Web 2.0 Web Design Toronto

Just what is exactly Web 2.0? The term was first phrased in 1999 by Darcy DiNucci (Source – Wikipedia) where the internet and how it interacts with the user will be through many mediums, computers, TV sets, cell phones, console game systems and so forth. This was in 1999 and a lot of the operability of the internet on the aforementioned devices either did not exist or were in their infancy in development.

Over the years the term Web 2.0 was mentioned at media conferences or seminars and the definitions have become blurred based on differences of opinion by bloggers and journalists.

However, a breakdown of typical features of Web 2.0 designed websites has even been broken down into an acronym called SLATES.

Search- the ability to search or effect an search query function that interacts with the website

Links – not only traditional links to outside resources, but internal links to information that are related to the current content you may be reading

Authorship – the ability to publish content such as a blog or a wiki

Tags – the organization of the information into a meaningful reference for quicker search ability and collaboration

Extensions – the use of relevant date or activity to guide or initiate other activities

Signalling – alerts on change of content or areas of interest

Other aspects that make part of the Web 2.0 experience is Social interactivity. The belief is that if your products and services are worthy of commentary there is a good chance of viral marketing to occur where the users act as the advertising medium.

Simplified user experiences that are focused and targeted to the user you are reaching out to. It is more about the user, and less about you as the company. It’s focusing on the problems or challenges a user (customer) may be experiencing. You have identified their issue or problem and you are presenting solutions and then a quick way (call to action) to get the products, services, or help they need.

Web 2.0 Web Design Toronto

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

When you or a business are looking for website design companies in Toronto it is easy to just look at the only the design factor of the website without not putting a lot of thought into what type of business or customer you are looking to appeal to or target.

A cool looking website is often just that, a cool looking website. Lots of “stuff� happening potentially like Flash integration, maybe some music, cool mouse over effects that maybe even execute more cool sounds.

Meanwhile you are trying or thought you were marketing your business and all those cool distractions have probably swayed the business or customer to look elsewhere.

How did this happen? Well, a combination of a web design company that has gone into “let me take your pizza order� mode and a client who unless they are a web designer and have a portfolio to show for; has turned into a web designer.

While there is nothing wrong with web design input from a client; it can often lead to the recreation of something they may already have that was not working out. The appeal of the website design is focused on the likes/dislikes of an individual and not based on user interface, usability, and web design concepts that should appeal to a greater audience.

There should be stated goals or expectations of the website design and overall strategy of the website, from brand, the structure of the navigation, the content which includes marketing focus points and design to name a few things to consider in overall website design.

It is very crucial that businesses look at the website almost from the perspective of the outside looking in; and think potentially like a customer or a client they wish to appeal to. That kind of perspective separates the habit of personal “wants� within the website design and focuses on the “needs� or “goals�.

Here are some basic questions as a business to consider regarding online goals or expected achievements that can be discussed with your website design and development company.

• Which services, products or business verticals contribute positively to your bottom line?
• Is there other services, products or business verticals you have an expertise in or supply that you want to capitalize on?
• What is your market area? Are you local, national or global.
• Your online goals, what are they?
• What is your plan to deal with the calls to action, such as phone calls, inquiry forms, contact us forms, or emails?
• Do you have an SEO, Search Engine Optimization strategy?

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

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Hello readers and welcome back to the Silentblast Toronto Web Design News Blog. Today we are going to talk about your website. In particular, is it time for a new website design.

The vast majority of Silentblast Interactive’ clientele is from businesses that had some form of previous website presence. A lot of our clientele had web design and development done on average 5-6 years ago before seeking a new web design and re-thinking their business strategy on the internet.

A lot of our clientele’s websites were not getting the web traffic they were expecting and often there are many reasons for that and it always doesn’t point to design but from a design perspective if the site is not user friendly and functional, your previous visitors will not return.

So what are the some the indicators that you may be in need of a new web design?

Logo and Branding

If your logo and branding has changed; a new web design to promote your current logo and brand is a given. Don’t just slap up your new logo on the website. If the logo and branding follows a theme the entire website should follow suit.

Service Verticals and Products

Your service verticals or product offerings have changed. If your website has not been updated without some form of news; the chances are that little has changed on your website. You are also not contributing to your own success on the internet when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines such as Google like content and if you don’t add regular content; your ranking can suffer.

Information Overload

Content on your website needs to be organized in a way that makes sense. All too often we have had clients come to us that have an impression that if the entire content of their website is not on the homepage; users won’t find it. Actually, if you jam your home page with too much information users will not find the information they are looking for because you have over-whelmed them right from the start; and not in a good way.

