Rule # 4 - Use Appropriate Font Sizes

Choosing the style of font is just the first step when designing a Web site. You then have to consider the size. The size of the text is important because it will not only affect the presentation of your page, but also the readability.

Consider that when people read, they group words together rather than see and read each word individually. Long blocks of text that is too large doesn't flow well for readers and gives a choppy appearance. That's why, even in print media, large font sizes are reserved for headlines and short phrases. To make your page title or section headers stand out, you can use a bigger, bolder font.

Small text on a computer screen can really strain the eyes, so it should be used sparingly as well. Many computer screens don't display the smallest characters clearly, and in general, tiny text is hard to see. Fonts under 10 pt are generally good for copyright notices or other legal disclaimers. It's not information that will be read frequently so you don't want it to take up too much space, but it's still necessary to have it displayed.

In general, most of your Web site text will be 10-point, or possibly 12-point. Some fonts actually present larger than others, so you may choose to use a smaller size and still achieve good readability.

You should also consider your audience - if your target audience includes seniors or those with disabilities, you may want a larger font for your Web copy.

There are a number of different ways to write the code to determine the size of your fonts. Some make your font size absolute so that everyone sees the same size. Others can make the font size relative so that the size adjusts to the user's browser specifications. Talk with your Web designer to choose the best choice for your site and needs.

Rule # 3 - Choose the Right Font

With the huge number of different fonts available these days, you might think you can use just about anything out there on your Web site. This isn't necessarily the case. In fact, there are only a few fonts that will give your users optimal viewing.

For Web pages, text is displayed using the fonts available on the viewer's computer. So, if you choose an obscure font, one that you found through an Internet search or pulled from a 1001 Fonts CD, the majority of your site visitors are unlikely to have that font installed on their systems, and the page and its text won't appear correctly to them. It's usually better to choose common fonts that nearly all users have installed, such as Arial and Times New Roman for PC users, and Helvetica and Times for Macs.

Another way to ensure your site will correctly display text is to choose a particular style of font and let the user's browser choose the best match. There are three types that work for Web pages: Serif, Sans-serif, and monospace. A Serif font has "feet" or extra strokes on the ends of some lines. Times New Roman is a serif font. These types of fonts are commonly used in print - books, newspapers, magazines, etc.

Sans-serif fonts have smooth ending lines, or are "without serifs." Arial is an example. These fonts are easy to read on a computer screen and are good choices for body text in a Web page.

Monospace fonts are those like Courier, where each letter takes up exactly the same amount of space as the others.

When you want a browser to display a specific font, but yet adequately compensate when that font is not available on a user's computer, you can include several fonts in your CSS code. For example, you can write "font-family: helvetica, verdana, sans-serif" which would first try to display helvetica, then verdana, and then any sans-serif font available.

Of course, most Web pages would be quite boring with only one font displayed throughout. The best way to add variety to your site, and make it more visually appealing, is to use graphics that feature other fonts. If you want your Web site header to include your business name in a cursive font, you would create a jpeg or gif image using the font you like then place that image in the appropriate spot. This allows you to be creative while still maintaining the ability of all users to read and enjoy your site.

Rule #2 - Provide the Right Content

The layout of your Web site and design of each page will depend on the content that you will display. Rule # 2 in Web site design - provide the information your customers need to know.

As you plan your site and decide what you will include about yourself and your business, it's important to consider your customer's perspective. When you are looking for information a site, what do YOU look for? What information do you want to know about the business before you decide to contact them in person or buy a product or service? Your list might include:

• Where are they located?
• How long have they been in business?
• What products do they sell?
• Who endorses or recommends their services?
• What is their "process" when working with clients?
• What is their return policy if I purchase a product?
• Who are the people in the organization/company?
• What is their background/education/experience?
• Who can I call to get more information?
  

Answer those questions about your own company and you will get a good idea about what content to include and where in your site that information will go. As you design your organizational structure, remember to include these things:

• An introduction to your business, including a clear description of your mission or purpose.
• A visual identity that people will recognize later and remember
• Clear navigation that allows visitors to easily move through your site as they look for more information about your products and services.
• A description of who you are and what you offer.
• An introduction to key people in the organization.
• A list of reviews or testimonials from current and past customers/clients.
• Your contact information, including a phone number.

Remember that anyone can create a Web site and purport to be a legitimate business. The Internet provides many opportunities, but many threats as well, and most people won't do business with a company if they can't verify its existence in "real" life. If you don't provide a physical location or phone number, you aren't giving potential customers any tangible proof of that you are who you say. When you allow your customers to easily verify the information on your site, you build trust and loyalty. Plan your content accordingly.

Rule #1 - Plan Your Design

When you start thinking about layouts in Web design, you really have two layouts to consider. One is the structure of your entire site, and the second is the design of each page. Generally speaking, you should start with the site as a whole, figuring out how many pages you will have and how you will link to each page. With this structure in place, you can then design each page with a clear picture of how much text will be on each page and how your navigation bar and other link bars will look.

