Do yourself a favour and upgrade your browser today!
Having worked with many clients over the years, I’ve noticed that many people are still using old, out of date versions of their web browser. Many of them don’t even realise how much they are missing out on!
Most web developers and major companies have dropped support for older browsers like ie6, so some sites will not display how they are intended to. Although all good web developers will insert alternative code for older browsers to display correctly, a lot of new technologies will only work in new browsers
For example, all those nice rounded corners and shadows on your new design will not appear in older browsers without a lot of extra work and code that will slow down your sites performance. You could be missing so many features on your own or your favourite website without even knowing it!
The more you stay up to date, the more it will push the web industry to give a more innovative experience to you, the user.
Older browsers are also more and more vulnerable to modern threats. Of course you shouldn’t just rely on a browser to protect you, but an older browser can be an easy way in for these threats – so why not update?
The best part is that all of the major browser updates are free to download, so there really is no reason not to keep up to date and take advantage of all the great new features out there!
eSterling client Frumoo launches new pack design for its new semi skimmed recipe
We love to see our clients grow, so it was great to receive this press release from Frumoo in my inbox this morning…
Frumoo has completely revamped its packaging and launches its new pack look with Ocado.com later this week.
“We want to show what’s at the heart of our Frumoo smoothies, which is a love of British provenance. With of course our brand mascot Bertie the Cow looking on,” says Founder Maria Leavesley. “You have to keep evolving to survive, so we’ve also reduced our box size by a third, very compact.”
“It’s the only product in this category to be made with fresh milk, not yoghurt. We’ve got to get that message out there,” adds entrepreneur Sir David Tang, Frumoo’s financial backer.
Made exclusively with fresh British milk and all natural fruit, the new look Frumoo now uses semi skimmed instead of whole milk, following the School Food Trust Guidelines.
As delicious as the original but now with fewer calories and even lower sugar, each 200ml re-sealable pouch provides a quarter of a child’s recommended daily Calcium intake and 100% of their daily Vitamin C requirement.
Also new on pack is the stamp of approval from the Vegetarian Society and a partnership to aid recycling with Terracycle, as well as an endorsement from leading Nutritionist Christine Bailey.
Two flavours: Blackcurrant, Plum & Apple and Raspberry, Pear & Apple. New price £2.99 for Multipack x 4 (200ml pouches).
For more information, images or just a chat please get in touch with Cally: mum@frumoo.com or call 01283 790111.
Visit www.frumoo.com to find out more and to check out their eye catching and interactive website that was developed by eSterling.
Back to Basics Part 4: Hosting
What is hosting?
Web hosting is basically making sure your website is available online. Your website will be hosted on powerful computers called servers which are connected to the Internet at all times.
Is it secure?
eSterling use Cloud hosting which has a safe, reliable infrastructure meaning that your site is always available. We take daily back-ups of your site to preserve your web content. Sensitive information (such as payment details or customer information) will be securely exchanged between you and your customers and will be stored in a safe way.
Is it flexible?
Absolutely. The nature of Cloud hosting means that if you need more space it is always available, so if your website expands the hosting system will expand too. We can always add more resources, just contact us to discuss your requirements.
Is it expensive?
In many cases eSterling offer secure hosting packages for free, as part of your wider service with us.
eSterling offers a bespoke hosting package for each of our clients, handling each site in the most appropriate way. If you have a large site and require dedicated hosting, we can offer a safe and secure package. Simply call us today to find out more.
The New iPhone – what do you think?
After much speculation, the brand new iPhone was launched yesterday. Many of us were expecting a fifth version of the popular gadget, but instead we’ve had to settle (for now) for the iPhone 4S.
The presence of Steve Jobs was missed as new Apple CEO Tim Cook took the helm to talk us through the new features. Although the iPhone 4S is not a re-invention of the smartphone, there are some pretty good features…
The iPhone 4S benefits from having the iPad 2’s dual-core A5 processor under its hood, making it twice as fast as its predecessor. The dual-core graphics are seven times faster too which is good news for gamers. Video recording has also been upgraded to full 1080p HD.
