Sarasota Web Design, 3d Animation, Video, Audio

Statistics released on June 21, 2011, show that WordPress is used in 63% of all websites using content management systems, commonly called CMS. Content management system distribution is calculated from the top million websites on the Internet. The CMS with the second place position among content management based websites is Joomla, but at a mere 10% it pales in comparison to the popularity of WordPress. This is a testament to the superiority of WordPress as an overall website CMS. WordPress has a simplicity that makes it very popular with end users, yet it’s potential for functional complexity is unlimited. WordPress web designers appreciate the straight forward templating system and the power to create virtually any web design from a WordPress website. Companies appreciate that WordPress is the most stable and up to date website CMS in the industry. And software developers reap the benefits of the WordPress open plugin architecture, allow anyone to program a custom website application that simply ‘plugs in’ to the WordPress core. WordPress was voted best website CMS in 2009 and 2010, and there is no doubt it will claim a Hat Trick in 2011.

Below is a chart displaying the current website CMS distribution ratios, with WordPress claiming the vast majority share of 63%.

Website CMS Distribution in Top Million Sites

Image courtesy of Built With Trends

Are you seeking a WordPress web designer? Razworks Sarasota Web Design has been developing professional websites with WordPress for five years. Visit Razworks Sarasota Web Design website at: http://razworks.com/web-design/ or call 941-685-8851

WordPress was voted Best Website CMS (content management system) for 2010, under the Hall of Fame category, which is reserved for software that has won the Open Source CMS Award at least once in the past. WordPress was voted Best CMS of 2009 as well. Two years in a row establishes a trend that much of the world’s web design community already knows, WordPress is the best website publishing system in the World. But don’t take a Sarasota website designer ‘s word for it. And don’t let the votes of the Open Source Awards sway your opinion, nor the other hundreds of thousands of website designers across the world who swear by WordPress web design. Instead, ask Yahoo why they use WordPress. Ask Sony why they use WordPress. Ask the New York Times, CBS, Pepsi, GM, GE, MIT, Intel, Best Buy, The U.S Army, The U.S. Air Force, Harvard University, The Wall Street Journal, National Geographic, Samsung, Ebay, Duke University, Delta Air Lines, Lexus, San Diego Zoo, Xerox, Fox News, The NFL, Nokia, Cornell University, The American Red Cross, Library of Congress, Forbes, Boston University, The Official Star Wars Blog, National Republican Senatorial Committee, University of Southern California, Network Solutions, MTV, McAfee, Fischer Price, Nikon, Blackberry, Nivea, University of Maine, Mozilla, Republican Governors Association, University of Arkansas,  Congressional Budget Office, Oregon State University, AMD, DC Comics, Wired, University of Toronto, Rackspace, ZDNet, University of Florida, Carnival Cruise Lines, Reuters, Anderson Cooper 360, University of Missouri, Larry King Live, Danielle Steel, University of Melbourne, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nancy Pelosi, University of Berlin, Charles Barkley, Ryan Seacrest, Sylvester Stallone, University of Calgary…. And that is just a small sample of the companies and institutions that are using WordPress web design to manage corporate, government and organization websites. So you can feel confident that WordPress web design will serve your website needs. Razworks Web Design Sarasota specializes in WordPress web design. Call Razworks today for a free Sarasota Web design consultation – 941-685-8851. Or click here to send Razworks a quick email.

WordPress web design customization can be a simple task for experienced WordPress developers. By simply adding function calls and filters to the active theme’s ‘functions.php’ file, you can perform just about any WordPress web design customization, to both the front end and backend of WordPress websites.

WordPress has a built in function for logging users in and out called ‘wp_loginout’. The default text displayed for this is ‘Log in’ and ‘Log out’ respectively. But what if you want your login link to display as ‘Sign in’ and ‘Sign off’ instead of the default ‘Log in’ and ‘Log out’? Add a filter to the active theme’s functions.php of course.

/**
 * Change login text
 */

add_filter('loginout','loginout_text_change');
function loginout_text_change($text) {
$login_text_before = 'Log in';
$login_text_after = 'Sign in';

$logout_text_before = 'Log out';
$logout_text_after = 'Sign off';

$text = str_replace($login_text_before, $login_text_after ,$text);
$text = str_replace($logout_text_before, $logout_text_after ,$text);
return $text;
}

Now upload the edited functions.php file, and when viewing the WordPress web design in a web browser, the ‘Log in’ text link will now display as ‘Sign in’.

In regards to website development, modern web design and content creation utilize a Web 2.0 philosophy comprised of a unified set of standards. Web 2.0 styled Internet websites have a standard set of default web pages, such as About Us, Contact Us, Customer Service, etc. Most Internet users are accustomed to seeing these default web pages, and often seek these web pages for establishing a company’s credibility prior to making a purchase.

A common web 2.0 web design practice is to optimize access to such default pages. Using the standard nomenclature for default web pages will help optimization efforts. Clients often request customizations to these pages, such as changing the title or removal from the primary navigation. For instance, in regards to requesting customer service, consumers are most familiar with the title ‘Customer Service’, therefore changing that title to ‘Customer Satisfaction’ or ‘Customer Care’ may not provide optimal results in regards to website navigation.

