SEO Hosting Blog

I have been using computers most of my life, and surfing the web for almost as long. One thing that I enjoy is finding old school websites. In most cases, these sites are very easy on the eyes because they don’t focus on styling HTML with CSS, and they provide very resourceful information. Also, most older sites I’ve seen that launched in the early to mid 90′s are simply cool, and even sites from early 2000. They all have a certain look and feel to them that are unlike any other. Maybe I’m just getting old? But I don’t think so.

That said, I ran across a really interesting site called thesitewizard.com. I have to say, this site has a lot of useful information, and the design reminds me of the style I enjoy most… 90′s! I found the site from a link on Eric Brantner’s site, one of the writers here on SeoHosting.com, and I am seriously glad I did.

To begin with, thesitewizard.com offers visitors with a resource of free online wizards. A wizard is referred to as an easy to use and automated program that creates customized CGI scripts, PHP scripts, or JavaScripts for your website. Simply answer a few questions and each wizard will generate the proper code for you to add to your website.

Some of the more popular wizards include the Feedback Form, CSS Navigation Menu Button, Drop-Down Menu, Frame BreakOut, and Article Syndicator.

The fun only starts there. In addition to free online wizards, thesitewizard.com has sections that include multiple articles on getting started with your website, web design, search engines, how to make money online, domains, web hosting, and even blogging. Additional sections include online tutorials on JavaScript, PHP, Perl / CGI, HTML, and CSS.

The entire site earns two thumbs up from me, but as a bonus, there’s one additional feature to the site that makes it even more amazing that it already is, and that’s the RSS feed. While older sites do appeal to me, one thing that does bother me about stagnant sites created in the 90′s is their lack of updates. Clearly not the case with thesitewizard.com.

Subscribing to their RSS feed will gain you up-to-date information, tips, tricks, and tutorials all that will enable you to become a better blogger or webmaster. I personally suggest you make thesitewizard.com one of your regular reads.

What other OLDER sites do you know of that are similar to thesitewizard.com? Share them with everyone else in the comments below.

As a copywriter, I know how frustrating writer’s block can be. It kills your work flow, and it makes you think you’ve lost your touch. But you can work your way through it and surprise yourself if you stick with it.

Web designers face this same struggle. Designer’s block occurs when a designer falls into a rut of building the same uninspired design time and time again or just can’t find the motivation to get the project started.

Thankfully, I’ve come up with a short list of tips that will help you slay web designer’s block the next time it rears its ugly head.

1.    Bust out the pencil and paper—When web designer’s block hits, you could end up staring at a blank computer screen for hours waiting for inspiration to kick in. Or worse, you could easily lose focus and start mindlessly surfing the web. Neither of these is a good option. Instead, take a step back from the computer, and start sketching. Sketch the basics of a bunch of different layouts so you can see what works and what doesn’t. Sketching can be done very quickly, saving you time and getting you back on track to a quality design.

2.    Look at the work of your favorite web designers—If you’re a serious web designer, you probably have a few designers you look up to. When you’re stuck, go take a look at some of their work. What is it they do that you like so much? What things do you think they could do better? This isn’t to say you should just rip off someone else’s web design ideas, but it’s good to get outside of your own head to see what other designers are doing.

3.    Go offline for inspiration—Sometimes, looking at other websites for inspiration just won’t do it for you. That’s okay. You can get inspiration for your website design offline too. Open up a magazine and look at the print ads. Watch TV commercials. This will help you identify color schemes you like, new typography ideas, and other design inspiration that will help add a new flavor to your web design.
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The right design and layout are necessary for the success of your website. Too many companies look for cutting-edge, “unique” designs that might look cool on the surface but end up performing poorly when it comes to attracting and converting visitors.

If your website isn’t getting the conversions you want, take a look at this list to see if it’s committing one (or more) of these 8 deadly web design mistakes.

1.    Using colors that make it difficult to read—You’d think this is common sense, but so many web designers seem to get it wrong. You want to use background and text colors that make your content easy to read for new visitors. Don’t throw yellow text on a blue background. Or worse yet, don’t place text on top of a patterned background. Stick with the basics (black text on white background or something similar) to make it as easy on the eyes as possible. Otherwise, your visitors will never know what you’re saying.

2.    Using generic stock photos—We’ve all seen websites commit this deadly sin. Throwing in a stock photo of a bunch of guys in suits huddled around a conference table is more than likely a waste of space, and just as importantly, it doesn’t contribute to your brand or add anything to the user experience. Compelling graphics are an integral part of effective web design, but never throw in a subpar image just for the sake of having one.

3.    Using entry pages and Flash intros—If I land on your homepage and see either “Click here to enter” or a 30 second Flash intro, you can bet I’ll click the back button on my browser every single time. Remember, new visitors typically give your website 8 seconds to capture their attention. Don’t waste it.
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When thinking about SEO, we often discuss what you can put into your site to help it perform better. But sometimes it’s what you don’t put on your site that makes all the difference. Remember, conversion is the name of the game, and your website should always be geared to convert first and to rank well second.

That’s why I want to talk about the importance of white space in your web design. Contrary to what some so-called “SEO experts” might tell you, every inch of your website doesn’t need to be crammed with text that will help you achieve higher search engine placement. In fact, it’s these text-crammed websites that intimidate visitors and cause them to bounce to another website.

Why White Space is Important

White space is an important design technique for several reasons. Here are just a few ways a little white space can help your website big time.

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