Start building your site listing each topic you would like to include and sketching out a map to show how they will be linked. Pages might include your Home Page, About Us, Products, Services, and Contact Page. From there, determine how many additional pages you will add underneath these pages. In other words, they may not be part of your main navigation bar, but you will create other links throughout your site to take visitors to those pages. For example, you may have products or services that you want to dedicate a separate page to each one. By outlining your site on paper first, you will be able to keep your site organized and create logical transitions between pages.

Once you have the organizational structure, you can begin to plan the separate components that will fill each page. Here are items you will need to include:

• Header - usually includes the site name and a graphic, such as a logo. This will probably be exactly the same or very similar on all of your Web pages throughout your site.
• Page Name - providing the page name in an obvious location helps users keep track of where they are on your site
• Body - for the content of your page
• Main Navigation Bar - Links to the additional main pages of your site
• Sub Navigation Links - If your site is complex or includes many pages, these will help the user quickly find items of interest
• Footer - a section at the bottom of the page that generally includes copyright information, disclaimers, company name and phone number, additional contact information, or e-mail link. Like the header, this will be included on all of your pages.

Other items might include banner advertising, a search box, and/or a box to show a customer's shopping cart status if you are selling products.

While most sites will incorporate these layout sections, remember that you want your site to be unique and reflect your personality and business style. Don't feel like you must follow this standard format. As long as you have the important components that identify who you are and display your contact information, your design can deviate from the standard layout.

Again, use a piece of paper to sketch your page layout. Will you have 2 columns or 3, or a combination? Where will you place your business name and logo? What types of graphics will you use and where will you place them in relation to text boxes? This preliminary planning will make it easier to visualize your site and improve the process of building your site in your software program.

So, one of the first rules of designing a great Web site - spend time visualizing your site and drawing both the navigational outline and the page layout before creating it on screen.

COMMUNICATIONS MADE EASY NAMED AS FINALIST IN BUSINESS.COM WHAT WORKS FOR BUSINESS CONTEST!!

Communications Made Easy is one of five contest finalists vying for the best solution to a Technology business challenge and a grand prize of $10,000.

To vote for Communications Made Easy simply click on the image What Works For Business to the left and then click on the technology category or click here.

Rochester, Illinois, Dec. 10, 2008 — Communications Made Easy, a 4-1 broadcast communication service, was named as one of the finalists in the Business.com What Works for Business Contest which aims to identify the best solutions to business challenges. CME’s entry was selected as one of the best in the Technology category from hundreds of contest entries by a panel of business expert contest judges.

Winners for each of the 10 contest categories, and the overall contest winner, will be chosen by popular vote at The What Works for Business Contest Voting page from Wednesday, Dec. 10 through Friday, Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. Pacific. The final contest results will be announced on Monday, Jan. 12 with each category winner receiving $2,000 and the overall contest winner receiving $10,000.

“We are very excited to have made the final cut for this contest,” said co-owner Michelle Tjelmeland. “We’ve worked hard to design our own software to bring rural communities the capability of sending emergency messages through text messages, e-mail, recorded phone messages, and Web site postings. It’s great to be included as one the top 5 technology solutions.”

Co-owner Mark Roberts thanked the judges for selecting their story as one of the finalists. “We appreciate the support from Business.com’s editorial team, judging panel, and all those who read our story and vote. You’ve given us a fantastic opportunity to get some nationwide exposure for CME.”

Sponsored by Business.com, the leading business search engine, directory and pay-per-click advertising network, the What Works for Business Contest is open to all North American businesses and is designed to help shift business focus from what’s wrong with the economy to what small businesses can actually do to survive and thrive in 2009. Eligible participants submitted a brief description of a business challenge they faced and how they solved it in one of 10 key business categories - Money, Technology, Sales & Marketing, Web, Office Management, Operations, People, Business Location, Startup, and Management – between Oct. 22 and Dec. 3. These entries were reviewed by Business.com’s editorial team and then rated by a panel of action-oriented business leaders to determine the finalists.

“The What Works for Business Contest showcases the ingenuity of small business owners, managers and startup entrepreneurs while creating a resource for businesses seeking real answers,” says Daniel Kehrer, Editor of Business.com and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Journalist of the Year for the Los Angeles region.

To vote or see a complete description of contest rules, visit http://whatworks.business.com/

###

About Communications Made Easy

Communications Made EasyTM is an affordable communication tool that broadcasts any message in a matter of seconds to a mass mailing list, using a proprietary 4-in-1 system. This innovative and user-friendly service makes it easy to use one access point to send messages simultaneously, via the Web, e-mail, text message, and phone. CME offers monthly messaging subscriptions, premium service add-ons that enable customers to enhance their package as needed, concierge service to ensure customer messages are dispatched immediately in times of crisis, and a reseller program to allow organizations to brand and sell the product as their own. Communications Made EasyTM is a subsidiary of The Easy Life, LLC, headquartered in Rochester, IL.

