Articles about Website Design

Using WordPress

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

Making the most of your Content Management System

A lot of websites nowadays are built using WordPress, as it has a really good a simple Content Managemet System (CMS), and gives you the ability to edit your own website. It works really well but in order to keep it looking good and resembling the original design or theme, I would advise the following steps.

Screen shot of Content Management System

You probably have the ability to stylise the content and have a content panel that looks just like Word. This makes it really simple but you could make it even simpler.

For example if you have a heading, rather than make it bold, or perhaps change the colour, simply select a pre-formatted heading. This will probably be found in a dropdown menu, look for the words Paragraph and see what other options you have.

Tips on using this drop down menu

  • Don’t use Heading 1, that will probably be the title of your page, and should only be used once.
  • Heading 2, should be your second most important heading.
  • Heading 3, your third most important heading, etc.

Hidden away amongst the code of your website Heading 2 will be pre-formated for a specific colour, typeface weight etc, and  by following this, you will retain the Design or Theme of your website and keep it looking professional.

Incidentally although I have mentioned WordPress, any website that uses a CMS, whether built using WordPress, Joomla, Drupal etc, purchased through Vistaprint or other online systems, or a bespoke CMS, will have these automatic styling sheets.

If you need more help with your Content Management System, we offer a service that assists people to make the most of their system, and you can hire us on an hourly basis. Interested? Give us a call to talk it over.

Adobe CS5.5

Tuesday, December 13th, 2011

I am loving my newly updated Adobe CS5.5 software, but the best bit so far has to be Dreamweaver.

It now includes a live view, so you can see exactly how your website looks as if it were online, but also you can opt for a Multi-view, so you can see at a glance what it will look like on different devices and screen sizes!

Screen shot showing Dreamweaver Multi-view option

Very very helpful, this is really going to make a difference to building usable websites.

Although on the downside it means I no longer have a good excuse to buy an iPad.

New website for Ryan Martinez

Tuesday, December 6th, 2011

As a start-up company Ryan Martinez, an award-winning PR and marketing consultant who offers cost-effective PR and marketing services, knew a website was of paramount importance and decided a one-page website would suit his initial needs.

He approached Karen Jackson Design to design his brand identity, stationery and website.

Ryan Martinez logo

Karen then approached Hooper Graphics to build and host the website.

This is the start of a new venture for Ryan and we wish him all the best.

Cornish Leaf and Coil Club website

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

The Cornish Leaf and Coil Club is a local club who enjoy 4×4 off roading and generally driving their Land Rovers and the like through mud.  Their website had become outdated and was due for a revamp, and they approached Hooper Graphics as they a local company so that any support or training could be provided quickly and easily.

Cornish Leaf and Coil Website

The Club wanted something that looked good and was easy to navigate.  They also to be able to update information themselves, allow members to post items for sale within a Classified Ads Section, and  whilst Access to the Content Management System was required, it was important that this was restricted to certain people and that restrictions were such that only certain people (or 1 person only) could edit specific pages.

To fulfill the brief we built the website using WordPress, customising the design of the TwentyTen Theme.  Using WordPress allows various editing restrictions to the website, and by using the plug-in ‘Advanced Access Manager’, the level of access for specific pages could be controlled.

To cope with the Classified Section the plug-in ‘AWPCP’ was used, this allows any member to add an item for sale directly from the classified page without going through any complicated routines.

The site is up and running www.clcc.uk.com and the club are finding it useful and easy to operate.  Steve Traill, one of the Directors sums it up

Jane interpreted our requirements perfectly and has produced a very simple to operate website that looks good and also gives us the security that we needed.

Murphy brings Pumpkin to the office

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Well it has been a busy week and I haven’t had time to blog about anything this week, but I must just share this with you.

Murphy has been very impressed with how Concrete5 works as a really efficient Content Management System, so he brought along Pumpkin (his brother), to demonstrate to him how it works.

Pumpkin and Murphy

What Murphy really likes is the ability the customer has to edit the whole page, not just the text or images, but the layout as well.

If you are interested in a demo just email or give us a call and you can look at our demonstration website.

Website for Girlguiding Cornwall

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

Girlguiding Cornwall have been customers of Hooper Graphics since 2004, and before that I worked with them at Cornwall Litho, so I have an association with them that dates back nearly 20 years.

It was for this reason that I approached them when I was looking for a suitable charity candidate to learn a new OpenSource Content Management System (CMS) called Concrete 5.

I have been using WordPress for nearly two years now and I am very impressed, however recently Web Designer magazine did a review on other CMS systems and they recommended Concrete 5. I am always keen to look to offer cost effective solutions to my customers, so decided to trail it on a “real” project.

Girlguiding Cornwall were keen to have a website that they could update themselves, it also needed a Member’s area that was Password protected, so we teamed up and it was a good learning process. A problem arose whilst working on the project when their old website had a security problem that resulted in Norton Utilities blocking it. So I was happy to resolve that issue for them as well, and the website has now gone live, check it out on www.girlguidingcornwall.co.uk.

