Use Feng Shui Techniques To Design a Harmonic Webs

Use Feng Shui Techniques To Design a Harmonic Website For Your Business

by: Jakob Jelling

By following feng shui guidelines and techniques, you can build and design a business website that is not only visually attractive but also attractive to wealth and prosperity. The elements that are part of a business website are somehow equivalent to the objects distributed through a working space since the website is the electronic version of the actual businessก offices. Therefore, the website design and the elements that will be in it should follow feng shui guidelines in order to be properly balanced.

The colors used to design your website are very important and you should choose it carefully. If you want a website which feels lively and active, it should contain yang elements, while if you wish it to be quiet or passive, it should have yin prevalence. Yang colors are all the bright and cheerful ones, while ying colors are all the dark shades. Therefore, a website with predominance of a light and bright color would be more yang than a dark or off colored one where yin would have prevalence.

It is important that you keep your businessก website general appearance clear and tidy. A messy or cluttered website would not only make the user feel overwhelmed but it would also be an obstacle for your business prosperity. Your business website should be designed having its graphics and written content clear and organized. Besides this, the general appearance should be as natural and easy to follow as possible. Anybody who visits your business website should feel welcome and comfortable in it, and this should be achieved by providing a clear and welcoming main page and allowing an easy navigation through the entire website.

The lines you use for your business website and its graphics are also important regarding feng shui harmony. Straight lines and shapes with cutting edges are not natural and when having too many of them it can be harmful for your businessก prosperity. Therefore, you should try to use as many curved and smooth lines as possible, since this would not only help you adding nature inspired elements to the website but also bring wealth to it.

About The Author

Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.fengshuicrazy.com Please visit his website and learn all the feng shui tips youกll ever need!

This article was posted on November 29, 2004

by Jakob Jelling

15 Website Elements That Attract Visitors

15 Website Elements That Attract Visitors

by: Catherine Franz

Here is a quick list of components that make a website attractive. They are listed in layers of attractiveness beginning with the กmustก haves, to กnice to haves.ก

1. State the websiteกs purpose up front and clearly of the site. Do this as quickly as possible. The visitor needs to know immediately if they have landed on the right site. They also need to know กwhat’s in it for me to stay here.ก If you don’t provide this, they are gone. 90% of the sites on the Net don’t do this.

2. Give visitors the ability to search for exactly what they are looking for, if they have something exact in mind. A กsite search featureก satisfies this best. Allow the search feature to be prominently displayed and not hidden away somewhere. It is best place in the navigational system so that it shows up on every page. Sales letter only websites are an exception to this rule. Return visitors and visitors that have something specifically in mind, want the option and ability to find what they want fast. So give it to them.

3. Photos allow connection. Especially to people who process visually. Clip art gets them to pay attention, however, it doesn’t create much of a connection. Personal photos connect within reason. Keep them less than three to a page. One photo always needs to be in the top portion of the screen on the first page. It doesn’t need to be large, but attractive.

4. Ways to capture visitors information wherever possible.

5. Place items on the site that keep them lingering. Audio and video are one of these, yet there are other less time consuming and inexpensive ways to keep them entertained.

6. Articles. For solopreneur sites, your own written articles. For other sites, articles with various authors yet on focus.

7. Interactive elements. For example: response forms, quizzes

8. If you use a shopping cart, it must be fluid, no hiccups. PayPal is not a shopping cart, it’s a hiccup. All auto responders must be well written and positive. If someone purchased something, they need the energy of ‘thank you.ก

9. Give offers that are of value.

10. Clear path of where a newcomer can start if it is their first visit.

11. Newsletter that is consistent with the 80/20 rule. 80% value and 20% marketing.

12. Ecourses of value.

13. Wellwritten ebooks: 5075 pages, plus valuable information (info not found anywhere else). Length doesn’t do more than provide perceptive value. Once purchased and the vastness is only fluff, then your credibility is shot. Complimentary ebooks meet the same requirements.

14. Give them other ways to receive more on…you if you are the focus…or the information if that is the focus.

15. Automated referral system. If you want referrals for your products or services, make it easy for you to get them. Set it up so it’s as automatic as possible, and clear and easy for someone to send you a referral. Be clear on what and how you want to give for that referral.

About The Author

Catherine Franz, a Business Coach, specialized in writing, marketing and product development.

Newsletters and additional articles: http://www.abundancecenter.com

blog: http://abundance.blogs.com

[email protected]

This article was posted on September 25, 2004

by Catherine Franz

Simplify Your Web Site for Clarity and Ease of Use

Simplify Your Web Site for Clarity and Ease of Use

by: Edward Robireds

There are plenty of web sites out there in which basic elements of design are ignored. The viewer may experience overkill and frustration, instead of gently receiving the message or information. Here are some simple ways to help clarify your web siteกs message for your company or organization. Use the web as a tool for sales, community contact, and to improve, rather than detract from a business entity’s image.

