Web Design & SEO Blog

We all know that web search engines are built on common methodologies – those that tell us what people search for, and for how long. Thanks to log file data and search engine results pages (SERPS), this is something that we can find out relatively easily. [Read On]

Although mobile web browsing is a recent phenomenon, there is already a good range of mobile browsers to choose from when you buy a smartphone. This is impressive considering what happened with PC browsing – Internet Explorer was the only choice for quite a few years before the likes of Firefox and co came along to challenge it. Mobile browsers are built especially for mobile phones, taking into account the constraints (and possibilities) offered by the format. It’s worth checking how your site works on all of the mobile browsers out there, especially when you’re launching new content. It would be a great shame to have a fantastic new page up, only to exclude all of the users of say, Opera Mini, because you hadn’t done a few simple compatibility checks. [Read On]

However inventive you plan on being when designing your mobile web site, it pays to put usability as your top priority. Mobile sites have their own usability guidelines and with 20 per cent of UK mobile phone users now browsing the net on their phones, it pays dividends to get acquainted with the rules. [Read On]

SEO marketers won’t need to change their strategies to account for Google’s new Instant feature, according to specialists at the search engine. Google Instant gives web users some relevant search results even whilst they are still typing in the search box: a shortcut to search that is likely to prove useful to mobile internet users when the service is rolled out for them. The service, which launched last week for computer browsers, has seen the deletion of the Enter key from search as users don’t need to finish their sentence to get results. [Read On]

The 24/7 business week is now upon us, with many people relying on their smartphones and mobile internet to stay up-to-date with industry news and key business associates. Consequently, there has bee a shift towards mobile web design, adapting a company’s standard website and brand for ease of use and accessibility via mobile internet. Key adopters include Google, Amazon and Facebook. [Read On]

When designing a website, you need to decide who will require access for updates and development. If you are happy to run everything through a technically skilled webmaster, who will be responsible for writing all the code and ensuring compliance with best practice, then a Content Management System (CMS) may not be essential to your business. However, most businesses these days require some degree of flexibility, whether that's updating news stories, adding blog posts or adding new articles, pages and products. [Read On]

Like anything that achieves a certain level of popularity, the process of SEO is vulnerable to those who wish to cheat the system. Most companies practicing SEO do so in line with best practice guidelines, creating strong links through personal interaction, communication and great content. However, there are several link-building techniques which can lead to a site being blacklisted. [Read On]

The visual equivalent of a call to action, buttons are becoming increasingly popular on websites as the quickest and easiest way to convert potential clients’ interest. Whether it’s subscribe, buy, follow or friend, there are buttons for all actions and they provide a clear, simple visual indicator of how your visitor can achieve their (and your) aim. [Read On]

Yahoo! reached a key milestone in their search engine alliance with Microsoft last week as vital back-end functions of Yahoo! Search were transferred over to the Microsoft Bing platform. This is the first stage in Yahoo!’s long-term plan to improve the overall relevance of organic search results and attract a larger audience. [Read On]