How Important are Meta Tags?

So you may have heard of Meta Tags and may be aware that your website needs them, but what are they and how important are they?

Well Meta Tags are a small section of HTML code that sits behind any website page and gives search engines vital information about what that web page is about as well as information on whether to crawl and index it or not.

Meta tags should always be placed in the area of an HTML document. This starts just after the tag, and ends immediately before the tag. Meta Tags can comprise of many different types that tell search engines about that specific web page on your site.

Several of the most used Meta Tags that you may have heard of are as follows:

meta name="TITLE" content="your web page title goes here"
This Title Meta Tag represents a brief overview of the page, it should contain key words relevant to the page as well as the content within it. The Title Meta Tag can be seen in your internet browser bar at the top as well as any shortcuts on your computer, favorites in your browser or bookmarks. This Meta Tag should be no longer than 55 - 60 characters.

meta name="DESCRIPTION" content="your web page description goes here"
This Description Meta Tag should explain what your web page is all about, it should also contain similar key words used in your Title Meta Tag and the content of the web page. This will be shown as the description in search engine results pages. This Meta Tag should be no more than 150 characters.

meta name="KEYWORDS" content="key, words, go, here"
The Keyword Meta Tags should be 5-10 words a maximum of 175 characters. It is key that you ensure you add between 2 - 3 keywords you used in the title tag and place them early on in the list of key words. Larger Search Engines such as Google and Yahoo tend to ignore keyword tag now days, although smaller search engines do still use it.

meta name="ROBOTS" content="index, follow"
The Robots Meta Tags tells the Search Engines whether to index that page or not and whether to follow the links within the page.

meta name="AUTHOR" content="author's name"
This is not an important tag, but lets the author add his or her name to the page if required.

Some of the less well known or used Meta Tags are:

Copyright Meta Tag - The Copyright Meta Tag is used to indicate that your information is copy righted.
Email Meta Tag - The email us used to display the relevant contact address.
Language Meta Tag - The Language Meta Tag is utilized by regional search engines.
Distribution Meta Tag - The Distribution Meta Tag is used to tell search engines whether the page is global or locally oriented.
Rating Meta Tag - The Rating Meta Tag is used to set an audience content rating.
Revisit Meta Tag - The Revisit Meta Tag is used to tell search engines when to come back next.
Expires Meta Tag - The Expires Meta Tag is used to tell search engines when the page and content is no longer valid.

So now you are aware of what Meta Tags are, where they can be found and what Search Engines use them for, how important are they?

Well when the internet started out Meta Tags were one of the main methods used to optimise a page within a website, quite quickly however the tags began to be abused, especially the key words tag.. This has had a negative impact on how Search Engines view Met Tags and where on the scale of importance they now sit.

If you were to write a list of the 200 (ish) ways in which the Google algorithm ranks a website page, meta tags would be pretty low in that list.

Having said this they are still important and used in conjunction with some good content on your website as well as other tried and tested search engine methods, they can be a useful tool to the site.

The Title and Description tags are also important to allow users who search for you to view relevant and useful data from your site in the search engine results pages, which in turn will can be the edge to get people to your site.

So how important are Website Meta Tags? Well they are not as important as they used to be, but used in conjunction with good website content and if constructed correctly can still be an asset to any website.

Some useful Meta Tag links:

Meta Tag Analyser
Definition and Usage of Meta Tags
Meta Tag Generator
Spy on your Competitors Key words


Article Written by David Taplin

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, SEO and Logo Design.

Twitter - What's it all about?

What have I got in common with MC Hammer and Duncan Bannatyne? We are all slightly obsessed with posting 140 character messages to our followers at least once a day...
Just over 4 years ago, Twitter was launched.

Defined as a free micro-blogging service that allows people to read and send messages, called tweets, Twitter has certainly made its mark.

Once you have signed up to Twitter you can build up followers who search for you using your user name or find you on one of the profiles they follow. Tweeters can post links, pictures and status updates whenever they want. Mobile phone providers have created applications that can be downloaded so people can tweet on the go, users can also tweet by SMS.

Back in 1876 the telephone was invented, people were able to talk to others as much as they liked for as long as they liked but now society has changed. Twitter has revolutionised methods of communication. It suits the business person of 2010, who truly believes there are not enough hours in the day. They can keep up with friends, business colleagues, competitors, job offers and news headlines easily.

Twitter puts the emphasis back on the individual, they choose how often they use it, what they use it for and how many people they follow. By offering this tailored service Twitter is whatever the users make of it – the more you put in, the more you get out.