Choosing Your Images

Choose site images carefully. Collect simple illustrations or photographs that are in sync with company mission or philosophy. A few select images will have more impact than many images competing for the eye’s attention. Avoid images that are distracting or trendy. Don’t simply use graphics to be cool.

How many photos or images are appropriate? A good rule of thumb is one to two images per web page. Select photos and images as carefully as you select the text, and you’ll be on your way to a better site. The exception to the rule is for sites that market a large amount of products or contain many points of interest, where small thumbnail images may be more appropriate.

Placement of Images on the Page

Do you want the photo or graphic to be the centerpiece? The first thing the eye sees? If so, place it in the central position. If not, maybe the photo or graphic is related to some of the text, and it can be placed nearby this text to accentuate it. Remember, we read from left to right. Some say the left represents the past, the center the present, and the right the future. Content may be organized this way on the page intentionally, to heighten this resonance with the viewer.

Don’t let site images be a distraction or hindrance to understanding. Instead, they should blend well into site content and not be a contrast to the message on the page. Images should not compete with content, they should enhance it.

Image Quality

Images should look as nice and clear as possible. There is an important balance to keep between image file size and quality. Always keep in mind that the file size and dimensions of your images will ultimately control overall page loading time. A slowloading site will be frustrating to any user. Generally, pages load from the top down, so it is an important point to remember not to design your pages with large image files that fill the top of each page.

Site Text

It’s important not to overdo the writing on a page. Consider how much the user will read and write site content to capture the typically short attention spans of the viewers. Be succinct, and most importantly: be clear. Write subheads and set them in bold, slightly larger type. Carefully placed subheads allow the casual viewer to scan the content of your site.

Write for Search Engines

Research your clientele, and your targeted audience, and always develop content that sells your products, services, or organization. If you or your organization are lacking the expertise to write good copy, hire a professional writer to do the job.

Some web specific writing techniques are important. Try to use select keywords on each page that will lead new users to consider your business or services. Write this text directly into your copy. The first 20 words of your web site text should be what you want people to see in search engine results as a summary of your site.

Site Organization

To simplify the user’s experience, set your site up so that he can get to the intended location easily with no more than three clicks. The overall design of your site must be clear and intuitive so the user can navigate the content easily. If you must use symbols to direct the reader, always attach some explanatory text for the user, so they know where clicking the symbol will take them.

These are just a few of the basics of effective and clear web design. These tips provide ways to guide the user around your site, rather than frustrate them. With site clarity and ease of use, your clients and prospects are educated about your products and services, and have more reason to purchase them.

About The Author

Edward Robirds is a successdriven artist and interactive media developer based in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since 1996, Edward has been building business relationships with several association and commercial clients around the world. Founder of www.DreamseaArtworks.com, Edward uses his artistic skills, expertise and passion to design and develop web sites, interactive CDROMs, and print media for his clients.

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 16, 2004

by Edward Robireds

The Truth About Public Relations

The Truth About Public Relations

by: Robert A. Kelly

The truth is, you CAN attract the support of those external audiences whose behaviors have the most effect on your enterprise. But you must do it by first achieving the positive changes you need in their perceptions and, thus, behaviors.

You’ll get both using this strategic approach to public relations which means your chances of achieving your organizational objectives are enhanced.

It all starts with the fundamental premise of public relations shown just below.

ขPeople act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and movingtodesiredaction those people whose behaviors affect the organization, the public relations mission is accomplished.ข

The core strength of those comments lies in the behavior changes that can take place among your key, outside audiences. When those changes occur – and the combined perceptions of members of that important external ขpublicข begin to move in your direction – it can spell public relations success.

For instance, with a strong factual basis, you convince area activists gathering at your plant gate that (1) you don’t dump chemicals into the river, and (2) both State and Federal investigations found that to be true. When they finally clear out, you’ve limited the damage an expensive and longlasting disruption could have caused. That saved the organization cold, hard cash!

What happened? You managed to change the perception of those activists which, predictably, led to the change in their behavior that you desired. In other words, a successful use of public relations’ fundamental premise.

While public relations can bring real power to bear, and while there’s a wellworn path leading to each success, truth is, you can’t change perceptions, and thus behaviors of your important outside audiences if you are not in touch with them on a regular and meaningful basis.

That’s why it’s so important to interact with members of each target audience, and ask questions. What do you think of our services, our programs, or our products? Are you satisfied? Listen carefully for signs of a misconception or a factual inaccuracy. Is there a belief alive out there that simply isn’t true? Do you detect a hurtful rumor that must be squashed?

The answers you receive let you establish your public relations goal. For example, correct that inaccuracy, clear up that misconception, or get out the facts in order to neutralize that rumor.

But how will you actually reach that goal? With a clear and urgent strategy.

