Thinking of re-designing your website to add new functionality? Here are tips to help you initiate your web project planning. Your web developer will likely ask you a few questions to get a feel for what you are seeking to accomplish. Typical questions include:

Rapid assessment:
. What is your current website address?
. Are you currently tracking your site’s performance and if so, how is the site working for you?
. What are strong website attributes that you would like to improve/maintain?
. What are website attributes that no longer serve you well?

Inspirational thinking:
. Have you seen websites (or apps) that you like?
. What are the URLs of the sites/apps that you like and what specifically do you like about those sites (for eg: layout, font, special feature, …)
. What are you trying to achieve (eg: generate more traffic, monetize content, improve your corporate image, …)
. What information would you like to capture from users and for what purpose?
. What content would you like to provide to users in exchage for the information they provide?
. Do you have a vision for what your site could look like? (eg: colour scheme, modern, artsy, …)

Features sought:
. What new features do you want implemented? (eg: blog, application database, eCommerce, …)
. Have you seen this feature well implemented in another site (url)?
. Have you done research regarding this new feature?
. . What are your expectations for this feature (eg: ROI, performance enhancement, …)
. Why do you believe this feature needed?
. How do you envision this feature being integrated in your website or app?
. Do you have an in-house IT department that should be involved in development? Do you have a strategy for ongoing maintenance?

Content Creation:
. Do you have in-house resources for content creation, writing/editing, marketing, testing, documentation, graphic design?
. What new content will need to be created, migrated? Do you have a Content Strategy?

Application Documentation:
. Do you have any documentation (eg: code, notes, white papers, …) for features that you would like to maintain?
. Where is your website currently hosted?
. Can you provide your hosting account login details (ftp access) so that developers can have a look “under the hood”

Targeted Audience:
. What audience (eg: gender, age, occupation, interests, …) are you trying to reach?

Who’s on Your Radar?
. List a few competitors. What are key offerings in their website or app?
. What makes (or would make) you better than the competition?

Budget and Deliverables:
. What is the range of your project budget?
. What is your project timeline?
. Are there priorities in the project development?

Key success factors:
. What does website/app success mean to you (user friendliness, site/app traffic, monetization, …)?

Plan you web project wisely for best results! Together, we will make it happen! :)

What are Biz Apps?

Biz Apps (ie. Business Applications) are business software programs that perform specific functions and provide answers.

A Biz App is accessed with a web or mobile browser over a network such as the Internet or an intranet. In contrast to client-side software (that need to be installed on your PCs) BizApps can be upgraded with new components without requiring upgrades on each workstation using the application. This results in lower support cost and increased productivity.

Biz Apps Rule the World

5 Key Points to Gain Traction as a Writer

As a content creator, you must be aware of who your audience is, how they access your content, what information they are interested in, and the level of detail that they want. Asking these questions to your prospects is a good way to gather this information. Sometimes though, it takes additional research. There are also basic rules that you need to be aware of for successful Web writing:

1.  Write your content to facilitate online reading:

People’s eyes normally sweep content horizontally, from left to right, focusing on a triangular area in the upper-left corner (this area should be content rich).  Most visitors only scan the page looking for relevant words of interest.  They most likely  scan the content appearing in the first few paragraphs. They read headlines, bold text and  have a look at images.  Use font sizes and text and background colours that are appropriate for your audience.

2.  Quickly get to the point:

Your content only has a few seconds to draw visitors to take action so keep your message short and get to the point quickly.  Short, simple and front-loaded content are key concepts.  Important content goes in the top-left area. Most important content and sentences with keywords are placed at the top of the page.  Write in simple, common language presenting only one or two ideas per paragraph.

3. Make your text easy to scan:

When it comes to digital content, less is more.  Minimize the number of words needed to convey the message.  Use meaningful headlines and sub-headings and where possible, use bulleted lists and pull-quotes.

