Category: Web Tips

5 Ways to Overcome Creative Blocks | Web Design

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We all hit creative blocks once in a while, its completely normal. Even the most creative people hit a stand still now and then. And as agitating as creative blocks are, they are unfortunately a part of the creative process. When you find yourself hitting a creative block, rather than taking a break assuming a spark a brilliance will appear out of thin air, try rebooting your creative thinking. The following tips are here to help get those creative juices of yours flowing again:

  • Seek Input- When you feel stuck with your design or a certain idea, try asking for others their opinions. Even if you don’t use your friends or coworkers suggestions, it may spark a new way of thinking, helping you look at your work from a different perspective.
  • Exercise or Take a Walk- There have been studies that have shown that regular exercise enhances creativity. If you’re not fond of exercising, even the act of taking a walk can help boost creativity. No matter what sort of exercise you choose it allows for you to access fresh ideas from your subconscious.
  • Write or Sketch by Hand- Hitting a creative block doesn’t mean you’ve stopped being creative. Your mind is constantly running, from the moment you wake up, to the moment you fall asleep. It’s just a matter of capturing that great idea. Try keeping a journal on you at all times and write or sketch whatever is on your mind.
  • Listen to Music- It’s been proven that music helps boost creativity. No, and not only Mozart. You must listen to music you like, it will put you in what is called “mind-wandering mode”. Mind-wondering is an excellent way of capturing new ideas. Matching music to your mood at the moment is key.
  • Rearrange Your Workspace- If your office or workspace is not helpful to your creativity, it may be time to rearrange your surroundings so they stimulate and motivate you to be more productive. Changing up your workspace could be as simple as decorating with new photos, artwork, plants or even favorite quotes. Add anything that inspires you.

Remember we all hit creative blocks, but that doesn’t mean our creativity has ceased to exist. It just means that’s we need to take step back and take a look at our work from a different perspective to ignite fresh ideas. Don’t be afraid to try new things to help refresh your creative visions.

For information regarding web design, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com to learn more about our services.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Anaheim, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and all surrounding areas.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid in Web Design | Web Design

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It takes more than an extravagant web design to make your website a success. You must also take usability into consideration, as your site is built for your visitors and not yourself. Even some of the most experienced designers make some of these common mistakes, but learning from your mistakes is vital to your long-term success. The following includes 7 of the most common mistakes web developers and web designer’s make:

No Consistency- When it comes to designing multiple pages for a website, it’s best to keep it simple. For example, visitors expect to see the same colors, fonts, logos, and navigation tabs on every page of a website. If your page design is inconsistent you visitor may become confused and wonder if their on the same website.

Confusing Navigation- I’m sure we’ve all had the experience of clicking onto a webpage and being immediately confused by the layout and navigation. Your visitors want to explore your website at ease, and when your websites navigation is too discreet or completely hidden visitors are likely to get frustrated. It’s best to remember the three-click rule; all of your important content should be accessible within no more than three clicks from your homepage.

Irrelevant/Outdated Content- Think less is more when it comes to your websites content. Making sure your websites content is up to date should be a part of your regular website maintenance. When you leave outdated content on your website it looks unprofessional. Say your last blog was posted in 2011, this may make visitors think your site has been abandoned and therefore they won’t return.

Poor Readability and Legibility- Visitors come to your website in search of information, so making sure they can read it is extremely vital. Make sure to use easy to read color schemes because using the wrong color combination can make reading more difficult for your visitors. Also, limit yourself to no more than three different fonts and font sizes.

Non-Responsive Design- In this day and age most web browsing is done on mobile devices, yet some web designers still don’t take this into consideration when designing websites. Your website should be mobile friendly to enhance its usability. Visitors don’t want to have to zoom in on their mobile devices just to make out the content on your website.

When it comes to web design and its usability, it’s best to think from your visitor’s point of view. So make sure to steer clear of the common web design mistakes mentioned above. For more information regarding web design, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Anaheim, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and all surrounding areas.

What Makes a Great Homepage? | Custom Web Design Corona, CA

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Most of us judge a book by its cover, and it’s no different when visiting your homepage. Your homepage is essentially the first impression your visitors get of your business, and you want to make a great first impression, right? There are many aspects that make a great homepage, and it usually comes down to the basics. Read on to learn what it takes to take your homepage from drab to fab.