Businesses are also taking advantage of the Twitter Bug that has hit the World. With 75 million users businesses that overlook the importance of Twitter and don’t include it in their marketing plan are missing out. The service allows companies to connect with their target audience like never before. They can share information, monitor customer trends and gain feedback effectively and in real time.

As far as ‘jumping on the bandwagon’ goes, this is definitely one to get on!

Article Written by Carli Smith

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, Web Optimisation and Email Marketing.

Internet Explorer vs Firefox..

Internet Explorer (IE) and Firefox are two of the most popular web browsers on the market but can interpret Javascript in different ways. A website which looks fine in IE can potentially look different in Firefox. This article will highlight seven examples as to where IE and Firefox differ and allow you as a developer to create a unified website regardless of browser type.

#1 Class and ID names are case sensitive in FireFoxWhen searching by ID, IE is not case senstive. For example to obtain the value of a variable called "lowercase" we would do the following:

The IE Syntax:document.getElementById("lowercase").value = true; // validdocument.getElementById("LOWERCASE").value = true; // also valid
The Firefox Syntax:document.getElementById("lowercase").value = true; // validdocument.getElementById("LOWERCASE").value = true; // invalid

#2 The CSS “float” propertyThe syntax for accessing a specific css property for any given object is object.style.property. But as the word “float” is already reserved for use in JavaScript, we cannot access the “float” property using object.style.float. Here is how we do it in the two browsers:

The IE Syntax:document.getElementById("object").style.styleFloat = "center";
The Firefox Syntax:document.getElementById("object").style.cssFloat = "center";

#3 document.all fails to work in FirefoxI.E introduced document.all in IE4 to allow access to the various parts of the web page. The correct way to access an element by id for both browsers is to call the document.getElementById() method with the id as a string as the argument.

The IE Syntax:document.getElementById("object").value = true; // validdocument.all.object.value = true; // also valid
The Firefox Syntax:document.getElementById("object").value = true; // validdocument.all.object.value = true; // invalid

#4 Getting the Cursor Position

The IE Syntax: var CursorPosition = [0, 0]; CursorPosition[0] = event.clientX; CursorPosition[1] = event.clientY; The Firefox Syntax: var CursorPosition = [0, 0]; CursorPosition[0] = event.pageX; CursorPosition[1] = event.pageY;

#5 Getting the Size of the Browser Window

The IE Syntax: var BrowserSize = [0, 0]; BrowserSize[0] = document.documentElement.clientWidth; BrowserSize[1] = document.documentElement.clientHeight;
The Firefox Syntax: var BrowserSize = [0, 0]; BrowserSize[0] = window.innerWidth; BrowserSize[1] = window.innerHeight;

#6 Strict Syntax Validation

FireFox validates syntax very strict. The following example will not work correctly without “px”:myDiv.style.width = (myDiv.offsetWidth – 50) + ‘px’; Whereas, IE will automatically add “px” if the developer overlooks this string.

#7 Looking up the text value of parent node. IE and FireFox treats it in different ways.
if(navigator.appName == “Microsoft Internet Explorer”) //IE{selectedValue = document.getElementById(myID).parentNode.innerText;}else if(navigator.appName == “Netscape”) //Firefox{selectedValue = document.getElementById(myID).parentNode.childNodes.item(1).innerHTML;}

Article Written by Paul Clifton

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How Important is a Company Logo?

How Important is a Company Logo? A company logo is the face of the business; it is an effective way to give a company a personal image that people can connect with, no matter what the size of the organisation. It has to be unique and memorable whilst reflecting values of the business.

It is extremely important for companies to have a well executed integrated marketing campaign to ensure consistency of message and use media channels to their full potential. A good company logo can act as the lynch pin for this. Consumers will get used to seeing the logo and know instantly who the company is and what they are about.

A good logo acts as a silent salesman, it allows instant brand recognition from consumers and it can conjure emotions and thought processes connected with the brand. A consumer is more likely to choose a company with a logo they recognise because of the connections they have associated with it – Looking at it simply people are more likely to trust a person who they recognise.

Two elements have to be carefully considered when designing a logo:

Firstly design – this can either be simple or complex, this decision depends completely on the brand image. It is also important to be sure that the logo is still effective when reproduced. If a logo is too complex when printed on a small scale it may lose its effectiveness.

Secondly colour – different colours bring with them varying connotations. Banks tend to use gold, green and blue to project a mature and trustworthy image whereas fast food restaurants and companies aimed mainly at the children’s market chose bright colours such as yellow and red. There are also differences with the meaning of colours in different countries so if you’re dealing with a global brand this might be something to take into consideration.

Taking the Chanel logo as an example; the use of black and white projects an elegant and classic image in keeping with that of the brand. The backward C’s further this. If you were to ask any fashion conscious male or female they are guaranteed to know the Chanel logo – I would even go so far as to say that many people who aren’t interested in fashion would know it too.

