Did you know that self-made millionaires spend 5 hours a week on learning? If you want to be included in the list of the who’s who, well, at least in the world of web design, please take heed. Read these articles first.

Web design articles

Where it all started

[1] Internaut day: The world’s first public website went online 25 years ago today

Are you wondering how the first web page looks like? It’s built on HTTP and HTML!

[2] A brief history of web design for designers

Let’s do some digging here. Web design has a dark history, quite literally!

[3] The Evolution of Web Design

Here’s a more visual presentation on how web design progressed through the years.

[4] Web design in 4 minutes

Now let’s get down to business with web design as explained in 4 minutes. 4 MINUTES.

Web design principles

[5] The Distribution of Users’ Computer Skills: Worse Than You Think

Not all web designers understand this, but the majority of the users may not be able to understand your design. In the article are the reasons you really need to keep it extremely simple.

[6] 9 basic principles of responsive web design

When it comes to the basics, though, the rule of thumb nowadays is it has to be responsive.

[7] 5 Principles of Persuasive Web Design

It doesn’t need to be just responsive, but it also needs to be persuasive. Otherwise, the design won’t deliver any conversions.

[8] 5 Modern Web Designs That Interfere with Conversions

Done wrong, and web design will actually restrict conversion, defeating its purpose altogether.

[9] 4 Factors Lean Web Design Company Considers Important

Even a web design company, Philippines-based or not, has a list of factors important in lean web design.

Web design and SEO

[10] Understanding the Full Impact of Web Design on SEO, Branding and More

What you need to know is that web design doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It also relates to search engine optimization (SEO), among others.

[11] Improve SEO with Inspirational Web Design in 2017

The truth is, you can actually improve SEO using web design principles, and you can improve design through SEO principles. It’ll be a win-win if you do.

[12] 5 Important Considerations for Web Design and SEO

Consider these things!

Web design trends

[13] The hottest trend in Web design is making intentionally ugly, difficult sites

Other than the principles and SEO, you also need to arm yourself with knowledge on design trends. Learn an intriguing yet successful trend about web designing. At times, you really need to learn what challenging the status quo means and how to do that.

[14] Web design trends we can expect to see in 2017

Speaking of trends, some trends don’t feel like trends at all because they stay, and for good reasons. Some trends are recurring, while some others are fleeting. It’s a yearly thing also and every design-related site seems to have its own version of design trends. So expect to see some new trends in 2018 and beyond.

[15] How to Create a Web Design Style Guide

Create consistent designs within the team with style guides. Consider these important points (and do’s and don’ts when crafting a project’s web design style guidelines.

[16] Top 10 Mistakes in Web Design

For more do’s and don’ts, here are some more mistakes you should avoid when designing.

[17] 10 Examples of Pre-Built Websites for Tech Put to Good Work

Design rules, rules and rules; following them makes the life of any web designer easy. The rules for tech are different, and the article outlines such.

[18] Showcase of Creative Designs Made With Vibrant Gradients

Designers love color! Here’s the proof. Now that’s perfect for broadening your RGB spectrum!

Web design inspiration

[19] 17 Sites for Web Design Inspiration

To let the creative juices flowing consistently, you’ll need inspiration from these sites.

[20] 24 Amazing Web Design Blogs You Should Follow This Month!

Learning should be continual. Read the right blogs.

[21] The 30 Best Web Design Blogs of All Time You Must Follow

What? Twenty-four blogs are not enough? Then, let’s make it thirty!

These just some of the articles we’ve found online that are worth your while. Take a moment to visit each website and read what every web designer needs to know. Learn and learn well.

Happy reading!

The post 21 Top Web Design Articles You Should Be Reading Right Now appeared first on Internet Marketing Reach.

Generally, there are millions of people who use their mobile devices more than their desktop computers. In the last quarter of 2014, mobile search volume rose to 120% from the same period in the previous year.

Heads up to all website owners and developers! To intensify user experience, Google decided and announced that on April 21, 2015, all websites must be updated to become mobile-friendly sites. Any web design company in the Philippines must comply with this, or else Google may penalize sites that will not be. Such a gigantic leap in digital marketing doesn’t only impact the web owners themselves, but more the users now that digital usage is becoming more mobile-first.

What mobile-friendly means

On April 21st, Google will start labeling and identifying websites that are already mobile-optimized. If you passed Google’s mobile-friendliness test, chances are, the search giant will increase your website’s ranking in the mobile searches. Congratulations! Google has just rewarded you for updating. If your site is not yet mobile-friendly, you still have a few days to convert it into one.

