
The readability of a font is often determined by how well it brings a given word into focus. Take a moment to stare at the font letter by letter. Are there some letters that don't look right within the font? If a letter within the font alphabet doesn't look the way you think that letter should look, it may make it difficult to focus on what is said when it is used in a word.
Go for subtly over style... but not too much
Often the best font is the one that the reader doesn't even notice. Subtle fonts like Arial and Times New Roman are popular fonts, but they lack style and may seem boring. You may be able to find a reasonable compromise between the two extremes, with a font that is subtle enough to not distract from the message while having a little bit of a stylish kick that best represents what your product or service stands for.
When you have finally decided on the right font or fonts for your website, there will still be choices to be made. What will the ideal font size be? Will you need to code multiple fonts into a style sheet? Will you need other attributes, such as bold or italic text? While you may not have considered fonts to be as important of a design element as graphics or coloring, you may realize at this point that they take a lot more thought than you expected. Your fonts will be an essential part of how your visitors interact with your site and how well they connect with your message.
For more information on how to integrate intentional font planning into your web design, visit www.livecity.com and check out the free website builder.
5 most common web design mistakes
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
If you're building a website for the first time, it's important to give it a professional, modern layout that's easy to navigate. Even expert web designers aren't perfect, but if you don't have any web design experience, it's all too easy to repeat the mistakes of the past and create a website that turns visitors away. Avoid these five common web design mistakes to prevent that.
1. Too much information
Today's internet users want simple, clean layouts with plenty of white space. They also want to understand your website's message immediately. If you overwhelm the eyes with too many graphics or large chunks of text, you will distract from your goals. A business website should zero in on its target audience immediately, so decide which three benefits or perks are the most important to convey to your audience. You can elaborate later, but save your homepage for this simple, straightforward introduction.
2. Browser and mobile incompatibility
Modern technology demands usability and compatibility. That means your website should be easy to navigate and free of errors, no matter which device or internet browser your readers use to open it. LiveCity technology already gives you access to easy mobile optimization tools, which adjust your website's content for different screen dimensions and devices. However, one of the most common design mistakes is forgetting to test your final product. No matter what, don't publish or share your website until you've tried to access it on Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox.
3. Outdated fonts and design
Some telltale website features can date your website, even if you only created it last week. If visitors spot fonts or layout features that they haven't seen since the early 2000's, they might assume your site is outdated and move on to a business that keeps up with modern times. For example, your navigation menu should consist of clickable buttons, not static graphics with links placed over them. Color and font are also very important indicators of a website's (or a web designer's) age. Don't use more than three different fonts on your website, no matter how many pages you have, and make sure none of these three are Comic Sans or Papyrus. These were too trendy a decade ago, and they're not as readable as simple sans serif fonts anyway. Stay away from bright neon colors, and make sure links change colors after they've been clicked. Other outdated features include hit counters that track page views, embedded Flash media, and animations or audio that play automatically.
4. PDF files and other static text
You want readers to access your information as quickly and easily as possible. That won't happen if they have to download Adobe Reader just to view your mission statement, or save an article to their desktop before reading it. Even more importantly, search engines cannot crawl images or PDF files for key words. Search engine optimization (SEO) depends on this. Make sure all the text on your website is entered in HTML5 or simply plain text, so that readers can find and read it without a problem.
5. No call to action or contact request
Many businesses and personal bloggers forget to speak directly to their readers. Make sure there's at least one actionable statement on your homepage, and ask readers for their contact information as well. Even if they don't stay on your website for very long or contact you, they might be interested eventually. When you know how to reach them, you can keep them updated with relevant news, reach out to them about promotions, or simply gather information about your demographic.
Luckily, LiveCity's free website templates and mobile optimization tools are your best defense against amateur blunders like these. If you want to make sure your customers or readers don't go elsewhere, try a free trial of our business website builder and start exploring your options. You'll be a pro in no time!
5 useful tips to improve your website design
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
It’s terrific that it takes only a few minutes to create a professional business website here on Livecity. With a superb range of templates to choose from the process is simple. Of course, as you work through it, you do want to make sure that your final creation is going to say what you want and present your business as you wish the world to see it. Here are five key tips to help you achieve this:
Take a step back when designing your site
There is a danger that you create your site from an insider’s point of view. Doing so often means you miss out on some key points simply because you already know all there is to know about your business. Imagine it’s your first visit and create a website that a stranger would find attractive, engaging, useful, informative and easy to access.