Torus geometry object

Let’s say Quality Auto Parts Inc., a regional auto parts dealer, personalizes some standard automobile terminology to help induce a unique corporate image. The owner of the company prefers the term ‘steering torus’ to ‘steering wheel’, and changes this term in all the company’s printed, broadcast, and electronic media. Neither of these terms are incorrect, and they both work well grammatically. However, most consumers immediately relate to the term ‘steering wheel’, almost at a sub-conscience level. The term ‘steering torus’ is not as familiar to a consumer because it is not used regularly by the industry.

Quality Auto Parts Inc. shortly after re-issues new versions of all their printed, broadcast, and electronic media with all instances of the term ‘steering torus’ changed back to ‘steering wheel’.

In respect to media and website usability, specific terminology is relevant. Design personalization is most effectively executed by customizing design elements such as graphics, fonts, colors, etc.

†A torus is a geometrical surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the circle. Real world examples of torus objects include doughnuts, inner tubes, many lifebuoys, O-rings and Vortex rings.  Learn more about geometric objects such as the Torus.

Razworks web design services has launched another website that is ranking high on Google Search engine results.

Razworks performed website design and development for Sarasota, FL based D and D Gutters, a seamless rain gutter company specializing in seamless gutter installation and repair. A Google search for Sarasota Seamless Gutters results in 3 positions on the first page of Google Search  results for D and D Seamless Gutters. “The website has been online for only three weeks so we are pleased with the search engine ranking”, comments Razworks’ owner Michael Rassel.

The Razworks Sarasota Web Design WordPress template website, which is the one contracted by Sarasota Florida based D and D Seamless Gutters, has significant search engine optimization by default. “The software we use to dynamically assemble the template website was selected specifically because of it’s W3C XHTML standards compliance. Web design that passes W3C standards validation is a key factor in Web 2.0 search engine optimization.

By Michael Rassel

When I was employed as a lead artist and producer at Viewpoint Corporation in New York City, a $49,900 website was fairly common. Working on high profile web media presentations for companies like Sony, Nike, IBM, Hewlett Packard, etc., and the average project bid exceeded $25K , I would never have thought that a $499 website was financially feasable.

But as an independent contractor that cators to small business within a single metropolitan locale, I found that the price for a basic business quality website tends to average around $2500. In my travels across Sarasota, FL, and after talking with various Sarasota small business owners, it seems that many cannot justify the expense for $1000 website, much less a $2500 web site.

So I took it upon myself to seize the opportunity and create a productized website package that would look better and outperform your typical small business web site, for a fraction of the cost.

This website’s superior value will be characterized by the following:

• Very affordable, in comparison to the median priced small business website.
• A quality web design template with professional, expensive looking visual graphics.
• Content management software so the client can edit content and add web pages themselves.
• Built in search engine optimization.
• Functionality a small business website needs, ie; Blog, Shopping Cart, Contact Form, etc.

The product offering would provide a turn key website with all the functionality a small business needs, effectively equaling or besting the average business website at a fraction of the price.

$499 is the lowest possible price I can produce this product for, while maintaining the integrity of a business quality website. The Razworks.com/blog website is built upon the same $499 website framework, as are hundreds of thousands of Web 2.0 websites across the world. The blog and content management software used is WordPress, the Internt’s most popular web content publishing software platform. WordPress has a sophisticated content management system that empowers the website owner to edit content, create new web pages, add new images, publish blog posts, etc. Because the small business owner can add much of the content on their own time, I can deliver their website for much less than the average median price. Every time a web page needs text updated or an image needs to be added, the client no longer needs to call the web design company and pay them to do it. With the do-it-yourself web page editor, the business owner can update the web site themselves and save.

Typical issues that limit the effectiveness of a business website:

• One of the most common problems I see with small business websites is a poor visual design.
  Research shows that most web consumers will mentally judge your website on visual appeal first. If the web visitor feels that your website’s visual design is unappealing, they may click off to the next site without ever viewing your content. That’s why using professional graphics to produce an appealing visual web design should be a prerequesite. With over ten years of professional experience, Razworks designs custom web graphics that create an appealing a uniquely professional look and feel.
• The code is not Web 2.0 compliant or has errors that may prevent the increase of search engine ranking results. Search engines like Google validate the code of a home page before it ranks the website. If the code does not pass a WC3 validation scan, Google may have difficulty ranking your website for search engine results.
• The content text copy is not effectively keyword optimized. Search engine optimized copywriting is one of the major factors that will effect how Google ranks your website on search engine results pages. Selecting effective keywords and frequently posting content on your website that uses these keywords will help improve your web site search engine rankings.
• No Blog? As far as Google is concerned, “Content is King”. That is why blogs have recently become so popular. Blogs allow website owners and users to publish their own content, whenever, and sometimes from where ever they want. Publishing blog weekly or daily can help increase your search engine results rankings, especially if you blog about your keyword products or services and use your search engine keywords often in your blogs.
• Lack of modern functionality. With the percentage of consumers purchasing products and services online is continuously increasing. Having an e-commerce shopping cart on your website gives you an advantage over a website that does not have one, and vice versa. A modestly stocked shopping cart with keyword optimized text descriptions can also help improve search engine rankings.
• Active media that interferes with the website performance, validation and/or search engine optimization. With the adoption of Web 2.0 standards, many web applications and media formats can cause problems with your web site. For example, there is an open source a Web 2.0 embed code for Adobe Flash, as the Adobe generated embed code fails WC3 validation. Some Java applications can fail validation and impede web site performance.

