It goes without saying that Web site statistics should be regularly reviewed for changes in traffic patterns, but other evaluation methods should be used to ensure that your Web site is properly reaching your target audience:

• Evaluate your Web site on the newest versions of each of the popular Web browsers: Display capabilities change with each new browser version, so it is imperative that you stay on top of how your Web site appears on the latest browsers. At a minimum, test on the latest Microsoft Internet Explorer, Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, and Netscape. If you have access to a Mac, be sure to test Safari as well. Some advanced statistical packages will also tell you which browsers are being used to view your Web site. If you are getting significant traffic using an alternative browser such as Opera, be sure that your Web site works with it as well.
• Evaluate your Web site at different screen resolutions: There are several display resolutions currently being used by the vast majority of Web surfers. Change your Windows display resolution to match some of the different resolutions and visit your Web site. If you have a difficult time finding information on it at a different resolution, chances are that your visitors are too.
• Search for and compare with online competitors: Just because you’ve always faced the same competition from the same firms since the inception of your business doesn’t meant that there aren’t new competitors out in cyberspace who are taking your business. You may be pitted against many competitors that you’ve never heard of and your Web site might not be stacking up well.
• Determine what questions an interested member of your audience would be seeking answers to on your Web site and determine if the answers are easy enough to find. Many Web site owners approach their Web site as being a method of “telling visitors what I want to tell them”, but the most effective Web sites are constructed to easily allow visitors to find answers to questions that they have. After all, your visitors are the reason that the site is there. If they cannot find the information they are looking for, then your Web site is not doing its job.

Tools

There are many powerful tools that are inexpensive or even available at no cost that can help you evaluate and evolve your Web presence:

Evaluation Tools

• Google SiteMaps. This free service from Google allows you to learn a great deal about the searchability of your Web site and even allows you to “push” new content to Google instead of waiting for their spider to revisit your Web site every few months.
• Advanced search engine. An advanced search engine that shows the popularity of searches will help you determine what your visitors are looking for but cannot find in any other way than through the search engine. These results will allow you to more properly position and develop your content.
• Advanced Web statistics. An advanced statistical package will show you which browsers at what screen resolutions are being used to view your Web site, which pages are being visited (and which ones aren’t), and more. Services such as WebTrends and Web Side Story can help you evaluate the effectiveness of new marketing campaigns and edited Web site content.
• Feedback solicitations. Perhaps the best way to gather feedback about the effectiveness of your Web site is to solicit feedback on every page of your Web site. This will not only make it easy for your visitors to submit their comments, but will show them that your company is committed to delivering the content that they are seeking. Survey tools can also be used to solicit feedback.
• Link checkers. Most modern Web sites are built in such a way that internal links (links to other resources on the same domain) are always accurate, but even if yours is built in this manner, mistakes can still happen and external links (links to pages or resources on another domain) are always at risk of being broken.
• Browser checkers. There are many resources available to automatically check the appearance of your Web site in multiple browsers, platforms, and screen resolutions.

Evolution Tools

• Web content management (WCM). Web content management is a simple solution that allows your Web site to be changed as quickly as the market demands it to.
• Dynamic reorganization of content. Your Web site can be set up so that popular searches and links appear more prominently on your Web site automatically to help visitors easily find what they are looking for.
• Personalization. Each visitor has his or her own unique needs and viewing preferences. Allowing your visitors to personalize your Web site to their tastes will allow them to stay more informed about your company. The drawback to personalization is that a login is required.

NuRelm offers complimentary, personalized assessments of Web sites with no obligation. To request a free assessment, please visit http://www.nurelm.com/assessments and one of our Web experts will be in touch to present a professional analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your Web site.

• The typical scenario involves one project manager who must track numerous projects and people.  That person becomes responsible for following up with each and every person involved in each job, which quickly becomes too much to effectively maintain.
• Most existing project management software provides a good way to create a list of tasks, then assign them durations and resources.  However, they are not as good at providing an easy way to track every detail of every task – a project manager must use a lot of valuable time making many, many phone calls to gather information.
• Most project management systems do not provide a way to notify team members when they are either due to complete a task, when they are late, when a task date has been moved, with a summary of tasks they have due in the next 30 days, or any useful data such as this.
• Most companies have specific needs that are not covered by systems that are not customizable.
• Creating on-the-fly reports is impossible, and any reporting is done by the project manager who is controlling the tracking system.  Many organizations literally spend days each week generating reports for management.

