More than a placeholder - DesignLive
DesignLive specialise in building automation, window furnishings and contract joinery. Looking through the work this company does will help give you an understanding of how much of a specialty area it is. Bringing together architects, designers, developers, engineers and corporations to create a unique 'smart' building is no small undertaking.
We were lucky enough to be recently working with Cornwell on the placeholder site for DesignLive. Under tight deadline recently a placeholder was needed to coincide with launch of new products and brand work. A placeholder is normally a single web page, logo and contact details that does just what it says, 'holds' the spot until content and a complete website is finished. The work that we ended up doing with Cornwell was much more than a placeholder site, seven pages and a registration option for people to record their details that hooks up to a database for email marketing.
We think it turned out really well and can't wait to get working on the full website for DesignLive.
Labels: design, DesignLive, melbourne, placeholder, web-design, Web-Design-Melbourne
Posted on Thursday, August 23, 2007
Google Supplemental Index
Most people wouldn't be aware that Google has a main search result database and a supplemental database (I'm using the term database rather than index, to help keep the explanation simple).
When you search for something in Google, it will generally only return results from its main database. If your query is obscure or there are not many results, Google may dip into its supplemental database to give you a few more results.
The supplemental database has had negative connotations within the search engine optimisation community. Often sites, that have been penalised by Google will have their web pages dumped into the supplemental results database. Other reasons can relate to lack of quality back links to those pages making them less important than other pages. Either way, it's not considered a good thing because your pages are unlikely to be shown in normal query results.
The problem is that your website is at the mercy of Google - if they decide that your pages should be in the supplemental index, then that's it. Don't panic though, it's not necessarily permanent. Generally new web pages will start out in the supplemental database, which is also often referred to as 'the sandbox'.
Results coming from the supplemental database have an additional note in their listing within Google - "supplemental result".... well at least until a few weeks ago.
- Make sure your pages are different (page titles, headings and content)
- Have unique URLs rather than ?product_id=12&category=13
- Have a good amount of content
- Make sure your pages don't link to dead end pages
- Get links from other reputable web sites
Labels: a-better-google-ranking, Search-Engine-Optimisation, SEO, Web-Design-Melbourne, Web-statistics
Posted on Monday, August 20, 2007
Down and Dirty on MySpace
We've written in the past about our thoughts on MySpace. No matter what you reckon about the most visited site on the planet, you cannot deny the benefit it has to people in the music industry. Be they band or individual artist, a profile can be set, tunes can be posted and if done right, a good image can be portrayed.
Winterun are a band that have spent the last five years in Melbourne building a strong cult following. Heavy rocking blues or tunes that are like "logs let loose down the mountainside", these guys are good. A huge live following and their passion for what they do has brought the boys from Melbourne to the release of a new single Stompa from their forthcoming album : Into The Underground.
Efront had the pleasure of working with Winterun on their new MySpace page recently and we're chuffed with the results. Check it out, listen to the new track Stompa but most importantly when you get a chance, check out these fellas live 'cos if you like your rock... you're gonna get into Winterun.
Labels: design, MySpace, pimp, web-design, Web-Design-Melbourne, Winterun
Posted on Sunday, August 05, 2007
Gray Nicolls
Just a quick cheeky little post to end the week!
If you're a cricket, rugby, netball, hockey or squash fan, you'll recognise some of the brands in the Gray Nicolls sports stable.
Brands include Gray Nicolls cricket bats (yes - the famous 'scoop'), County Cricket, to Gilbert & Steeden balls, Grays hockey and squash gear.
We're really pleased to be working again with HD Design on revamping the current GN Sports website.
Labels: redesign, web-design
Posted on Friday, August 03, 2007