This is also evidence that some products would be nothing without their logos. Imagine most designer bags minus a logo, many of them would just be simple bags and they wouldn’t cost half their current price.

Another way to grab consumer’s attention is to have hidden meanings within logos this can cause discussion around the brand. However it is a good idea not to make them too metaphorical otherwise people may miss the point.

So how important is a company logo? Very. A logo is so important that companies are attempting to sue others who they believe to be copying them. An example of this is back in 2008 Lacoste attempted to stop a Gloucestershire dentist from using a crocodile as the logo for the business.

A logo is a brilliant opportunity to connect with the consumer and cement your business into their brand repertoire. Don’t miss out...

Article Written by Carli Smith

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, Web Optimisation and Branding.

Do People Feel Safe Buying Online?

Do People Feel Safe Buying Online? The UK leads the rest of Europe in terms of the amount spent online with the biggest sales on books, DVD’s, leisure and travel. Sales are estimated to reach £56 billion by 2014 so with figures like that is it still possible that people are dubious about purchasing items online?

Department stores are popular because consumers are able to get everything from under one roof. Online is exactly the same but with an endless amount of goods, consumers can sit on their chairs or sofas , order whatever they would like from underwear to remote controlled cars and it can be done 24/7.

Reasons that people worry about buying goods online vary. Some worry about their credit card information getting into the wrong hands, others worry about their personal information being used in a fraudulent way. Certain individuals are simply intimidated by the whole process and others, particularly younger people, don’t want to wait for the delivery of the goods and see it was a waste of time.

E-tailing offers different benefits depending on what the individual may want. Online individuals can:

- Reserve and collect
- Purchase and get it delivered
- Search for the best price - Three out of five consumers think that the prices offered online are better than the ones in store
- Buy online because they don’t want the human interaction
- Some items are not available in store - The internet has a limitless shop front

Statistics show that women are more dubious than men when purchasing goods online with many of them abandoning a sale if the website isn’t working as they expected. 33% of consumers worry about security and 41% prefer using a well-known retailer when buying online.

To make customers feel comfortable websites need to provide evidence that they can be trusted with consumers’ personal details and make them feel at ease. There is however 20% of consumers who would be happy buying from a website they haven’t heard of. Leading retailers, such as Argos and Marks and Spencer, have begun integrating their channels in order to make the customers experience seamless and to reassure the 80% of consumers who prefer a website they recognise.

With generations of children being taught that ordering items online is convenient and the methods becoming even more efficient the number of people purchasing goods will undoubtedly increase. There will however always be people who prefer not to purchase certain items online but without those people where would it leave the high street?

Article Written by Carli Smith

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, Web Optimisation and Branding.

Facebook - What's it all about?

Facebook - What's it all about?

It all began in Mark Zuckerberg’s Harvard University student room back in 2004 and has been transformed into one of the largest social networking sites online with over 500 million active users. Facebook can be explained as a social networking site designed for individuals who want to easily stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers.

Users are able to add friends either by email address or search for them by name. They can then request their friendship, share photos, update their status and write on their wall. It is essentially like texting but on the internet, however it is important to note that others can see it unless it is send by private message.

Facebook has played a part in being responsible for the changes in the way people interact. Users are able to keep in touch with friends who have moved to the other side of the world, see their pictures and speak to them on Facebook chat – an IM service at the bottom of your webpage which allows you to see when other users are online. However Facebook has been at the centre of a long running debate about how the younger generation are not taking part in ‘real’ conversations and prefer to ‘poke’ each other over an internet site.

It is not just individuals who can benefit from the site, it is also a helpful tool for businesses. Companies can create groups and pages with information about themselves and their products. Facebook users can then decide to ‘Become a Fan’ or join a group to offer their support. There have been a few occasions where Facebook groups have had an impact on wider society, for example the 2009 Christmas number 1 was Rage Against The Machine instead of X-factor winner Joe McElderry.

Geo-location tagging company Foursquare is now facing competition from Facebook who have just launched ‘Facebook Places’ - a new application for mobile phones to allow users to alert friends in real time where they are, what they are doing and who they are with. For now it is only available in the US however Facebook have said it will be rolled out to other countries within the next few months. This application will no doubt reignite the debate of online privacy and whether the ‘youths of today’ are sharing too much information. Facebook stress that users chose to opt into the application and decide whether or not to check-in at a certain location.

Privacy settings on Facebook are easy to change and it is suggested that individuals make sure that they are au fait with just what others can see. Check out my other blog post: ‘Social networking – business, pleasure or both?’ for advice about adding work colleagues to Facebook.
The best way to learn about something is to experience it so set up your Facebook account today!