Using the Web to Make Project Tracking Easy
Imagine how much easier it would be to track projects if individual team members could simply make updates on their own tasks directly, instead of requiring a project manager to transcribe that information into a tracking tool.  There’s no need to imagine this today, because this is precisely the sort of problem that the Internet is perfect for solving.

A Web-based project management system easily solves the problems listed above:

• Each member of a project team can simply enter task status information into the system via any Internet-enabled computer (no need to install software on each PC used because it is delivered via the Web from a server that houses the software).
• Project managers can use their skill where it should be used: for planning projects and handling exceptions, not for transcribing routine task data from team members.
• Project managers can use the project creation software they are used to (such as Microsoft Project) to create project task lists, then import them into a Web-based tracking system.
• Team members can enter more detailed information about individual tasks than might ever be collected by a project manager who is tracking thousands of tasks.
• An online system can notify team members automatically when it is their time to perform a task, and when they are late.  Team members can use a Web-based system to perform complex queries on their tasks, including which tasks are due in the next week, month, or year.
• Reporting in such a system is immediate, and always up-to-date.  Anyone, based on their permissions, can pull up a dynamically generated report from any Web-enabled computer.
• A Web-based system opens up new frontiers that are not possible using traditional tools.  For example, have you ever wanted to share certain information with clients, such as the status of their projects?  A Web-based project management tool can completely and securely automate such processes.

Evaluating Net Costs
A customized Web-based tool sounds expensive, but it does not have to be.  The net price of such a system should be evaluated not only in terms of up-front and maintenance costs, but also in terms of potential cost savings, efficiency improvements, and additional revenues.

Determining cost savings is relatively easy.  Figure out how much time your project managers spend tracking projects, and cut that by 80% to 90%.  Calculate how much time is spent each week creating reports for other people, and cut that by 95%.  And so on …

Projections for additional revenues that could be generated is not as easy, but it is an exciting topic to explore.  How much more business will your sales people close (compared with your less forward thinking competitors) if they are able to offer instant, on-demand project status updates to clients?  How could your office staff utilize additional free time created by automating the tedious tracking process?  These are questions that require some creativity to answer, but they are the types of questions that, if addressed appropriately, can give you a significant edge on the competition.

The final important aspect is the initial and ongoing cost of a Web-based project tracking system, which is easy to determine if you start with a clear picture of needs.  Before approaching vendors for a quote, it makes sense to make a list, in the clearest terms possible, of what you want.  If you are pressed for time and anxious to get started, NuRelm, for a very small fee, can come in and help you assess which project management/maunal process can be automated in order to improve efficiency.  Separating that list into “must haves” versus “nice to haves,” or breaking it down into a timeline showing features needed by certain dates can help break down costs in a way that is more affordable.

Once a list is complete, and validated with the members of the team that would be using such a system, then take it to a few vendors for price quotes. There is a lot of room for variation, so be prepared to spend some time with each vendor making sure that they understand what you want, and that you understand what they are providing for the price they have quoted.

Project management Web technologies generally pay for themselves in less than a year in terms of cost savings and increased business.

Choosing a Vendor
Finding the right vendor for a large-scale Web-based project is challenging.  But, as with any custom service from Web application development to building construction, some simple common-sense rules will make that choice much easier:

• Look for examples of similar work that you want done within the vendor’s portfolio of work, and make sure you are comfortable with a vendor’s ability to easily map to your requirements.
• Call references, and make sure they are very happy with the vendor’s. performance on previous projects.
• Evaluate responsiveness.  A vendor should be able to help you quickly refine your requirements (sometimes through a separate analysis project) to the point that a meaningful proposal can be create, and provide an on-time, professional proposal.

Conclusion
Managing large projects will always present challenges.  But, a well-built Web-based system can eliminate the most tedious of those challenges, providing the people in your organization with more time to use their brains instead of performing the tedious tasks that a computer should be doing.

2.) Scheduling- Online course catalogs allow students to view available programs, choose dates and times, and check if a particular class is at capacity.  Most institutions use separate systems to enroll students in classes, however online catalogs can be integrated into existing systems to enable students to enroll themselves online.  Click Here to check out a great example of an online course catalog NuRelm developed for the Community College of Beaver County.

3.) Staff Communication- Students are not the only ones relying on the Web. Teachers and faculty can use the Web to make their jobs easier as well.  Intranets are a great way to give staff access to all the information no one else needs to see.  Policies, procedures, and grade books are just a few items that can be stored on a college-wide intranet.