Speak in their language
Following on from the previous point, you and your team will be in the habit of using a language that is particular to your business. This includes jargon terms whose meanings are plain to you but a mystery to outsiders. It can also include a sort of shorthand – abbreviations you have fallen into using through time and experience. Where you do have to use any such terms, offer a quick explanation for the uninitiated.
Talk to their outcomes
You naturally are keen to present, through your website, information about what you are great at. That’s fine, but only if it’s presented in a context of what the visitor to your business wants to know. Aim to answer a question that is always front-of-mind for anyone visiting your site: “What’s in it for me?” Help them to appreciate the relevance of your products or services, how you meet a need, offer a benefit, or solve a problem. Only then will they be ready to be told how you deliver. Also let them know at this point what makes you unique and how you are better than your competitors.
Design easy-to-action pages
Whether you wish them to call, click through to your online shop, or complete an application or contact form, let them see how easy it is to do so. The less effort you appear to ask for, the more likely are people to stay with you. At the same time, give key reasons for taking this next step without delay – through special limited time offers, the dangers of not taking action – whatever best works with your products or services.
Present your business personality through your website design
Many websites are full of information, present valuable content, but are also incredibly dull. Not every website can be entertaining, but it can have a personality that reflects the business. This can be to-the-point and professional, fun or family friendly. Suppose a stranger viewed your website and then walked through your door. They shouldn’t find the real-life that different from the web-impression!
Now, go to it! As you create your website design, using our terrific Livecity software, apply these tips to produce a truly user-friendly, business-reflecting, results-gaining website.
5 reasons a good website design can help you!
- Posted by Livecity In category Web Design
If you have your own business, or are thinking about setting one up, there is nothing more important than an expertly put-together website design. The great news is that you no longer have to spend a fortune to obtain a professional looking website. Livecity.com is a Content Management System (CMS) powered by the latest technologies in website building. With 10 years experience in the industry, we provide the leading software tools that make building a website simple, allowing you a professional finish and complete creative control.
A well thought out website will make it easy for customers to find what they're looking for, be simple and effective to navigate, and have clearly displayed information about the product or service on offer. Thanks to technological advancement, websites have replaced receptions as the first place you can make a first impression with your company – so it’s important to get it right. Here are 5 reasons why a good website design can help your company:
1. Establish yourself as a brand
A great website will help your company to establish itself as a brand. A professional looking website is a fantastic way to emphasize brand messaging, colors and logos, so you stand out as an industry leader in your field.
2. Increase the way you communicate with customers
If you’re looking to build your own company website, Livecity.com’s blogging platform enables you to post blog entries. This not only strengthens your company as a brand and highlights you as experts within your field, but it also gives you a more personable way to communicate with your potential clients. Blogging is a fantastic way to give your company a unique ‘voice’ that potential customers can relate to. Uploading relevant, frequent and interesting blogs is a great way to form loyal customers and long-lasting relationships and increase your search engine optimization.
3. Enhance your income potential
Livecity.com’s easy-to-use software allows you to add Paypal as a payment option for your customers. Paypal is a safe, globally recognized payment platform and will make your company look reputable and professional. Adding it with our simple software couldn’t be easier – just add Paypal buttons to your site and start increasing your profit margins!
4. Become a multi-platform company
Livecity.com’s free website builder uses leading, developed technology that automatically adjusts your website to become smartphone and tablet friendly. This means that customers will be able to clearly see what you’re offering when on the move, without awkward sizing problems. Not only this, but your customers can get further involved by downloading a smartphone app that syncs with your easily-built free website. Keeping up with the latest technology and social media platforms instantly outs you as a trusted expert within your industry.
5. Show more of what you're about
Making your own website is a great way to show off everything that your company is about. A fantastic way to do this is by using Livecity.com’s advanced image gallery software. With this, you can upload as much imagery to your site as you’d like, keeping it looking professional and expertly laid out. Galleries are a great way to showcase your products as well as people enjoying your product or service. Make sure that you caption your pictures clearly so that your customers know what they’re looking at.