SEO Articles
Is your website SEO Friendly?
We endeavour to learn as much as we can about a client's
particular sector in
Search Engine Optimisation. However we also conduct
a great deal of our own research to ensure we have the fullest understanding
of SEO and all factors that influence so that we can put our full
weight behind your project.
We often act in an advisory capacity and ideas sounding
board when marketing managers are putting plans together. Regular
contact and meetings help both parties ensure that key points are
achieved on time and within budget.
See SEO Tools
Your website looks good. but is it optimised for search
engines? A lot of effort has gone into to making it attractive - but
you could be designing in vain. Those colour schemes grab the attention,
but can a colour bring traffic to your site? for more information
visit SEO Services.
Search Engine Optimisation guidelines
There are no firm rules on making websites accessible. However, the
World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has produced guidelines as part of
its Web Accessibility Initiative. These are becoming widely accepted,
and are divided into three priorities:
-
Priority 1: websites must comply, otherwise some
users will find it impossible to access information
-
Priority 2: websites should comply, otherwise some
users will find it difficult to access information
-
Priority 3: websites may comply, otherwise some users
will find it somewhat difficult to access information.
However, it is important to realise that just implementing these guidelines
does not guarantee your site will be found on the internet, for this
reason good Website
Promotion , SEO Tools and
Email Marketing may be invaluable to your website.
SEO - Room for improvement
Examples of the accessibility features that should be taken into account
for websites include:
- Structuring the site so that a disabled visitor's specialist software
can read the text aloud, or output it to a Braille display
- Ensuring the site can be navigated from the keyboard only without
using a mouse, preferably through the use of access keys
- Allowing the visitor to enlarge font sizes
- Providing the option to turn off blinking text or moving, scrolling
or auto-updating displays
- Enabling text and background colours to be varied
- Ensuring text for links makes sense when read out of context
- Not relying on colour alone to provide information
- Ensuring documents are clear and simple.
You might think that an obvious answer is to build a separate, text-only
version of your website. However, for those with dyslexia or cognitive
problems a text-only site can be a nightmare. A well designed combination
of text and graphics can help enormously, as well as not giving the
impression of being a second class service.
Making the necessary changes can also have additional benefits, such
as giving a site a higher ranking with the search engines. It can also
assist visitors using low bandwidth devices, such as mobile phones or
PDA's.
Accessibility is of course not the only goal; usability is an essential
feature of any effective website. While accessibility will ensure that
anyone, using any technology, can access the content of a site, it is
usability that helps them find what they are looking for.
Help is out there
Awareness of the need for accessibility for websites has grown in recent
years, and there are a number of web sites that offer help. The World
Wide Web Consortium is setting technical standards for web design and
the challenge now for site owners is to produce information that is
accessible to all, whilst continuing to create striking visual communication.
To find out how Artery Stark can help you adapt your website to meet
the new standards call 0870 225 0377or email info@knowalmedia.co.uk
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