So, what is a mobile-friendly website anyway? Well, it means all important features and elements of a website is viewable on various mobile devices. Each feature functions differently depending on the device that is used in browsing. The same goes with the layout that must look nicely fit on any devices as well – be it on smartphones or tablets. Thus, the desktop version of your website must scale and respond to the specs of a mobile device before you can call it mobile-friendly. In this way, mobile users may access your site easily and quickly.

The impact of a mobile-friendly website to SEO

Undeniably, such an update will dramatically change the digital marketing landscape not just on the website level alone. Every aspect will be affected, and SEO will not be an exemption. This applies in particular because Google blatantly emphasized the reward to becoming mobile-responsive – better mobile search results.

Basically, a mobile-friendly website can be personalized as well in terms of contents, calls to actions and other elements. The goal is to make it accessible, so the visitors will engage more deeply with your website.

Mobile SEO, anyone?

How to know your site passes the mobile-friendly standards

Passing Google’s standards is easy, that is, if you know if your website is mobile-friendly or not to begin with. You can test your website’s mobile-friendliness that Google also provides. Testing is free. You simply need to supply your URL on the field. Click ‘Analyze’ and from there, you will know whether your site has a mobile-friendly design or not. While the testing tool can only say if your website is mobile-friendly or not, it will tell you the reasons Google deemed your website as not mobile-friendly, for instance. If it is not, it will offer suggestions on how to make your site mobile-friendly. You can also check Google Webmaster Tools to determine the mobile usability of your website.

While the testing tool can only say if your site is mobile-friendly or not, it will tell you the reasons Google deemed your website as not mobile-friendly, for instance. If it is not, it will offer suggestions on how to make your site mobile-friendly. You can also check Google Webmaster Tools to determine the mobile usability of your website.

What you must do if your website is not mobile-friendly

For non-mobile-friendly websites, you have to apply some adjustments. These could be minor, major changes or both, depending on the mobile-readiness of your site. From the layout to the elements, you have to be attentive to every detail of your website to make it mobile-friendly.

For instance, you may add a meta tag (<meta name=”viewport” content=”width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0″>) to signal browsers that your website adapts to various devices. Google also publishes other responsive web design configuration guidelines.

Websites who can’t update within April 21st

For those sites who can’t the reach the deadline, fret not. Google’s algorithm acts in real time, which means, it will still accept updates beyond the given deadline. Google only said that there would be rewards, but no punishments. However, the fact remains that your website will be on the losing end wherein your spot on the search engine results pages (SERPs) will be awarded to mobile-friendly websites.

Any wise digital marketer would be doing a disservice to your own website and thus, brand, products, and users. A lost opportunity on your end will be another site’s gain.

Applying the mobile-friendly update on your site gives you the benefit of extending your niche in the mobile landscape. Not to mention, the other benefits that Google mentioned. However, this might require a few meetings with your web designers and developers if your site is not yet mobile-friendly. The premise is either you adapt to the changes, or you lag behind the competition. The ball’s on your court.

Image credit: Search Engine Land

The post Is Your Website Mobile-Friendly Already? appeared first on Internet Marketing Reach.

Here are some of the features that should be evident on a real estate site. Remember that it is all about the user experience (UX).

Disclaimer: We are not talking about a property portal here, but a branded real estate development website.

1) Search

While there are several ways by which a potential client lands to your website, the goal of any consumer is to search for properties to compare and purchase. Of course, they want to see all your listings on different levels (project type, location, and price range, among other filters). The search, which is often termed as ‘Property Finder,’ must be obvious to the user. It should be the first element that the user must see on the homepage.

2) Contact form

Conversion requires strategically placed calls to action that lead to contact forms. That is aside from making your contact details as locatable and clear as possible. Make the calls to action compelling for them to garner clicks. A ‘Reserve Now’ button is hard to ignore. Also, the contact forms should not be intrusive. Perhaps, build credibility first so that it will be easier for you to ask for billing details when the client is ready to reserve, for instance.

3) Layout

Indeed, the homepage is like your virtual reception desk wherein it should be uncluttered. The purpose must be clear to your visitors at first glance. Minimizing err — eliminating bounce rate is your ultimate goal. So, don’t overwhelm the visitors with elements and texts that they will not be looking at or reading. These don’t add up to a great UX. Never include anything that automatically plays – the often unwelcome video, podcast or music.