Communications Made Easy Media Contact:

Michelle Tjelmeland
Co-owner
800.605.0082
info@communicationsmadeeasy.comBusiness.com Media Contact:

Dianne Molina
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Business.com
310.586.4150
dmolina@business.com

The Elements of Web Design

Putting a Web site out on the Internet it not hard. With a little bit of study and effort, almost anyone can do it. Designing an effective Web site takes a lot of planning and thought, and it's not a skill everyone can master.

Just like print design, Web design has many elements and techniques that have to come together in a cohesive structure to end up with a site that truly identifies you and your business. Web designers have to think about graphic design, copywriting, marketing techniques, color psychology, layout, and site navigation, and each one of these elements has its own set of qualities.

This is why it is so important to research Web designers before choosing someone to develop your site. It's not just about getting your name out there. It's about creating a site that is uniquely you and represents your personality and passion. The more this comes through, the more likely you are to attract customers and clients who will enjoy working with you and become loyal followers. If you want a site that is engaging, visually appealing, and effectively promotes your business, you'll understand the investment required and see the value of have a professionally-designed site unique to your preferences.

Throughout December, I'll post about the basic elements of Web site design. Learning about these techniques will not only help you evaluate your own site, but also those of your competition and other designers. Feel free to contribute your own comments, tips, and techniques, or ask any questions you may have!

Should "White Space" Be White?

The term "white space" in graphic design really refers to the blank or unused space between the elements of your Web site. It doesn't necessarily have to be white, and in fact, it is usually best to have your blank space blend with the colors and theme of your page.

In general, your white space is going to be the same color as the background of your site. So it pays to put some thought into what this will be, as it will both complement and contrast with your text and graphics.

If you consider the psychology of color when designing your site, white is perceived as bright and fresh, producing a sense of space or highlight important information. In that respect, white is a a great "color" to use for your white space (and background). On the other hand, white can been seen as sterile or cold, and even boring. So, if you're going to have a lot of space between elements, or if your other elements aren't colorful, you might use a warmer background color, one that is inviting, relaxing, and calming.

You want to be careful, too, not to mix too many colors on one page. This will make it hard for your site visitors to know what to look at first. Once again, weight plays an issue as well. A excess of darker colors or a combination of too many colors can make your site appear heavy and overloaded, which will cancel out the highlighting purpose of white space. But too much white can have a negative effect as well. Without some accent color to help organize elements, it may appear that your graphics or text were placed where ever they landed with no plan or scheme. In other words, there will be no direction to guide your eyes around the page.

So, your white space doesn't have to be, often times isn't, always white. But whatever the color, the principle of white space is still the same. Use it to highlight important aspects of your page, make test easy to read and interpret, and organize the sections of your page for easy navigation.

Weight and Your Web Page

Did you know that objects on your Web page can be too heavy? Weight plays an important role in the balance of your entire design. Of course, I'm not talking about physical weight, but rather the perceived weight of an object based on its size and placement.

Obviously, images that are too small will be hard to see and ineffective in their role as complements to your text or theme. But images that are too large will overwhelm your site visitors and take away from the information that you present. Remember that images should never be so large that you have to scroll vertically or horizontally to see the entire picture. Most will be much more effective in a much smaller size.

In general, the size of your images should be large enough to see any details but small enough so that your eye can comprehend the subject or "point" without a lot of effort. If you want to emphasize a particular object, such as your logo or your business name, you can use white space to set it apart from other graphics and text rather than make it really big and filling the screen.

Overall, think about balance. Too much text is boring, too many large graphics are confusing and hard to understand. A good mix of these elements along with just the right amount of white space will give your page a feeling that everything was placed intentionally under a well thought out plan. Your visitors will enjoy browsing your site, and your business will be portrayed a one that takes time focus on customer or client needs.

There's no hard and fast rule to achieving this kind of balance. It's really a matter of experimenting with the design, browsing other sites to determine what works and what doesn't, and asking others to preview your page and offer their comments. Remember that most of your site visitors won't know a lot about the specific elements of your design - they'll only know whether your site is attractive, engaging, and easy-to-read.

5 Tips to Incorporate White Space Into Your Text

White space in a Web site isn't just about appearances. It is a tool that also helps your text to be easily read by your site visitors. Margins, line spacing, and even the space between characters are all areas where white space is helpful if you want your visitors to actually read the information you've displayed for them. Here's a couple of tips:

1. Consider your page margins. Rarely do you want text or even graphics to stretch across the entire width of a screen. Even with a small 14" screen, readers will have difficulty following lines of text from one side to the other. Set page margins to give your site a border of blank space to help keep your content contained within a section of the screen that your visitors can easily view.

2. Long lines of text are hard to read, especially on a computer screen. Consider putting your text into columns with white space between, or contain the text in smaller segments bordered by white space. Remember that people tend to process words in blocks rather than single words, so block your sentences for them with white space.

3. Watch the proximity between your text and graphics. In most cases, you should always surround your graphics with white space. Even captions for pictures should be spaced far enough away from the graphic so that the words don't "bleed" together with the graphic. This will also help you emphasize objects on your page and give balance to site as a whole.