Fortunately, in dealing with perception/opinion, we have just three options available to us. Create perception/opinion where there is none, change existing perception, or reinforce it.

The goal you established will quickly tell you which strategy choice you must make.

But, of course, what you say to that target audience, in pursuit of your public relations goal, is crucial. Your message must be persuasive, compelling and clear as a mountain stream. It also must be credible and believable, which means truthful in all detail. It should also address the particular inaccuracy, misconception or rumor head on and not allow room for any further misunderstandings.

Now, how do you get that carefully chiseled message to the attention of members of that key, target audience? I still call them ขbeasts of burdenข because they carry messages from Point A to Point B. Communications tactics is the answer, and you have a huge selection from which to choose. Everything from open houses, contests, news releases and speeches to brochures, community briefings, letterstothe editor, emails, radio/TV and newspaper interviews, and lots more.

Sooner rather than later, you will wonder whether you’re making any progress. And the only realistic way to nail that down is to go back to members of that target audience again and ask them the same questions all over again.

The big difference this time around is, you’re looking for signs that opinion/perceptions have begun to change in your direction. By that I mean clear indications that the miscon ception is clearing up, or the inaccuracy has been corrected, or that a negative impression is slowly turning around.

Truth is, that’s when this strategic, and powerful approach to public relations – supported by appropriate tactical firepower – delivers the altered perceptions and modified behaviors promised in the fundamental premise of public relations.

end

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, PepsiCola Co.; AGMPR, Texaco Inc.; VPPR, Olin Corp.; VPPR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:[email protected].

Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

This article was posted on July 06, 2003

by Robert A. Kelly

Optimizing for Visitors not Search Engines

Optimizing for Visitors not Search Engines

by: Michael Medeiros

Most people feel that optimizing is to target the search engines alone. In my opinion, this is not the only case. Optimization requires a balance of traffic enhancements and a user friendly atmosphere that provides clear navigation. Most will agree it would be much better to have people accept offerings from a Site, rather than masses of people who do nothing. Here are some general tips and thought to make pages userfriendly.
Focus on the Offerings
Is something being offered? Make it clear for people to see what is being offered. Give an eye catching call to action for your offers. For example, if you’re a Real Estate Agent offering, ขFree CMA’s,ข make it clear for people to see the offer. Use font styles or colors to give the offers prominence over the rest of the text. Give links to offers a focal point on the page. This can be done by centering the offers or putting them on top of menus.
Keep your pages concise. Many search engine optimization programs and professionals suggest keeping your pages under 750 words. In my opinion, this is good for visitor optimization as well. Focus your page on the topic at hand. As in the example above, if someone clicks a link that reads, ขFree CMA,ข the next page should be about free CMA’s. Don’t waste valuable space describing a CMA. Give a concise explanation, and then a call to action.
Keep your pages fast
In addition to pages loading fast, they should be fast at delivering information. Consider why people are surfing the Internet. In my opinion, the internet is used for finding and retrieving information. Because of this, pages need to be concise. If I follow a link that says, ขAvailable widgets,ข that’s what I want to see on the next page, front and center. I want to find the information I am looking for quickly and easily.
Don’t overcrowd the subpages. While your front page is bound to have a variety of topics and links, your subpages should be concise. I often come across pages that focus on several topics. In my opinion this is a bad technique. Make two pages instead of one page with two topics. This helps establish fast information retrieval.
Use Headings for clear navigation
Headings are recognized by the search engines and they provide clear navigation. Using headings will give pages an outline format. This allows people who browse your pages to quickly find the information that is relevant to their needs.
Heading tags in HTML start with H1 and range through H6. In my opinion, you should only have one H1 tag on a page. This tag should describe the overall premise of the entire page. If there are multiple subheadings, use H2 tags. If there are additional subheadings, use the H3 tags and so forth. You can also use text bolding to call attention. Try to scatter your keywords throughout the headings so search engines will know what the page focuses on, but keep it userfriendly.
Using colors
Make it easy for people to read the text on the Webpage. Designers often get the urge to make their websites appear unique. Uniqueness is good, but hard to read text is bad. I strongly urge the use of colors to make different aspects of a page stand out. However, you should ensure that there is enough contrast to make the text standout. Pages that are hard to read or pages that have hidden text, loose credibility. This gives the impression of deception and is overall frustrating. Unless your site uses an overwhelming amount of Audio, make sure people can read the page.
Making your pages user friendly has many significant benefits. Your pages should achieve their goal with a limited amount of traffic. Surfers are more likely to bookmark the site. This will establish a user base and generate a larger audience as time progresses. Most importantly, other webmasters are more likely to put links to your Website.

About The Author

Michael Medeiros is the owner of Mjmls.com. Mjmls offers free advertising for the United States.

[email protected]

This article was posted on June 04, 2004

by Michael Medeiros