4.) Event Management/Important Bulletins-  With the use of content management software, updates to the Web site can be instantaneous.  If important events or disastrous situations occur, the Web site can act as an instant mass communication tool.  Content management tools allow for all administrators to control content on the Web.  Some colleges elect an IT person to make content changes because of the required technical knowledge, however that knowledge is not needed with a CMS tool.  Click Here for an example.  Not only does it enable the right people to make changes, it helps promote consistency throughout the site to give a more professional appearance.

5.) Online Classes- E-learning is a widespread education tool today.  E-learning applications can eliminate many costs involved with physical classes.  More students can learn with less teachers, reducing salary expenses.  Since most applications are built with customized reporting tools, manual grading is practically eliminated.  For the working adult who would like to further his/her education, E-learning is the best solution.
Spark any ideas?  If your college isn’t utilizing their Web site to eliminate manual processes or you think that more could be done, please contact NuRelm for ideas at 1.877.268-7356 ext. 204 or Click Here for a free Web site assessment.

1. Fonts are an important attribute of a Web site.  It is essential that fonts are large and clear enough for viewers to easily read.  Although it is tempting to use fancy, script-like font styles, the content’s message is lost in translation.  Not only can some fonts be hard to read, all computers do not have the same font files, causing them not to load properly.  Universal fonts are safe to use, including Arial, Times New Roman, and Verdana.  The standard font size advised is 10 point.  If you have another style or smaller size of font on your current Web site, you may want to reevaluate its use.
2. Branding is an important online marketing practice.  A company usually has a unique color scheme/logo that sets them apart.  To build more effective branding, the online presence should reflect offline marketing materials.  If different colors or images are used, consumers may become confused or think that the company is unprofessional.  If something familiar doesn’t immediately jump off the home pager, they might not even recognize you.   Always consider offline marketing materials when designing or redesigning a Web site.
3. Imagery is as important as the content of a Web site.  Results-oriented imagery is the most effective way to get the consumer’s attention.  Consumers can better relate to seeing a happy family standing outside of a brand new house rather than Joe President or Mary Saleswoman on the home page.  Imagery needs to assure consumers what they can achieve with the product or service being marketed and produce imagery that reinforces those feelings.
4. Web site content should always be in text format.  Web site content in an image-based format wards off search engines.  If you are not sure, ask your Web developer how the content is formatted.  This can seriously hinder the Web sites search engine rankings, because search spiders cannot easily pick out important keywords that are partially responsible for boosting your rankings.
5. There should never be broken links on a Web site.  It is a simple task to periodically check the links of a site to verify that they are working properly.  Broken links are a huge setback in search engine optimization, especially for an issue that can be easily monitored and fixed.
6. Clear navigation is another very important feature of a successful Web site.  Confusing navigation is a major reason why Web surfers leave Web sites.  Setting goals and tracking the steps to achieve them can help analyze the effectiveness of a site’s navigational structure.  For example, submitting a Contact Us form on a Web site is a very important goal.  Using Web statistics software, like Google Analytics, is an efficient way to track the path prospects must take to submit the form.

Creating an effective Web site can be a challenge and there isn’t a clear-cut path to success.  However, there are many aspects  you can control that will help the process.  Streamlining and regularly maintaining a Web site’s content, links, and images may not solely drive a business to become a Fortune 500 company, but it can help  to significantly increase the bottom line.  Click Here to take advantage of NuRelm’s free Web Site Assessment services that can help you drive more relevant traffic to your company’s Web site.  To speak with a NuRelm representative about your Web site, please call 1-877-2NuRelm.

Type

Type is the basic building block of any piece, and often one of the most compelling features of design on a page. The major question is how do you know which typefaces work effectively together? There are typically three types of relationships between typefaces: concordant, conflicting, or contrasting.

Concordant – is the relationship between typefaces where you use only one type family without much variety in size, style, weight, etc. This gives the piece a subtle, more formal feel.

Conflicting – this relationship occurs when you have two similar typefaces in weight, size, etc. The similarities are there but the visual attraction is quite different, therefore they conflict with one another.

Contrasting – in this relationship you combine two unlikely and separate looking typefaces and elements that are distinct from one another.  By choosing visually appealing typefaces, you already have a lot of contrast built in. When paired with another typeface that contrast is emphasized.

