Advertising on the Web

Websites on the Internet have become a very popular mode of advertisement, for not only the dot.coms but also for "brick and mortar" businesses.

Studies have also shown that many of these websites are not actually effective at bringing in business because they are difficult to use.

Since customers using the Web have so many choices, website usability is extremely important.

If the customer cannot find what they need on your site they will leave, probably never to return. They are not going to wait for your pages to download nor will they wade through a poorly designed site. If their first experience on your website is frustrating they will not waste their time by coming back.

Usability studies have shown that there are * four things users of websites want most, they are:

1. High-quality content that is relevant to users' needs
2. Often updated
3. Minimal download time
4. Ease of use

*From Jakob Nielsen's book Designing Web Usability

Three Main Components to Building a Website

1. function,
2. art,
3. and technology.

Now ask yourself these two questions:

1. What is the goal of my website?
2. Who is my audience?

Your website should be designed accordingly, using the correct technologies, functionality, design and style.

Technology

The third component of website design, technology, has been changing rapidly. Today, a website needs to be designed for universal access using the W3C technical standards.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) definition of universal access is

"To make the web accessible to all by promoting technologies that take into account the vast differences in culture, education, ability, material resources, and physical limitations of users on all continents."

Modern websites are Designed Using the W3C Web Standards

Mainz Press, LLC hand-codes web pages according to W3C standards for XHTML or HTML 4.01 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

Technologies Used by Mainz Press, LLC

• XHTML 1.0, XHTML 1.1 or XHTML Basic
• HTML 4.01
• Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 (WCAG)
• Cascading Style Sheets (CSS 1 and 2)
• JavaScript & DOM Scripting
• PHP 4
• MySQL 3.23
• ASP 3
• MS Access
• Flash 5
• XML and XSL
• Java2 Applets
• Server Side Includes (SSI)

Mainz Press, LLC will design new, or upgrade existing websites to meet your needs and current W3C specifications.

Benefits and Cost

XHTML, CSS, WCAG, SSI . . . Significant savings in long-term maintenance can be achieved by the use of these technologies, not to mention better accessibility for everyone.

The use of XHTML, CSS and designing according to WCAG guidelines means your page content can function in all browsers, wireless devices, assistive technology such as Braille readers or screen readers, and XML agents of the (not so distant) future as well as the browsers that we use today.

Mainz Press Advantages

We will provide you with a site that is:

1. Memorable
2. User friendly
3. Easy to navigate
4. Efficient to use
5. Accessible to individuals with disabilities
6. Interactive
7. Hand coded to W3C standards

Modern website designers need to be able to combine the eye of and artist, the analytical skills of a programmer and the strategies of website usability authorities and that's my gig!

Professional Affiliations

Membership with The HTML Writers Guild/International Webmasters Association.

  

. . . and My Dogs

My days are spent working on the computer, but at night I come home to 2 fabulous German Shepherds. One is a beautiful black & tan female named Jazz and the other a rambunctious sable male named Rummel ("trouble wears a sable coat").