4. Consider your font spacing between letters. If the letters appear scrunched together, the words will be hard to read. You may have to adjust the spacing between characters to create white space between characters. At the same time, letters that are too far apart will also make it difficult for the eye to put those letters together as a word. Watch for this as well.

5. Think about the spacing between lines. Single spaced lines run together and make it hard to read, so include a small amount of white space between your sentences to add some separation. Again, too much space will interrupt the flow for readers.

If some of these concepts don't make sense to you, try visiting random Web sites and evaluate the pages for these items. You'll soon realize how the right blend of white space between words, sentences and paragraphs creates a smooth and organized reading experience. Remember, the easier the page is to read, the longer your visitors will stay and browse!

Convey Elegance Through Your Site

In design, white space is used for more than just separating graphics from text. It is used as subtle yet effective way to convey style and status. Incorporating a lot of white space in to a design suggest elegance, sophistication, and refinement, while a busier, more cluttered design communicates lower cost and lower quality.

The cosmetics industry is known for its use of white space to imply a high quality and expensive product, one that is especially reserved for those who appreciate the value of quality and excellence. The product and the brand is expected to speak for itself.

It really pays to understand this concept when incorporating white space in your design. If your product or service is designed for customers or clients who have more disposable income to spend, then your designs should reflect that to attract those customers. However, if your product is targeted to those who are looking for value without spending a lot of money, then you will want to be careful not to convey too much sophistication or you risk turning away customers who might believe they can't afford your product.

Organizing With White Space

One aspect of good Web design that many people don't think a lot about is white space. That's the area on a page that is left "untouched" by graphics and type. It's not necessarily white - it can be any color, but it is space that is basically blank. White space is a visually important element because it separates lines of type, columns, graphics, and figures.

Achieving the correct balance of white space can be somewhat of an art. Too much empty space makes a page look boring and empty. It might give the impression that the Web site's owner doesn't have enough interesting things to tell its customers. But too little white space leaves pages feeling cluttered and jumbled together. When visitors see a page full of words and graphics with little or no separation, they won't know where to look first.

By using white space to divide and organize your Web site, you can easily guide your site visitors to the most important information you are presenting. When used correctly, white space will enhance your site’s usability and give your customers a clear, logical picture of who you are and what you can do for them. They will feel more comfortable browsing because the information is easy to read and they can navigate through your pages without being bombarded with too much information or commotion.

Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network Clients Participate in Innovate Illinois Competition

Two Central Illinois businesses competed as semi-finalists against 30 other Illinois businesses in the Fourth Annual Innovate Illinois Competition held in Chicago on September 26. The Springfield businesses were selected from among other Central Illinois applicants to represent the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network (MREN) in this program designed to recognize high-growth small businesses in Illinois that have launched or will soon launch an innovative product or service.

Innovate Illinois is a highly selective entrepreneurial competition where local companies compete for a total of $100,000, with the two top honorees (one early stage company and one later stage company) each receiving $40,000. The program is jointly administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurship Center. The Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Network provides small business consulting services and training through Millikin University’s Center for Entrepreneurship, an integral part of the university’s Tabor School of Business.


Michelle Tjelmeland and Mark Roberts of Communications Made Easy™ and Larry Davsko of Electric Vehicle Technologies (EVT), LLC were accompanied to the competition by Connie Beck, MREN director. Each business owner made a five-minute “fast pitch” presentation in front of a panel of judges. Twelve finalists (six in each track – early stage and later stage) were announced at a reception following the presentations. EVT was invited to join five other companies to compete in the “later stage” finals in Chicago on November 18.

"We were very proud to be represented by two such innovative businesses from our region in the competition,” said Beck. “As current clients and previous MREN Challenge Grant Award recipients, it was an honor to have these two potential high-growth businesses compete against companies representing the state’s other 15 entrepreneurship centers. Our staff looks forward to our continued relationship with both businesses as well as EVT’s participation in the finals next month,” Beck concluded.

Communications Made Easy™ is a broadcast communications system that allows customers to send one message in four different ways simultaneously—web, e-mail, text message and phone. It is an affordable, easy-to-use product that addresses the communication needs of many different organizations, including school districts, government agencies, colleges and universities, churches, non-profit organizations, employers and many more. There is currently no one else pursuing the company’s target customers with a four-in-one communication model. Some customers can be up and running in as little as five minutes.

“Being a semi-finalist for Innovate Illinois was an amazing experience for Mark Roberts, co-founder, and me,” Tjelmeland explained. Being in a room with 31 other like-minded entrepreneurs and seeing the incredible things they are doing in the State of Illinois was extraordinary,” continued Tjelmeland. “We learned so much from our experience and developed several business relationships which are certain to help us gain the national exposure necessary to bring our product, Communications Made Easy™ - The Original 4-in-1 Communication System™, to market.” For more information, visit www.communicationsmadeeasy.com or call 800-605-0082.

