From video game classic to modern web design craze, parallax technique is currently the fastest growing trend in the digital world. First used in 1980s in arcade video games to simulate 3D effect, it is now being incorporated into web pages to give them depth and layering.
Wondering how it works? Parallax scrolling techniques are based on HTML5 and CSS3 coding. By using specially designed lines of code, tags, and attributes page elements are given fixed positions. Javascript then catches the direction in which the user scrolls and algorithms make foreground and background move as the developer intended. All these effects and techniques combined create illusion of 3D effect.
Parallax scrolling is getting more and more popular due to its multipurposeness. Having difficulty in engaging viewers in your iconographics? Your product presentation just doesn’t stand out from the pack? Make it interactive with parallax scrolling. It is being used across different fields, from movie promotions, through apps, and finally to portfolios. If done well, website using parallax scrolling can get popular within days, thanks to social media spread and mouth-to-mouth recommendations.
Life of Pi(http://journey.lifeofpimovie.com/#!/)
Parallax technique so eagerly used by web designers is fairly simple, but one must be aware of several rules to make it really shine.
The most important thing to have in mind is to focus on depth and layering of images. It is the main principle of parallax scrolling and should be used with consideration. In order to succeed, you need to focus on several different elements which will appear both in the foreground and in the background of your page. Carefully think what images will best represent the content of your website and focus on adjusting their duration and colour. Make them fade out at right moment. Timing is the key to success. Have fun and don’t be afraid to experiment. You might not hit the spot at first try, but don’t give up. Play with parallax scrolling as you wish your users will.
Professionals recommend to make your website tell a story. You have invented something? Show how it has been done step by step. Do incorporate historical timeline of your product. It will help you get connected with users and build the sense of community. Feel free to use animation and sounds, or engage the users in theme game. Make every visitor curious what happens next. Your creativity is your limit.
But be careful. Hooked on modern techniques, you may easily overlook the simple fact that some users will try to open your page in older browsers. You shouldn’t strip them of the opportunity to have fun at your page. Make sure your modern website is compatible with not only up-to-date Mozilla, but also Internet Explorer and others, not so commonly used browsers. Your users will much appreciate it.
At this point, it is also useful to test you website on portable devices, like tablets and smartphones. With the spread of technology and wider availability of modern electronics it is the thing to consider.
Once you’ve possessed the skills needed to make parallax scrolling work, you will be eager to show everyone what you can do with it. Don’t, it’s a trap. Users won’t appreciate flashy images popping out from every corner. However tempting it may be to use new techniques on your website, do remember that, as everything, parallax scrolling needs to serve some purpose. Don’t use it just because it is fashionable. Use it to create greater user experience or to show your products, not to simply show off your skills. Above all, your website must me readable, so don’t overdo it.
The Ring Restaurant(http://theringbarlondon.co.uk/)
Last, but not least, make your page responsive and fun. Add sound to optimize user experience. Do remember that details matter, so don’t forget the little things. They make the website stand out from the crowd and create memorable web experience.
Parallax scrolling is fairly friendly technique to incorporate, but you need to consider its limitations as well. It takes time to prepare perfect page. First, you need to make sure that the basic version of your website is up and running in all kinds of browsers. Only then you can implement parallax scrolling.
Also you need to be aware that pages using the techniques described tend to load longer. In order not to discourage your viewers, you can introduce a simple animation, or creative loading sign to entertain them.
Adonis Band(http://adonisband.com)
Sounds difficult? Don’t be cross, just turn to specially designed web tools like Skrollr or ScrollMagic to help you achieve your goal and give your website the wow factor it deserves.
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Author Bio: Monique Rivers is an Australian tech blogger who also loves good food and fashion. She works at ninefold.com. Ninefold is a powerful Ruby on Rails platform, that allows you to deploy Rails apps quickly and easily.
]]>For us, Thanksgiving is one of the big holidays. Usually we have a weekend long celebration with 15+ people. This year was no different and of course, we had dessert to last us a week, at least.
There's some good stuff to take away from this past long weekend...like enjoying our family, taking time to relax, making some good memories, crying from laughing so hard, and pie. And Naughty Cake, which will now need to be at all future family functions! (see more photos and get the recipe for the Naughty Cake)
Oh and we can't forget Thanksgiving Leftover Night which also doubled as a Happy Birthday Party for Colin, who happens to like minions. We all played along!
