…because good design helps sell your ideas.

BLOG DESIGN JOURNAL


.


eCommerce Laws Apply to Blogs and Blog Designers 0

Posted on December 05, 2011 by Blog Design Journal

Blogging began as a simple way to express oneself on line, to share thoughts and ideas. How times have changed!

Bloggers started accepting ads and sponsorships and putting links in their posts to products for which they received commissions for sales made through their links, and so on. Blogs evolved into money-makers.

What we now refer to as a blog is often a commercial website that just happens to be in a blog format or built with a blogging content management system, such as WordPress. Blog design has changed, for sure. And the laws affecting blogs have also changed.

When you sell goods or services through your blog, even when you just link to other companies’s sales pages in hopes of receiving commissions on sales, you move into different territory. You enter ecommerce. And not everyone involved in ecommerce is honest.

As ecommerce booms on the Web, the U.S. government is taking a closer look and tightening regulations. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has tightened regulations to prevent phishing and other scams and to limit claims made by online merchants to those that can be proven.

The laws governing doing business on line can be extremely confusing and sometimes highly technical. The average general attorney is usually not familiar enough with Internet law, intellectual property law, and web technology to advise bloggers and blog designers to keep them out of trouble with the FTC or to keep them from getting sued by other Internet businesses.

I found that out the hard way when a larger company demanded I give them my company’s domain name in 2000. Their lawyer made all kinds of threats, and I hired a general attorney recommended by a friend. Big mistake. My lawyer knew much less about intellectual property law than I did, and she tried to browbeat me into selling my valuable domain name cheap—because she would get a share of the proceeds.

We recommend getting in touch with an international e-commerce law firm and becoming familiar with what they offer and what they recommend that you do to stay safe—before you need them.

Because when the unthinkable happens, you will be glad you made that connection in advance.


New Template or New Theme – Blog Designing Principles 0

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

Usually there is a default theme for designing a blog. There are exceptions to this especially when you want to write a blog based on a new theme. When a blog is to be written on the basis of a new theme there are a number of factors to be considered. Some of these prominent factors are as follows. These factors are also applicable to the configuration of the content management system (CMS)

Appearance:
When a new template or a theme is being created, the appearance of the blog is of prime importance. If the blog is not having any visual appeal, there are chances of the visitor not reading it. In this situation, the blog despite being hosted on the net is not serving the purpose of its existence.   

Navigation:
Navigation is about the ease with which the visitor has access to other articles or pages published in your website. If these links are not working it can cause hurdles in navigating through the website. On the other hand if the web page layout is too crowded with links, it may be difficult for the visitor to visit the web page of his/her choice. If the visitor finds some of the articles informative and interesting he/she would like to have accesses to the blogs of the similar kind. Links to other articles should be provided with the blogs.

]]>

Articles can be linked on the basis of months. This can be done through archive or default pages. The archive pages can work as site map and facilitate the visitor.  The blog posts can be categorized as well as tagged. This helps in categorizing the websites. The CMS software can automatically generated the new index for that specific category. These category pages should be linked in the new template or theme. One cannot totally trust the links that are automatically created through the blog software. Every page in the website should be accessible from every other page of the same website.

If there is a facility of “tag cloud” provided by the blog software, use it effectively.

Categorize the posts meaningfully and not haphazardly. The tagging system may turn useless if everything is posted into the “miscellaneous” category.

If there are a lot many tags to be placed and the tag clouds have a negative effect on the appearance of the blog it is recommended that a master index page be created. All the blogs should be linked to this index page and vice versa.  The latest posts should be indexed on the top of the index list.

Markers like “You are here” are called breadcrumbs. These breadcrumbs should be used effectively to make the navigation easy. Implementation of tagging drastically reduced the effectiveness of breadcrumbs. Tagging has proved to be more flexible than using breadcrumbs.  

It is better to avail the services of a professional adept blog design company for optimizing the utility of the blogs.

Copyright © 2010
SPINX is an expert Web Design NJ company providing, creative web design with Professional Web Design New York Services in New York and Local Area.
Article Source


Outsource WordPress development wordpress developer india 0

Posted on August 30, 2011 by

If you are looking for a developer to hire for web development project from an offshore consulting, hire a WordPress developer.Today many companies hire WordPress developers to successfully furnish blogs including content creation, customization, and web management.