Founded in early 2006 after two years of research, EVT was formed for the purpose of commercializing its electric motor technology. EVT has taken electric motor and generator technology to a new level with unique designs utilizing the latest in material science, major advancements in electro-magnetism, and decreasing costs in controls and sensors. The design’s key attribute, maximum torque at any operating speed, has gained the attention of various industry leaders because it can eliminate the need for transmissions, gearboxes, axles and differentials in agriculture and construction heavy equipment applications.

“EVT was honored to have been selected by MREN to represent Central Illinois as one of the 16 ‘later stage’ semi-finalists from across the state,” stated Davsko. “We were especially pleased to have been chosen as one of the six finalist in our category to compete for a $40,000 prize in November. Our association with MREN, in addition to our exposure to other innovative businesses and venture capitalists through this process, will certainly benefit our company as we continue testing and refining our prototype motors over the coming months,” Davsko emphasized.

In addition to its Decatur campus location, MREN has a satellite entrepreneurship center located at the Lewis & Clark Community College Macoupin County Community Education Center in Carlinville. Fund by DCEO, the centers administer a Challenge Grant Award program for potential high-growth small businesses. Businesses can apply for up to $5,000 in matching grant funds in order to acquire outside professional consulting services that will help them “grow their businesses.”

For more information about MREN, its services and training programs, or the grant program, contact Connie Beck in Decatur at 217-424-6267 or cbeck@millikin.edu, or Art Knippel in Carlinville at 217-854-9652 or aknippel@millikin.edu. Information about the Millikin Regional Entrepreneurship Center can also be found at www.millikinren.com.

Michelle Visits Extreme Makeover Home Edition Build Site

As a sponsor of the Extreme Home Makeover Edition, Mark (my Communications Made Easy biz partner) and I were were lucky enough to receive VIP passes to sponsor tent last evening. The sponsor tent was located directly across the street from the home build and during our visit we got to see hundreds of volunteers in action. And, yes, Mark even spotted a few stars on site. Ty Pennington and Michael Maloney made brief appearances around 8:30 last evening.

Energy levels were high as hundreds of volunteers lined up, surrounded by ABC filming crews, to unload truckload after truckload of furniture, accessories, and appliances for the home. From toasters, to bamboo trees, armories, chairs, couches, rugs, and mirrors, volunteers eagerly awaited their chance to carry in items to be placed in the home.

While we were not allowed to enter the home, we did get to snap pictures of the outside and boy, was that a site to see. Truly amazing to see what 2,500 volunteers were able to accomplish in just 6 short days.

The show is set to air sometime between December and January so we'll all have to stay turned to see the final outcome. But, I can say this for sure...the well-deserving Gries' family is pretty darn lucky.

Using IMG ALT For Your Graphics

I've already discussed how images can enhance the appearance of your Web site and help project a business image, which is why you should use images judicially. But sometimes the images themselves don’t matter a whole lot.

Users can program their browsers to turn off images for faster browsing. Other users might have special software that reads for them because they can’t see. And when it comes to leading users to you site, images themselves don’t play a very big part. That’s because search engines don’t really pay attention to the images on your site.

So how do you accommodate these unique users and search engine preferences?You can use the “IMG ALT” tag.

The IMG ALT tag allows words to show up when your images do not. So, if you place your logo on your Web site, your IMG ALT tag for that image might read, “XYZ Company Logo.” You may notice these tags on some Web pages where the graphics load slower than the text. The IMG ATL tag appears as a placeholder until the image itself downloads.

In code, the IMG ALT looks like this:

img src="logo.gif" alt="XYZ Company Logo"

While alternative descriptions may not be able to accurately or effectively describe photographs or complex drawings, they are especially useful for navigation graphics. For example if your Link Bar is made up of individual images, you will want to include the name of that link in the IMG ALT tag. Your image for your home page might look like:

img src="home.gif" alt="Home Page"

This will ensure that any user, whether they see your graphics or not, can navigate through your site and find the information they need. While these users may be in the minority, creating your Web site to assist them will keep them on your site longer and may give you an edge over your competition!

Michelle Contributes To "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" Project

What an exciting opportunity for my new business venture, Communications Made Easy!! "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" is coming to Peoria, Illinois, and CME is participating in the massive volunteer effort. We are donating access to our 4-in-1 broadcast communication system so project coordinators can quickly send updates, instructions, requests, etc. to the over 1,000 volunteers that are involved.

If you watch this television show, you know that builders take on the ambitious task of building a brand new home in just 7 days. Volunteers team up with show designers and builders and work around the clock until the project is finished.

In this project, time is of the essence, and CME is THE PERFECT solution to ensure that all 1,000+ volunteers stay informed of the latest news. Our broadcast text messaging capabilities will reach those that are on-site and not near a computer to receive an e-mail. Coordinators can also send messages from the building site by calling our 24/7 concierge service. Information can be sent and received immediately.

We invite you to follow the progress of the project. The surprise "door knock" will happen today, and then a flurry of activity will follow. Visit http://www.designbuilthomesextreme.com/index_n.htm to learn more about the amazing teamwork involved in this effort, and follow the latest news and donate at http://www.extremehomemakeoveril.com/.

JPEG or GIF?