]]>If you’re thinking that your business has enough of a social media presence with its Facebook page, Twitter account, or whatnot, then why on earth should you consider opening a business Pinterest account? You’re obviously already reaching everyone with your established media presence – or are you? With well over 40 million users, 80% of which are women in the 19-35 age range, Pinterest is quickly gaining a strong foot-hold in the social media game, so you might want to consider some reasons why a Pinterest account could enhance your business.
Having a Pinterest account is a good way to get your company noticed – especially if your target audience is women. And what is one activity that women are known for? Shopping, of course!
If your business is a product-based business (think retail), then you can increase your exposure by including price tags in your products’ images, which tends to generate more likes. Since 75% of Pinterest activity is mobile , your followers can find you online while shopping. Win, win.
You can also use your Pinterest account to build rapport with your audience. By responding to all commenters or answering any questions that are asked, your potential customers will trust you to be on their side. Wouldn’t you rather shop with a company who acknowledges your concerns and appreciates your interest?
One company that is famous for always engaging with their audience is Target, who never lets a comment get away without a response, thus building customer loyalty. A little recognition can go a long way.
Having a Pinterest board is a good way of communicating what matters to your company. You should pin whatever your target audience might like to see. Think content, not sales. Think about what might interest your audience, and pin it to your board. If you concentrate too much on advertising, then you are bound to lose interest rather quickly. But if you open your board to include common interests with your audience – even if they aren’t directly related to what you’re selling – that can go a long way to showing a more “human” side to your company. You want people to pin images from your board, which will get their friends seeing your company, repining these pins, and next thing you know, you have another pinner and potential customer. Voila!
You can also use your Pinterest board to see what your competition is doing. What are they pinning? What are other people pinning from their boards? What else are their pinners pinning? What is trending? (See above about pinning what matters to your company.)
There are also tools available to track pins (and views of pins) from your site. (http://pinterest.com/source/yourwebsite.com) You can use these tools to see what is catching your audience’s collective eye. What works, what doesn’t work, what could use a little more work? Maybe you need to stock up on something that’s getting a lot of attention before the holiday rush. And don’t forget about the tools that will add a “Pin It” button to your website, to make it easier for your audience to pin to their Pinterest boards.
Despite all of the above advantages of having a business Pinterest account, they won’t do you or your company any good if you don’t use Pinterest! So, what are you waiting for? I, for one, look forward to pinning from your Pinterest board!
]]>Whether you are a small or large business, you are probably looking to attract new customers and clients. Fortunately, the internet has made it easier than ever to successfully build and maintain a strong online presence. New tips and tricks are being discovered all of the time, so it is important to keep up with the latest trends. From corresponding directly with customers, to creating your own company blog, here are some useful tips on how to successfully build an online identity.
If you are a small business that is just trying to get started, building a website is one of the most crucial components to your success. To make it easier for customers to find you, be sure to include your company's name in your website's domain name. This will also allow people to find your company quickly when they perform a web search.
Spruce up the content so that it is fresh and lively, which will ultimately draw readers in. If you are selling products, add in a shopping element, and be sure that it works! For a company that sells products, it is crucial to give customers a way to buy directly from your website, at all times.
If you want to form a personal connection with your audience, reach out to them in a way that is friendly and accessible.
For example, you can ask visitors to share their thoughts and feelings through feedback or comments. When you ask for comments, feedback, or opinions, the visitors will feel as though you truly care about their specific needs and concerns. Be sure to personally respond to every comment you receive though. It's not fun talking to a wall.
If you receive negative feedback or comments, this is a good time to decide if you need to make some changes to better serve your customers.
For many modern companies, search engine optimization (SEO) is a fast-growing trend that can produce tremendous results. SEO is used for displaying companies as close to the top as possible when someone performs a search through a search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. The higher up your name appears, the more likely it is that someone will click on your company's link first. This can lead to increased sales, as well as increased retention of customers for many businesses.