Even though most designers typically wing type combinations, you can recognize the problem quicker and fix the problem faster when you are able to name the problem.

Categories of Type

While there are thousands of types available in this day and age, most typefaces can be dropped into one of six categories. Knowing each of the categories will help you in deciding what typefaces works well with another, and so on.

Oldstyle – Based upon the hand letter of scribes, Oldstyle always has serifs,including on lowercase letters. Imagine writing with a wedge-tipped pen, therefore giving the letters a slanted angle ending. There is also a thick/thin transition where the stroke of letter has a slight variation. Oldstyle has a diagonal stress (which means you a draw a line through the thinnest parts of the curved strokes). Typically if you are going to have a lot of text that needs read you’ll want to choose an Oldstyle because of it’s easy of readability.

Modern – These typefaces have serifs but are a horizontal lines instead of the penmanship slant of Oldstyle. The serifs are very thin, causing a radical contrast between the thick/thin strokes and giving a perfectly vertical stress. Giving a cold and elegant look, modern fonts give a striking appearance but are not good for large amounts of body copy.

Slab serif - Slab serif has very slight thick/thin transitions if any at all. Slab serif fonts are usually very heavy in visual weight but can be used in an extensive amount of text because of their easy readability. These fonts are often used for children’s books because of their clean, easy and  straightforward look.

Sans serif- “Sans”  means “without” in French, and “sans serif” means “typefaces without the serif endings on the letters.” These typefaces are typically “monoweight,” meaning they are the same thickness all the way around. Alternatively, there are a few sans serif fonts that do have a slight thick/thin transition. Use caution with these fonts because of their similarities between classic Oldstyle fonts. Sans serif fonts have a lot of versatility and can be very helpful with all their font weight options (ex. thin, extra thin, bold, extra bold, heavy, black, etc.)

Script – This typeface is any that tends to look like it’s been handwritten whether via calligraphy pen, brush, or pencil. Scripts are fonts that should be used sparingly, and never in all caps or large blocks of text.  However, Scripts are a font that can look striking when placed in large text.

Decorative – One of the easiest types of font to recognize. Because each of these fonts are so distinctive, their use is rather limited, although anytime you want to make a bold statement or have something stand out, a decorative font is a good choice. When using a decorative font, try to go beyond what your first impression is and see if you can make something new come out of it.

The Contrasts of Type

Going beyond aesthetic appeal, type  enhances the communication of a specific piece. The reader should have a clear concept of organization, purpose, and flow of information.  All of which should be recognizable at a single glance.

Size – A contrast in size can make a big impact, so don’t be afraid.  If you contrast too little, people can think it is a mistake and not what you’re trying to convey, so make it obvious.  Alternatively, you don’t have to make the type large to have a contrast in size. You can have a small line of type on a large page, which still creates contrast.

Weight – Weight refers to the thickness of strokes. Most type families have a variety of different weights. Don’t go for the regular type with the semi-bold counterpart, use the extra bold or black version.  By efficiently using weight, you can visually organize the information on the page (via headings, sub headings, etc.). If you lack the room to put graphics or other visual elements in an otherwise drab and boring newsletter, bold the key phrases or headings.

Structure – Structure refers to how a letter is built.  One major rule to remember is to never put two typefaces from the same category together on the same page.  An easy rule of thumb would be to choose a serif font and a sans serif font until you get the hang of the different type categories.

Form – The shape of the letters is referred to as form. One of the easiest ways to think about it is lower case letters versus capital letters. An example would the form of a “G” capitalized and lower case, some fonts have the letter form the same for both capital and lower case (just slightly smaller).

Direction – The obvious choice for direction would be to type from a slant, but another interpretation of direction would be how the type is set on a page horizontal for straight across and vertical direction for when you use columns.

Color – Color has obvious interpretations as well. When choosing a color to include in your piece, knowing the meanings of colors is helpful.  Warm colors are forward whereas cool colors recede.  Also just having black text is still considered a “color” and is considered the most sophisticated of them all.

Combining the Contrasts

All in all, don’t be wimp, the most effective layouts take advantage of contrast. For good inspiration, leaf through a magazine and check out the articles and advertisements. Verbalize what you see, if you can name the dynamics and relati0nships you have power over them. Before trying a better solution identify the problem. Go ahead, experiment!

What now?

If you’re still confused or need help please don’t hesitate to call Liz at NuRelm 724.430.0490! Or email Liz at liz@nurelm.com.

