Helping You Rock Out Your Site Like A Rockstar!

Google Webmaster Tools is a way for webmasters to get their site properly web index by Google. There are also other features that this tool offers that make this a hub for any webmaster.

Getting a site indexed is important. What is web indexing?

Indexing is as:
“collects, parses, and stores data to facilitate fast and accurate information retrieval”
from Wikipedia on Index(search engines

Simply creating a page and leaving it ‘as is’ will not index a site. It deals with several factors like content, design, and using resources to direct a search engine to recognize a website easier.

The tools Google uses address these factors and allow a webmaster to see what they see when they find and crawl your site.

1. Content: They list a section generalizing the spread of a site’s files whether are images, or even text.
2. Keywords/ Resources: Google lists keywords from both the site’s content and what is being searched in the search engine itself. This is a nice attribute as it will allow the webmaster to see exactly what is searched in regards to their website.
3. Design: The design of a site is important, including the hiearchy structure. A website that is easily to surf is one that gives the visitor a way to go from one page and page without getting lost. A sitemap is an excellent addition to any site that lists the content of a site and its navigational structure.

Check it out an try the tools. Google offers it for free and it offers a lot of information for webmasters to be able to get the traffic they need. This will also allow any webmaster to develop any site and watch its progress while tweaking and applying new and unqiue content.

Do you use Google Webmaster tools?

Originality is what most people look for in a site, along with a way to maneuver around easily. Let us be real, as most people will be lost without a way to surf any website. One way to help, is to focus on cleaning up your design to make it more user-friendly. There are many ways you can do this, but in this article, it will illustrate the main to achieve this. Please do remember, this is not an article from a woman that is boastful or is even a know-it-all, but one who has been around the block when it comes to designing a website.

In achieving a more user-friendly site, please do note that design does not always have to be lost along the way. There are thosewebmasters who like the very minimal in things on their site, but even sometimes putting up the bare minimum can might be hurtful. On the other hand, something chock full of widgets, and graphics for a site that has next to nothing in content could also be hurtful.

The way to do this is very simple and taught to web design students. Basic web design courses illustrate that one of the most important ways to make things user-friendly is using your whitespace. Whitespace is defined as:

Whitespace is the empty spaces in a design. Whitespace is used to separate disparate design elements and group similar ones. Whitespace is the lack of graphics or text in the layout.

Whitespace is not always “white” – it is the empty parts of the page, but if the page has a different background color that would be the color of the whitespace.
Defined by About.com

In simple terms, whitespace helps break up each part of the blog in a clear way for the user to be able to read and understand. Doing this will help greatly with your blog or actually, any type website. With thousands of blogs and websites created daily, you can reap awards with the following tips:

1. Clean up your content:

• Divide each post with a simple line or fast loading divider images.
• Define your header with the right tags. The search engines index sites better that use their header tags in an orderly manner.
• Make sure hyperlinks are noted by an underline or something like another color to differentiate it from the normal text.
• Possibly post related links in articles. WordPress has great plug-ins for this ability.
• Make sure your font is clear and large enough for visitors to read.
• Make your contact information easy to find. If it is merely a form to fill out, then put a link to it, even if it is on a sub page. This is important if the visitor has any questions. If it is a matter of email security, use the Dagon Design Formmailer plug-in for WordPress. They even have a non-WordPress version too!

2. Clean your sidebar:

• Get rid of all those graphics and banners. A few are okay, but it is important while pleasing your advertisers, to not overdo it for your readers. Of course you want to make some money to pay that hosting bill, but it can be a hindrance on load time and cut down that whitespace.
• Add a search bar in an easy locale on your page so visitors can find on your site what they want.
• Add clean navigation. Whether you have categories for your blog posts or even pages, organize it. For pages, use the Subpages Widget by Alpar Haytabay and for categories, try using the drop down box.

Just remember, even if you think your blog design looks okay, always ask for another opinion. You may not see what may be annoying to another person while it is cute in your opinion. If it seems cluttered, consider adjusting your whitespace or using the suggestions in cleaning the content and sidebar. Remember, you do not have to totally take away the information from your website. You can simply create another page.

Outside of Blondish.net Related Articles:

• The Importance of Whitespace in Web Designs
• Blog Design: Keep It Clutter-Free and User-Friendly

Are splash pages really necessary? Well, first off, in order to make a valid case, what is a splash page? A splash page is a website’s entrance page. The splash page contains words or images to briefly convey the mood of the site, like a first impression or like in a business, a calling card. Some splash pages alert visitors on what the website best works in whether by a specific browser or size of screen resolution. There are no particular rules to making a splash page, and it is not always necessary. Not all websites contain a splash page. It is usually the Webmaster’s choice to use one.

