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In just 5 hours Firefox 3 set the record for most downloads in one day. If you’re asking what the heck Firefox is, you’re missing one great browser. Browsers are the things you view websites with. For Microsoft it’s that ‘e’ symbol. (It’s surprising how many people we are doing web design in Durham for that didn’t know that.) It’s time to expand your horizons. For us web design in Toronto and the GTA just got a little faster! (Insert images of joy). It seems this browser is actually a lot faster than Explorer. The faster we (and you) can download websites for work (well, ok and for personal use) the better. I’m just kicking the tires of this new puppy on the Internet highway we affectionately call the web. Design your own customized Firefox browser with its many plug ins. 25% of people use Firefox and growing. What do they know that you don’t? Have fun, download it check it out.

Update: July 10,2008. See the data on how many people are currently using the new Firefox since launch

A study of 40 million emails revealed that the emails that got opened more frequently were in fact ones that simply described in the subject line what was inside the email. Sales type headlines simply didn’t get opened. Ensure when people agree to receive your emails/newsletter that they are clear what they will expect to receive. Then just use the subject line to tell them what’s inside.

Lately there have been many online directories showing up. Newspapers are getting into the game by charging a hefty monthly fee for the privilege of their directory, with your listing, coming up high on the search engines. But are people using them to find you? I ask this because I tend to skip through the first few listings knowing they are directories to find a “real” website. I asked my wife what she does and she skips them as well. What about you? I think the jury is still out, but I’m starting to suspect that as the directories grow in listings, the more competitors will come on board and the more diluted it will become. Now I’m not saying don’t list in directories, I strongly believe the easier it is for a prospect to find you the better. Plus the more links coming into your website from external websites the better. I’m just wondering if the cost verses benefit is there and if the monthly fee can be spent differently. And there are free directories out there as well.

I had a great discussion today with a client about Web Design. Port Perry, along with having this years Playboy Playmate of the year, has some pretty great business people. Today’s discussion centered on exactly what is Web Design. Toronto is where this particular client’s business is. He noticed that the majority of the clients he deals with have websites that aren’t getting the results his is. He was picking my brain as to why. I explained that before we build any web design project, we ask the client what the purpose of the website is, who the target market is and what the target market is looking for. We emphasize that the website is for the visitor, not the company. “That”, I said, “was what designing a website is really all about”. It’s starting with the visitor and working backward, not the other way around.” That’s the sweet spot, or should I say centre fold.

Each week there seems to be a recurring “theme”. This week’s web design in Durham Region “theme” seems to centre on the difference in an IT type company/division creating a website, verses a marketing type company/division building a website. The battle centres on who should construct it. The short answer is, it’s not about who does the web design. It’s about what the purpose of the web design is. Is it more operational than marketing or more marketing than operational? Is it for existing customers or prospects? What does the target market want to see in the website. Design can be clinical or attractive. What does the target market want to see? Once you answer the questions you will get a better indication of what you require. Like hiring an employee, it’s all about the right fit.

Being a website designer in Durham is …interesting. Because we get to visit many different businesses around Durham, we see how they are actually using their websites. It’s amazing how only a few businesses really “get” how important the website is to their business. Those that have understood have benefited a great deal. In fact, they are now asking us what else they can do and “what’s next?”. The short answer is to find other niches, build a website, optimize and capture other business.

Did your battery go in your car’s electric door opener stranding you in Toronto? Try the key. Can’t find a Pickering phone number on the web? Try a phone book. Email not working? Try a telephone; it’s designed for that too. Nothing is perfect. Stuff happens. Business goes on. Relax. Breath. Then remember there are always options…unless you forget there are.

I was having a great discussion with a fellow Website Designer in Ajax recently. We both agreed that most businesses are still not capitalizing on the strength of the Internet to capture new business. Most still see their website designer as a sort of “brochure” developer rather than as a strategic marketing partner to help them go after new business. It’s gratifying to watch our video testimonial from 3 of our Whitby clients talk about how we’ve helped their business grow. What’s everybody else waiting for?

More people are moving to hand held PDA devices. When your website is designed ensure you can see it on a PDA. It’s an important point to consider for your website designer. In Toronto recently we tried to find a well known restaurant nearby. The company had a “flash website” that couldn’t be seen on my PDA! (Flash sites are big pictures). Remember, whether your a web designer in Toronto or anywhere for that matter, it’s all about building for the audience. Pretty sites are useless if your client’s potential clients can’t see it!

If being found on search engines is important to your business it’s time to start looking at getting a blog. It seems some of the search engines are weighting blogs higher on the relevancy scale. When getting a blog, make sure your web designer builds it right into your website design. Website Design in Port Perry just added another service!