You’ve heard the old cliché – a picture is worth a thousand words. The Internet is a visual medium – and in everyday life, on buses, buildings and through TV, we’re visually attacked. Why? Because images are effective!

Web site managers often consider their text needs when planning their Web site. They’ll perform research on keywords, revisit all their marketing materials, and even hire outside copywriters to provide a fresh outlook on their firm. But while the text presented on your Web site is important, how many of us consider these needs in images?

Images – photographs, logos, designs, wallpaper, and other graphic forms of communication are more effective in communicating general content and professionalism than text when used appropriately. So how do you choose, and how can you evaluate the pictures on your Web site?

From the perspective of the average Internet user, the Internet is a research tool. It’s a place to learn more independently. But they have to sift through the information, and so have become very adept at scanning. When people scan for information, their eyes are naturally drawn to color and shapes – because text is predictable, even dull in its appearance, it is difficult to hold a viewers attention with just text. (If you wear glasses you can test this theory by removing them and seeing where your eyes wander). When glancing at a photograph or drawing, our minds process the information faster than if we had read it. What we gather from those images is the source of many marketing tales of success and woe. So how does one choose? As always, this depends on your industry and target market, but here are a few tips to help you select the best images possible:

Products vs. Services
Does your business provide a service, product, or both? Services usually depict groups of people working together or one person engaging the viewer directly. This conveys a sense of teamwork and defines a “we’re here for you” relationship. Avoid the “tools we use” trap – while it was once popular for companies to depict the tools they use, (a hammer for construction, for example) this approach is outdated and obvious. It’s better to show people happily at work or receiving your services cheerfully.

Companies that provide products usually want to depict every product they offer, but resist this temptation! While this strategy makes sense for the commercial retail industry in an E-Commerce setting, this approach is really visually dull, and does not effectively communicate the results available with the product. A more effective solution is to depict the result of the product – better hair, happy people – try to visually answer the question, how does this make life better?

Communicating Results
Just like a good salesperson would, a well-selected image conveys a feature/benefit statement worthy of considering a purchase. Consider a cup of coffee – yum! But as one item in the center of the frame with a plain white background… kind of a boring picture, even if well done. Now consider two attractive people sitting at a table, talking over a cup of coffee. The latter suggests a relationship that visually describes the result of drinking coffee, something our subconscious responds to whether we want to or not. Your Web site visitors will see that image and understand the social benefit of having coffee with a friend before they’d bother to read about it.

Composition
Effective composition is a very important factor in selecting the right pictures for your Web site. Within the image, objects should be aligned at a diagonal or off center to be more visually interesting. Remember the cup of coffee? Even by itself, it’s much more interesting on a warm background and off center than perfectly lit like before.

Color
Colors utilized within the image need to complement your Web site colors. An image with bold primary colors looks odd on a Web site in pastels. Choose your colors carefully, and relate your images to your other marketing materials. Colors also convey mood, so be aware – what adjectives do people use to describe the mood of your selected images?

Placement
Depending on your industry and the section of your Web site, the photos you select to feature on your Web site will vary. For example, it’s appropriate for a chamber to include snapshots of members socializing at a networking event on the events section of their Web site. However, the home page should include professional pictures of the surrounding area businesses and business people working together, to indicate the services and target market of that chamber.

Take time to pay attention to the details, matching your pictures to your text and company image. Consider refreshing images at least quarterly, as people respond to images first, they’ll notice a different picture on your home page before they’ll notice new text. This can be handled through an easy to use Web application or manually changed from time to time. NuRelm offers custom and stock photography as well as Web site photo editing services. Contact NuRelm 724.430.0490 for details.

One real statistic that should be the real motivating “fear factor” is that as of March 31, 2009, over 251,290,489 North Americans are online, according to the Internet World Statistics Consortium (http://www.internetworldstats.com).  That’s 74.4% of the population, meaning that 3 in 4 of your customers and prospects are using the Internet and that if your competitors offers more on their Web sites than you do, you’re putting your firm at a distinct disadvantage.  Also, according to AC Nielsen, the Internet is now third in media consumption, ahead of newspapers and magazines, and trailing only television and radio, and each of those two most popular forms of media has continued to lose ground against the Internet.  You can read more about AC Nielsen’s findings at this Web address: http://www.marketingpower.com/live/content21023.php.