In a personal website, which is one that mainly revolves around the Webmaster, a splash page is really not necessary. When assembling a website, the Webmaster should decide what type of navigation will make their site functional in the most expedient manner. Any information put into the site can be organized, particularly into three main categories: Webmaster, Visitor Content, and Site Information. Of course, this is for a personal website. The Webmaster section deals with everything that involves only information on the Webmaster. For example, it should be a brief bio or perhaps pictures. The Visitor section contains information for the visitor to be able to take with them, whether it is graphics or perhaps an interesting article to read. The Site Information section is strictly about the website. This is where a Webmaster would put their link exchanges, site credits, disclaimer, history, and much more. Of course, these three main categories are not official names and sometimes can be broken down into five categories like: Webmaster, Visitor, Domain, WWW, and Exits. These are most common in websites. Some website owners use frilly alternative words to suit their personal style, but the concept is all the same.

In having these sections, the splash page becomes redundant. Recommendations for browser information and screen resolution can be placed in the brief site welcome paragraph or even in the Site Information section. The layout for the website should suffice as a calling card for what the visitor is to expect.

Efficient navigation is essential for any website. Some splash pages can be bulky on load time due to large images, and even people using the wonders of DSL and cable might be dissuaded from entering. On the other hand, sites that contain content not suitable for younger crowds may find it best to use a splash page for their website. This splash page would act as a way to deter younger viewers from entering. A simple page with a site disclaimer, in which two links would suffice. One would say if you are under the age of 18, then to click and it would direct you elsewhere, like Google. The other link would say if you are over 18, then click, and it would direct you to the main part of the website. An excellent example of this is Adultfanfiction.net. In exercising this option, it covers the site owner’s back from being sued or shut down due to its easy access for younger viewers. This acts much like the ‘At Your Own Risk’ sign, so the viewer is without a doubt warned about the content within.

It is difficult to decide whether a splash page is really a necessity. The decision should be based on the on how the splash page is portrayed. If the splash page is bulky in content, whether it be in images or in text, or both, then it is best to do away with the idea and add the information to the main part of the website. On the other hand, if the information on the splash page is sparse, then it is not needed. The visitor only needs to see the gist of the website, but not the other frivolities like links out, sites reference links, buttons or links to sites the Webmaster has joined, and so forth. The splash page really becomes like an illustrated cover of a book and these extras make it tacky.

If having a splash page is a must, keep it simple; a simple and tasteful image to fit the layout of the main part of the website, a few words like resolutions and browser requirements, then perhaps a counter or a small site disclaimer. In the end, any visitor will appreciate visiting.

So, are splash pages necessary? For the majority of sites, a resounding no. However, for adult content sites, that is up to the Webmaster and should be considered seriously.

What do you think?

I think as the debate on using tables or not, the use of iframes has been second to that.

Inline frames, also known as iframes as described by Wikipedia:

An inline frame places another HTML document in a frame inside a normal (rather than frameset) HTML. document.

The use of iframes for years has been much of a beginner’s fad in designing. It allows the user to make a small website and put all their content in a small area. However, as time passed, people were abusing this more than using frames. An iframe calls another page to load, so instead of 1, you will have more than one depending on how many iframes you have placed on your layout. Some web page newbies decided to place their content in a larger window, so now only did their content scroll, but their page, even in larger browsers.

Why not to use them?

1. Well, often the page is not indexed correctly by the search engines. Search engines will often overlook the iframe and then the design is broken. This is not good for the designer.

2. Some browsers may not show the iframe properly or at all.

3. Using the iframe could take more load time for your users. Remember, even though there is broadband, there are still people out there that only have access to the Internet via dial-up, and even if the modem handles 56K, it does not always connect even that close.

4. Using the iframe as a means to place content is not exactly a good excuse if you are allowing the window to be large in length. Rather than use the iframe, you can place your content in division layers. It is just as easy to code and makes your layout more flexible if one page is longer versus another page.

There are more efficient and better means to coding layouts than using iframes. What other reasons are there? If you are one that supports iframes, why?

Let us face it, web developers can be under-appreciated. Most offer their work for free and ask for nothing. The problem is, some of these developers come up with great things. What spurred this topic on… well, the topic came up in the WordPress group in LinkedIn. It was apparent that I was not the only person experiencing a bit of under-appreciation.

Did you know PHPads has had over 2700 downloads since January 2009, and PHPurl has been downloaded over 700 times. This is not a rant. Believe me, if I felt like it, I would, but that is not the point. All of these people go through and download. Each download takes a little bandwidth and people are making money off of at least PHPads. A free tool that makes you money.

Think about all the scripts and plugins you have used, even those WordPress plugins. There are plenty of people who make plugins… many of which are very handy. I have helped test quite a few plugins and tweaked many more for my own use as well as use for clients. Have I donated – yes I have. How many plugins do you use? How many of them have a little link to donate? Have you ever donated?

I know that not everyone has a lot of money, especially with the tough economy, but we should help each other out in some way. It is the generally better to spread the word about the resource than to donate, but that little bit always makes a developers day. Here is how you can appreciate your developers, whether they are a developer of an entire script or even WordPress plugin:

• Blog about the script or plugin if you liked it. You never know… one of the people who read your blog and then visited that developer might spread the word or even donate.
• Tell people in your social media networks like on Facebook and Twitter about it.
• If a developer does not have a way for you to donate, contact them and urge them to put one up. Whether you do donate or not once they do put a donation button up, at least it is up and visible.
• Put up credit somewhere on your site on what script or plugin you are using, even if you are using it to develop a client’s website.
• Donate at least $5. It is not much, but every little bit is appreciated.