When it comes to graphics on a web page, you generally have two options - GIF or JPEG. To determine which format will serve your needs, it helps to know a little bit more about them.

GIF is short for Graphics Interchange Format, and these files carry the file extension .gif. These file types only support 256 colors, compared to the 16 million colors the JPEG files support. They are ideal for simpler illustrations or images that don't require a lot of detail. Despite this limitation, GIFs have special characteristics that make them especially useful in specific situations.

First, the background of a GIF can be made transparent. This allows the color of a Web page to show through and allows users to place an image without a "boxed" look.

Second, GIFs can be animated, which can be useful to draw attention to a specific point or area on a Web page.

Third, GIF images can retain their quality even after data compression.

JPEG stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group. This is the common file type of digital photographs because it supports rich colors and subtle gradations. JPEGs can offer vivid and natural-looking images because the colors blend smoothly from one shade to another. JPEGs are more vulnerable to compression issues than GIFs. When you compress a JPEG image, you lose quality.

Whether you are using JPEG or GIF file formats, you should always keep in mind the file size. A large file will take longer to download on your Web page, so if your goal is a quick and efficient load time, you will want to optimize your graphics to accomplish this.

Questions about how to do that? Send me an e-mail or post a comment!

Picture Perfect: 5 Strategies for Using Graphics on Your Site

Today’s Web technology makes it relatively easy for us to put lots of fun and colorful graphics on our Web sites. And while images certainly can enhance the visual effectiveness of a site, they can also clutter your space and distract from the message. Following these 5 strategies can help you avoid those traps and create a site that your visitors will continue to visit.

1. Establish Your Theme – Web graphics can pull your site together to create a cohesive theme. Colors and fonts can be combined to convey your purpose and style, giving you an opportunity to graphically portray your business image rather than just talk about it in your text. Consider the purpose for your site as well as what you want visitors to think about you as you use graphics, colors, and fonts to present your theme.
2. Site Navigation – Design your graphics to help your visitors move through your site. Graphical navigation buttons and menus can be designed to include your company colors and images that represent your pages, rather than plain text hyperlinks. A well-designed and organized menu will provide logical direction and smooth movement between pages and links.
3. Create Transitions – Use graphics for divider lines or horizontal rules to organize text and create an easy-to-follow presentation so visitors can quickly find the information they need.
4. Use Bullets – Using bullet points help you emphasize points and summarize information, giving your readers a quick reference. While you want your bullets to be small and unobtrusive, you can still use them to reinforce your theme by incorporating color or a unique shape.
5. Serve a Purpose – Pictures of cute animals or blinking objects do nothing for your site if they are just there to look pretty. Your graphics should enhance your site and serve as another medium to get your message across to your audience. Use them to emphasize your main points and make sure they are directly related to your business and the image you want to portray.

It’s important to remember the size of you graphics as you incorporate your designs into your Web site. Make sure your design is not so huge that visitors have to wait to see your pages.

Graphic and Web design professionals can help you achieve the perfect mix of images, colors, fonts and size to give you an attractive yet functional site that will encourage your visitors to find out more about you and your services.

Contact e-websmart today to get started!

Beautiful Bras Fundraiser For Breast Cancer Awareness

As a local Springfield personality, I was asked by The Wardrobe to decorate a bra for the Breast Cancer Awareness Auction. The bras will be on display at The Wardrobe for the public to vote on and then an auction will take place where people can bid on their favorite bra. Please stop by The Wardrobe to see all 50 beautiful brassieres and vote for your favorite one. Donations to benefit the Susan G. Komen Decatur Race for the Cure and the American Cancer Society.

The Wardrobe
830 South Grand Ave. West
Springfield, IL 62704


Store Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 12pm - 4pm

Cues to hues: what colors say about your business

Take a moment to consider your logo, brochures and other marketing materials. If someone unfamiliar with your company has your card in hand while perusing your Web site, will it be crystal clear to them that they’re researching the same business? Put another way, is there visual consistency between your business’ various types of marketing collateral?


There are many ways to tie marketing pieces together, but the most obvious—and immediate—way is with color.


Codes of color

When a designer works on an identity project (logo development, branding, etc.), quite a bit of thought is put into determining what color(s) will be used. Psychology plays an important role in color interpretation, so it’s necessary to have an understanding of how hues might cause the people (think possible customers) who view them to react.


Determining dominant colors that communicate your business’ personality and goals is key. It’s helpful for the person working closely with the designer to have a basic understanding of what colors tend to represent. Here’s a short list of colors and the impressions they often give:


Black – seriousness, quality

Blue – loyalty, truth, safety

Green – conservative, growth, nature

Orange – reliability, stability

Purple – royalty, sophistication

Red – power, passion, strength

White – innocence, purity

Yellow – cheerfulness, warmth


International impressions

Looking to go global? (Remember, if you have a Web site, you already have global presence!) It’s a good idea to check into cultural perceptions of color before deciding which will represent your business. Here are a few examples of how colors can vary depending on one’s background:


• White is traditionally worn for weddings in Western culture, but Eastern inhabitants associate white with funerals.


