Well, we're here to make it easy.

One of the biggest factors in businesses not having a suitable website is the prospect of having to get stuff to put on the site. Or as we like to call it; web content.

We are experts in collecting the right information (copy) and presenting it on your web pages in an attractive and professional format. We can help with images by procuring stock images or organising for a photographer if that's what is required.

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Here's how it works:

1. We meet with you to prepare the site content brief (1-2 hrs)
   
   • At this briefing you can bring any documents, brochures, product/service information that might be included in the website
   • We essentially map out the site deciding on page hierarchy, menus and possibly a rough layout plan
   • At this stage we can give an estimate of the time it will take to complete the job
2. Getting the content
   • If there is information to be provided by your staff that needs to be collated we can meet with them and create the copy then and there by writing or recording a conversation or simply picking up pre-existing copy for editing
   • Sometimes the brief calls for information from suppliers or other organisations. As longas you have permission to access this information we can arrange for it to be acquired. We can even retrieve large amounts of data from other websites like product catalogues if required
   • Images are a key component to building content designed to enhance the user experience (UX). We have various sources of stock images that can be purchased from as low as only a few dollars.
3. Editing and copywriting
   • When writing for the world wide web there are a number of important aspects that your copy should contain; it has to be a good experience for human visitors, it has to be laid out and "tagged" appropriately for visitor understanding as well as for search engines to be able to index the page the way you want it to be indexed (it's no good emphasising the phrase "CLICK HERE" unless of course that is the name of your product)
4. Optimising each page for search engines
5. Getting your approval
   • Once the pages have been created and populated we ask for your expert appraisal of our work, after all it has to appeal to your target market.
6. That's it - we send the site live and begin measuring its effectiveness

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If you have a current quote from us it may mention a number of pages setup (content to be provided by client). The service outlined above is adjusted so that services already agreed would not be included. How much: Depends on the number of pages, the amount of new copy we need to create, image availability and less concrete things like following up on information provision. The determining factor in time and cost is and always has been completely up to you, the customer. The diagram below is called a Euler Diagram and this particular one illustrates the project triangle where one can have any two of the combinations of FAST, GOOD and CHEAP.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_triangle 

The Project Triangle is a triangle model of project. It is a graphic aid where the three attributes show on the corners of the triangle to show opposition. It is useful to help with intentionally choosing project biases, or analyzing the goals of your project. The constraints are analogous with the project management triangle - in fact, it may be seen as an Evolutionary pressure.

With the above in mind your budgetary constraints might mean that you have to choose one of the "cheap" options and that is completely valid and reasonable.

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Let me explain how the project triangle works in real life (and especially in terms of work done by Web Design Experts).

• The "Low Quality" area does not indicate poor quality, it's important to understand that if you want your project to cost as little as possible and still be delivered in a reasonable timeframe then we will implement standard elements. For example if we quoted an FAQ page we would deliver the standard layout for FAQ without modification. It will be a completely usable "vanilla" implementation. I guess a bit like shopping at ALDI, you can choose from 1 brand of peanut butter and pay $1 or go to a big chain with 10 brands and pay a minimum of $3.
• "Low Priority" will very rarely be offered to our customers because in our experience projects that we work on "when we get a spare moment" realistically never get worked on.
• "Pay for Quality" is by far the best guarantee of complete customer satisfaction. These projects get top priority in all areas and are an indicator of the importance our customers place on their online business. 

I hope that this goes some way to explaining how we price projects. As always we strive to provide value in the work we do and I look forward to your feedback.

Hello Reader/s,

Did you know that for every five Indigenous kids living in remote communities, only one will be able to read at the minimum standard?

That's only one in five kids who are gaining one of the most important keys to a satisfying and successful life - the ability to read. This shocking statistic is why I'm taking part in the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation's Wall of Hands Indigenous Literacy Appeal.

Visit my personal wall of hands by clicking on the link below and please sponsor me to help more kids read:

http://www.wallofhands.com.au/Wall/View/207

Unfortunately, regular schooling isn't always enough for Indigenous children in remote communities. Many have hearing difficulties and for many English is a second language. The ALNF is working with Indigenous communities and schools around Australia to overcome these hurdles. Their specialised programs are making a real difference for hundreds of children.