The Do It Yourselfer

It is really awesome that you personally like your website with the midi music (probably Mission Impossible theme); twinkling stars, and flowing flags that are animated gifs. I think at one time or another if we go back in time; everyone had a GeoCities account; where you could make a website for free.

Times have changed. The midi music in the background, twinkling stars and flowing animated flag gifs are gone… well, not entirely, but gone from a web design perspective. If you are in a business that has a brick and mortar presence, when a customer walks through the doors does a song play when they come in? If so, is it the same song, all the time? That would get annoying.

Social Media Interaction

If your web design was done 5-6 years ago, the chances of some form of social media interaction such as a blog, Facebook; Twitter or Linkedin type exposure on your website are probably not there. All are modern methods of promoting your business and marketing efforts.

Cross Browser Compatibility

If your website was designed 5-6 years ago, there is a good chance that your website has not been coded or optimized for the current choice of browsers such as IE 7 and 8, Firefox and Chrome.

Search Engine Optimization

The possibility that your website if designed 5-6 years ago; is probably not optimized for the search engines. Users searching for information or businesses in particular search more localized to a given geographical area such as specific cities or regions. If your website has not been optimized for SEO with content that speaks to finding the average user who wants and needs your services; then your website will have little success in attracting visitors.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

As web developers and designers in Toronto one of the issues we face with some clients is in the area of display resolutions. There are some misconceptions as to the trends and this is often based upon a client knowing someone or themselves for that matter who has not followed the trend that the vast majority of computer users are moving towards or in fact a business that continue to use monitors that may suit their specific needs.

The truth is you will not satisfy every potential visitor to your website. With browsers and add-ons to browsers the viewing real-estate for a website can be hindered depending upon the specific browser settings and additions that a user has implemented.

What can be reinforced however is that statistically since January 2010 as highlighted in this report from http://www.w3schools.com is that 1024 x 768 pixels or higher is the standard. In fact as the statistics will show, over 70% of computer users use settings that is higher than 1024×768 pixels.

640×480 and 800×600 are pretty much non-existent in usage for general Internet browsing. While monitors may support it; with widescreen monitors continuing to be the norm with 19â€� inch wide screens being considered now the entry level bare minimum; the use of lower resolutions no longer make sense or apply.

With 1024 x 768 pixel resolution holding out at 20% of overall user’s settings for monitor resolution as of January 2010; it is easy to surmise that by January 2011 that number will easily be at 10% or less.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

Particepts Medical - Silentblast Interactive Web Design and Development

Hello and welcome back to the Silentblast Blog. Silentblast Interactive continues to perform recent web design and development projects in the Toronto area. Particeps Medical is a recent website design and development launch within our portfolio.

Particeps Medical provides key support medical products to the hospital, EMS (Emergency Medical Systems) and air ambulance services sectors.

Silentblast Interactive was selected by Particeps Medical to provide branding, web design and development of a client area within the website. A very unique project for a unique and exciting industry and service.

Silentblast is proud to have Particeps Medical as one of our established clients and we look forward to the development of their business.

To visit the Particeps Medical website please go to www.particepsmedical.com

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

Ask A Mortgage Pro - Mississauga Ontario

Hello and welcome back to the Silentblast blog. Recently launched from the Silentblast Interactive team was Ask A Mortgage Pro’s website. This project was an outstanding project to work on with the team at Ask A Mortgage Pro who are located in Mississauga Ontario but are launching a mortgage and financing strategy that will be Canada wide. When Silentblast met with them; there was already a significant investment in a previous website that was not thoroughly designed with the strategy and vision they had hoped to achieve. The business strategy to a degree also had to be refined and with the combined efforts of the Ask A Mortgage Team and Silentblast Interactive the decision to redesign and development the website from the ground up was decided.

The Ask a Mortgage Pro website features several CMS Content Management System modules that allow brokers and agents to register and create a profile for themselves. This CMS facilitates the requirement based on Ask A Mortgage Pro’s vision for coast to coast representation of mortgage professionals on their website. A CMS was also structured that facilitated the addition of Lawyers profiles to the website. Legal partners of Ask A Mortgage Pro can now register and sign into the system and can create a profile for end users; website visitors, to see.

A major grouping of partners are the lenders that are featured on the Ask A Mortgage Pro website. As lenders form strategic partnerships with Ask A Mortgage Pro, they will be added to the system to be displayed on featured profiles.

