Mobile Friendly Websites
You may have heard in the news recently about a major change, currently being rolled out, to the way Google lists search results on mobile devices. The problem is many sites are not responsive, meaning that they were only built for desktop computers and are hard to navigate on mobile devices. Users often have to look at pages where the text is too small, the links are tiny, and you have to scroll sideways to see all the content? This usually happens when the website has not been optimised to be viewed on a mobile phone. Google doesn’t want to serve up results that are not mobile user friendly, so they are implementing a new algorithm change to demote sites that aren’t usable on phones and tablets.
In a nutshell, if your site is not classed as “mobile friendly” by Google, your site could be demoted in mobile search results and with up to 50% of internet searches now being carried out via mobile phones and tablets, this could affect a large portion of your web traffic and SEO results.
You can read more about Google's new policy and test whether your site is currently mobile friendly at: developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites
If you would like to discuss how West5web can make your site mobile friendly, please get in touch.Website Maintenance and Updates
There are millions of websites out there today all competing for our attention, so it is vital that your site will grab reader's attentions when they come across it. One of the key factors that will put people off your site is if it is not updated on a regular basis. You want your site to be interesting, dynamic and above all a source of updated information. If your site is none of these things, then you won't get many visitors, you certainly won't get visitors coming back to you site time after time.
Making your site "sticky" as it is known [ie encouraging vistors to keep coming back] is a key factor in the success of your website and hence your business. But how many of us have the time, knowledge or inclination to keep our websites fresh and up to date with the latest information?
Well don't worry - west5web is here to help !
Option 1: One-off website updates and maintenance:
Your site may only require a one-off update or a yearly update to account for changes in services, pricing policy, terms and conditions etc. West5web can do this for you. Alternatively, your might just want to change some of the images on your site to give it a fresh and updated feel.
Option 2: Regular website maintenance:
Your website may require regular weekly or monthly updates. If you have news pages, special offers that change regularly and so forth, it is vital that these pages are current and they reflect what you offer. If they don't, potential clients will be put off and your company looks unprofessional.
West5web will discuss with you what and how much work is required and tailor a pricing policy based on the volume of work required. The more work you need the cheaper it gets, with prices starting at only £35 per hour.
Option 3: Do It Yourself:
If you would rather carry out the updates to you site yourself but are unsure how to go about this, west5web can help with this too. We can set up your website pages so it is clear where and how sections of them can be changed by yourself without much knowledge of website programming.
Alternatively we can install a website content management system which makes it even easier for clients to make future changes themselves.
>Website Design
Quality, affordable website design
So we all know that these days, you have to have a website right? Well if you didn't think so you probably wouldn't be reading this page. However, web sites can have many purposes. Some websites are designed to secure further business by offering on-line trading. Others enable potential clients to see what services or products a company can offer. Keeping existing clients informed of new products or services and by giving potential clients sufficient information in order for them to contact your company. Some websites exist to champion a particular campaign or cause or maybe you just want a personal site to keep in touch with friends and family or to showcase your skills or interests.
Whatever your reason for wanting a web site, west5web is here to help!!
But why choose west5web? You know there are loads of web designers out there offering you the world. What makes west5web different? Well here are a few things that west5web promises to it's customers:
01. West5web will help you decide on the purpose of your website:
What is the goal of your web site? What do you want it to achieve and who will be your potential audience? How can you keep visitors coming back to your site? These are all important questions to ask and the answers will go a long way to determining the look and feel of your site.
02. West5web will help you decide on the content of your website:
The content of your website should be well written, well laid out, complemented with well chosen images and above all interesting. There are so many websites in existence today that unless your site grabs readers attention, they will simply move on and look elsewhere.
03. West5web will help you decide on your keywords and phrases:
Key words and key phrases are the terms that users type into search engines ... hopefully to find your website. It is vital to decide what terms you want your website optimised for and to include these terms in the coding of the website and within the body of the web pages. We will help you decide on these terms and then do some investigation to find out how many times these terms are being searched for.
04. West5web ensures your site adheres to the principles of quality web site design:
We believe not only in creating great looking websites that add value to your business but also in creating websites that function efficiently, load quickly (even with the slowest broadband connections) and display correctly in all browsers. We believe all websites should adhere to the following:
- fast loading
- responsive design, mobile and tablet friendly
- function fully and correctly in all browsers
- navigation around the site should be straightforward - no page should be more than 3 clicks away
- be pleasing on the eye
- attract and retain visitors
- meet the needs of your business
05. West5web will talk to you in plain, simple terms, avoiding technical jargon:
Not everyone understands terms like search engine optimisation, google ranking, rollover images and so on. If you do, you probably wouldn't be looking for someone to build a website for you. We will obviously not treat our clients as idiots but we will never leave you confused or unclear by not explaining technical issues in plain simple terms.
06. West5web will never take on work we cannot complete:
If we are too busy to take on a piece of web site design work or we feel it is beyond our capabilities, we will tell you from the outset. We will never make false promises that we know we cannot fulfill. We may, with you permission, outsource the work elsewhere or recommend an alternative designer to you but we will never frustrate clients by agreeing to the impossible.
07. West5web will hold you hand throughout the design and build process and beyond:
We will keep clients updated on progress throughout the various stages of building a website. Until the website is finalised, nothing is set in stone. We will liaise with you regularly either by visiting your premises or by phone or email. Designing and building a website is most definitely a "moving feast" and if it takes several attempts before you are happy with the overall feel and design of the site, then so be it.
Even once your site is completed, west5web will always be at the end of the phone to help with any issues that may arise. You may want the site upgraded or updated from time to time or minor amendments made. West5web will be there for you.
Content Managed Websites
Take control of your own website content with our content management driven websites ... manage and update your website like an expert, without the technical knowledge ...
So what do we mean by content management systems (CMS)?
In website terms, it means having a website that can be edited and have the content changed easily by users with no programming skills. Our website content management systems take the work out of managing your web site!
A content management system is software that keeps track of every piece of content on your web site, much like your local public library keeps track of books and stores them. Content can be simple text, photos, music, video, documents, or just about anything you can think of. A major advantage of using a CMS is that it requires almost no technical skill or knowledge to manage. Since the CMS manages all your content, you don't have to.
Advantages of using a content management system:
- help you create a website that is easy to update with almost no technical knowledge.
- add, remove and change content via an online administration area - access your admin area anywhere there is internet access.
- add additional functionality in a matter of minutes - forums, galleries, comment systems, e-commerce solutions, video ... the list of CMS plugins is virtually endless.
- change the style / template of the entire site from one central point.
- easily set differing administrative levels for different employees within your business.
- saves money by not having to employ a website design company to update your web pages for you.
Will a content managed system cost you more?:
Yes, but only slightly. That's because although the software is free to use, we have to install it at your chosen domain and make sure that the software is always kept up to date. This is important as new releases often contain security fixes. Outdated software can leave your site vulnerable to hacks so it's important to keep things up-to-date. So, although you pay a bit more to set a CMS website up, the advantage lies in saving you money in the future. Changes to the design and layout of the website can be completed much more quickly and efficiently and managing the content yourself saves on expensive maintenance costs.What content management system do we use?:
We use Joomla!, a powerful yet easy to use open source content management system for building and managing websites.It is one of the most popular and widely used website software available. Joomla is open source software that is developed by peer-based collaboration and generally released as open-source software. Open source software is free from licensing fees associated with commercial software which means we don't have to pass on any CMS development costs to our clients, something many other companies do who offer their own bespoke CMS platforms.
We can also create your site using WordPress if you prefer.
If you would like to experience Joomla, you can do so by accessing their demo page by clicking here.