4) Content

As already mentioned above, there is no need to cramp your homepage with unnecessary contents. Most importantly, update your property selection and include updates on construction of future developments. Users will appreciate the additional information. One way of organizing useful contents is putting a ‘Home Buying Guide’ or FAQ tab that the users can immediately see. Other valuable information can be published on your site’s blog.

5) Link

Putting links on the homepage is inevitable in every real estate website. Think of internal linking as an opportunity for your visitors to explore the site deeper. For one, the menu should be easily comprehensible with obvious navigation to motivate the visitors to explore various pages on the site. Another way to do this is through a sitemap that provides a clearer rundown of the most important pages on your site.

6) Image

A real estate site will not be complete without images of the properties. Sometimes, an image can learn much more than the accompanying description. Not to mention, images of the property and its neighborhood can increase the dwell time of the visitors. Needless to say, images can make the homepage stickier, keeping the visitors engage longer than usual.

It all boils down to the fact that experience matters. As such, any real estate web design must be geared towards creating a great experience for any visitor. Driving users to your site is one thing; making them stay on your site is another. Let this be your guide if you are on the real estate business and you want a website of your own, or you want to redesign your current one.

Image: AvidaLand.com

The post The Best Features of a Real Estate Site’s Homepage appeared first on Internet Marketing Reach.

The growth in mobile device usage including tablets generally alters the digital landscape, adding another layer of complexity to already complex processes that online marketers have to deal with on an ongoing basis. While the millennials are looking forward to a mobile-first future, marketers are kind of hesitant though they know there is no other way but to move forward.

Perhaps, the biggest challenge is determining what contents to place on what device. In 2012, Google revealed that users interact with their devices differently throughout the day. To understand the multi-screen world of the users, Google came up with these stats:

• 90% of all interactions are screen-based
• 38% of these interactions are through smartphones
• 90% of users utilizes multiple screens in sequence
• 81% of these users browse the Internet, shop online, manage finances and plan a trip
• 77% of the users watch TV with another device (34% with a desktop/laptop and 49% with a smartphone)
• Average time spent per interaction is 17 minutes on smartphone, 30 minutes on tablet, 39 minutes on desktop/laptop and 43 minutes on TV

What do these figures imply for the content marketers? People look for information hence they use a particular device. Knowing what information these users are looking for in actuality can aid writing and distributing contents. This leads us to think about the necessity of variation.

A varied approach to creating contents ensure that users are:

1. informed in the right way
2. entertained in the right way
3. retained in the right way

This holds true regardless of which device the users utilize. Ultimately, the improved level of creating contents can encourage the users to keep coming back for more useful contents. Such a process, continuously, leads to the need to publish fresh materials in a consistent manner.

Here’s a breakdown of the appropriate contents for each device.

Desktop and laptop – for keeping users informed and productive

Desktops, primarily, is consumed since most users are used to using them. Desktop content consumption thereby can be the easiest target especially that brands mostly gain interactions and experiences from and through them.

Virtually all forms of content work in desktops and laptops. However, longer articles tend to have higher interaction rate.

Thus, content marketers need to present richer and more interactive contents on these devices. Materials that make the best use of the device’s browser capabilities are the most appropriate. These are the contents that should be viewed on bigger screens such as product demos, reviews, and features.

Smartphones – for keeping users connected

Mobile usage peaks at commuting times. Mobile traffic focuses on chunk browsing or simply catching up with the goings-on on news and social.

During more convenient times, people also use mobile devices for transactions. In June 2014, about 1/3 of all travel transactions are conducted through a mobile device.

Responsive design remains critical at this point. This means mobile users can hop from one blog post to another or from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram. So, swiping should be comfortable and social widgets must be apparent.

Dwell time is an element that content marketers must capitalize on for greater consumption of ‘chunk’ contents. The best contents are bite-sized, easily-digestible contents like image-led post or listicles. Instructional materials such as recipe sites are the best examples.

Tablets – for keeping users entertained

Tablets are mostly used for consuming researches presented in a way that desktops and smartphones cannot. While we often find tablets as a storage for games, apps and tools, tablets are good for reading in-depth reviews and synopsis.

Evidently, content marketing requires a structured approach. It also requires that us, marketers, understand the way our users interact with their devices. With the right knowledge of which device is used for what content, we can easily map out effective content strategies.

So, to answer the question, adapting a multi-device content strategy depends on the types of materials you write and content. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should not explore the need for responsive design. But since people are always on-the-go, perhaps, you should!

Source: MOZ

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