Testing for Errors
Checking for issues with your website code is very important. One tool that can be used is the W3C HTML Validator. By placing a link in the form and hitting ‘check’ the crawler will test for errors based on the version of HTML that is specified in the header of the HTML webpage. Any warnings or errors that are displayed should be addressed as they may be causing browser compatibility problems for your users.

Adobe Browserlab
Adobe currently offers a free service for viewing your website in multiple browsers and on multiple operating systems (example: Firefox 2.0 on a MAC vs. IE on Windows 7) called Adobe Browserlab. This is a great tool for seeing if there are any visible differences between the various browsers.

Many websites that have not been touched in years will have visible errors when testing due to the number of changes in HTML structure and browser intelligence over the years. If you are using an outdated website, it is recommended that you test using these tools. A website redesign may be the best fit for fixing your issues.

Don’t Forget Smart Phones
Smartphones are increasingly popular and each company runs its own operating system and browser version (IOS, Android, Blackberry, etc.). Testing the display of your website on these devices is also critically important.

A brief comparison of Google Profile and Facebook, followed by the 1,2,3 strategy Google can employ to take over the social networking world.

How GoogleMe Can Win “Web War III.0″

Let’s start by looking at both Facebook and Google from an overall utility perspective. Almost everyone agrees that of any tool that is available online, search engines are by far themost widely and extensively used. With that in mind, Google is considered the Cadillac of search engines. It is fast, runs clean and has all the geeks wanting to work on its engine. Facebook on the other hand, can arguably be described as the Mazda Miata of the web… It has sold very well for a few years running now, looks kind of nice, girls love it, boys love girls so they love it too and it to top it all off it is easy enough for grandma to drive.

The problem for Facebook here is that short of its chintzy retractable roof and great sales figures, there is nothing really special about it. Google can and almost certainly will use this lack of broader utility to launch a loud beta of their own social network, recently dubbed GoogleMe. With this product, Google has the opportunity to make its network’s users entire web experience more social, seemless and informative. Here’s how:

Imagine you are trying to find information on effectively marketing your business online. As of today, most of your searches lead you to company websites and blogs that are vague, incomplete and ultimately try to make you buy something. Now imagine that when you were a member of GoogleMe and searched for this information, you got relevant data from members of your social network and found out that your best friend from High School is an internet marketing expert. Touch of a button later you are connecting with an old friend in a meaningful way that is not really practicle today.

This would not only improve Google by making searches social, it would also represent a major improvment to social networking as a whole and provided there are no major buckles in the nuts and bolts of their regular social networking interface sign the eventual death toll for what is currently the largest social club in the world. Barring Google being nice and partnering with Facebook, there is really little that can be done to save it if the rumor of Google’s latest project is true. 2-4 years from now Facebook will look like MySpace, Google will be bigger than the Catholic Church and I will hopefully be sipping hurricanes on a beach somewhere here in sunny San Diego.

Want to learn more about Google Profiles? Click Here.

June 8, 2010 – San Diego, CA

A large effort in the new design is to demonstrate how to tie together social media with corporate branding. We provide links to the CPD Facebook Fan Page, YouTube channel, Blog, and Twitter throughout the site in an organized way. The site also serves as a great example for user experience. Through several rounds of user testing, we centered the design around simplicity, organization, and design modern design components.

We are very excited about the new launch and hope to hear from you all soon about your design and marketing needs!

www.crownpointdesigns.com

1. Identifying a target market
2. Defining a purpose for the website
3. Setting some realistic goals for the website

A favicon can only be 16×16 pixels, which is very small. Here are some tips to keep in mind when designing your favicon:

1. Do not use too many colors

2. Do not use too much detail – less is more

3. Do not use more than 1-2 letters – will be too hard to read

4. Keep the background transparent – browsers have different color backgrounds

5. Test your favicon on as many browsers as possible before publishing

Take a look at some of the larger companies on the web and notice the simplicity of their favicon. Here are a few that are recognizable even if you don’t realize it: Craigslist.org, Google.com, ESPN.com, CNN.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

For assistance in designing or installing a favicon on your website, contact CPD by emailing info@crownpointdesigns.com

The tutorials are very short, anywhere from 5-20 mins. They also range in terms of experience. Some are very introductory level, while others provide an advanced knowledge of graphic design. It is strongly recommended that you follow along by mimicking the tutorial (dual monitors works best.) This will help you to get more hands on with product and increase your skills.

Your graphic and web design skills will be improved in no time, and oh, did I mention that all the tutorials are FREE!