Blogs are a great way to stay in touch with your customers, while providing them with the latest information about your company. It's also an excellent way to show your skills and knowledge. With a blog, you do not have to worry about being limited to just one or two sentences, and you can often include photos, or even videos to enhance your online identity.
Caveat: If you plan on blogging, see it through. There may be nothing worse than having a blog and it not having any fresh content.
We are not suggesting you give your services away for free, however there is something to be said about an expert who is willing to help others. A great way to do that is through forums and message boards. Think about Yahoo! Answers or Google Groups. LinkedIn is another great place. You no only increase your visbility, but you also position yourself as an expert in your field.
There are many ways to effectively build and expand your online presence. Whether it is through direct interaction with customers, or a results-driven website, you can easily build your client base and reputation with a solid online identity.
]]>Modern society moves at a fast pace, and many business owners work hard to keep up. Although it may get overlooked, your website may be the difference between securing a client or customer, or unknowingly turning him away. When it pertains to business, a clean and updated website is more valuable than one that is dated and old. Before you begin to overhaul your website, take a few minutes to understand the perils of a dated website and how a new one can be beneficial.
If your website is looking old and dated, it is probably time for a change – and fast. Your main issue may be that you do not have an easy way to update your website content, or adding new information might seem too time-consuming.
Fortunately, there are ways to get around these common problems while creating a modern and fresh website in the process. The first step is to figure out what your website needs in order to become a noteworthy part of your business once again. You may need to reach out to friends, family members, and loyal customers to get valuable input on how to improve your website.
For many business owners, one of the most valuable improvements that can be made to an old website is to closely examine the content of each page. In doing so, you will likely find that the content is generally dated and stale. Whether it is old news, dated information, or out-of-date media, such as pictures and videos (especially those that do not work), it is time for an overhaul. The good news is that cleaning up your website is relatively simple. To get started on your dated website, try out the following suggestions:
Sometimes there's too many obstacles in your way or your old website was built so that it wasn't easy for you to update content. That's when it's time to seek a professional web design and development company. You might not even need a complete redesign.
A good web design company will talk to you about the goals for your site and help you to determine the next best steps. That might include keeping the design, but implementing a Content Management System so you can keep on top of your content and updates. Or re-aligning your existing site so that you are putting your best foot forward by fine-tuning what you have so you can reach the best possible outcome.
There's no one size fits all, which is a good thing because you're business is as unique as you are.
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A user-friendly website is an essential part of any successful business. For a large number of visitors, a company's website is what can make or break its image. A website can be thought of as the first step in making a statement to the online world. You only get a few seconds to make that impression, so make it the best.
Just as you would not want to make a bad first impression in-person, a website that is not user friendly can be just as harmful. There are a number of steps you can take to determine whether your website is user-friendly, and how to make the necessary corrections if you think that your website is lagging behind.
Use a clean layout – a clean layout is an essential part of any website. If you are not sure whether your website has a clean layout, take a close look at the content, as well as the links and navigation. A website that is jumbled with links or text can be confusing and off-putting to potential customers. With too many words or links cluttering the page, the reader may get discouraged and ultimately leave the website for a more user-friendly site. Make sure that your navigation is clean and concise, and that visitors can easily find the information they are likely looking for.
Make content easily accessible – keep in mind that many people do not have time to sit down and read all of the information on your website. For this reason, it is crucial to keep paragraphs, and text in general, to a minimum. Instead of writing in paragraphs, try adding in a few sentences at a time. You can make the page more exciting and break up any wordy areas by including pictures or links.
Ensure that your site is mobile-friendly – many consumers have access to the internet – and your website – through a mobile device. Keep this in mind when you are determining how you can make your website more user-friendly. Consumers on the go will appreciate having access to your website at all times, which can help to enhance your business.
Make the website visually appealing – the more attractive your website, the more likely it is to lure in customers. Although dedicated customers may put up with an unattractive website, potential customers will likely go elsewhere to do business. You can avoid this problem by incorporating a simple, yet stylish layout, with a soothing color scheme. Avoid crowding the site with graphics or using distracting images and animations.
Clear and distinct calls-to-action. You do not want people hunting to find your contact information or details about the services you provide. Make your calls-to-action prominent and distinct from everything else on your page. You want them to be the most important aspect of the page so users don't have to guess about what to do next. When a user has to guess, they'll likely end up leaving your site.
