We have been showcasing some of the website features found on using the WebRevelation Portfolio this week.  We've talked about themes, flash pages, headers, and user-friendly details.   Today, let's just talk about some "cool" websites.

Concepts

Calming Hugs produces and sells weighted clothing, which some experts have found helpful to children with autism, ADD, and other sensory processing disorders.  I don't know anything about the effectiveness of these devices, but anyone who uses his or her creativity to try to help kids is "cool," in my book, so kudos.

Secure Pocket Square is a website dedicated to selling one thing, and one thing only.  I've seen too many websites start out this way, then fall prey to the temptation to try to become an online department store.  This website is very focused.  The colors and graphics are vivid, and beautiful. 

TEEM - The Education and Employment Ministry focuses on a major need in a downed economy: Helping people get jobs, or better jobs.  They get an A+ for relevancy. 

Service

The Oklahoma State Trooper's Association has a beautiful page dedicated to the memory of those Oklahoma State Troopers who gave the ultimate gift of sacrifice in protecting Oklahoma - their lives.  Very touching.

On a much lighter note, Keegan Ledford Construction, Inc.'s website is all about helping the first-time homebuyer.  It has resources that are useful whether you ultimately buy from them or not.  This is a wonderful community service.

Graphics

I've mentioned several times during this series the importance of not allowing your graphics to become a distraction, and this is important to remember.  Every once in a while, though, a site has such AWESOME graphics, that you just have to go there to see them.  Such is the case with City Glass OKC - be sure to click through the menu on the left and watch the center box, and prepare to be mesmerized. 

Also, if you like cars, you'll have to check out the header on Elite Mobile Wash Systems, and get ready to drool.  This site also gets the satire award for today, with the question, "Why is it important to wash my car?" 

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.

This week, we're showcasing some of the website features found on using the WebRevelation Portfolio.  So far, we've talked about themes, flash pages, and headers.  Now, let's talk about some of the other details that make a website user-friendly.

Forms:  Having worked in the insurance industry for many years, I can verify that one of the most common incoming phone calls is a customer, provider, broker or vendor looking for a form.  Many have already tried to find the forms online before calling, so making the forms as easy to find as possible will reduce the number of phone calls.  Ability Orthopedics has done a good job of this, as has the Advanced Laser Center of Oklahoma.

Sign-ups:  If you are offering any sort of classes or seminars, your customers will have frequent questions about those classes, and how to sign up.  If they are able to do this online, it will make your job easier, and this task easier for them.  The Oklahoma Rider Education Program has a great example of this, as has 4 H.I.M. ministries, which gives people information about how to sign up for missions trips.

About: Prospective customers will often peruse a business or organization's website to get a "feel" about who the people are who run the business.  Beracah Productions has an excellent "About" page, with menus for simplifying navigation.  Onsite Cellular Repair has cleverly included a list (not a drop-down menu - an actual list) of their major services on the front page, which has paid off well for them in terms of Search Engine Optimization. Champions Photo has included an excellent online portfolio, demonstrating how they make ordinary people (not professional models) look great in photos, and Brush Busters has humorously provided "before and after" photos to show what they do (plus, they have an awesome photo of a brush hog in action).  Finally, Burleson Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics has provided a "kid friendly" office tour, which might be helpful for parents trying to convince their kids that going to the dentist is going to be "fun."

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.

In this week's discussion on choosing website features that enhance both the aesthetics and usefulness of websites, of your website, we have talked about themes and flash pages.  As you may remember, we are using the WebRevelation Portfolio, for inspiration.  Today, let's talk about the header.

While a feature header is optional, many web sites use the space at the top of the site to help create a consistent look on all of the pages.   It can also be used as a menu, to display the corporate logo, to feature products or services, or for a variety of other reasons.  As with any other graphic-intensive feature, it is important to make sure the header does not become a distraction.  Here are a few examples of headers I like:

The Central Regional Air Planning Association and The Central States Air Resource Agencies are good examples of keeping a header simple. The design is clean, and easy to navigate.  The headers contain the text version of the agency logos, and the menus - nothing more.  This is very effective on sites such as these, which are list / resource laden.  Anything more busy might make navigating the site more difficult. 

Redeemed Missionary Baptist Church has a website that I really like for a church website.  The header includes a very pretty stained-glass cross graphic, along with the name of the church, and rotating photo feature that answers all of the questions that new visitors are likely to have (and that are often answered verbally on other church websites), like, what should I wear to your church (looks like dressing up and dressing down is fine here)? What kind of services do you have (we see a traditional choir, with robes)? How big is the church (we see a view of the main sanctuary from the balcony - not too big, not too small)?  Instantly, people looking for a church in the area know if this is a place they would feel comfortable.  Plus, the Pastor's wife is wearing a really awesome hat - I really like pretty hats. 

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.

This week, we're pointing out website features that are used in a way that enhances both the aesthetics and usefulness of websites.  To do this, I explored the WebRevelation Portfolio, for inspiration.  Yesterday, we talked about choosing a website theme.  Today, let's address the flash page.

Let me start by saying that I'm generally not a fan of the flash page.  The flash page is that first page you come to on some websites when you type the sites main URL into your browser.  It's often an annoying graphic or video that seems to be there for no other reason than to fill space.  However, these flash pages can be entertaining, and for entertainment websites, they can be useful, if done properly.  The can also be used as a menu to simplify the site design.  Here are some examples I found.

City Brick Walk is a site focusing on an a multi-club complex in Oklahoma City's "Brick Town" district.  Since the theme is entertainment, it makes sense for the flash page to be fun and entertaining, and this one is.  It also effectively provides a menu to each of the clubs.

Park Avenue Grill has effectively used their flash page as a menu, and as a way to instantly familiarize new visitors with the ambiance of their restaurant.  Jazzy music, with photos of the chic, elegant decor of the restaurant instantly let readers know whether or not this is the type of restaurant they are looking for.

The Reef Shop is my favorite in the flash page category.  The audio is a simulated underwater sonar, and the flash page graphics are a convenient menu, with an aquarium theme.  Very pretty, and practical.  Well, done.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.

I was looking for inspiration for a project recently, and turned to the WebRevelation Portfolio, where I found some great stuff.  The WebRev staff is very talented, and so are the customers - when those talents come together, there are some great results.  This week, I'll be pointing out some of the website features that caught my eye.

Let's start with themes.  The theme includes the colors, fonts, and templates and layout of the site.  In many cases, a simple, no-frills theme is preferable.  In fact, a theme that is too busy can be a distraction, rather than an enhancement.  It takes some skill and talent to strike the perfect balance between the "creative" and  the"useful" needs of your website.  Here are a few sites that found that balance.

Choice Facility Partners is a company that helps governmental organizations and non-profits with purchasing buildings.  The theme they chose looks like a house, or building.  When you enter the site, you automatically know what industry you're in.  The theme, however, does not distract from the information provided on the site.  Very well done.

Ethnic Graphic Media is (as the name implies) a media company. Since they're all about putting on a show, they have chosen a slideshow theme to showcase their movies and services.  Very interesting.

Johnny's Charcoal Broiler started out with a fairly generic, well-designed, easy-to-read, red and black theme, but added their own graphics.  I guarantee if you spend a few minutes on this site, you'll be craving a good burger.

What's Cooking: Real Food for Real People is my favorite in the "theme" category.  Maybe it has something to do with that chocolate-covered strawberry in the header (we'll discuss headers later this week), but I also really love the humorous way they have set up their menus as "fancy" serving trays.  The colors used are stylish, trendy, and fun.  Within a split second after landing on this site, you know exactly who these folks are and what they're about.  I just wished they were near me.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.