Overcoming Web Phobia

Questions such as “Where do I start?”, “How much will this cost?”, “What if the finished product isn’t what I had in mind?”, “What guarantees are there?”, “How do I choose a vendor?”, “What do I put on my Web site?”, and “What’s the ROI on a Web site?” may be some of the first thoughts that someone has when considering a Web site.  These are all common questions that those shopping for a Web site should be asking.  The answers are easily found, and finding them can help set expectations and reduce the fear factor of purchasing a Web site.

Here are some ways to become more confident about your Web decisions:

Get out there and use the Internet! If you only use the Internet to check your email or for a few favorite sites, try visiting some unfamiliar Web sites to get a feel for what’s out there.  Spending a few minutes a day on the Web can help you become comfortable with Web sites and what they can offer.  Soon, you’ll determine what you think is useful and you’ll begin to visualize your ideal Web site.

Don’t fear the price tag. Quality, custom design prices have fallen sharply over the years as supply has increased to match demand.  If you compare the cost of your up-front investment on a Web site to the cost of one radio, television, or print campaign, you’ll find that the costs are considerably lower, but the life of a Web site is much, much longer.  To make a Web site even more budget-friendly, many companies are now offering lower up-front fees with monthly service fees that, even after many years, will not equal the up-front fees that were charged only a few years ago.

Arm yourself with information. The first step in curing your fear is research.  The Web provides a free, convenient way of conducting this research.  Researching competitors, the wants and needs of your target audience, the industry, and users can be as easy as typing a few words into Google.

Plan your Web site to help alleviate burdens on you and your staff. A Web site doesn’t have to be a simple advertisement – it can be a utility that can make your company operate more efficiently.  For instance, if your administrative personnel are often spending a great deal of time talking with callers who want employment information, a job listing may be a feature that you would like to have on your Web site.  The limitations are nearly endless, and your Web site can help to alleviate or eliminate a wide array of inefficiencies.

Grow your Web site as your needs evolve. The one-time limitations that apply to print advertising do not apply to the Web.  You can change your Web site at any time you wish – meaning that corrections and changes can and should be made well after the Web site has launched.  A quality Web site will include ways for you to change your Web site, and a quality vendor will offer a phased approach to development so that you don’t have to incue a large initial cash outlay.

Choose a vendor who can handle any need and who can offer guidance through the process. A quality vendor will not only abide by your wishes, but will also present alternatives and opinions based on your plans that may increase your Web site’s effectiveness.  When choosing a vendor, consider their prior work in your decision.  If a vendor’s previous work all seems very similar and resemble a “cookie-cutter” style, that vendor may not be able to help you grow your Web site as your needs evolve.  You should be looking for a custom tailor, not a factory.  Also, if your vendor makes the process seem complicated, you may want to consider using another. A good Web designer should make it easy for you by removing any complexity from the process.

Be ready to promote your Web site and gain visitors – on a budget. Return on investment is directly linked to the amount of traffic that your Web site gets and it’s a little known fact that you can generate Web traffic yourself, or with the help of an intern or administrative employee.  One of the secrets of increasing traffic is to get your site linked to related Web sites.  Not only will visitors of those sites be presented with your company, but the search engines count each link to your Web site as a vote for it and will place your site higher in its rankings.  The logic is that if your Web site wasn’t any good, why would someone link to it?  Getting linked can be as simple as finding related Web sites and requesting a link via email.  If your Web site contains some free information, such as articles written by your staff about your industry, the other Web sites will be more willing to link you.

Some other inexpensive ways of getting the word out about your Web site are to list it on your business cards, print advertisements, and all other “traditional” media, make references to your Web site in all press releases, send out email newsletters, and to announce it on bulletin boards and in chat rooms.

Set realistic expectations. Realize before you start that a Web site is like any marketing expenditure – success cannot be guaranteed and the effects of a new Web site will probably not be felt immediately.

Just because it hasn’t been done doesn’t mean that it can’t or shouldn’t be. You may have some great ideas for your Web site, but you haven’t seen any examples of it through your research.  It is very possible that your idea could be very useful to your target audience and you should consult with your vendor about implementation.  Don’t be afraid of asking questions or making suggestions – every idea for the Web hasn’t been thought of yet.

If you follow these recommendations, you will have learned a lot about the Web and will be ready to make an informed, fearless decision about your company’s Web strategy.