A fantastic guide to anyone with no idea about Facebook who wants to start: http://news.cnet.com/newbies-guide-to-facebook/

Article Written by Carli Smith

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, Web Optimisation and Branding.

What is Branding?

What is Branding?

Branding is your brand name.

Branding is your company logo.

Branding is the people who work for you.

The list is endless and is more comprehensive than initially thought......

Every company has a name, employees and possibly a logo but these alone don’t make them brands.

Brands are of course influenced by the efforts made by the company to project a certain image to customers through advertising, marketing and PR. However the second half of branding is based on the thoughts and feelings that people associate with the products/ service. If companies can identify these cognitive and affective processes then they will be able to target their customers more effectively and even influence these processes.

Does a good brand bring any benefits?

Creating successful branding for your business can be crucial, especially in hard financial times such as the recent recession.

Having a successful brand provokes loyalty from your customers as they feel a connection with your company and would prefer to continue giving their custom.

Branding makes you memorable in amongst an already crowded market place. Customers can sometimes feel a sense of ‘information overload’ when they enter the market place, a known logo along with an integrated marketing campaign can act as a safety net as they search for something familiar.

Customers associate slick brands with successful and professional businesses. Are you projecting the right image? Your business must have strengths, that is why it succeeds so tell your customers about them.

Branding your product or service is not easy but for this precise reason it is something that is worth doing. By investing both money and time into your brand now you should reap rewards in the future as customers remain loyal to the brand that they know and love. Why not differentiate your brand from others by putting in extra effort to give yours the edge?

Some links you might find useful:

http://www.underconsideration.com/brandnew/
http://businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/action/detail?type=RESOURCES&itemId=1073790772
http://identityworks.com/default.htm
http://www.slideshare.net/coolstuff/the-brand-gap
http://www.brandrepublic.com/


Article Written by Carli Smith

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, Web Optimisation and Branding.

Social Networking - Business or Pleasure?

Social networking has exploded onto the scene in recent years and I believe its arrival has changed the way in which people communicate forever. I was born straight into the technological era and had my first mobile phone at the age of 8 – although I had no idea what to do with it and can’t remember using it....

Mobile phones with their ability to text, access the internet and emails have made social networking a way of life. I think nothing of messaging a friend on Facebook and if I don’t receive an email notifying me that someone has commented on my status or written on my wall all day I’m slightly offended.

Luckily I am of the generation that I can take full advantage of these technological advancements. Facebook has always been there, Twitter and LinkedIn, all of these sites have me as a member and I use each of them actively for what I deem to be their role.

It wasn’t until I took my first step into the grown up working world I realised that it might not be a good idea to add everyone I know onto Facebook. Would my new boss really want to see what I was doing outside of work? I have to admit, I’m not much of a rebel and only tend to go out once or twice a week but is it appropriate for them to know who my friends are, where I am and what I’m planning on doing?

There are many dangers associated with having colleagues and bosses on Facebook: There have been a number of stories in the news about employees being taken to court because of writing derogatory status’s about their work and in some cases their fellow employees.
There are unwritten ‘rules’ regarding using peoples pictures for business reasons – they are a minefield and depend completely on the person in question.

There also seems to be no set regulations on using information that they might publish. For example if you are friends with a colleague who is under performing and you see their status updates about relationship problems should you alter the way you deal with the situation?

With one fifth of employees spending more than 45 hours a week at work their choice of who they spend their time with is limited. The likelihood is that they see their workmates more often than their friends.This in fact begs the question: Are the lines between individuals work lives and private lives becoming blurred? And do they now overlap?

The emergence of LinkedIn.com seemed to fill this niche. When asked what it is I reply: ‘It’s just like Facebook but for my work people’. A very technical explanation but accurate.Working in PR I know that building relationships is the basis of my career. LinkedIn provides me with a platform to do this, however it keeps it professional as there is very little personal information about me there apart from my previous work, one profile picture and status updates are more likely to be interesting links rather than how I am feeling.

Let’s call it clear cut: Facebook for friends and LinkedIn for business colleagues. What happens if your boss requests your friendship on Facebook to tag you in pictures of the Christmas party or invites you to join the company group. You can’t exactly reject. Or can you? It all depends on the type of business that you work for, each individual has to decide how much information they allow to be online and who they want to access it.

In conclusion social networking can be used for both professional and personal reasons. However there are different sites for different applications and care should be taken to make sure that the two don’t overlap.... not too much anyway.

Article Written by Carli Smith

Visit Inferno Designs for more on Web Design, Web Optimisation and Branding.