Better still, it will be noticeably improved in terms of call quality – something that has always bothered iPhone fans in the past.
There was also a surprising new feature that has left opinions divided…
The new Siri intelligent personal assistant comes loaded on the 4S and is a voice-controlled information device. You shout your question into your iPhone, and Siri gives you the answer (albeit after a few attempts). Personally, the thought of scary Siri’s voice has me reaching for the mute button!
So will you be buying an iPhone 4S on 14th October? Or will you hold out for the iPhone 5, rumoured to be launched early next year?
Either way, this new launch confirms that the Apple iPhone is here to stay – so make sure your website is iPhone compatible by calling us today.
What the hell is Responsive Web Design and do I need it!?
The clever chaps in the eSterling Development Team like to think they keep up-to-date with what’s going on in the industry and were therefore all over ‘Responsive Web Design’ some years ago.
It has grown to be a quite an important ideology throughout the internet and therefore deservers a mention on these hallowed pages.
The Idea
The thought process of Responsive Web Design is to build a site which responds and is even able to adapt depending on how the user is viewing the site. Here are just a few parameters which have an effect on how a web site is rendered:
- Browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari etc)
- Monitor Resolution (1024×768, 1280×1024 etc)
- Size of Monitor (11″, 15″, 17″ etc)
- Ratio of Monitor (4:3, 5:3 etc)
- Device (PC, Mac, Tablet, Mobile Phone)
There are one or two variants there but that’s not the half of it!
Here at eSterling we’ve been perfecting this methodology and now incorporate this into every single web build we now undertake. TEST TEST TEST! is the cry from our Development team and our customers reap the benefits!
So next time you need a website always remember to test it as much as possible because you never know what crazy set up some people are using!
I have covered the very basics here but to learn how to incorporate responsive web design into your web site visit our good friends at Smashing Magazine for more information.
Back to Basics Part 3: Domain Names
A domain name is simply the address of your website – for example, our domain name is www.esterling.co.uk.
You will need to buy a domain name for your new website if you don’t already have one and there are a number of options to consider:
- Type of domain name. For a UK business, a domain name ending .co.uk is the best option. If you trade worldwide, you may choose a .com name. If you are a charitable organisation you may choose .org and so on.
- Should I use my company name? A lot of businesses use their company name as their web address, including eSterling. If you have a very long or complicated company name you may want to abbreviate it in some way. Think about how you will use your domain name. If you are going to be mentioning it to customers over the phone, make sure you have one that is easy to understand.
- What are the other options? Some websites very successfully use their product names or slogans as web addresses. The likes of webuyanycar.com or. diy.com (as used by B&Q) spring to mind. This type of domain name can be easier to remember than a company name and can also help with your SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). For example, if you sell motorboats and you have a domain that contains this ‘motorboats’, you are more likely to get good results for this product in a Google search.
What else should I think about?
- Who is your web site aimed at? Other businesses? Consumers?
- Will you be printing your domain name on stationary or advertising it elsewhere?
- Is your company name too long or too complicated? Or is it already taken?
- Could you use a domain name which relates to one or more of your products or services?
To find a suitable domain name for your website, simply use the eSterling domain checker www.esterling.co.uk/tools/whois
This tool will show you which domains are available to buy. Then simply give us a call to get started.
It Pays to Proof Read
Like Tom said last week in his blog post, it only takes three seconds for a customer to make up their mind about your website. If you want your company to come across in the correct light, you must make sure the text on your website is error-free. Spelling, punctuation and grammar must be correct – no excuses!
I know my blog post is starting to sound like a rant from your English teacher, but trust me – good English on your website is an absolute must. Errors in your copy reflect badly on your company because glaring mistakes look unprofessional – especially if a typo gets in the way of the message you are trying to put across. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes – if you can’t get your copy right, will they want to trust you with their money?
Here are my top tips for making sure your website is error-free:
• Write any text for your website in Word. This means you can easily spell-check your writing for errors.