Schedule Updates
Schedule a weekly reminder to yourself to update certain pages of your Web site. Maybe the first week of the month is for events, the second for news, third for programs and last for projects. This will help you to stay organized, update your Web site, and naturally increase your focus on your marketing activities. NuContent offers database publish and expire pages so that you can plan your Web site updates in advance, making it easier to manage.

Use Your Site as a Resource
Make sure your employees know to check information on the company Web site first. This activity yields many benefits:

1. Increases employee awareness of company products and services and the way to sell those services.
2. Draws attention to the Web site. If your employee is talking to a customer and says, “Hold on, I’ll check our Web site,” that gives a cue to the customer that the Web site is informative and up to date.
3. Forces more updates to the Web site – naturally. Eventually, a customer will have a question about information not available on the site. This raises the question, should it be available? This is the best type of content to post on your site because it shows consumers that you are listening to their concerns.

Share the Fun
Why should you be the only person updating the Web site? A firm’s marketing personnel is not always the most informed about the firm’s capabilities. Handing the power over can be a little scary, but it doesn’t have to be. NuRelm’s review and approval capabilities make it easy to monitor, edit and publish other people’s changes to your Web site.

Cut and Paste Changes
So maybe your co-workers still want you to update the site for them. If they send the document to you as a Word or Text document, NuContent VX enables you to cut and paste your text directly. This reduces hassles and you’ll get direct results – just click save!

Add More Pictures
Change the pictures on your Web site from time to time. Show off current projects, events, or even just depict what your firm specializes in. Images should reflect the mood of the Web site and Web page, and send a visual cue to the site visitor that the site is fresh. NuContent makes creating and updating rotating databases to automatically provide this function even easier with automated resizing.

Keyword Rich Text
Think about keywords clients use to describe your product or service. What key terms are they seeking? Think about it, and then use it! This will make your site more reassuring, confirming that you provide what they are seeking. Also, many firms and consumers prefer to do business locally. Indicate where you are and how accessible you are in the region where your business is located.

This day and age, it seems as though there is a password for virtually everything-computers, networks, email accounts and online accounts, just to name a few.  They protect personal and corporate financial information, confidential accounts and a wealth of information that is off-limits to others.  Anyone with your password could access this information and do with it whatever they please, including using it against you or your company, altering it or deleting it.  Although the typical American mindset is “It would never happen to me”, it is best not to be complacent with something so vital.  Protect yourself and your company by learning tips for improving your password security, as well as how to change your password easily with NuContent.

According to one statistic by the Computer Emergency Response Team/Coordination Center at Carnegie Mellon University (CERT/CC), approximately 80% of all network security problems are the result of bad passwords.  Therefore, creating a good password is a simple way to ensure the integrity of your data.  A few recommendations for choosing a good password include:

• Use mixed-case letters in your password.  Because passwords are case sensitive, incorporating uppercase letters throughout your password will make it harder to crack.
• Include alphanumeric characters and punctuation where able.
• Choose a seemingly random selection of letters, numbers and punctuation
• Opt for a password that can be typed quickly and without looking at the keyboard.  This will prevent those around you from engaging in “shoulder-surfing”, or watching you type in order to learn your password.
• Choose a completely new password each time you change it.  For example, if your old password was “career”, your new password should not be “careers”.
• Change your password regularly!  Changing your password regularly will help prevent others from figuring out what it is and accessing your information.  The more important the data is, the more frequently you should change your password.  Also, remember to change passwords as your staff changes.  If an employee who was recently let go may have had access to company passwords, make sure to change them immediately!  Who knows what a disgruntled employee may be capable of!

While it’s helpful to point out a few suggestions for improving password security, it’s also worthwhile to mention a few things to avoid:

• Don’t use a network ID in any form-it’s just too obvious!
• Don’t incorporate your name, initials or nickname into your password in any form.
• Never use a word found in a dictionary, English or foreign.  It makes it too easy for hackers to figure out your password.
• Never use easily obtainable information, such as a pet’s name, address, etc.
• Never write your password down and leave it in an easily accessible area.
• Don’t reuse old passwords.
• Never use a shared password.
• Don’t tell anyone your password.

Does it seem like creating a good password is just too much work?  If you’re proactive in your approach, it will be easier than it first appears.  One way to choose a good password is to utilize a mnemonic device.  Choose the first letter of each word from the line of a song or phrase that you like, and make that your password.  Of course, incorporating mixed-case letters will make your password even more secure.  For example, “Three blind mice, see how they run!” would become “3Bm,shTr”-a password that would be easy to remember, yet difficult to crack.  Another idea is to choose two short words connected by punctuation.  For example, “Time$Off!” would be a good choice.  To check the security of your password, visit https://www.microsoft.com/protect/fraud/passwords/checker.aspxand enter it into the Password Strength Meter.