4.  Write to appeal to your audience:

In most cases, your audience will be looking for simple, easy-t0-read informative content.  Keep words short and simple. Content should be gender-neutral, non-culture specific (unless that is your target group), and for the most part, non-location specific (unless that is your target group).

5. Clearly orient people to your call-to-action:

Much of the site’s usability depends on its use of effective navigation and design.  In many cases, your post will appear in your site and display your look and feel however, there are instances when posts will be displayed externally so ensure that you have the proper direction to what visitors  can do next.

]]> http://blog.contenta.com/writing-quality-content/feed/ 0 http://blog.contenta.com/delivering-positive-web-experiences/ http://blog.contenta.com/delivering-positive-web-experiences/#comments Sun, 10 Jun 2018 06:15:13 +0000 Webzie http://blog.contenta.com/?p=53 • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Google Plus • Email • RSS There are now millions of websites, all trying to get visitors' attention. So what does it take to capture and maintain visitors' interest? Quality content is a sure winner but be aware that what is perceived as quality content for someone may not necessarily be considered interesting for someone else. It is up to you to select who you want to reach-out to in order to meet your corporate objectives and to write your posts in a language and style that speaks specifically to that audience.]]> • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Google Plus • Email • RSS

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Start with finding-out what your audience truly wants and you will be on the right path.

There are now millions of websites, all trying to get visitors’ attention. So what does it take to capture and maintain visitors’ interest? Quality content is a sure winner but be aware that what is perceived as quality content for someone may not necessarily be considered interesting for someone else. It is up to you to select who you want to reach-out to in order to meet your corporate objectives and to write your posts in a language and style that speaks specifically to that audience.

Focus-groups with a good representation of members from your target market is one of a few ways to gather information on your customers’ expectations. Another would be simple one-on-one conversations with the people whose business you are trying to attract and retain.

What is Considered Quality Content?

Content that is created by an expert on a topic

Content that is up-to-date, real time stuff

Content that is unique, not available everywhere else (personalized stuff)

Content that is innovative, highlights new ideas & concepts

Content that is informative, educational

Content that is entertaining

Content that is well written and displayed

Content that is reliable

Content that is consistently delivered

Engaging content is only one of the reasons that your website visitors will choose to do business with you. When you produce quality content on a consistent basis, you attract a loyal readership. The focal point of your online marketing efforts should be in producing quality content to capture your visitors’ interest and cultivate long-term customer relationships. Another important factor are the relationships that you build through genuine caring and personal engagement.

]]> http://blog.contenta.com/delivering-positive-web-experiences/feed/ 0 http://blog.contenta.com/a-changing-web/ http://blog.contenta.com/a-changing-web/#comments Fri, 01 Jun 2018 20:14:58 +0000 Webzie http://blog.contenta.com/?p=51 • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Google Plus • Email • RSS A Changing Web - A Shared Culture]]> • Facebook • Twitter • LinkedIn • Google Plus • Email • RSS

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Did you know that if you are right-clicking and saving images to your hard-drive, you are probably violating copyright rules?

If you want to insert an image belonging to someone else in your content, you need to link to their image source on the internet, not to the version on your hard-drive (or your server). You are also likely violation copyright rules if you edit someone else’s image by adding your logo on it, a link to your website, or anything else that could give the false impression that you created the image. Facebook is flooded with improperly inserted images. If you stand for integrity, don’t do this. Let the authors and creators retain the credit for the works that they produce.

In some cases, sharing other people’s work is ok. Creative Commons (aka CC) provides free tools that let authors, scientists, artists, and educators easily mark their creative work with the freedoms they want it to carry. You can use CC to change your copyright terms from “All Rights Reserved” to “Some Rights Reserved.” Have a look at this video for an explanation of what Creative Commons is and how to properly use it.

Uploaded by JustinG4000

An explanation of Creative Commons using work licensed under Creative Commons licenses.

Video Credits:
Director: Jesse Dylan
Producers: Michelle Meier and Priscilla Cohen
Editor: Justin Giugno
Cinematographer: Francis Kenny

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