WordPress basically refers the term where you can publish blog in open source platform at for most optimum utilization. Online business development is pacing with the lightening speed and desires the finest of resource and techniques applied to stay at fore front. WordPress customization offers the world-wide platform for publishing the blogs related to the service offered by you so as for well-planned and systematically executed brand endorsing and sales generation.
WordPress is a CMS web application developed in PHP and MySQL. Today many blog sites are built in WordPress in the world. It has many plug-ins, templates and layouts for easily customize our website.Wordpress Development is one of the leading open source blogging platforms.Wordpress Development is a state of the art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetic, web standard and usability.WordPress is an open source Content Management System (CMS), often used as a blog publishing application, powered by PHP and MySQL. It has many features including a plug-in architecture and a template system. WordPress can be deployed using various methods on a hosting environment.

]]>

However, WordPress is an extensible website content management system that can be used to run magazine-type websites. If you want to start a non-blog website, like news/magazine site, portfolio site or even ecommerce site consider WordPress for your CMS oriented task.Cisin.com has experienced professional of wordpress development  with highly qualified developers who provide plenty of well designed wordpress themes in the wordpress world from which you can choose the one you like most. We offer create search engine friendly blogs which is helpful to complete in this ever growing online business area.

Our WordPress developer / Skilled WordPress experts also have wide range of experience in WordPress CMS, Custom WordPress development, WordPress customization, WordPress website development, WordPress Plugin development, WordPress implementation, WordPress web application, WordPress blog development, WordPress theme integration, WordPress integration, WordPress template development, WordPress CMS development and WordPress programming solutions.

wide range of WordPress Customization Services Offshore via Dedicated professionals:

* WordPress Theme Development
* WordPress Template Development
* WordPress Blog Customization
* WordPress CMS Development
* WordPress Customized Development
* WordPress Design Implementation
* WordPress Module Installation
* WordPress extensions Development
* Maintenance of WordPress
* Custom Modules Development

Looking for an offshore WordPress development consulting in India? We do have a dedicated team of WordPress developers. For further assistance check out our website.We also offer to hire WordPress Developer / hire WordPress experts who will only work on your WordPress Projects Dedicatedly. You can hire WordPress Developer on hourly / weekly / monthly cost basis or as per your WordPress project needs.
If you were unable to find the help you needed in the WordPress forums,Cyber Infra Structure Company Indore does provide WordPress Consulting Services  feel free to let us know what you need and we can provide all the possible solution.
WordPress Development is one of the leading open source blogging platforms.Cisin.com provides dedicated WordPress developer who will have through knowledge about conversion to WordPress customization and integration.WordPress development get hold of the zenith of tech shore up out of software development!
Article Source


WordPress – The Blogging Platform of Choice for Millions 0

Posted on May 22, 2011 by

WordPress is arguably the most popular CMS (content management system) online. While the title of ‘most popular blogging platform’ would probably be bagged by Blogger.com, it is WordPress that powers millions of sites across the globe. As a free, open source CMS with a very strong community of independent developers, it is easy to see why WordPress commands such popularity.
For starters, WordPress is effortlessly easy to install. Most hosting companies offer a direct installation service through Fantastico (look for the blue icon in your cPanel provided by the host), you can also install it manually through the now famous “5 minute installation”. All you need to do is upload a few files through a FTP client, make a few changes to your mySQL database and you’re all ready to go. These technical terms may sound daunting, but they are really not. An FTP program is simply a piece of software used to transfer files to your host. Think of it as Windows Explorer for your host. mySQL, on the other hand, is the database software that runs a majority of sites on the internet. Making changes to it is as easy as copying and pasting.
The other reason for the popularity of WordPress is its large support base. Because it is a free and open source software, you can find help from millions of developers, programmers, and enthusiasts across the world. Queries at the popular support forum at WordPress usually get answered within minutes. Whatever issues you may run into with WordPress, you know it will be solved within hours, if not minutes.
Lastly, WordPress has thousands of themes (both free and paid) to choose from, and a plethora of plugins that can extend the functionality of your blog by leaps and bounds. Whatever you want your website to do, you can be sure that WordPress will be able to pull it off through various plugins.
So if you are still unsure what blogging platform to choose, you know you can’t go wrong with WordPress!