  • Clear Answers- When someone lands on your page it’s generally because they are seeking something of interest or because they’re looking for some sort of assistance. Your homepage must provide clears answers such as, who you are, what you do, and what you can do for them (the visitor) so your visitor knows they’re in the correct place. Most people often scan a page for bulleted items and short paragraphs.
  • Clean Design- You may think you have the best design out there with all of those flashy photos and music, but in all reality this is probably just slowing your page down and distracting your visitor from getting the information they are seeking. Make sure to effectively utilize white space, color scheme, and font appropriately.
  • Periodic Changes- When a website updates its services or products it can draw visitors back. Some of the best homepages are constantly changing by reflecting on the visitor’s needs, wants or questions.
  • Value- You want to entice your visitors to stick around. Provide them with value and share what makes your business different from your competitors. Make sure to use original content and credible information to set yourself apart.
  • Call to Action- If you want to encourage your visitor to “dig a little deeper” you must incorporate a CTA (call-to-action). Your CTA should lead your visitors to take the next logical step. For example; “Learn More,” “Free Trial,” or “Buy Now” You may need to have a secondary CTA or try different CTA placements.

For more information regarding custom web design, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and all surrounding areas.

 

4 Ways to Make Your Website Stand Out | Web Design Corona, CA

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We all want our websites to stand out among our competition, we don’t want our website to simply blend in with the rest. If you are ultimately following your competition you’ll always be step behind in design. Fortunately, there are a few simple changes you can make to transform your entire website from drab to fab! These flowing tips can help create a stunning, memorable website:

  • Simple to Understand- People don’t typically read websites- they quickly skim them. Make sure the content is easy to understand so that your visitors will be able to find what they’re looking for in a timely manner.
  • Large Images- By using large images you are able to capture your visitor’s attention instantly. Use full screen images with little text (ideally 2-3 words). The type of image you choose is just as important as the images resolution. Make sure it’s interesting, relates to your company and is also beautiful.
  • Typography- Using large fonts is a growing trend that doesn’t seem to be fading anytime soon. The objective of using larger font is so your visitors don’t have to read as much, while still getting your message across to them. The idea is to focus on your message and but down the words to display them in a big beautiful font.
  • Responsive Design- Now that most searches are done mobile devices it’s extremely important to make sure that your website can convert to any size screen. A responsive site adapts to the screen of any device your visitors may be using, which will make for a much for user friendly experience.

Establishing a stunning, memorable website is no easy task but with a determination and creativity you can achieve it! Don’t go on being in the shadow of your competition, get a little risky with your design.

If you’re ready for the website of your dreams, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com for more information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, and all surrounding areas.

3 Reasons to Redesign Your Website | Web Design Corona, CA

Web design trends are changing every single day and they’re changing quickly, so it’s extremely important for your website to stay current and up to date with all of the changes going on in the world of web design. In this day of age your website is the face of your business and most of the time it’s your visitor’s first impression of you as well. From a bias opinion you might think your website is spectacular which will make it tough knowing when it’s time for a redesign. It’s important to keep in mind that redesigning your website could only require a few changes to produce the results you’re expecting.

The following are a few reasons your company may be in need of a redesign:

  • Brand Has Changed- If your businesses services, products, or purpose have changed over the years, so should your branding. You site should reflect what your business offers whether you’ve increased or reduced what you’re offering. Don’t let your website mislead a potential customer.
  • Outdated Website- Like I mentioned above, your website is your visitor’s first impression of your business. There has been research that has shown that it only takes about 8 seconds for a person to judge your site, and if you have a terrible and unsightly design I guarantee visitors won’t be returning.
  • Not Mobile Friendly- Now that mobile devices have become increasing popular for everyday use to browse the internet, it’s extremely important that you either have a responsive or separate mobile site. It’s almost impossible to make a website compatible across all devices, but if you have no compatibility it will be a large disadvantage.

For more information regarding website design, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino Ontario, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, and all surrounding areas.

