Add PHP Today: Header and Footer

Feb, 22, 2012

Posted by Peter Burgin
4 Comments

Even if you aren’t using a content management system, you can still add some of the benefits of PHP to your site today. This will take you through some tips and tricks to make your site cooler and easier to use and manage just by adding a few simple lines of code.

Today we’ll be taking a look at the headers and footers. In these, content is the same throughout the site and having consistency, especially in the navigation bar, can be critical for the user to fully experience the site.  When you are adding or changing pages, it can be a hassle to go through and change all the separate HTML files.  PHP can help.

To start, you will need to change all of your .html files to .php. This can be done simply by opening them in a text editor and saving as the new file extension.

Next, you will have to locate where the duplication occurs.  For SEO purposes, you may not want to have the <title> </title> the same throughout the site, so for the purpose of this how-to, I’d recommend locating your <body> tag and copying from right below to the end of your navigation bar–depending on your site’s design.  Open a new file in your text editor and paste the code there. Save as header.php.

Do the same thing for your footer. Generally you can copy from the beginning of the footer code to the </html> tag.  Copy into a new file and save as footer.php.

For the rest of your site files, you will need to go through and replace the areas you copied with php code.   The PHP function ‘include’ will add the file’s content prior to hitting the browser, so it will appear just like your normal HTML file. Just make sure that you remember to upload the header and footer files, or else the page will appear without these areas.

For the header area:

<?php  include ‘header.php’;?>

For the footer area:

<?php  include ‘footer.php’;?>

Now if you need to change your header or footer content, you will only need to modify one file, rather than going through each individual .html file, which can be time consuming to say the least.

This is just one way PHP can make your site better. Stay tuned for more!

 

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Posted in Web Development by Peter Burgin | 4 Comments

Write It Like You Live It!

Feb, 21, 2012

Posted by ybarber
3 Comments

A content writer or business blogger (whether plume or keyboard, or in my case, both) takes on the identity of his/her subject as though they are vicariously living as the CEO or decision maker for that business entity.  It is in this forum where jack of all trades requires that you master, at least on some level, all & not none.  A good content writer or blogger assumes the identity of employee/employer and advocate for that business.

Taking on a client who is part of an industry in which you’ve never been employed can seem overwhelming or to some impossible.  Do you take that client on and fluff your credentials as though you have had a million clients in that same industry…a been there done that so of course you should hire me attitude?  Or do you let them know how darn good you are at research and how becoming a student rather than a “know it all” behooves them and your craft?  Because any good content writer will tell you it’s about RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH …and yet more RESEARCH.  That includes your company client, their area of expertise, their competition and what’s not being said/done/reflected in their own and competitors marketing identity.   You have to write it like you live it, in it…their world, their conference rooms and marketing strategy meetings.

Recently I took on a client in a very interesting and technical industry.  And I certainly can admit some hesitation and anxiety prior to the pitch.  It was seemingly too technical for a person who spent a good deal of my career in a very white collar legal environment.  But I soon realized that this is what it’s all about.  What content writers do-we morph.  And through many hours of research and allowing my brain to think outside its confines and experience, I soon became intrigued and began to write in such a manner that impressed me (really it did) and my client.  This is what allows you to write from a position of “seeming” expertise and authority rather than obvious novice.

So stay encouraged my fellow content writers and bloggers- embrace what you don’t know, learn what you need to and then write like you live it.

Posted in All Posts by ybarber | 3 Comments

Blogging: Why Your Small Business Needs It

Feb, 20, 2012

Posted by Design Theory
2 Comments

Business WritingOur last 4 prospective client requests for websites all had questions about blogs. I personally was pleased because there seems to be a growing conscientious to how effective blogging is to not only your site’s SEO but to your business’s brand. There’s a few things I want to talk about like transparency, effectiveness, analytics, and search engine optimization. Now I know there are many blog platforms out there, but for me a self hosted WordPress site offers so many options and features and the learning curve is fantastic to pick up and go.

The Reach: Taking some time out each week to write a post or two can really help drive some numbers to your website. Mainly because WordPress and search engines get along really well, but also because blogging creates fresh new content on your website where a traditional website may only see new content once a quarter. Even what could be seen as a low-interest website like stamp collecting could achieve visits by the thousands each week based on what they talk about and how. Never limit your business products or services to just what you think may be a small target audience. This is the internet we’re talking about here, millions of people are on throughout the day and night. There’s bound to be hundreds of thousands who share your views and can appreciate your opinions and opposition to a subject matter.

Engage, Engage, Engage: Consider other blogger’s and sites that talk about what you do and comment on their posts. Not so much to try to drive away readers, but to bring up valid points that may have been missed, or a little bit of controversy. We all like drama, and some of the hottest posts aren’t in the original article but in the comments where readers go back and forth trying to one up each other or drive home a point. You’d also be surprised at all the places you post, and who may want to view your blog entries to see if you know what you yourself are talking about.