Simple, right? What others ways do you think might help developers become more appreciated?

I recently submitted Blondish.net to a site that allows people to rate websites based on their design. The site is called Design Snack. I think it is a nifty idea. It is not like a normal review site where you have to leave a detailed review. You just rate and if you want, you can leave a comment. However, I still like to do reviews. My only thoughts are that people could just drop in a give a low rate to be nasty. You can view my site’s profile there a Design Snack, and please, if you do go look, please leave an honest rating. In the same regard, if you do join and submit your site, please tell me about it. I would love to return the favor.

Web design ‘dos’ and ‘do nots’ have be a thing to talk about in the past, but as usual, it boils down to personal preference (whether layout trend, color trend, or browser trend.) I have been around for a long time and despite remaking myself through each subdomain and domain I have moved to, I have learned quite a bit. Well, that and I have been paid to design for over eight years. Also, one of my degrees that I hold is Web Site Design. That would make me a professional, even as cocky as that might read. However I took the time to go through the course and passed, so I am. I will say that I do not know it all nor ever claimed to have said, but I just have developed my own opinion that has been developed client by client, and layout by layout. For those who are wonderful with their W3 compliant sites (Note: Even though they lack some color and design. However you should try to have a balance between the coding and design.), that is fine. However, here are some things I have picked up.

• 1. Do not design your site around bulky flash sites. They might be eye-catching, but they still take forever to load. Remember, some people who live out in the boonies only have access to dial-up. Shoot for under 100 kilobytes if you are looking for a max load time.
• 2. Celebrity layouts unless they are fanart and credited properly (meaning you say they are fanart and are not selling them to others in another layout even for $1) are not allowed.
• 3. If your site has more advertisement than content, then consider yourself a commercial site. Sure it is okay to try to make money, but at least provide some content. Even if you want to make money or even try to have a decent rank in Google or Alexa, you have to have some valuable content.
• 4. If have purchased a domain (.com, .net, .org, .etc on domain TLDs) and your last update was over a month ago, why did you waste your money? Why am I looking at a nearly blank page that reads that you are on hiatus and will be back (and the hiatus started 4 weeks ago.) It was better that you either freehost or be a subdomain hostees under a generous host. If you bought a domain, why did you want to start a website in the first place? Of course, real life should be focused on, but remember, it can take 5 minutes to blog even 100- 300 words if you are average at typing. Try to blog and update instead of putting up a hiatus and leaving your site stagnant.
• 5. I get kind of confused if someone changes their layouts more than two times a month. Try instead to offer themes. WordPress users can do this and add the simple php theme include to their layout.
• 6. Please stop using Cute News. It is not cute and no longer secure, just like that annoying, slow, and definitely unsecure Greymatter. If you are a paid hostee of mine with Host Solutions, both scripts have been banned for the past 4 years. In fact, many hosts have banned both scripts.
• 7. If you want to be strict with code, great! However, if that means you feel better that your site is as plain as Cheerios and your content only contain so much (other than bashing people who are not as dull as you), I am not interested and others should not be fooled. Get in the know and brand yourself properly. As shallow as it seems, there are people who are far more visual when deciding to frequent one site versus another.
• 8. Using blinkies all over your layout is great if you are under 15. If you use a blinkie, try to use them sparingly and in places that might be interesting (example: connecting a graphic to what you have blogged for visual reaction.) I will say as a note that using them as a signature is not bad, but as a second note, use in good taste.
• 9. Using brushes can be nice, but I prefer the over-use to be for the t-shirts I buy in the store. Otherwise they look like ugly graffiti not even gang member might spray paint on train overpasses. Be tasteful and use them sparingly as accents.
• 10. If your website looks like a very bad past experience with getting very drunk and vomitting, or looking into a very bright light during a hangover, I am definitely clicking myself out of the page. I am pretty sure others feel the same. Try ColourLovers to get ideas on colors that might look well with each other on a layout.

Again, as I said, I am not some expert, but I have had a lot of experience. Take a good look at your site and see what you can do to spruce it. Fixing it up does not totally mean doing away with a layout. If you are not sure, ask someone. I have no problem. I encourage you to ask me for a review. I even give out graphics for excellent sites.

I have been hearing about a site called Rev.iew.me, that is another review community, so I went to check it out. I ended up joining and have already posted 2 reviews. I will be posting my reviews here that I have done from there, and moving my old reviews here that I had done at Cinnamon Gum (no longer a site, hence why I did not hyperlink it.)

The site is owned by Jem who knows her stuff when it comes to coding and offers quite a few free and popular scripts.

In light of this, I have been going through the pages and weeding out content. I got rid of most celebrity images and my ringtones that I made. It is illegal, and I have not had the time to pull it down until now. If you want any, I can put a list and you can email me, but I will not offer them on the site for download anymore.

As for reviews, if you wish for a review outside of the site, free free to use my contact form or leave me a comment.