• Yellow is somewhat contradictory. In our culture it not only symbolizes joyfulness but also cowardice. Interestingly, in Japan yellow is the color of courage.


• Red in India stands for purity and goodness. In Russia it is associated with communism.


What’s hot, what’s not

Another consideration worth taking into account is trends. While some businesses and their products won’t necessarily want to be viewed as trendy (e.g., conservative companies like investment firms or banks), others may benefit from using today’s “hip” colors (e.g., those marketing to a younger audience).


Many current color trends are inspired by technology. The surge of nifty iPods and sleek, cool phones have had an impact, elevating the popularity of metallic inks and papers to evoke a high-tech image.


And don’t forget the green movement! Eco-awareness is a big issue right now. An assortment of earth tones and natural colors—greens, browns, yellows, muted grays—represent organics and sustainability. A business emphasizing green products or services (organic lawn care, healthy foods/beverages, sustainable product design) will do well to reflect its values by using appropriate colors in marketing collateral.


Now that you’re armed with knowledge about the power of color, we’d love to hear your thoughts. How does your business’ color palette stack up? Do the colors represent your company the way you think they ought to? Or do you think color psychology is nonsense? We’d like to hear your views, from all sides.

5 tips for a logo you’ll love

It goes without saying that if you’ve got a business, you need a logo. A logo functions as a visual identity for your company, communicating who and what you are.

When working with your designer to create a logo, there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure you are presented with a mark that effectively represents your business. (And a professional designer should be brought on board—a logo is too important to wing with logo design software or worse, clip art.)

1. Provide a detailed brief.
This document presents detailed information that will help your designer understand the desired results of the project she is about to embark on. A brief may include a company profile, information about your clients and/or target audience, project objectives, and your budget and timeline.

There are entire books on briefs, but a Google search will turn up plenty of examples to peruse. Try searching under “creative design brief samples” or “design brief examples.”

2. Don’t put too many irons in the fire.
It’s ok to gather opinions from your staff, but don’t invite the whole company to the next meeting with your designer. Instead, ask your employees to review the first round of logo samples and ask for feedback. You can review the comments and highlight those you believe are most valid. Then you can present select concerns or questions when you chat with the designer again.

3. Set your own feelings aside.
It’s great if you love the finished product, but it’s NECESSARY for your target audience to love it. You may hate Blackletter font, but if it really resonates with your audience go ahead and use it anyway. Remember, it’s the audience who needs to remember who you are and what you’re selling.

4. Don’t say, “I’ll know it when I see it!”
This is a huge waste of time, and it doesn’t help your designer learn about your businesses’ values or goals. A great logo isn’t created by trial and error. The process of successful logo design requires a focused, creative strategy.

However, it can help to make notes of logos you like (and those you don’t). A new book, Really Good Logos Explained, is an excellent resource for reviewing real-world logos. Check it out—or present a copy to your designer—for ideas.

5. When presented with a final logo file, don’t tweak it.
You can really mess up a good logo by fiddling with it after receiving the file. A designer should submit Vector images, which allows the file to remain intact and maintain high-quality resolution. If additional changes are required, consult the designer before attempting alterations on your own.

Think of all the logos you’ve seen over the years. Which stand out to you? Which do you absolutely love? Which logos can’t you stand? Ever come across a really bad logo? Share your favorites— and your not-so-favorites—with us!

P.S. -- To examples of some of the logos we've designed, click here.

Blogging: Time to jump on the bandwagon?

By Michelle Tjelmeland

Did you know that approximately 1.25 million small business owners (100 employees or less) publish a blog? (For those of you not familiar with this term, blog is short for web log. It’s an online collection of frequently updated commentary, pictures, and/or video.)

While many casual blogs—those posted by your average Joe/Jane—are little more than personal accounts of day-to-day events, more business blogs are emerging every day that boast informative content. Blogs are an excellent marketing technique, and an inexpensive one, too.

Maybe you’ve considered launching a blog. You’ve heard about this online phenomenon and wondered whether having one would be beneficial to your company. Still not sure what you think about blogs and business? We’ve compiled a few Q & A’s to help you become familiar with the basics of blogging.

Does my business need a blog?
Well, Entrepreneur magazine thinks so:

Several years ago, the mantra was “Every business needs a web site.” Today it's “Every business needs a web site with a blog.” No matter your industry, your prospects have come to expect a blog from your business.

We can’t say for sure if this is true. It’s unlikely that a site lacking a blog will deter clients from doing business with you. But publishing a blog—especially one with interesting and informative content—certainly can’t hurt.

A blog provides an outlet to share your knowledge and thoughts on your industry. And as you gain readers, they can chime in, too. This dialogue can be invaluable as it’s a way to gain direct feedback from readers (read: potential clients!).

Are there blogging “rules”?
Bloggers have a lot of creative freedom. You can pretty much write what you want. There is no predetermined structure to follow. Although most posts are relatively short, you can post as much information as you’d like as long as it’s well-written and organized. Including relevant links and images will help keep things interesting, too.