These are some very basic prinicples and a great first step in creating a site that will deliver results. If your website is not user-friendly, you may be losing clients and forcing potential customers to go elsewhere, which is the exact opposite of what you want to do. Of course, if you need help, we're here for you.
Take a stroll down any street and you will likely see several people using a mobile device. As the use of mobile devices has significantly increased within the past few years, so has the demand for accessible and functional mobile sites. Not every website is mobile, but those that are quickly become very popular among customers. Having a mobile website can give you leverage in today's competitive society, so take a look at what a mobile website can offer, and how you can go about creating this type of website for your business.
The site was originally on WordPress and the new format continued to work on WordPress, so why change a good thing?
The new site features include a more organized structure so the items that need to be found, can be found quickly and easily. Also, the addition of the PunchTab reward system, so visitors can gain points for all sorts of fun and interactive actions. If you're looking to include a reward/point system on your site, the folks at PunchTab are top notch.
There's also a new section called Share Your Story where visitors can comment and upload photos and share videos.
Well enough of me talking it up, go check it out.
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Do not let the thought of putting yourself and your business out there scare you. Instead, think of it as an open invitation to show everyone what YOU have to offer, and what sets YOUR COMPANY apart from all others.
There are several suggestions for you to consider as you are getting ready to take the plunge. But I promise, these are not scary and you might just have too much fun with it - or maybe that's just me!
For many people, this is one of the most important points to consider. Nearly anything that you post on the web is visible to others. Just as the web has continued to grow and expand - thanks in large part to social media - so has the number of people who can access your information, at any time.
Whether it is pictures, messages, videos, or a post, you need to remember that any information you provide is no longer private; even if you delete it...nothing is every really deleted from the internet.
However, you should not let this thought scare you. If you are building your brand online, you will want - and need - to let people know who you and your company are, and why you matter. I just always tell my clients, that if you don't want the world to see something, then don't share it on the internet.
It's a golden rule to live by in your personal life and business.
Hey, a web designer telling you design is important? Well, duh!
The last thing customers want to see, is a company that tries to build itself up without having a good design to do so.
Just think -- would you want to browse a website that is disorganized and difficult to navigate?
Or how about a website that doesn't work on your phone or tablet?
I hate going to a website and not being able to find a simple way to contact the company. That happens a lot more times than you would think.
Once your design is made public, you should expect to have a large number of people viewing it, within a relatively short period of time.
When you (or your web designer) are putting your design together, remember that it should reflect what you want your brand image to say about your company. Not just look good, but does it comfy the feeling and vibe your company has.
Hiring a professional may not be necessary when designing your website, as there are a number of resources available, some of which are free. Keep in mind that using those resources can prove to be difficult and other people can use them too. So how authentic and original are you being when Sally Shoe's and Joe's Coffee is using the same website design.
No, we don't mean copy what they are doing. That wouldn't be cool.
Keep your company relevant and interesting by staying on top of the latest news, trends, or whatever else is most applicable to the type of work that you do. Subscribe to interesting twitter feeds, or setup a Google Alert that allows you to stay on top of the latest news and events in your industry.
Keeping your company interesting and fresh is one of the best ways to build your online brand. If you have the latest news, products, or media, why would your customers go anywhere else? Make this information accessible and visible, so that your customers can see these latest bits as well.
This is a rather simple tip, but it goes a long way. If you are setting up a website for Sally's Shoes, for example, you will want to incorporate the company name into the URL. It is much easier for customers to find and remember a web address like http://www.sallysshoes.com then it would be to remember Sally's Shoes website is http://www.comfyhipeverydayshoes.com, unless of course you sell comfy hip everyday shoes and it makes sense.
Make sure it makes sense for what you are doing.
The above suggestions are just the start of building a successful brand online. But you have to start somewhere. Today is the day. There's no reason to put it off any longer because then it just becomes bigger than it needs to be. Start now!
]]>Once you have built up a trustworthy relationship, you will want to keep it going strong. Whether you are a small business or a freelance worker, it is essential to understand how these relationships are built in the first place, and the best ways to maintain them over the years.
Remember that a strong ongoing relationship will also ensure that you have work in the future. And who doesn't need that?