Does Your Website Make a Good First Impression? | Web Design Corona, CA

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When a visitor lands on your websites home page are they immediately impressed or thrown off by your content? Is your visitor able to determine what it is you do, and what you can offer them? If your home page is poorly designed with crazy colors, confusing text or is completely bombarded by music and/or video I guarantee it will not be making a very great first impression. You want to provide your visitor with a seamless and user friendly experience if you want them to think about returning to your website. The following points provide you with a few simple ways to make sure your website is making a great first impression:

  • Provide Clear Answers- When a visitor lands on your homepage they are usually in search of product, seeking information or looking for some sort of assistance. Your homepage must be able to clearly identify who you are and what you do to assure your visitors they are on the right webpage. People often scan for short paragraphs and bulleted items so try incorporating that into your site.
  • Provide Simple Navigation- Simple navigation is key, no one likes to get lost or confused when entering a website. Make sure your navigation bar is visible and easy to locate so your visitors are able to explore your page at ease.
  • Provide Value- Make sure to point out why your company is different and unique from your competitors, while making it simple to read and understand. Try incorporating original and credible content such as testimonials from happy customers or clients.
  • Provide Clean Design- You may think that if your page is full of flashy photos, video or music it will attract more visitors, but the fact is this sort of content actually drives most visitors away. Not only is this a distraction to your visitors but it also can slow down you’re a websites loading time. Make sure to effectively utilize white space, colors and fonts appropriately.
  • Provide Occasional Changes- When a website remains entirely the same visitors will have no real reason to return to your website. You want to make sure to provide periodic updates to create evergreen content. In simpler terms, stay current.

Keep in mind that first impressions last a lifetime, so if you want people to continue to visit your website you must make that first impression count.

For more information regarding web design, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton, and all surrounding areas.

6 Simple Steps to Capture Your Visitors Attention | Web Design Corona, CA

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Studies have shown that your average visitor will stay on your website for approximately eight seconds or less. Yup, only eight seconds. With the fast pace speed of the internet these days most people have evolved to judge a website within those 8 seconds. You know what that means right? You must be able to capture your visitor’s attention before they click that back button.

You want your visitors to understand what your website and company are about within a fraction of a minute. These next few tips will help you capture your visitor’s attention, and ultimately keep them on your website.

  • Keep it Quick- You want to grab your visitor’s attention as soon as they click onto your site, make sure to illustrate exactly what you want your visitor to know in a short informative paragraph. Try to come up with a catchy and effective about your company or the products to help draw your visitor in and to make them stick around. If there is something you want your visitor to check out, make sure to place it at the top of the page.
  • Quick Loading Time- To captures ones attention in less than eight seconds means your website must load in less than that time. When a website loads slowly it’s a big turn off to potential visitors. If you are worried about load time, try resizing pictures you may have on your site. GIFs can also slow a website down, so try minimizing them to quick files that don’t take up much space. Make sure you also have a reliable host.
  • Make it Attractive- If you have a webpage that isn’t visually pleasing most people won’t stick around for long. Landing pages are actually great to capture attention since it’s just one page to display your idea or product. If you do choose to have a landing page make sure it matches the rest of your website so you don’t confuse your visitors.
  • Easy Read- When it comes to reading sites most people prefer to read a short amount of text rather than a huge paragraph. If you do have a lot to say then try eye-catching headlines that lead to longer articles where they can read more if they like. Also, try bullet points on your front page to make points, like what you and your business value most.
  • Safety and Statistics- People like to feel secure about your company or what they want to purchase, so be sure to provide your visitors with statistics. Not the boring, plain and simple kind. Try colorful charts, percentages, or things that make them feel safe. You can also use testimonials, customer reviews and security logos to help make them feel better about your business and website.
  • Mobile and Tablet Friendly- Make sure to optimize your site so that it will be compatible with a mobile device or tablet is an incredibly smart decision. Now that most internet browsing is done on mobile devices or tablets it is very important for your site to load quickly and reliably.

If you’re ready for website to start capturing more attention, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit our website www.jellywebsites.com for more information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and all surrounding areas.

 

5 Tired Web Design Trends | Custom Web Design

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Web design trends, like any other trends, are constantly changing. We all know that most every trend has a shelf life, so you must be prepared when it’s time to adapt to the latest up and coming web design trends. It typically only take a visitor 10-20 seconds before they make up their mind about your website, and if your visitor isn’t impressed by your site, they’ll most likely be clicking that back button pretty quick. If your website includes any of the following five tired web design trends, you’re definitely going to be in need a redesign, and quick.