But they need a hand to reach even more kids.
By sponsoring my wall, you'll be helping the ALNF extend the reach of their award-winning literacy programs. If we reach the appeal target of $300,000 they'll be able to continue current literacy programs in Tennant Creek & Mungkarta and establish programs in two new remote communities. A donation of as little as $5 can help provide reading resources for a child in need.



So please join me in raising a hand for Indigenous literacy, by donating to my wall of hands today.

Thank you for your support.

Something that has been an irritation to many of us has been the inability to customise the email address (from) and the branding on these emails.

Well, now we can!

Adobe Business Catalyst, as part of their progressive updates program have now given us access to these templates. The great thing is that if you are ok with messing about in basic HTML you can do it yourself.

Here’s the process:

• Log into Admin
• Under the Admin menu (top right menu) select “Customize System Emails”
• Modify the following layouts:
  • 3rd Party Workflow
    • Emails Sent to 3rd parties who are registered for a workflow process
  • Workflow Notification
    • Sent to all responsible users once a workflow not requiring approval has been launched
  • Workflow Task
    • Sent to all responsible users once a workflow requiring approval has been launched
  • Workflow Completion
    • Sent to all responsible users once a workflow has been completed
  • Workflow Reminder
    • Sent to all responsible users if there is a workflow requiring approval
  • Workflow Escalation
    • Sent to all escalation users if a workflow has not been approved in time
  • Workflow Rejection
    • Sent to a user if their workflow has been rejected
• Don’t forget to change the “Email From Address” to one that is from your domain

Alternatively; we can make the required changes in about 20 minutes - just send us your instructions and any logo files and we will do the rest. We’ll charge it via our normal time-sheet process which is invoiced after the end of each month.

Google and MYOB have teamed up to provide 50,000 businesses with a free website.

Due to the large number of small to medium Australian businesses without an online presence Google's SME Business Leader Claire Hatton said; "We want to address this gap by removing common barriers like cost and time to set up a website. We also want to make it easier for Australians to find the information they're looking for online".

But there's still no such thing as a free website - after the first year a $5/month fee will be charged.

MYOB chief Tim Reed said that they will be able to sign up 50,000 businesses this year.

How much does a free website really cost?

The cost needs to be viewed in terms of the marketing value of a no-frills 3 page website.

• What will prospects and customers think about your business when they see it?
• Will search engines effectively index your site?
• Will you have time to keep the information up to date?
• Is it able to turn prospects into customers?

These are some of the questions a prospective DIY website builder needs to ask. If a website-for-the-sake-of-having-a-website is the only reason for setting one up then it is effectively like placing your corporate philosophy on your bedroom wall - the only people who see it will be the ones you have specifically invited.

By all means have a go, but don't be disappointed if you build it and no-one comes.

iOS 4 for the iPhone

I'm a bit geeky but not geeky enough to want to spend precious minutes finding out how to do something. Apple made me think (not good for a "Don't Make Me Think - Steve Krug" disciple). Indeed when my iTunes on my iMac asked me if I wanted to download the latest iUpdate for my iPhone I have to admit I wasn't particularly iFussed either way; so I said yes...

Hmmm, went in for a quick look at what the fuss was about this iOS 4. The picture thing was nice and a nifty new swishy swirly animation. The thing that most interested me was multitasking, so I booted up an application at random - so far not much thought. I hit the home button; app seemed to close - brain still idling. Expended a few seconds of processing power and intuited the double-click on the home button. Waddaya know! Some apps in a secondary task bar. Thought, very cool!

Got about 3 apps running and decided that I wanted to shut some of them down to keep processor and memory free (hold-over from the PC days). Hmmm, no quit, stop, end buttons; what to do?

Answer: Research.

Looked in the Apple website and got lots of superlatives about how the world was changing... again. Great action shots of the latest iThings. No manual, no instructions. I tried doing a site search on iOS 4 and got an error (maybe everyone was doing the same thing).

Neural Oscillations rapidly rising. Why can't I do this simple function, surely I need to be able to stop processes. So in frustration I hit Google with a specific search "iOS4" and proceeded to follow the first link on the page.

Now, with thanks to "a" from Gizmodo who posted "The Complete Guide to Using iOS 4".