By carefully planning out projects in advance, you will show that you are able to take initiative, and that you want to understand the project completely before getting started. This is true whether your client has provided you with accurate and detailed guidelines, or a vague explanation of what needs to be done. You should establish guidelines as soon as possible, and return them to the client for review; this will allow both of you to see exactly what the work will entail.
How we do it: Every proposal we send out has a deliverables schedule that outlines what is expected from us and from our client. Clear expectations right from the start. This makes my OCD very happy, but even better, it makes our clients feel secure and understand how everything is going to go down. We like some surprises, like when the puppy jumps up on our lap in the middle of a conference call; not when it comes to client expectations though.
In today's fast-paced and technology-centered society, emails and short text messages are the norm. While these forms of communication are fine, you can make yourself stand out more and build a substantial relationship with your clients if you take a few extra minutes to insert something personal into your next message.
For example, if you are interested in building a relationship, add in a specific detail or two in your email to prospects. A good way to do this is to mention something of personal interest, such as a big win of their favorite sport's team. This is a great first step towards establishing a strong, long-term relationship.
How we do it: When a prospective client reaches out to us, we check out their site and any social media accounts they might have in order to get a better feel for who they are and what is important to them. Then during phone calls, or emails we make mention of some tid bit we connected to. I don't suggest you fake it, because that will only get you so far. Instead truly invest in finding out more about them that you can also relate with. I'm not a sports fan, so for me to say hey, big win with those Yankees...isn't going to sound authentic. If you are a sports fan though, it will.
The business world is full of people with unique personalities and interests. One way to ensure your success in the future is to find a client with a similar personality and goals as your own. In doing so, you are showing the client that you are interested in forming a lasting relationship.
When the initial sale or project has ended, let the client know that you are keeping her in mind in the event that another similar opportunity should arise in the future. Also let the client know when something new comes along, as this will help to keep the lines of communication open between you two, even if the client does not take on the new opportunity or offer.
How we do it: One of our core business practices is to make sure that the clients we work with align with our business beliefs. The Do Not Hire Us page is the perfect example of who we are and the types of clients we work with. We want to put all of that out there from the get-go and we've found that our clients love it. We get more compliments and opening dialogs because of that one simple page. People are drawn like a magnet to like minded people.
When you are working on a project for a client, you should strive to maintain frequent contact with that client. This may involve emailing on a daily basis, or calling periodically to check-in and make notes about your progress.
Today's high-speed society means that there are many different forms of communication, from email to phone, and instant messages. Take advantage of this to find out which method your client prefers, and use it often. Let your client know the best and worst times to contact you before you even begin working on a project.
How we do it: For most of our projects we use Basecamp to not only track the project but also keep in touch with our clients and send them messages. This is what works with the type of projects we take on. We also connect via Skype, and email as well. I've yet to move to text but I'd be open to it if it were a client preference. Figure out what works for you and your client, then do it.
These simple but vital details can seriously improve your client's overall experience with you and your business; turning a one time project or sale into a recurring and devoted client. The majority of our clients are recurring or referrals from other clients.
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Back on December 1st we fostered a sweet deaf double merle girl who we named Snow.
To our surprise, one week later on December 8th, Snow gave birth to 6 puppies. 5 puppies were healthy and left our home on February 1st. They spent two weeks in foster homes and then went to their forever families.
Well, one of those families didn't turn out to be forever, and this sweet girl, Tundra, was returned. She went off to a wonderful foster home, but sadly late last week she came down with parvo because her "forever" family didn't give her the proper 3rd vaccination.
For the past 5 days, our sweet Tundra has been fighting for her life and we've been worried sick. Thankfully she has finally turned a corner and is scheduled to leave the hospital today.
After a lot of discussion and thought, and weighing what was best for Tundra, Sean and I decided that Tundra was always meant to be a Connolly. We just didn't know it before but we know it now.
We are so grateful that she is doing well and we are equally as excited to welcome her home finally.
]]>I started to get ready for the meeting and I hunted down my one pair of dress pants and I grabbed a pretty blouse. As I stood in the mirror, making sure everything looked as it should, I realized how uncomfortable I felt.
Not because the clothes didn't fit, but because the person I saw in the mirror wasn't me.