Since writing down your password will compromise its security, it is important to choose a password that you will be able to remember.  Never change your password on a Friday or before a vacation-you likely will not remember it when you return to work.  Also, use your new password immediately and log in several times that day in order to help you remember it.

Now that you’re ready to choose a new password, doing so is easier than ever before with NuContent VX.  As the administrator for your Web site, simply log in and choose to Manage Users.  Selecting that option and choosing “edit” next to your name will take you to a screen where you can change the password for yourself and everyone with access to edit the site.  Once you have entered the new password(s) and saved your changes, log into your site a few times to help you remember your new password.

By choosing a good password that you change frequently, you will take a vital step to ensuring the security and integrity of your personal and corporate information and data.  Don’t let something that is so simple to improve cause detrimental problems for your business.  What are you waiting for?  Go change your password!

proximity shows how the text is related to the rest of the layout, contrast is the difference in text weights used, alignment is how all the text is left aligned at the same margin, and repetition is how the color is used throughout the layout.

The Four Basic Principles

As taken from Robin Williams’ The Non-Designer’s Design Book, there is an awkward yet memorable acronym to recall the basic design principles. The four principles are Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity, or C.R.A.P for short. Very rarely will only one of these principles be used, since all are really interconnected with one another.

Contrast

The point of contrast is to avoid putting multiple elements together that are considered similar. Contrast is one of the most effective ways to put visual interest into a page. The most important rule in order for contrast to be effective is that it must be strong. To add contrast, you can use your typeface choices, line thickness,  colors,  shapes,  sizes,  space, etc. By adding these elements into your piece, it draws your reader in and aids in the organization of information for the reader.  Some things you should avoid when using contrast are to stay away from the “too similar.”  Brown text against black visual elements is an example. Another example is using two similar typefaces.  Make each different and it will create a much more pleasing piece.

Repetition

When you repeat visual elements of a design throughout the whole piece, you create unity, which makes a stronger, more organized piece.  Elements such as a bold font,  thick line,  color,  formatting,  spacial relationship, etc.  are some things you can use to tie your piece together.  The visual element can be anything the reader will visually recognize. Another way of thinking about repetition is consistency.  When you keep all your headers the same size and use the same font,  you are implementing repetition.  One point to avoid with repetition is that you don’t want to be overwhelming and overbearing. “For instance,  if the woman is wearing a black evening dress with a red hat,  earrings, red lipstick,  a red handbag,  red shoes and a red coat – the repetition would not be a stunning and unifying contrast -  it would be overwhelming and the focus would be confused,” says Robin Williams.  The point is to make the piece look interesting.  Once you do so, the more likely it will be read.

Alignment

It has been stated that with alignment, nothing should be placed on the page arbitrarily. Every item on the page should have a visual connection with something else on the page. With alignment,  even if certain elements are separated by space,  there’s an invisible line that connects them.  Just by using careful alignment,  you can create a sophisticated, serious,  funky,  or formal look.  So when laying out your work,  be conscious of where things are placed and aligned,  as  it can make a huge difference. When using alignment try not to use more than one alignment for text,  such as centered and right aligned,  in one layout.  Also, try to  break away from using the standard center aligned text unless  you want a formal and sedate feel.

Proximity

The idea behind proximity is the grouping of related elements together.  This is so that the items can be seen as one cohesive group. Organizing is the primary purpose of proximity.  Some points to consider when using proximity: avoid too many separate elements on a page, don’t put items in the corners or the middle of the page, avoid leaving equal amounts of white space between elements unless each element is part of a subset, don’t let a split second of confusion occur with the relationship to a headline, and finally, don’t create relationships with elements that don’t belong together!  Using this principle will give your readers a logical progression defining a beginning to a logical end.

Pulling it all together!

So when it comes down to making a newsletter or sending out a memo, take your time! Remember to use your C.R.A.P. principles. Everything should be placed where it is on a page for a reason. If you still need help,  please don’t hesitate to call NuRelm – 877-268-7356.

Preview of next article:

A brief review of our previous content combined with many tips and tricks to help with all of your design projects.