Read more of my stuff at my blog about individual vision insurance 
Article Source


An Introduction to WordPress as a CMS 0

Posted on March 16, 2011 by GuestBlogger

One of the most exciting features about wordpress is the fact that you can customise it to meet your needs. There are literally thousands of free designs available on the internet, and if this doesn’t suit you there is a whole heap more available for purchase.

WordPress also has a great feature which allows you to install plug-ins. These plug-ins are small pieces of programming that change how wordpress works, in some way.

For example you may have a plug-in which automatically deletes spam (undesirable) comments left on your site, or even one which automatically places advertisements in each page you create. The possibilities really are endless when it comes to customising wordpress to suit your needs.

The first thing you need to do to get wordpress running is to download the latest version, this is available on the wordpress.org web site. You will end up with a .zip file which is around 3mb in size. Read the rest of this entry →


Your Questions About Blog Theme Ideas 0

Posted on March 04, 2011 by Blog Design Journal

Lizzie asks…

Where do I go from here?

I’m currently learning HTML/CSS because I would like to eventually be able to build and design websites even if only as a serious hobby. I’ve considered purchasing the book from Head First on HTML/CSS since I’ve heard that it’s extremely helpful to beginners like me.

I’d really love to someday create pages similar to: http://colorcubic.com/ and maybe even http://www.demotive.com/ or http://www.vreplay.com/ (just to give an idea) . But I’m not sure if I shouldn’t be trying to tackle blog themes first before moving to such a behemoth task as developing and designing a website.

I really don’t know what comes after learning HTML and CSS. So here’s where I need help. Where do I go from HTML? Should I move to MySQL? Ajax? Javascript? Some other language? Layout designing? Are there any books you would recommend? Any kind of help and recommendations are so much more than appreciated even if it’s concerning something I did not name. I’m so very stuck right now.

Thanks so much in advance.

Blog Design Journal answers:

In my opinion you first need to figure out how much work you need to do and how much you don’t need to do.

Running a web site is more then creating a single web page.
Html is but one type of code to make a page while CSS is a file for outlining how you display the page items. Both of these are very good to learn and you will need to, there are many others and newer ones on the way. Canavs HTML5 CSS3

If you would like to learn to create a web site then I have a few things for you to do.
Study what a CMS (content management system) is and choose one.
I like Joomla and it is widely used by the internet and has many plug and play apps and mods and extentions to help you build a site for doing poll or selling products to create slide show displays of creating a blog.
All the add-ons are really easy to use once installed, and installation is so easy you download a zip file to your desktop then go to the section which says upload and upload the zipped file and it automatically opens and makes it work for you.

Http://www.joomla.org/

In Joomla you mostly work out of an editor which looks like an email letter its called WYSIWYG editor. You will only need to cut and paste a lot of the things into an article WYSIWYG and choose from drop down menus where to put the item. Be it a weather report widget or a voting poll or just a simple notice saying you are having a yard sale this weekend. The sky becomes the limit once you learn how to run the CMS. There are many webs sites that have links to there news feeds that you cut and paste then tell where you want something on a certain page. You can even tell it “I want this to show in this spot on all the checked off pages you choose within your web site”.

You can search many different places to find templates and themes already created to work with the Joomla CMS.
So as for the look and feel and learning what files work with what I recommend that you spend a full day reading about this stuff on the Joomla web site and looking around then go get you a free hosting account and JUST DO IT

Now the learning curve on this is only being able to read carefully the instructions.

A free web hosting site to test out learning without having to pay is at

http://byethost.com/index.php/free-hosting

This server will allow you to do many things like a paid host but not videos or mail unless you upgrade. But for practice and learning it is a great place to play around.

I believe that this link will help you better see the world of web development

http://trends.builtwith.com/

Select a group to drill down into more information On there site.
Each topic will display what is the most active type of web site structures being used and show some companies using them. Plus explain what they do and link to anything you might be looking for to create a web site.

Advertisements
Analytics
Content Delivery Networks
Content Management Systems (CMS)
Document Info
E-commerce
Syndication Feeds
Web Frameworks
JavaScript
Maps
Audio/Video
Parked Hosting
Payment Provider
Web Server
Software
Search Engines
Widgets

Now I know there is a lot of stuff here and I am sorry if it looks like much but you need the facts.

With everything I have given you here you should be able to follow more breadcrumbs to gain more knowledge.

