As a Web site development company, it’s our job to keep on top of the latest trends and determine what is worth passing on to our clients, or what may be simply a fad. Advances in technology have increased the color palette, made it easier to incorporate flash effects, and made links and buttons more appealing to use. Below, we’ll discuss some of the more worthwhile trends.

Site Margins
Seven to 10 years ago, Web sites were flush left in the browser window. About five years ago, the trend moved sites to the center. Now, we’re seeing more and more Web sites that take up the entire average-sized browser window. Called fluid design, in some cases these sites even scale up or down to the size of the window automatically.

If your site is still justified all the way to the left, you should at least move it to center. Better yet, consider creating a fluid design so that it fits the full size of the browser window.

Background images have also become quite popular. Some images are tiled, or repeated, throughout the entire background. Other sites have a single, large image in the background; many are so subtle, that at first glance you hardly notice them, but they can lend depth to an ordinarily simple Web site design.

Flash
Flash is definitely one of the hottest trends to-date. Advances in technology have made the use of flash more commonplace, as it’s now easier to create and experience. Designers are adding more videos, animation, and interactive components than ever before. Flash can make a simple site seem more dynamic, and add complexity to what may have previously seemed mundane.

Before (HTML)

 After  (Flash and HTML)

Rollover Effects
Rollover is a visual effect that, when a user’s mouse moves over an image, will switch between the original image and another. Created either in flash or HTML, rollover effects are used as links, images or buttons. There are a few types of rollover effects commonly used (which we won’t go into great detail about here), but the use of rollover can create animation-like effects that will focus a user’s attention and grant a more interactive experience.

Links and Buttons
Links to other sites, or other sections within the same site, were once underlined blue text. These dark blue, often bolded font, text links riddled sites as an unsightly distraction. Today, the trend is to change those unattractive links into photo images or illustrated graphics.

Buttons are also another big trend for linking users to one page from another. With the use of gradient color and highlighting effects, these buttons can look three-dimensional — almost as if your mouse could physically depress an actual button.

All of these trends can be easily incorporated into an existing site. If you like the look and functionality of your site, but want your site to stay current, call Curvine Web Solutions today. We can easily assist you in incorporating a few of the above trends to keep your site looking fresh and up-to-date.

Ever wonder if your Web site is cutting-edge or outdated? We at Curvine Web Solutions still see design trends that should have fallen by the wayside years ago. For customers who frequently shop online, these outdated trends may signal a company out of touch, apathetic, and unprofesstional. Below, are just a few such things to be aware of.
 
A “welcome” message on your homepage is the good way to turn away customers. The standard rule is this: if visitors can’t tell what your site is selling, it’s time to redesign the Web site. The site design – including the main body content and images – should sell the story of your business all on in one glance.
 
The next feature we’ll discuss is scrolling text. Since people tend to associate this feature with news broadcasts, it isn’t usually a good idea to incorporate this into your design. Unless your industry is fast-changing and news-worthy, using this feature probably won’t enhance the overall design and functionality of your site.

 
Those flashing, color-changing, bolded words in the middle of a site’s main body text are distracting at best. But, in reality it brings to mind walking onto a used car lot where there are huge, garish signs everywhere encouraging you to buy now or pay for it later. If you have to resort to such matters, then the service you’re selling probably isn’t worth the money – or at least, that’s the impression visitors will get.
 
Speaking of visitors, it’s also a good idea not to include visitor counters on your site. Although we usually see these on personal Web sites rather than business sites, we thought it worthy of mention. Publicly-viewed visitor counters are unprofessional, and frankly, useless. There are far better ways to keep track of that information; if you really want to know how many people are visiting your site, use a site analytics program. Google’s program is free and gives a lot more helpful information that just how many people have clicked on your homepage. (Check out our February 2008 issue for more information.)
 
If your site contains any of the above design faux pas, you may wish to consider disposing of them. Sometimes just a few simple changes, or even deletions, to a Web site can make your design look fresh and new. If you need some assistance in sprucing up your site, contact Curvine Web Solutions today.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what are the images on your Web site saying about your business? We’ve all seen Web sites with grainy pictures, or images that aren’t the best representation of what a particular business does. Here are a couple of tips to help you in finding the right images for your business.
 
Pictures should be of the highest quality – clear, high-resolution, professional-looking images are crucial. Of course we know that beautiful images come at a price. Can you afford it? Don’t sell yourself short! You can find high-quality generic photos from a stock photography business for far less money than it would take to hire a professional. For images that are unique to your business, however – your building and its offices or your staff, for instance – hire a local photographer. Keep in mind that one photographer rarely does it all. If you need pictures of your staff, find someone who specializes in portraits; for your building and offices, hire a photographer who likes to do architectural photographs. And, don’t be afraid to barter – some photographers are willing to trade services with their local businesses. By utilizing a combination of generic and specific photographs, you’ll save money in the long run. 

 
But, how do you know what images you’ll need? Don’t: choose the images and graphics you think you need, and then attempt to figure out where they go on the site, or create a site around the images. Do: craft your Web site copy first, and then find images that illustrate your message.
 
Curvine Web Solutions is adept at recommending which pictures to use on your site, in just the right place. If you’re looking to spruce up your existing site with fresh and innovative images, or perhaps wondering where to begin for a brand new site, give us a call. We’ll help you find the right pictures to tell your story.