Crowd-sourcing and Feedback: Without full-out asking for it, blogging can be a way to get great customer feedback. Consider a competitor of yours recently launched a new product. At first it seems like a great idea and may be a great product to those that need it. But what if it has a major flaw or is missing something vital that one of your products has and your clients appreciate much more than your competitors? Well after writing a post about it comparing the two products, you can see how your visitor weigh in with their comments. Of course your post won’t be written in a way to seem like your bashing. We’re not trying to be e-thugs, but a tasteful comparison could lead to better R&D for your brand, even when there isn’t competition.

Search Engines: I wonder when we’ll stop calling them search engines and just refer to Google instead. Google’s algorithms are still quite unknown, but what is known is how well an unknown website can pop-up as a number 1 or 3 organic result for a subject matter. Regardless of what the site looks like, and more so on how relevant the content is to the string of keywords used in a user’s search. With a static HTML site, you’d have to embed keywords, a page description, and some meta-tags to your page’s code. Not to mention the on-page keyword usage and image ALT tags you’d have to remember to include. With WordPress all of that is mostly taken into consideration. When adding an image to a post you easily have the options to put captions and alternate text messages for your images and graphics. You have a categories and tags box to check off and type in your keywords and associated post categories. It all really makes for an effortless optimization.

Overall Effectiveness: If you’re a small business who thinks that no one out there is interested in reading about what you have to say, let me tell you that you’re wrong. Even for the stamp collector, there is plenty to say that people are looking for. Imagine if you were the only blog out there talking about the history of some stamps, or hidden facts about some designs for stamps, or maybe even ways to save money on postage that most people wouldn’t know. I’m not a stamp collector but show me how to save money on postage and I’ll be all over it, and share it with my friends who may share it with their friends. One because its easy to read and share both on computers and mobile devices, and Two because it offers an audience I normally wouldn’t be able to reach on my own through traditional marketing. When I first started blogging late last year, I posted once a month (maybe) and I had traffic to my blog at about 25-50 people a month. Now I have a team of 2 other (3 soon) bloggers and we each post a different subject article once a week. In the past 30 days we’ve had almost 1500 visits (Google Analytics).

I hope that this clears some uncertainty on why you should get blogging NOW! For those of you that already do, add your pointers in the comments below. We can all learn something to be more effective!

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Posted in All Posts, Marketing by Design Theory | 2 Comments

Trouble landing clients?

Feb, 16, 2012

Posted by Daphne Lenti
No Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that the lovey-dovey mood, which Valentine’s Day brings has come and went, I start wondering what can I do to catch the wanted client who is still passing me by.  Do you ever wonder what makes a client choose one designer over another? There are some big lies out there on how to get a client, but there are some exciting facts that show what clients really want from a designer.

“Repetition does not transform a lie into a truth”.  FDR

Lies, myths and false statements

It’s important to understand a few myths we as designers have come to believe about being hired by a client.

Clients only want experience

Designers (especially recently graduated) think they don’t have a chance to be hired by a client because they have no real experience. Don’t let this lie stop you from finding great clients who are looking for a young, fresh approach to their design process.

A lot of clients would prefer to hire someone they feel has a lot to learn, rather than, someone who is set in their stubborn ways.

Clients hire designers who have a great portfolio

Similar to the first lie, a lot of naive designers think that unless they have a vast portfolio, no client is  going to hire them.

In fact, it’s the opposite.  Choose a few really strong projects, highlight them effectively in a portfolio, and show them off with pride. If you do this right, a smart client will hire you.

Clients only hire cheap designers

Most designers feel like they have to have the best bargain in order for clients to hire them.  The truth is, most clients are willing to pay a little more for quality designs.  Most clients are also willing to pay more money for a designer who is easy and enjoyable to work with.

Find ways to add quality to your client/designer relationship and you won’t have to lower your prices in order to get hired.

All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. Galileo Galilei

Facts, truths and real statements

 Clients hire responsible and easy to work with designers

Clients are usually more interested in the working relationship they will have with you than almost anything else.  If they can’t work with you, if you won’t listen to them, or if you’re rude, they won’t care how great your designs look; you’ll never get hired.

Make sure you present yourself as a responsible and agreeable person, that way you’ll be more likely to get hired.

Clients wants designers who are respectful

You can have your own opinion, but when you intentionally insult, degrade, or talk down to your clients, you’ll quickly have a one-way ticket to unemployment.

Clients look for designers who respect their opinions. Be respectful.

Clients look for designers with the skills needed to complete their project well

You may not be the best designer in the world,  but your potential clients may not be looking for that.  They are looking for someone who possesses the skills necessary to complete the job well and on time.

That doesn’t just include design skills or a fancy portfolio either. They are looking for someone with a good work ethic, a personable attitude, great project management skills, and superb people skills.

These are some lies and facts of what clients want from a designer.  What are some other pointers that will guide us to reach more clients, effectively?

What other tips and pointers would you add to this list? If you were a client, what would you look for in a designer?

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Posted in All Posts, Graphic Design by Daphne Lenti | No Comments

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