I know that I don't need to stop apps but that I can if I want to. She or He also provided a number of tips that I will read at my leisure so that I don't have to get a PhD in iOlogy. And, yes, it is still intuitive - my problem was past experience making a problem where there was none. I still remember MacOS and Windows v1.

So there. Read the article at http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/06/the-complete-guide-to-using-ios-4/ and save some valuable time.

If you discover any additional resources please post them in the comments section.

Have fun.

Have you seen some of those great custom Facebook™ Pages that show exactly what you want new followers or prospective customers to see as soon as they look you up.

Do they work or are they just a new way to spend money?

I have implemented a few corporate Facebook Pages now and the answer is; it depends. Yeah I know, that dreaded non-answer. Well, that's just how it is and any Web Design or Web Marketing expert worth the title will immediately follow that up with a bunch of questions such as:

• Who are you marketing to?
• Are you after new customers or customer communication?
• Do your followers potentially have stuff to share with you and each other?
• Are the people in their friend lists likely to become customers?

If you want more detail on the nitty gritty of campaign development see my post on The long answer to "Is Facebook Twitter and other social marketing strategies good business sense".

Case Study ATS Facebook Page Design and Implement

When Australian Training Solutions www.oztrains.com answered those questions (and more) it became clear that this was a valid marketing platform. ATS run hospitality courses and their key demographic includes school leavers, young international visitors on a working visa (backpackers) and I daresay, out of work actors. You can see their Facebook page here.

The brief was to create a Facebook™ Page landing page that showcases current courses and specials with deep linking into the main website. Past and current students are encouraged to engage in dialogue with the trainers and administrators and new information is posted where appropriate.

The page does account for hits to the website and vice-versa (details are confidential) and the number of followers is on a steady increase.

Staff can now interact with past, present and future students providing them with additional value in areas such as who's hiring, changes in qualification requirements and even providing them with the beginnings of a professional network.

Speaking of Spending Money...

Setting up is the easy part. Most Facebook page setups are fairly straight-forward. The real skill is in making sure that you are establishing a real community.

Off-hand, the cost of a basic Facebook page setup, contributor access setup and training will probably be around $500 - $700. A fancy custom page design without much FBML (Facebook's own language) adds around $700 - $800.

And, you're away!

Want to find out More about Facebook Pages?

Call Web Design Experts on 1300 884 553 or leave your details on their Facebook and Twitter Social Networking page for a fast call back.

The site is up and running. All of the vital information has been uploaded.

Where are my visitors?

Good Web Design and clever user experience setup are critical to guiding visitors through your website and presenting them with a credible and compelling call to action. The next question is; "How do I get them there?"

The answer, as with so many business questions is; "it depends".

So to that end, being a highly visual thinker I have mind-mapped the situation from a generic point of view. Have a look, download the pdf version and use it as a starting point.
Cross out the areas that are not doable - for example; TV advertising can be a little out of many small businesses reach so go ahead and cross that right off the list. If you don't know whether a particular method is right for you then ask an expert. Far better to pay for an hour's consulting than spend days trying to do the research yourself.

Once you have your own list together then it's time to look at ROI. Well the returns side anyway. Before you go off getting prices have a good think about the potential return of each method in terms of tangible as well as intangible benefits.

I say potential return for a reason. Namely, you will never really know what the ROI will be until you do it. This is where your innate understanding of your business and its goals will be crucial. Now you will probably need to enlist the services of someone who spends a significant amount of time keeping up to date with the latest trends and techniques and what is working for whom.

Get them to outline a plan and ask as many questions as you need to understand at a non-technical level just how this all works and, of course how much it might cost. Forget the old thinking that the internet space is free or low-cost advertising - concentrate on your returns and manage the process as you would a traditional media campaign (which may even be part of your plan as well).

In closing, it is important to note that the measurability of campaigns means that you can (instantly in some cases) see whether your campaign is performing adequately or not. On the web, almost everything can be measured. Get reports or ask your provider to include on-going analysis as part of the service. Find out what works and do that - lots.

Just read a great article on Mashable 4 Ways Social Media is Changing Business - Really should have tweeted this but I know many businesspeople that I deal with aren't quite into the whole Social Media thing.

Have a look at what people like Adobe, Dell, Timberland and Southwest Air are doing with Twitter.

Cheers,
Sean