Web Standards

Find out how web standards and best practices can improve everything you do as a designer. Learn how to build projects that are standards compliant!

10 SEO Habits That Will Increase Website Traffic

Business / 13 Sep 2024

10 SEO Habits That Will Increase Website Traffic

Everyone wants more website traffic, right? But are you doing all the little things that help boost search engine ranking with every new image upload or content update?

Creating the right habits from the start will keep your website in tip-top shape and hopefully result in bonus points from the Google algorithm.

The good news is that this list is packed with actionable, everyday tips. Start with a solid website framework and then employ these techniques with every update to get on the path to creating great SEO habits that won’t be tough to maintain.

30 Web Design Terms & What They Mean

HTML / 24 Aug 2023

30 Web Design Terms & What They Mean

The vast landscape of web design is one that is constantly evolving and expanding, and with it comes a plethora of terms and jargon that can be daunting for beginners and even some seasoned designers. Whether you’re an aspiring web designer, a professional looking to brush up on your vocabulary, or a business owner seeking to communicate more effectively with your web team, understanding the key terminologies of web design can be immensely beneficial.

In this article, we delve into “30 Web Design Terms” that are pivotal in today’s digital age. Ranging from the basic, like HTML and CSS, to the more complex, such as responsive and adaptive design, each term will be comprehensively explained, providing you with valuable insights into the intricate world of web design. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you will not only enhance your comprehension of web design techniques but also elevate your ability to participate in meaningful conversations around web development.

So, whether you’re creating, managing, or simply exploring the depths of web design, this comprehensive guide is your trusty companion.

As we journey through these 30 essential terms, you’ll gain the understanding needed to navigate the complex and exciting realm of web design. So, let’s delve in and broaden our web design lexicon.

Reinventing Design Choices for Privacy Permission Elements

Web Standards / 27 Oct 2022

Reinventing Design Choices for Privacy Permission Elements

A personalized experience is one of the most highly valued features of a modern website design. However, gathering the right consumer data is essential to provide customized services to website visitors. After all, you can only enhance consumer experience and provide a better service if you recognize customers to a degree.

The problem is, sometimes, such personalization comes at the cost of your users’ privacy.

There’s a way around this though. You can prioritize privacy UX, build trust, and still generate revenue. If done correctly, a user-focused approach can turn into conversions and make you a stronger player in your market.

Let’s see some common pitfalls and opportunities that you can use for your business or personal website.

Pros and Cons of Live Chat in a Web Design

Accessibility / 12 Sep 2022

Pros and Cons of Live Chat in a Web Design

Live chat has become the go-to customer service solution for many websites. Users can log in and immediately “talk” with someone about whatever they need help with.

Live chats can be text-based or include a video call. The key reason it is used is to connect with customers immediately and help provide a better customer service experience. But there’s a catch – not all live chat is actually a conversation with a person.

Here’s a look at the pros and cons of live chat in your web design projects.

10 Reasons Why Alt Text Matters

Accessibility / 4 Jul 2022

10 Reasons Why Alt Text Matters

If you aren’t using meaningful alt text in website projects, you are committing a crime on the internet. This tiny element has a big function, and comes with a huge impact on usability, readability, and accessibility.

If you thought that alt text was only for the purposes of accessibility, think again. It can help Google better understand your content, provide important context for what your page is about, and help readers navigate.

Here’s a guide to creating alt text that will help create more impact and a better user experience on your website.

10 Things Every Email Newsletter Design Needs: Best Practices

Web Standards / 3 May 2021

10 Things Every Email Newsletter Design Needs: Best Practices

There’s an art to crafting the perfect email newsletter design.

It’s a combination of visual presentation and just the right words. It’s delivering quality content in a way that resonates with subscribers and generates opens so that your messages avoid the spam box.

A few email design best practices can help you find inbox success and generate greater conversions for this type of targeted messaging.

And if you need some help, each of the email design examples here is available as a downloadable template.

How to Design With User Privacy in Mind (Tips and Best Practices)

UX Design / 7 Jan 2021

How to Design With User Privacy in Mind (Tips and Best Practices)

When it comes to UX, how often do you connect it to privacy?

It’s a big part of the design process. From connected apps to e-commerce to forms, data collection is happening all the time. Users are accustomed to it and generally ok with these practices unless something goes wrong.

It’s your job to include privacy checkpoints and best practices in the design architecture of every website project. Not only will these protections help users, but they can help you feel better about the digital products and services you provide.

9 Website Design Tips for Different Generations (Yes, It Matters!)

Accessibility / 19 Oct 2020

9 Website Design Tips for Different Generations (Yes, It Matters!)

It’s a no-brainer for most designers that you plan a project based on a certain target audience. It might be for people who like soda or buy video games or have an affinity for athletic shoes.

But another consideration can often be overlooked – designing for different generational segments. Age can impact how people use websites, apps, and mobile devices. Generational differences can affect your design scheme, accessibility plan, and even the language and colors in the design.

If you haven’t thought about these differences, now is the time to start. With wider website audiences all the time, designing for different generations can help your project be more successful for more people.

Is Your Design Inclusive? (And How to Make It More Inclusive)

UX Design / 18 Aug 2020

Is Your Design Inclusive? (And How to Make It More Inclusive)

Is your design for everyone? We talk a lot about creating with an audience in mind, but it’s important to understand that audience can identify in several ways.

Now more than ever before, it is important to create designs and visuals that are inclusive of that entire audience segment. An inclusive aesthetic will make users feel like they are part of the design and that a company, organization, or product is for them.

Inclusivity is more than just accessibility. It’s a combination of function and visual design that creates something that people identify with and want to be a part of.

It’s time to check yourself and your designs, put aside your biases and take a hard look at projects to ensure they are as all-encompassing as they can be. Let’s get started.

The 3 Cs of User Interfaces: Color, Contrast, and Content

Inspiration / 7 Feb 2018

The 3 Cs of User Interfaces: Color, Contrast, and Content

There’s an old business model that many business strategists live by—the 3 Cs. It’s a reminder to focus on the company, customers and competitors. Many small businesses and websites also use this model. But for designers, the three Cs are a little different.

When creating user interfaces, you should focus on color, contrast, and content. These three elements are the foundation of good design. But each is a little more complex than it might seem from the surface. Here’s how to think about–and incorporate–the three Cs of user interfaces into your design projects.

How to Design an Interface That’s Built for Speed

UX Design / 18 Jul 2016

How to Design an Interface That’s Built for Speed

Is your website slow? Be honest. Could it be faster? Users demand websites that load quickly and continue to deliver content without lag. If your website falls the least bit behind in meeting this demand users could abandon your site (and they might never return).

Today, we’re going to look at ways to make sure your website interface is built for speed, so you never have to worry about page load times again.

How to Design Content for User Experiences

UX Design / 4 May 2015

How to Design Content for User Experiences

Content is a major part of the user experience. Content is more than search engine optimization; it’s more than blogging. It is part of your site, brand identity and why users interact with your design.

Every day it becomes even more important to design for content as part of the overall function and user experience in website and app design. But how can you do it? (We can help you with some case studies and examples, such as The Hen House, which uses a variety of design and user engagement techniques to keep you scrolling.)