Home page of Girlguiding Cornwall website

As a CMS Concrete5 is much more intuitive than WordPress, it uses “blocks” on each page and you actually edit the page as you see it, rather than within a “backend” system. I have been impressed and will certainly use it for other projects, as it allows a lot more flexibility for adding pictures, text, forms, surveys, videos, outside of the main content area in a simple manner, as well as controlling who has access to individual pages. If you want a demo of the CMS, then let me know and I can send you a link.

I will now be offering a Template version of this website to other areas and regions of Girlguiding throughout the country. The Girlguiding movement offers girls an environment to have fun, learn new skills and make lifelong friends and they need a website that reflects that.

New wordpress website

Wednesday, August 24th, 2011

It is important in the ever changing role of websites on the internet to try and keep up to date with what is happening, so because of this I undertake my own Personal Development programme.

A recent undertaking in the last few months as been to look into e-commerce websites, most particularly using WordPress. WordPress is an excellent inexpensive content management system so I had look at some of the e-commerce plug-ins that are available. I have used my own website that showcases my watercolour paintings for this.

It has been a very useful learning experience because not only have I learnt a different aspect of WordPress but also the complexities that accompany an e-commerce website and ensuring it meets all the correct rules and regulations of online trading. For that reason the e-commerce section is not yet ready!

If it was my main business then it would certainly have a high priority but at the moment my updated website has gone live, so I can blog about any work that I have done, I have a gallery that showcases my paintings, but I still have to sort out how I can deliver Framed Paintings to the UK.

If you have limited products to sell online then WordPress is a good solution, and my newly acquired knowledge also means I will have a good insight to what is involved to any individual or small business looking to start selling online.

100% Bounce Rate

Friday, July 1st, 2011

If you have a Flash website then 100% Bounce Rate can at first glance look alarming but actually its not. Let me explain.

Graphic of Bounce Rate

First of all, what is Bounce Rate? This is a term used in website analytics, it shows the percentage of visitors to your website that leave without clicking on another link within the website. So a 100% Bounce Rate mean visitors find your website and then leave straight away, not good.

Except if it a Flash website any links stay within the website and won’t be counted because you are actually staying on the same web page. The time people are on a page, etc can only be measured once you go onto another page.

So on my own Flash website, set up to demonstrate how Flash can be used and using my .com domain name, has a 100% Bounce Rate, but that is not so bad after all. I do love Flash but realistically a whole website done in Flash is probably only for large global names.

However if that happened on my usual website I would be very very worried.

Website requirements

Friday, May 27th, 2011

In order to continue offering my customers what they need I am conducting some market research via Facebook on what are the top factors people consider when having a new website.

Today there are a lot of cheaper options being offering on the internet, with word press templates etc but is there a big demand for it? Or do you feel a little disappointed that, whilst it is a cheap option, in the end you don’t get what you want.

I like to offer a personalised service that meets your marketing requirements, but perhaps price is what concerns people the most at the moment.

Take part in the Poll.

Web hosting explained

Wednesday, April 13th, 2011

Briefly

Each website has its files stored on a web server, your domain name points to this web server, so that when people click on your url the files are displayed.

You do not need to have your website hosted by the same people that you purchase your domain from, it is entirely up to you where you host your website, however you do need to change the “nameservers”.

What is a nameserver, this is explained, along with other terms used in regard to web hosting.

Nameserver

Your nameserver simply points people to where your website is stored. The information is stored with your domain name, within a password controlled area. If you move your web hosting this information needs to be changed, it is a relatively easy task, but if you are unsure, whoever is hosting your website may help you.

Web Space

This is the amount of physical storage on the web server that is allocated for you to store your files. The amount of space required will depend on the amount and type of files that you need for your website. Small websites do not require very much, however large websites with databases video and audio files will require more space.

Bandwidth

This is a monthly allocation and it relates to the amount of traffic that your website receives. Again this will depend on your website, and large websites will need a large bandwidth otherwise the website will slow up.

Email Accounts

The number of email accounts you need will depend on how many staff or people require their own personalised address, but you will require at least one. Email forwarding can usually be set up to forward a specific email address, that is related to your domain name, to your own personal email.

Secure Hosting

If need website with secure hosting, or a secure certificate, this will ensure sensitive data is store correctly. Although this will increase the cost of your hosting it is particularly importantly for eCommerce websites that store credit card transactions.

Databases

If your website needs any sort of database in order to function, and this includes Content Management Systems, Contact Forms, Shopping Carts etc then this may well cost extra. You need to check with your web host.

Customer Support

Hosting firms offer different levels of support, which can be email, phone, via their website, and it is worth checking what support is offered for each package.

For more information about web hosting please feel free to phone us and have a no-obligation chat.