A News and Events CMS (Content Management System) was also designed and developed for the team at Ask A Mortgage Pro’s and this facilitates them to add mortgage and financial news and headlines that can help those seeking a mortgage or mortgage financing within Canada. Also added within the CMS that facilitates the entry of articles of interest within the mortgage and mortgage financing industry is their Mortgage Blog.

Since launch the team at Ask A Mortgage Pro’s have been adding News and Blog articles to their website and this will help in their SEO (Search Engine Optimization) strategy which Silentblast Interactive has also been commissioned to develop.

To visit the Ask A Mortgage Pro team please go to www.askamortgagepro.com

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development - Twitter

Hello and welcome back to the Silentblast blog. We have been doing some internal updates on our website, blog and recently Twitter which is an excellent Social Media Networking tool to keep it touch with family, friends and business associates.

We suggest to all our clients to use the social media networks to bring about their brand awareness, news and events and other happenings within their company.

Using Twitter is a good way to send out a quick message to your contact list to visit a particular product or service where there has been recent changes or an update to a blog or a news and events system that is built in to their websites.

To checkout the Silentblast Interactive Twitter feed simply just go to https://twitter.com/silentblast and start following us.

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development - Revo Marketing Group

Welcome back to the Silentblast Blog; one of our internal media outlets to advise our clients and potential customers of recent web design and development work that is being done by Silentblast Interactive.

Recently Silentblast was commissioned to do the web design, content management systems and branding for Revo Marketing Group.

Revo Marketing Group is a developer of marketing programs, branding and communication services designed to help Real Estate professionals grow their business in an every increasing competitive environment. Revo is dedicated to providing effective marketing tools to only a select number of clients in a market area. This exclusive approach provides limited competition for our member agents.

Silentblast Interactive was with them through the beginning stages of the business development plan right up to the launch of the website. A unique project in that the company, corporate branding, web design, and development of the content management systems were all started from round table discussions between Silentblast Interactive and Revo Marketing Group.

Revo Marketing Group has received very positive feedback on their website design and they absolutely love our content management system that was developed for them which has also a Support Blog that is maintained internally just for the staff of Revo Marketing Group.

To visit the Revo Marketing Group website please go to www.revomarketinggroup.com

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

Silentblast Interactive - Custom Web Design and Development Toronto - Building Technologies Inc.

Welcome back to the Silentblast Blog. Launched not too long ago the Building Technologies Inc. website.  Silentblast; a Toronto based Web Design and Development company; was chosen to re-design and implement a highly customized one page solution for the Internet and Phone business verticals of Building Technologies Inc. which is located in Ottawa; Ontario.

The challenge was to produce a visually appealing and simple to use system for existing and potential customers to look up their postal codes and see the various packages and the pricing models for Internet and Phone solutions that available in their building. The result was a creative one page site with a backend easy to use Content Management System, (CMS) that allows Building Technologies to easily update and add packages to the system.

Building Technologies Inc. is very pleased with the results thus far and the Silentblast team looks forward to a long business relationship with them. To visit the Building Technologies Inc. website please go to www.buildingtechnologies.com

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Web Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast

Canaroma Tile - Custom Web Design Project - Silentblast Interactive

Welcome back to the Silentblast blog. One of the most recent projects that the Silentblast team has finished was the Canaroma Tile website. Canaroma Tile is part of the Canaroma Bath & Tile Company. They are a long term client of Silentblast and it was an easy decision for Canaroma to work with Silentblast; a Toronto based web-design company again.

Their site is focused on the newly expanded business of Tiles. The site features a dynamic photo gallery and Video Gallery content management system, which is easily updated by those who work at Canaroma.

A very unique homepage that features full size images that take up the entire size of any browser resolution was another unique web design feature that has received very good responses from their customers who visit the new site.

This high impact visual concept is breath taking when viewed on large monitors running high resolutions. Canaroma continues to be on top of the market for the business that they focus on. The Silentblast team was also recently invited to a grand opening “awards themed� gala where Canaroma was able to showcase their new product lines and showroom to clients and business partners. The Mayor of Vaughan was also invited to cut the ribbon to officially open the showroom and a cocktail party then followed.

Silentblast is proud to be part of the process by providing web design and development for the wonderful people at Canaroma Tile. To visit their website please go to www.canaromatile.com

Silentblast Interactive - Toronto Website Design and Development

Canadian owned and operated, Silentblast is a professional web design and development company in Toronto serving small and mid-sized companies in the GTA, Brampton, Vaughan, North York, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Silentblast also develops mobile web site design and development and mobile applications for the iPhone and other mobile phone platforms.

Website – www.silentblast.com

Silentblast Blog – www.silentblast.com/blog

Twitter – http://twitter.com/silentblast