It’s also worth noting that the writing styles on blogs typically adopt a conversational tone. So, save the sales-speak for cold calling and stay a bit more casual when in blogging mode.

What should I blog about?
You can use your blog to announce new products or services. You can also ask for feedback from readers. Blogging falls under the Web 2.0 umbrella, and the comment feature is key in allowing—encouraging, really—readers to respond to posts.

Here are some other ideas for blog content:
Audio or video clips
E-books
Pictures
Facts, figures, and stats
Industry news

Need more ideas for blog content? Check this out.

Ok, I’m convinced. How do I get started?
It couldn’t be easier to set up a blog, and many services are free.

WordPress – free basic account; upgrade to extra features starting around $10/year.

TypePad – packages start at $4.95/month, but a 14-day free trial is available. Try it and see if you like it.

Blogger – free accounts, easy to use, some features. Great for new bloggers who want to deal with as little tech stuff as possible.

And if you’ve totally got blogging on the brain, check out these excellent articles on the Duct Tape Marketing site.


Now that you know a little more about the business of blogging, tell us your thoughts on launching your own blog. Or, for those of you who already have a blog, has your business benefited from it? How so?

Web 2.0 -- What the heck is it?

by Michelle Tjelmeland


Facebook. Friendster. Classmates.com. Meetup.com. Orkut…the list goes on and on. With all the different social media sites available these days, it can be overwhelming for a virtual networking newbie to get started. You don’t want to spend a ton of time setting up a profile and inviting people to join your network only to discover you aren’t making the connections you wanted. So, we’ve noted four popular sites that you may have heard about. We suggest that, if you find the premise of these sites interesting, you try them out to see if they’re compatible with your business’ networking goals.

MySpace
As one of the most popular social networking sites today, MySpace is a huge draw to certain groups of people. For musicians, it’s a no-brainer to have a MySpace page. Same for independent artists and amateur filmmakers. But small businesses or non-profit groups? Not so much.

No matter what type of profile you set up, chances are you’ll still be bombarded with requests for matchmaking and dating services. Advertising opportunities are available using banner ads, but they probably won’t do much good unless you are marketing to a younger audience (teens and young adults) and if your product happens to fall in the entertainment industry.

Our take: Unless your company is focused on the arts, hang out at MySpace for entertainment, not business purposes.

YouTube
This site is all about videos, from silly homemade movies to TV show clips to clever independent skits. There are ways for businesses to take advantage of YouTube, however.

When we explored YouTube while researching this piece, we came across a series of clips on how to create simple hairstyles and give certain cuts by a salon owner. Each clip was short—under 5 minutes—and offered bits of digestible, useful information. The segments were preceded by a title page highlighting the salon’s name. Not a bad idea for promoting a business!

Our take: Why not try creating a short informational clip and uploading it? You can then post a link to it on your web site so visitors can learn more about your business. And in the meantime you’ll be offering some valuable and free information, which will be appreciated by your customers. (Kind of like offering a newsletter with informational, helpful content…hmmm….)


LinkedIn
Finally—a site that’s designed specifically for professionals looking to make connections with other professionals! Over 20 million professionals use LinkedIn from all over the world, and more than 150 industries are represented. It’s free to join the site, although for those looking for additional features a paid membership is available. You can use LinkedIn to search for jobs or find potential clients, service providers, and subject experts, all who come with recommendations.

Our take: LinkedIn seems to be highly praised by the professionals who use it …like me. One print production professional has this to say: “I have had great luck finding freelancers. I sent requests for introductions and within a few days I had a few people to discuss opportunities with. I think it is an excellent tool.”

Ryze.com
This site is very similar to LinkedIn, but it’s been known to take on a bit more of an informal, social approach. You can still make business contacts, however. Ryze is smaller than LinkedIn, claiming to have over 250,000 members in 200 countries. And, same as LinkedIn, memberships are free with an option to upgrade to a paid account boasting extra features.

Our take: It’s worth a try…lots of good things are being said about Ryze. If you aren’t satisfied you aren’t out anything except the two minutes it takes to create a profile, especially if you start with the free membership (the wise choice).


So which social networking site is right for you? Only you can make this decision. Go ahead and try different networks and see what works best for your business. Check around and ask colleagues about their experiences, too, asking which sites worked for them, which didn’t, and why. Good luck, and welcome to Web 2.0!


Resources

More on MySpace
Here’s a thorough overview of using MySpace for business. It’s not a very favorable review, but it’s always good to hear varying opinions.
http://www.smallbiztrends.com/2006/05/myspace-not-much-value-to-most-small-businesses.html/

Top o’ the list
Wondering where the social networking sites are? Wikipedia has compiled a list of the forerunners: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_social_networking_websites

Tangled webs
Still not sure what the term Web 2.0 means? Here’s an explanation by Tim O’Reilly, technology guru.
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/oreilly/tim/news/2005/09/30/what-is-web-20.html

Some New Sites We've Launched Recently

We've been busy working on several projects for our clients. Be sure to check out our portfolio as we update it often!