I was pretending to be someone else, someone who wore dress slacks and blouses. It wasn't intentional, I wasn't trying to be misleading or fake. But for some insane reason, I was equating "professional" with my attire, instead of my attitude...instead of the service we provide and the expertise we bring to the table.
We talk alot about brand messages with our clients, and here I was, being completely untrue to our own brand.
So I tore off that ridiculous outfit and grabbed a nice pair of jeans and a shirt, along with my fluffy comfy clogs and I was all set. When I checked myself out in the mirror, I felt completely comfortable, confident, and professional.
I'm not saying you need to go out there in cutoffs and a wife beater - but be real. Don't be afraid of who you are or try to fit into a mold of what you think something should be.
If so, STOP IT THAT SHIT NOW!
People will either love you or hate you and it's far better to be hated for being who you are, than be loved for someone you're not. The latter is much too exhausting to maintain anyway.
No one else can be who you are, so take advantage of that.
It's life lessons people, even in branding. Go figure.
]]>Ah, New Year. Cleaning and freshening up is part of life, so why not clean up your outdated website while you are at it?
For many customers and potential customers, there is no bigger turn off than an outdated website. Whether it is a lack of fresh content, stale photos and videos, or a combination of the two, an outdated website can be more harmful than you think – especially if you are trying to attract new customers.
If you are guilty of letting your website slide while you focus on other aspects of your business, you are not alone (Hi, have we met?); however, now is the time to focus on your website! Get rid of any dated materials and give your website a fresh look with new content, links, media, and whatever else it might take to uphold your professional image. You do not have to completely overhaul your website to do this; just a few seemingly minor changes can be very effective.
For many of us, updating our website can seem like a grand project; however, these small steps are things you can do to keep your website looking fresh within a matter of minutes. Who doesn't have time for that?
BONUS TIP! Add new testimonials. Fresh and updated testimonials are a super quick way to add new content to your site that is relevant to new potential customers. They'll be able to see the great work your are still doing.
]]>Let's get our geek on, shall we?
365 Days of unique and interesting fonts...YES PLEASE! Every page has a new typeface to fawn over.
I'm hoping Santa brings me one of these!
This adorable pillow is 12x12 and made from fleece. Availble from Craftsquatch on etsy. They also have pillows for Adobe Illustrator as well as a ton of social media ones. So cute!
Cookies? Letterpress? YES! How fun are these? This is a complete set of 26 letters, plus ampersand (sweeeet!) and exclamation point.
Check out this neat 3D alphabet cut out of poplar wood. Of course, the stoic Helvetica typeface makes this piece very classy and refined.
This is a set of 13 magnets that mimic the menus and toolbars in Photoshop. Great to hang photos on the fridge or magnet board. I love that they've included the dreaded "spinning beach ball of death".
I would definitely not mind seeing this wrapped under the tree. This is a beautiful and rich color wheel print that is printed on acid free Hahnemuhle German Etching paper. The print size is 15.5"x21" and is perfect for the office or studio.
A digital pen that memorizes what you write, sketch, draw and doodle, and then syncs them to Evernote (which by the way, we LOVE! It's basically an online notebook that goes with you everywhere.) And with wi-fi connectivity, you can synch to the cloud whenever. I
I also found it on Amazon (I'm a prime member) where it's only $176.35. *adds to wishlist*
Yeah. Need we say more?
BONUS!
This one is two games in one. Just like the old game we played as kids, match two like cards by flexing your memory muscle...or something like that. Plus, also try to figure out what brand is represented on the card, without their iconic brand symbol.
Net magazine is one of the most popular web designer publications. It's chock full of designy and geeky bits that any web designer will love. Available in both digital and print.
Perhaps not the most exciting gift to the average person, but when your a web designer and trying to plan out your next responsive website, there's nothing like putting pencil to paper.
I don't know if I could love this one anymore. This fashionably geek pendant is made of white oak and has a beautiful natural wood finish. The .psd is the default file extension of Adobe Photoshop, which is the program web designers can be found in almost 24 hours a day. Chic and simple.
Is there something you've seen out there that would be perfect for our list? Let us know in the comments -- and also so that I can add them to my wishlist
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