  • Loading Screens- Okay, come on we aren’t in the late nineties, loading pages take me back to the dial-up days. No visitor wants to wait around for 15 seconds watching a loading screen just to get to the content they would like to view. If you have a loading screen, it’s not that you have a terrible design, it’s just too much on the heavy side of design. Most visitors expect a website to load within 2 seconds.
  • Auto-Play Video/Music- When I personally enter a website and I’m immediately bombarded by music or video, I typically leave that site as quick as possible. Not only is this an annoyance to visitors, it’s a distraction and doesn’t give your visitors the option to watch or listen on their own. If you do have some sort of audio or video on your website, give your visitors the freedom to listen or watch on their own time.
  • Bothersome Pop-Ups- Pop-ups that engage you to take a certain action or to subscribe to a blog, aren’t bad marketing tactics, as long as those pop-ups aren’t diverting you visitors attention elsewhere. If your website does include pop-ups, make sure the message pops up at an appropriate time, and also make sure it’s easy for visitors to opt out of.
  • Flash Sites- Flash is now a trend of the past, or at least it should be. Even though the animations help enhance the look of the website, most devices can’t read Flash. For example, Apple products such as the very popular iPad and iPhone are not able to read Flash sites. So if your website is incorporating Flash, it’s time to redesign.
  • Stock Photos- Be very choosey when it comes to picking stock photography for your website, because many stock photos look either lifeless or completely staged. You definitely need to use a critical eye when choosing stock photography. The photos you choose for your website can either make it, or break it.

If you are incorporating any of these tired trends into website, then your website in definitely in need of an update, and fast! Call Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 if you’re interested in website redesign, or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com for more information regarding the additional services we offer.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Anaheim, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and all surrounding areas.

5 Reasons Why Your Visitors are Leaving Your Website | Web Design Corona, CA

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Are you having trouble keeping visitors on your website? Well, attracting visitors to your website is one thing, but getting your visitors to stick around is another. You don’t only want visitors to take a look at your website and leave, you want your visitors to stick around and take a certain action. If you’ve noticed that your visitors are clicking that “back button” quite often, then maybe it’s time you realize there may be a problem with your website.  The follow list includes five reasons why your visitors may be leaving your website:

Bad First Impression- Remember, your homepage is essentially the face of your business to the online world, and your homepage will be the first thing that your visitors will see. You want to make a positive impression to your visitors. If your design is outdated it’ll make your visitor feel a little uneasy about your website, and it usually only takes a visitor a few seconds to make judgement. So make sure your home page is attractive, provides useful information, and of course has eye pleasing graphics.

Poor Navigation- I guarantee we have all had the experience of clicking onto a webpage and becoming immediately confused by the layout and all of the navigation options.  Poor site navigation is one of the main reasons visitors leave a website. You’re websites navigation should be simple and organized.

Overwhelming Visitors with Pop-Ups- Your website is a way for you to generate leads, but that doesn’t mean you want to bombard you visitors with pop-ups asking for their information right when they enter your website. That sort of tacit will aggravate your visitors, resulting in them leaving your site. When a message pops up it should be at an appropriate time, and should have the option the easily exit.

Auto-Play Videos- No one likes to be bombard by music or video when they enter a website. Having auto-play music or videos can be quite annoying and may even cause your visitors to leave your site. If you do have a video on your site, give your visitors the freedom to press play and watch it on their own time.

Content is Difficult to Read- Design isn’t all about color, images and graphic, it’s also about the fonts you choose to use, as well as the color of the text and background. The font, text color and background will affect how well your visitors will be able to read and retain the content on your website.

Think from a visitor’s point of view, if they were to click onto your website, would they want to click through or hit that back button? If you’re thinking they would be clicking the back button pretty fast, then it’s time for you to redesign your website. You don’t want visitors to be leaving right away, you want to engage their attention.

For more information regarding web design, contact Jelly Websites in Corona, CA at 951-371-9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for more information.

Proudly serving Corona, Riverside, Chino, Ontario, Anaheim, Irvine, Tustin, Yorba Linda, Fullerton and all surrounding areas.