Good Luck and JUST DO IT don’t look back
peace

Joseph asks…

WordPress Templates for Photography Portfolios?

Im looking to upgrade my existing website into my own url and decided to go with wordpress, as I kept reading how flexible it was to make into a CMS site, beyond just a normal blog.

I have found a few themes that are okay for what I want, but nothing quite hits the mark.

http://www.photocrati.com/photography-wordpress-themes/

These themes are the closest, as they focus on the images rather than the blog. Ideally, the link below is the site I would most like to look like…

http://www.parkeharrison.com/

Any ideas of places where this kind of theme would be? Google is less than helpful with finding wordpress themes for photographers and many variations of it.

Anyone using wordpress for a portfolio type website and has any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Blog Design Journal answers:

WordPress doesn’t seem like the best option for photography.

Linda asks…

Give me some idea about website?

Hello friends!

*sorry guys, i am short of words right now. i may not have described my problem well. if need more info plz ask.

I am planning to build a website but i really don’t have the idea for my site. i mean i don’t have any good platform for it, what it should be about? sports? education? forum (about wht)? blog?? or wht?

Really don’t know the theme for it.

Regards,
SAN

Blog Design Journal answers:

Mabye you could make a site about just random things you like. I did that, and here is my site, just do you know what im talking about. Www.wix.com/Shewholikescheese/My-random-site . Im very familiar with the site to make this type of site, and it is free! (unless you want a couple more features). If you want, i can help you with your site as much as you want if you email me at jamiegravittwood@gmail.com saying who you are (so i dont think ur spam, because i dont know ur email). Email me if ur interested at all.
Kthxbye

Chris asks…

CANDY THEMED SWEET SIXTEEN !?

okay, so my birthdays in october. yes, i know i have a long time. i’m planning ahead. as you can tell, i want a candy theme with bright colors. any ideas/suggestions are very much appreciated.
im pretty sure i want a pink dress, any links for those are cool.
i want this cake. http://blog.pinkcakebox.com/candy-themed-sweet-16-cake-2008-06-08.htm coordinating colors for party would be great haha
umm i need ideas for favors and other centerpieces i already know candyspirit.com so any OTHER sites with different cool stuff would be awesomeee
oh and i need ideas for things like during-party favors, i know candy necklaces/bracelets but yeah i need some more haha
so once again annny help or experience or suggestions is verrry much appreciated so please and thanks ahead of time :]

Blog Design Journal answers:

Http://www.party411.com/theme169.html

http://www.streichs.com/cgi-bin/streichs…

Maybe for foods that’s not candy you could have:
~Mini burgers in buns with a cocktail stick holding it together
~Mini Hot dogs
~Mini Pizzas
~Potato wedges served in mini paper cones
~Cocktail sausages wrapped in bacon
~Mini sausage rolls
~Cheese and pineapple sticks
~Bread sticks dipped in chocolate then with added sprinkles

Hand out candy necklaces, bracelets and watches, gummy rings and giant lollipops!

Drinks
~Shirley Temples
~Strawberry Milkshakes
~Cola Floats
~Hot Chocolates with lots of marshmallows in.
~Slush Puppies (I think you can rent machines for party’s)

Hope this helps and you have a great party!

Powered by Yahoo! Answers


WordPress Training Course – Learning To Use WordPress Should Be a Kick in the Pants 0

Posted on January 23, 2010 by Blog Design Journal

WordPress training isn’t like getting Microsoft or Oracle certified, because there isn’t an official certification program. Learning something new is always tough; learning a powerful software suite like WordPress can be frightening. It need not be. WordPress is actually approachable and easy to start with. Badly written course material can cast a pall over what should be a kick in the pants, because WordPress lets you do great things very quickly.

Here’s what to look for as you evaluate WordPress training courses.

•Clear indication of the version being taught
•Good freebies
•Step by step all the way
•Brief explanations of theory along with the how-to
•WordPress is far more than just a blogging application-do the course developers know?

WordPress changes fast-what version do they cover?

WordPress has transformed dramatically in the last few versions from highly capable blogging application to enterprise-ready content management system. New versions with major feature changes appear at least twice a year-much more quickly than most enterprise apps. Make sure the training materials you’re evaluating cover the latest version. Read the rest of this entry →


  • Advertise Here



↑ Top