So what does this all mean for small businesses? Is a $499 web site good enough?
Typically…No! But Razworks $499 Template Web Site is provides small business owners with an exceptional value.

When you order a Razworks $499 Template Website, you are getting quality similar or better than that of competing websites costing 3 to four times the price.

Click Here to learn more!

Your small business needs a website, and Razworks Sarasota web site design looks like the best deal you’ve seen. So how do you get started?

To can email Razworks questions Click Here. Be sure to include descriptions about the website you want so Razworks can get started right away. Email any questions prior to ordering. You can mail a check to Razworks at 935 N. Beneva Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232

Alternatively you can call Razworks at 941-685-8851. Phone orders still get the low Internet advertised prices and we will get started on your website right away. You can mail a check to Razworks at 935 N. Beneva Rd., Sarasota, FL 34232.

Planning your website:

A Razworks website production is comprised of the following:

1. Administration
   • Domain registration and setup – Client input
   • Hosting subscription and setup
   • Email subscription and setup – Client input
   • Software installation and setup
2. Design
   • Research of client’s industry and trends – Client input
   • Select page layout – Client input
   • Create visual design – Client input
   • Customize layout to visual design
   • Install website
3. Content
   • Determine main navigation – Client input
   • Setup left sidebar content – Client input
   • Setup right sidebar content – Client input
   • Publish client content on four web pages and one blog post. (5 pages total) – Client input
   • Create temporary content when none is supplied.
4. Marketing
   • Install Google Sitemap Generator for search engine optimization
   • Setup Google Adwords account (client submits credit card and $5 fee to activate.) – Client input

Choosing a domain name is the first step to producing a website.

Is there a trick to selecting a domain name?

If search engine results ranking is important to you, then choose a domain name that has your product or services search keywords within the domain name. For example, www.SarasotaHurricaneProducts.com is not the name of the small business that contracted the website development. But the company’s target market is Sarasota, FL and it’s product keyword is hurricane products. Using this keyword optimized domain name helped thrust Sarasota Hurricane Products.com to #4 on Google within two months of first being posted.

Email Accounts

Determine how many email accounts you will need and what the usernames and passwords will be.

Client Research

Prepare a list of competitor websites and/or web design examples that you would like to emulate.

Web Page Layout

A Web 2.0 web page layout uses what is termed as a “Box Model”, where sections of the web page are divided into boxes and columns into which headers, navigation, content, sidebar content and footers are inserted.

Columns describe the vertical areas of the page in which content is displayed. The 3 column website design layout is the most common, providing a left sidebar area for site navigation, a center area for the content body and a right sidebar for a shopping cart, links, blogs, etc.

The 3 Column web page layout

The most common web page layout is the 3 column with header and horizontal navigation. Nine out of ten websites use this layout. It maximizes screen space to display more information on the web page and allows users to easily select from multiple subjects.

The 2 Column web page layout

A smaller page size can help focus attention on the content area while still displaying a side bar for links and secondary information. This layout is popular with blog websites.

The 1 Column web page layout

A one column minimizes the overall page size emphasizes the content area by eliminating side bar content. This layout is popular with blog websites.

Variations of each web page layout

3 column web page without header

2 column web page without header

1 column web page without header

3 column vertical web page layout

2 column vertical web page layout

Background

Background colors and images create visual appeal and brand awareness. Elements used to produce various visual design themes are:

• photos
• gradients
• colors
• textures

Studies have shown that web visitors will judge your website on it’s visual appeal within the first few seconds of viewing your home page.

If your website has a professional looking visual web design, the user will usually stay on your website and continue viewing your content. If your website has an unattractive or unprofessional looking design, the user will often click back to where they came from and visit another website.

Hence, expensive looking visual web design will often help improve visitor retention. The longer you can keep a consumer on your website, the better your chances of them becoming your customer.

Page Subjects

5 web pages are included in most sarasota website design packages

A typical five page website has the following web pages:

• Home
• Products and Services
• Contact Us
• About Us
• News

One of the five pages will be your blog page, which I typically title “News”

The other four pages can have anything you want, but the page subjects listed above are common with most websites and help to establish identity. Identity pages foster consumer confidence and help make the visitor more comfortable with your web presence. Most Internet users expect to see these pages and the content presented can often pursued a customer choose to do business with you. With the Do-It-Yourself web page editor you can easily add new pages your self.