But let’s go beyond bad font choices, graphics, and animation. What are the biggest usability mistakes that aren’t as obvious? Here are five, with tips on how to avoid them.
1. Having a confusing or counterintuitive site structure. Nothing drives users away faster than a site that forces them to click around aimlessly until they stumble upon the right page. An expert user should be able to get where she wants to be in no more than three clicks.
2. Making the menu too complicated. Menus are the rough equivalent of a Web site’s spine. You want to keep them clear, straight, and strong. Navigation is normally found running horizontally across the top of a page in a tab-like orientation or stacked vertically along the left side of the page. No funny coding. No funny scripts.
3. Lapsing into industry jargon. An overabundance of marketing-speak and technical or industry jargon is a very common mistake. Your goal should be striking that balance between efficient search engine optimization and easy-to-read copy.
4. Overpromising, or even under-promising, what you can deliver. A Web site becomes unusable, and thus irrelevant, when it tells users that it will do something and then does not do it. That will drive those visitors away. Permanently.
5. Not closing the sale. If the site doesn’t call the user to some sort of action, whether it be phoning, faxing, e-mailing, or forming an order or at least a question, the user won't be drawn to jump through the hoop.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Saven pages every Web site should have
Don’t look now, but your Web site might be missing a few pages—very important pages. You’re not alone. Most small-business sites are a work in progress—constantly being revised, improved, and updated. So invariably, something is always missing. But some pages are so important that not having them could hurt your bottom line. Here are seven pages every business Web site must have, and where they need to be:
1. Contact Us. Every small-business site should have a Contact Us page and it should offer visitors a complete list of ways they can contact you – from e-mail addresses to toll-free numbers to a physical address. 2. Testimonials. Many companies skip the Testimonials page because they consider it too self-serving, While having a page like that may seem self-promotional, people will look for it. And when they don’t find it, they might begin to make assumptions.
3. Privacy policy. Web users are more conscious about safety and privacy then ever, so a good privacy policy is an absolut must. Linking to this page on any page where you request personal information is a trust-builder and will decrease from abandonment. Not only that, but many companies require that you have a privacy policy before they do business with you.
4. FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are frequently forgotten, too. Why is an FAQ page so important? Mostly, they’ll ensure you won’t have to answer the same questions over and over. But it also is a convenience for site visitors.
5. A "gimme" page. Want readers to sign up for your newsletter or regular special offers? Add a section where users can be persuaded to give up some of their personal information (such as their names and e-mail addresses) in exchange for … well, something else. In many cases, this is an informative report, a keychain, a chance to win tickets to a ballgame, or a cash prize.
6. About Us. But just because you can do business with people you might never meet doesn’t mean they don’t want to know about who they’re doing business with. The most effective About Us pages are succinct and use no jargon.
7. Confirmation. A decent confirmation page that acknowledges an order and thanks the visitor for his or her business is essential—and often lacking.
1. Contact Us. Every small-business site should have a Contact Us page and it should offer visitors a complete list of ways they can contact you – from e-mail addresses to toll-free numbers to a physical address. 2. Testimonials. Many companies skip the Testimonials page because they consider it too self-serving, While having a page like that may seem self-promotional, people will look for it. And when they don’t find it, they might begin to make assumptions.
3. Privacy policy. Web users are more conscious about safety and privacy then ever, so a good privacy policy is an absolut must. Linking to this page on any page where you request personal information is a trust-builder and will decrease from abandonment. Not only that, but many companies require that you have a privacy policy before they do business with you.
4. FAQ. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are frequently forgotten, too. Why is an FAQ page so important? Mostly, they’ll ensure you won’t have to answer the same questions over and over. But it also is a convenience for site visitors.
5. A "gimme" page. Want readers to sign up for your newsletter or regular special offers? Add a section where users can be persuaded to give up some of their personal information (such as their names and e-mail addresses) in exchange for … well, something else. In many cases, this is an informative report, a keychain, a chance to win tickets to a ballgame, or a cash prize.
6. About Us. But just because you can do business with people you might never meet doesn’t mean they don’t want to know about who they’re doing business with. The most effective About Us pages are succinct and use no jargon.
7. Confirmation. A decent confirmation page that acknowledges an order and thanks the visitor for his or her business is essential—and often lacking.
The basics of Web site security
1. Choose a respected and established Web hosting first line of defense. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
2. Be sure that your Web host maintains tight physical servers. It should also perform regular backups running even if a server goes down. For instance, Microsoft Office Live Small Business, it is stored
controlled locations.
3. Watch out for unusual activity on your Web usage may be a tip-off that a hacker has infiltrated
4. Consider hiring an IT or security professional defenses. This is especially important if you customers’ health information or financial data.
5. Restrict employee access to your Web site. able to update it should have the password Change the password on a regular basis.
2. Be sure that your Web host maintains tight physical servers. It should also perform regular backups running even if a server goes down. For instance, Microsoft Office Live Small Business, it is stored
controlled locations.
3. Watch out for unusual activity on your Web usage may be a tip-off that a hacker has infiltrated
4. Consider hiring an IT or security professional defenses. This is especially important if you customers’ health information or financial data.
5. Restrict employee access to your Web site. able to update it should have the password Change the password on a regular basis.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Any DWG to PDF Converter
It is a batch converter that allows you to convert DWG and DXF to PDF without the need of AutoCAD.
Key Features
* Stand-alone utility - AutoCAD NOT required.
* Convert DWG and DXF to vector PDF in batches.
* Supports paper space and model space.
* Supports every version of DWG/DXF files (Supports R2.5/2.6 to R2005/2006/2007/2008/2009 formats)
* Very easy to use.
* The "Pro" version supports command line.
Key Features
* Stand-alone utility - AutoCAD NOT required.
* Convert DWG and DXF to vector PDF in batches.
* Supports paper space and model space.
* Supports every version of DWG/DXF files (Supports R2.5/2.6 to R2005/2006/2007/2008/2009 formats)
* Very easy to use.
* The "Pro" version supports command line.
Download free trial version * Download Any DWG to PDF Converter* Download Any DWG to PDF Converter Pro (Command line support)
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