• Get someone else to proof read your text. It’s easy to miss your own mistakes, as your eyes will read what they want to read! Ask a colleague to check your writing, or if you’re alone in the office, read it aloud – you will often spot mistakes this way.
• If in doubt, print it out. It’s hard to read a page of text carefully off a computer screen. Printing your copy to check it will help you to find errors, and you can also write on any corrections to remind yourself to make changes later on.
Taking a little extra time to proof read your website costs nothing – so make sure you do it today! And if you need a little extra help, give eSterling a call for Copywriting services.
Back to Basics Part 2 – The First Steps to Your New Website
Once you’ve decided to have a new website, the fun really begins!
The key to success for any website development project is a strong foundation. This comes from having a clear and precise understanding between the client and development team from the very beginning. For this reason, we meet with all of our clients to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
The procedure usually goes something like this:
- An initial meeting is arranged with our Directors to discuss requirements. At this stage basic elements of design and functionality of your website are discussed, as well as budget and timescale.
- The next step is to meet with the Project Manager and the development team to lay out an exact specification of what you need for your new website to be as effective as possible for your business.
– This part is where you can tell us your ideas, from aesthetic preferences through to functionality. During this meeting we take note of any other websites that you like (and what you don’t like) and also get a feel for what message you are trying to put across to your customer.
– It is also agreed between both parties as to what exactly is feasible within the constraints of time, budget and scope. An exact price is calculated to suit your budget are we also give you an expectation of what end product you will receive.
We find that these early meetings are important for the success of the project. As Project Manager, I find that I’m able to plan your website build more effectively after discussing your needs in detail.
Every project can be faced with hiccups along the way, but if the project has been built on this strong foundation then the difficulty can be overcome – leaving you happy with your new website.
Why We Make Every Website from Scratch
Making a website from scratch, rather than using a template, is the preferred method of almost all professional web designers.
Creating a website from nothing will mean that everything behind the scenes (we call this the code) is specifically required on that website; and there won’t be any unused code that often occurs when using a template.
Website template editors can also produce bloated code, when there is a far simpler way to do the same job by hand. Less code means that the files will be smaller in size and pages will therefore load quicker.
Hand coding also means consistency throughout the website design – for example, there won’t be odd sections with incorrect colours which could easily occur if bits of the template are overlooked.
Problem solving is also significantly easier if a website site is build by hand. Any error that occurs can easily be read by the designer since they wrote it themselves in the first place.
Finally, a hand coded site will be a better product for you, since the designer won’t be restricted in what they can produce and each web design will be unique.
Doing things this way not only helps the website itself, but also allows the designer to improve – which is so important from my point of view.
From the perspective of the designer, constantly having to code a website from a blank canvas will allow them to find new and more efficient ways to create. Not only this, but with the ever changing world of web development, hand coding allows the designer has to develop with the times. This ensures that each new website produced is in-line with what’s happening in web design right now.
Back to Basics Part 1 – Do I Need A Website?
Following Phil’s post on Friday, which was about how to choose a web design company, we thought we’d go back one step further.
Our Back to Basics guide will talk you through everything you need to know about setting up your own website. We will be posting a series of articles discussing domain names, hosting, web design and SEO. All the posts will be jargon free – we promise.
So onto Part 1… Do I Need A Website?
With an estimated 51million of us in the UK now online, getting a website for your business makes perfect sense.
If you decide to make the commitment to having a website which is easy to use and easy to find, you could be opening up a huge potential market.
Online retail is now growing six times faster than high street retail and UK companies are exploiting this trend by selling products through e-commerce websites.
Even if you don’t want to sell online, research shows that 83% ofUKshoppers use search engines to research a purchase before they buy. This is also true for consumers looking for services, making a website a cost-effective way of advertising your company.
However, a web site which isn’t seen by your customers is like a shop with no front door. It is essential that your website can be found by using search engines such as Google, which is where SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) comes in.
SEO is about making your website easily found when people use search engines to look for keywords related to your business. We will be discussing SEO in more detail later in the series.
If you would like more information about getting your own website please email helpdesk@esterling.co.uk. Tune in for the next Back to Basics when we will be discussing domain names.