RWD: The Revolution of the Smart World

One of the hot topics for website design is responsive web design. There’s been some buzz about it ever since the explosion of the smart phone, tablet, and other “smart” technologies. But what does it mean for a website to be responsive?

You know how sometimes you pull up a website on your smart phone and the picture looks distorted? Well, that website isn’t responsive. The goal of RWD is to make websites viewable from different windows of technology. Whether you have a tablet, an iPhone, or a laptop, a responsive website will appear equally clear on all mediums. These days, a lot of web designers recognize the importance of RWD, but it’s still a pretty advanced technology. In 2012, more website design companies will be investing time in responsive sites to increase the viewing population of their clients’ websites. At CODANK web design, we work with our clients to ensure their designs are responsive to a variety of forms of technology.

There are three important things to consider when dealing with RWD: flexible grid, responsive images, and media queries.

Flexible grids make the template of your website moldable on different technologies. You can download flexible grids, or make them yourself from scratch. There are also several types of tools to help you sketch out your templates. First, there are sketch sheets and sketchbooks, which allow you to see what the template will look like before your website goes live. You can keep the designs just like a real sketchbook. Responsive wireframes and multi device layouts also help you see what your template will look like before you proceed with other steps in your responsive web design.

Once you’ve laid out the template in a sketchbook, you can proceed with a template. There are lots of tools out there for making flexible grids.

Next you have to consider responsive images. You don’t wait your images to be distorted when viewers see your website on their smart phone or iPad. There are tools to help convert images on your website as they move from the computer screen to the smart phone. Responsive images are adaptable no matter what the viewing device.

Lastly, media queries help shift your web pages’ elements to make them responsive and adaptable.

Read these articles for suggestions on the specific tools that are out there to help you with responsive web design. As technologies become more advanced, and screens become smaller and more portable, responsive web design is going to become essential in the world of web design. Getting Started with Responsive Web Design: 50 Fantastic Tools for Responsive Web Design:

How to Find a Reliable Website Design Company

The internet has opened the gateway to world-wide communication. Having a solid website for your business can expand your clientele from local to global. It allows your business to remain open for twenty-four hours, reaching every possible customer anywhere in the world at any time. This makes finding a reliable website design company of utmost importance when considering the global image of your business. At CODANK, a Charlotte based web design company, we work closely with prospective clients to make sure we understand the design services, or web development services, they need to promote their business model. There are three important aspects to finding a website design company that will portray your business in an accurate, eye-catching way.

Credentials:
The first thing to look for when searching for a reliable website design company are the credentials of the web design team. Check out their website. If you aren’t impressed by the web design firm’s own website, it’s hard to gauge how well they portray their clients’ businesses on the web. Being impressed by their website doesn’t mean you have to approve of its style—just make sure the necessary website components are there. They should have, at a minimum, an “about” section (who are they and what do they do?), a content section (including blogs, some type of portfolio, and some stats about their company), and contact information. They should also have a site that is eye-catching and alluring, but also easy to access and comprehend. Funky icons and excessive coloring may mean that they care more about pizzazz and not enough about making websites user friendly.

After looking at the web design company’s site, you should be sure that they offer after sales support. This means that they will work hard to ensure that you are 100% satisfied with your website after its creation. They should offer regular updates and edits to your site as your business continues to grow. They should also respond to your suggestions in a timely manner. If the company does not offer after sales support, you might as well be making the website yourself using a free template. You are paying this company to make a solid website for your company; therefore the site should meet your every need. Remember, this is website represents your business on a global scale. It should portray your business exactly as you see fit.

 Once in contact with the website design team, make sure that they ask lots of questions about your business. Their job is to portray your business model in your image. They may know how to create the most important pieces of a website, but you know exactly how you want your site to look and what information is vital to your business model. A good website design team, therefore, will work directly with you to ensure complete satisfaction.

Portfolio:
As I said before, when checking out the website design company’s website you should find some sort of portfolio. Who have they worked with before? What other websites have they produced? It’s important that they have unique, varied designs for each of their client’s websites. You want to make sure that they approach your business’ site from a new angle; having a unique brand for your business is key to getting lots of website traffic and drawing in lots of customers. Also, make sure they create websites from scratch. You want your business to have an original website, not one designed from a template. The design firm’s portfolio should showcase the website design firm’s ability to create original, varied websites for each of their clients.

References:
Make sure you ask for a list of client names and numbers and find out what this company has done in the past. Call previous clients and ask about customer service. The website design firm should be reliable in terms of meeting your needs. They should communicate openly with you, even if you know nothing about web design. As I mentioned before, they should also heed your suggestions and revisions. If you like their work and if their previous clients assure you they are reliable, they could be the company for you.
If you are currently searching for a reliable and reputable design team, contact CODANK. CODANK is a top rated Web Design and Internet Marketing firm located in Charlotte, NC. We are dedicated to providing the highest quality, cost effective custom software development services, delivering a broad range of business consulting and outsourcing services.

Doing Business: Franchising

Embarking on a new web design company or fast food franchise can be very beneficial if handled in the correct way. There aren’t many to choose from, but the ones that are available should definitely be taken advantage of.

Franchising is defined as a business method that involves licensing of trademarks and methods of doing business. This includes:

Chain store – retail outlets which share a branded and central management
Exclusive right – sell branded merchandise
Media franchise – ownership of the characters and setting of a film, video game, book, etc.

For example, as an iDesign 247 franchisee, an individual is granted the opportunity to market a well-liked brand and service. With a low initial investment, becoming an owner will automatically expose them to a mass group of consumers ready to take advantage of the services in which iDesign 247 offers.

Becoming an iDesign 247, or any other company, is both easy and valuable. You will be granted with the resources, creativity and knowledge of a growing brand. The company should always be available to help you prosper as a business owner.

Below are the top ten (10) franchises of 2009. These companies were the most invested in businesses during the year (out of 500).

Subway
McDonald's
Liberty Tax Service
Sonic Drive-In Restaurants
InterContinental Hotels Group
Ace Hardware Corp.
Pizza Hut
The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc.
Circle K
Papa John's Int'l. Inc

Before you choose to become a franchisee, it is best to conduct thorough research. A lot of time, money and patience are endured when dealing with a franchise. Make the correct choice and make it work for you.

About CODANK Charlotte Web Design
CODANK is a top Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company located in Charlotte, NC. The company is dedicated to providing a broad range of web design services. CODANK specializes in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Graphic Design, Online Marketing, and Web Design and Development.

For more information, visit CODANK Charlotte Web Design and Internet Marketing Company at www.codank.com