Posts Tagged ‘Google’

11 Interactive Web Design Features You Need

When designing or updating your website you need to think about the right features to add to the site. Features that make the website “user friendly” and allows visitors to interact with the website.
With the popularity of second generation websites, known as Web2.0, Customer expectations have evolved, they expect the website to offer a certain level of interaction. It’s common for websites to offer a range of interactive features such as videos, podcasts, and ways in which visitors can offer their feedback. Many of these features are easy to implement into a website.
Some the top interactive features that are easy to implement on your website.

1. Newsletter Subscription

Collecting email addresses of potential customers is vital for direct marketing or sending out newsletters to no going customers. Adding an autoresponder which handles the opt in form for subscribing or unsubscribing to your mailing list, then sends out any promos or offers automatically and manually.

2. Commenting on articles

Allowing users to comment on you website can be useful in many ways. In addition to feedback, it also allows the content to build with user generated content. It should only be added to relevant sections of the website.

3. Most Recent Posts or Most Read Posts

If you have a blog, then you can display a list of 10 most recent posts or the most read posts from your blog on your main website. It can add value to your website especially if your blog and website target the same niche.

4. Google Map

If you have a brick and mortar location then an interactive Google Map can make your website more useful. Google map can be used in many ways. You can use it simply to display an interactive map of your location or you can use one of its built in features such as distance calculator, etc to add more functionality.

5. Google Custom Search feature

Google custom search allows websites to implement search functionality on their website using Google’s powerful search algorithms. It is possible to restrict the search to your website only or include other partner websites in your searches. Ad revenue generated by Google using your custom search feature can be shared so there an opportunity for generating revenue on your website.

6. Related Articles

This can improve the readership of your website by providing users with content that is related. It is relatively easy to implement on a website and can be automated or works by assigning manual tags or keywords.

7. RSS Feed

RSS is a commonly used format for sharing content on the web. By offering RSS feed of your website content, you make it readily accessible to millions of internet users who use feed reader applications to find information on the internet. It also makes it easier for users to subscribe to website updates by email. RSS feeds also make it easier for users to share content on other social media sites.

8. Social bookmarking

Social bookmarking is popular on the Internet. Millions of users use social bookmarking to organise favourite content and share it with others. It helps in promoting your website and generates massive traffic. A website should offer a shortcut for adding the web page using leading social bookmarking accounts.

9. Latest Content Tab

A list of latest content from relevant sections of the website can improve the usability of the website. It makes your website easier to navigate and offers better utilization of space and adds interactivity.

10. Feedback forms to gather information

Feedback forms are an effective method to collect a response from website users. The form should be customized to the specific needs of a website.

11. Survey/polls

Surveys and polls on website is another important and widely used feature to collect information from customers. This feature allows you to find out what the visitor is looking for so you can build a better site.

There are many features that can make your website interactive and more effective.

5 Ways To Think Up A Great Domain Name

5 Ways To Think Up A Great Domain Name That’s Still Available

I’d be a rich as if I earned a dollar every time someone complained that all the great domain names are already taken. It’s just not true, however. Even in a highly competitive industry, you can still think up original, appealing domain names for businesses by using naming tactics that few people use, such as these:

1. Focus on results. What is the outcome or end result that people want to have from buying a certain product or service? How do they feel when they have finished the transaction?
2. Look for puns. Make a list of relevant keywords, say each out loud and play around with the sounds. Puns are much less likely than other kinds of names to have been registered because their component parts are not actual words. For instance, the name Sitesfaction, for a web design company, was a finalist in a naming contest – and an available domain at that time despite tens of thousands of web design firms in the English-speaking world.

3. Think slang. Let your imagination and memory fly around for pleasing-to-the-ear expressions. Like the domain BoyOhBoyToys.com for an online toy store is unregistered, as is a domain for its sister store AttaGirlToys.com.

4. Go symbolic. Suppose you’re an expert on the horror genre and want to start a paid online community for horror fans. Horrorific.com, horrorgate.com and Horrornet.com are all taken, but the less obvious and more vivid FrightOwl.com was not.

5. Vary real words. “Google’s name is a play on the word googol, which refers to the number 1 followed by one hundred zeroes,” says the Press Center of the world’s most successful search engine. “The word was coined by the nine-year-old nephew of mathematician Edward Kasner,” it continues – providing another hint for creative naming: consult a kid.

Get that thinking cap on