Test Post from iPixel Creative | Singapore Web Design & CMS Development Company Blog http://www.ipixel.com.sg/blog
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Cross Browser Compatibility
There are literally hundreds of web browsers in use around the world. All of them implement the W3C document standards a little differently. Web design company must wrestle with these differences to make a web site work. This article discusses the effect those different implementations has on design.
What is Cross Browser Compatibility?
If a web page is completely cross-browser compatible, it will look more or less the same in all of the existing web browsers. The most commonly used browsers are Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Firefox and Opera. The table below shows their usage as of November 2005.
| Browser | % Of Users |
| Internet Explorer 6 | 68 |
| Internet Explorer 5 | 6 |
| Firefox 1 | 17.5 |
| Firefox 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Netscape | 3 |
| Opera | 1.5 |
| Other Browsers | 2.5 |
Each one of these browser implements HTML, JavaScript and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) a little differently. Some difference only create cosmetic difference others can break the webpage. The situation gets worse because each browser is free to implement “enhancements” to the W3C standard version of each of these formats.
Then to compound matters even more the underlying operating systems also creates difference in how the computer displays graphical elements and text differently. When you add the fact that people are also using multiple versions of each of the browsers, no wonder web designers get headaches.
So what is a web designer to do?
Obviously, 100% compatibility with all potential browsers is impossible. But it is possible to design your web page so it will work in the most popularly used browsers.
To accomplish that, a web designer must write squeaky-clean code that conforms to the W3C standards to get consistent results across all browser platforms. The whole idea behind the standards is that if each browser adheres to the same set of rules, you will get more or less consistent results in all of the existing browsers.
Conforming can be a real challenge. It will limit some of the neater effects available in specific browsers. There are online code validators available. You can validate HTML code at http://validator.w3.org , the validator can also validate your CSS and links. The service is free.
The validator checks your code based on the DOCTYPE you specify on the webpage. The DOCTYPE tells the browser which version of HTML or CSS the web page is using.
HTML Editors
There are some compatibility issues associated with anything other than hand coding for HTML (and for that matter, even with hand coding.)
Best Choice – The best choice for compatibility is Dreamweaver but you cannot use layers. Layers must be converted to tables to be used.
Worst Choice – The worst choice is FrontPage. FrontPage is loaded with problems because it uses Microsoft and therefore internet explored specific code. Items that will not work in other browsers include:
- Marquees – you can use a JavaScript scroller to create a similar effect that will work in the most common browsers.
- bgsound tag – this is IE specific.
- Page Transitions – this is IE specific.
- Front Page generated Style sheets – this is IE specific and can have unexpected results or crash other browsers.
- Front Page generated DHTML – it is better to use JavaScript to create the effects you want since it is more likely to be cross browser compatible.
- Hover Buttons – this is IE specific and has been know to crash browsers including older versions of IE. You can use JavaScript, flash or CSS to get similar effects.
Other HTML Editors – the rest of the HTML editors will fall somewhere between Dreamweaver and FrontPage in cross browser compatibility. You just have to test the code your HTML editor generates.
CSS Style Sheets
Not all of your style sheets will work correctly in all of the browsers. However, style sheets rarely crash a web browser, but sometimes the pages will be downright ugly if not completely unreadable. One of the major CSS problems is absolute positioning since most browsers do not support it and it will cause different block to overlap others and create a jumbled mess.
Flash
Flash is great for adding style to a webpage and Macromedia provides flash plug-ins for all of the major web browsers. But don’t build the entire site with flash. Browser for the blind, most handheld devices do not support flash.
A small but significant number of users don’t like it and don’t install the plug-in so they won’t be able to access a flash site. Also, search engines spyders can’t follow the links on a flash site and won’t index it.
Graphic Links
While these are attractive, they have the same problems as flash with browsers for the blind and hand-held devices. Always use the alt tag with graphics.
Bottom Line – even code that is validated may not work correctly in all the major browsers. The best way a web designer can create cross browser compatibility is to test all of their web pages in the most popular browsers to see what happens. Personally, I find that a combination of style sheets and tables works best to ensure my pages look good in all of the browsers.
Cross Browser Compatibility
Free Download: Dashboard Elements PSD
Today we have a free PSD file available for download. It includes a few creative dashboard elements that can be used in your own designs. The PSD file is layered to allow for easy editing and customizations. View it in full size to see the detail.
This PSD was designed by Grzegorz Grzelak and donated to our blog readers. The resources can be used for personal or commercial projects. No attribution is required.
Download the file (1.5 MB zip file)
Free Download: Dashboard Elements PSD
Thursday, October 25, 2012
7 Tips for Closing the Sale
If you’re like most freelance web design Singapore ers one of your least favorite parts of the job is sales. While it’s not like a lot of other types of sales, landing projects from new clients does require some sales effort to communicate what you can offer and to convince them that you are the best person for the job.
Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to increase your effectiveness at closing the deal and securing the work. It’s really all about communication, which is a much more pleasant way of thinking about it as opposed to sales. In this article we’ll take a look at a few tips for improving communication throughout the process that will help you to land a higher percentage of your potential clients.
1. Pay Attention to the Real Issues
One of the keys to closing a sale with a potential client is to find out what they really want and to offer it. Each client and each project is unique, and if you fall into the trap of thinking that each Singapore web design web design Singapore client will want the same things you will wind up not offering enough of a personalized service. The key is to offer a customized solution to their problems or to the issues that they want to address.
This sounds pretty simple, and it doesn’t have to be complicated, but many freelancers overlook it. In the past I’ve hired freelancers for a number of projects and I’m always amazed at how many people just send a canned response without even addressing the project’s details. I’ll have a description of the project on a job board and many of the responses are obviously just a generic email template stating the person’s qualifications and sometimes with a link to a portfolio. In many cases the services they are listing in the email don’t even fit with the particular project. I delete those emails very quickly, and I’m sure most other clients would do the same.
On the other hand, what stands out in a positive way is someone who responds (whether through email, a phone call, or face-to-face) in a way that shows they have taken the time to learn about the specific project. They understand the basics of what is needed and they can offer services and expertise that will help to solve the problems and address the issues associated with the specific project.
2. Respond Promptly
When a potential client is looking to get information from you about your services, chances are they are also reaching out to other web designers. If they emailed you or filled out the contact form on your Singapore web developmentsite, they may have done the same thing at the sites of a few other web design Singapore ers. If you’re responding to a job listing or placing a bid on a site like Odesk or Elance, you know others are going to be responding as well.
Prompt responses are always appreciated by clients. They send a positive message about your responsiveness and the type of customer service that you will provide, and it also gives you the chance to make a strong impression before others beat you to it. If the clients has already been in communication with a few other qualified web design Singapore ers before they hear from you, your odds of landing the project will be drastically reduced.
3. Communicate Personally, but Professionally
Professional communication is important, but most clients also prefer to work with people that they like. That means you need to be yourself and connect with potential clients rather than being allSingapore web design company all the time. It’s possible to be personable and to show your personality without being unprofessional.
The Singapore web design web design Singapore process involves a lot of communication between the web design Singapore er and the client, and many clients can be intimidated by the process. If the client enjoys the initial conversations with you and if you can put him or her at ease, you’ll be in a much better position to secure the project.
4. Demonstrate Your Expertise
In the first point I talked about the importance of offering a personalized, customized solution based in the client’s unique situation. Taking that a step further, you’ll also want to demonstrate or sell your own experience and expertise. It could be on a general level, but to be even more successful you should show examples of similar projects. Show specifically how you were able to help a client in a similar situation and explain that you’re confident you can be a great asset for this project as well.
Case studies from past projects can be especially helpful if you’re able to show how the client benefited from your work, or if you can show measurable results of the project (such as an x% increase in online sales after a re-web design Singapore ). Some web design Singapore ers include detailed case studies on their portfolio Singapore web developmentsites, and another option is a printed case study booklet.
5. Ask for the Singapore business directory
This is a simple point, but one that many freelancers miss out on. Be sure to ask for the Singapore business directory and make sure the client knows that you want the project. If you’ve talked to the potential client about their project and provided a quote, take the next step and ask them to move forward by signing the contract and getting started.
Asking for the Singapore business directory also gives you a chance to get to the root of any potential objections that the client might have. If they like what you are proposing but they are hesitant to move forward when you ask for the Singapore business directory, there is something holding them back. It may or may not be something that is within your control, but if you ask them about their hesitations or what would convince them to move forward, you may be able address issues or concerns that you didn’t even know existed.
6. Follow Up
Another mistake that many freelancers make is simply not following up. How long you wait before following up will depend on the situation and where things were left during your last communication with the client. In many situations you may want to send an email or make a follow up phone call if you haven’t heard anything in a few days.
From my experience, many clients that make initial contact with web design Singapore ers about a project will let it fall through the cracks for a while. So if you haven’t heard back from a client regarding your proposal, don’t just assume that they hired another web design Singapore er. There’s a good chance that they just haven’t yet made a decision to move forward. If you are proactive you’ll have a much better chance of getting the work.
7. Cut Ties When it Doesn’t Fit
Not every project will be a good fit for you. It could be the type of project, the industry, the budget, the time frame, or any number of other issues. If the project isn’t a good fit for you, explain that to the client and move on. Don’t waste your time. Instead, use your time to do a better job of communicating with other potential clients and you can focus on landing the projects that are the best fit for you.
If you’re like most freelance web design Singapore ers one of your least favorite parts of the job is sales. While it’s not like a lot of other types of sales, landing projects from new clients does require some sales effort to communicate what you can offer and to convince them that you are the best person for the job.
Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to increase your effectiveness at closing the deal and securing the work. It’s really all about communication, which is a much more pleasant way of thinking about it as opposed to sales. In this article we’ll take a look at a few tips for improving communication throughout the process that will help you to land a higher percentage of your potential clients.
1. Pay Attention to the Real Issues
One of the keys to closing a sale with a potential client is to find out what they really want and to offer it. Each client and each project is unique, and if you fall into the trap of thinking that each Singapore web design web design Singapore client will want the same things you will wind up not offering enough of a personalized service. The key is to offer a customized solution to their problems or to the issues that they want to address.
This sounds pretty simple, and it doesn’t have to be complicated, but many freelancers overlook it. In the past I’ve hired freelancers for a number of projects and I’m always amazed at how many people just send a canned response without even addressing the project’s details. I’ll have a description of the project on a job board and many of the responses are obviously just a generic email template stating the person’s qualifications and sometimes with a link to a portfolio. In many cases the services they are listing in the email don’t even fit with the particular project. I delete those emails very quickly, and I’m sure most other clients would do the same.
On the other hand, what stands out in a positive way is someone who responds (whether through email, a phone call, or face-to-face) in a way that shows they have taken the time to learn about the specific project. They understand the basics of what is needed and they can offer services and expertise that will help to solve the problems and address the issues associated with the specific project.
2. Respond Promptly
When a potential client is looking to get information from you about your services, chances are they are also reaching out to other web designers. If they emailed you or filled out the contact form on your Singapore web developmentsite, they may have done the same thing at the sites of a few other web design Singapore ers. If you’re responding to a job listing or placing a bid on a site like Odesk or Elance, you know others are going to be responding as well.
Prompt responses are always appreciated by clients. They send a positive message about your responsiveness and the type of customer service that you will provide, and it also gives you the chance to make a strong impression before others beat you to it. If the clients has already been in communication with a few other qualified web design Singapore ers before they hear from you, your odds of landing the project will be drastically reduced.
3. Communicate Personally, but Professionally
Professional communication is important, but most clients also prefer to work with people that they like. That means you need to be yourself and connect with potential clients rather than being allSingapore web design company all the time. It’s possible to be personable and to show your personality without being unprofessional.
The Singapore web design web design Singapore process involves a lot of communication between the web design Singapore er and the client, and many clients can be intimidated by the process. If the client enjoys the initial conversations with you and if you can put him or her at ease, you’ll be in a much better position to secure the project.
4. Demonstrate Your Expertise
In the first point I talked about the importance of offering a personalized, customized solution based in the client’s unique situation. Taking that a step further, you’ll also want to demonstrate or sell your own experience and expertise. It could be on a general level, but to be even more successful you should show examples of similar projects. Show specifically how you were able to help a client in a similar situation and explain that you’re confident you can be a great asset for this project as well.
Case studies from past projects can be especially helpful if you’re able to show how the client benefited from your work, or if you can show measurable results of the project (such as an x% increase in online sales after a re-web design Singapore ). Some web design Singapore ers include detailed case studies on their portfolio Singapore web developmentsites, and another option is a printed case study booklet.
5. Ask for the Singapore business directory
This is a simple point, but one that many freelancers miss out on. Be sure to ask for the Singapore business directory and make sure the client knows that you want the project. If you’ve talked to the potential client about their project and provided a quote, take the next step and ask them to move forward by signing the contract and getting started.
Asking for the Singapore business directory also gives you a chance to get to the root of any potential objections that the client might have. If they like what you are proposing but they are hesitant to move forward when you ask for the Singapore business directory, there is something holding them back. It may or may not be something that is within your control, but if you ask them about their hesitations or what would convince them to move forward, you may be able address issues or concerns that you didn’t even know existed.
6. Follow Up
Another mistake that many freelancers make is simply not following up. How long you wait before following up will depend on the situation and where things were left during your last communication with the client. In many situations you may want to send an email or make a follow up phone call if you haven’t heard anything in a few days.
From my experience, many clients that make initial contact with web design Singapore ers about a project will let it fall through the cracks for a while. So if you haven’t heard back from a client regarding your proposal, don’t just assume that they hired another web design Singapore er. There’s a good chance that they just haven’t yet made a decision to move forward. If you are proactive you’ll have a much better chance of getting the work.
7. Cut Ties When it Doesn’t Fit
Not every project will be a good fit for you. It could be the type of project, the industry, the budget, the time frame, or any number of other issues. If the project isn’t a good fit for you, explain that to the client and move on. Don’t waste your time. Instead, use your time to do a better job of communicating with other potential clients and you can focus on landing the projects that are the best fit for you.
7 Tips for Closing the Sale
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Will Diamond Jubilee Impact the Economy in 2012?
2012 is predicted to be a tumultuous year for the UK economy. The threat of a double dip recession and the lack of economic growth are just some of the reasons that forecasters are worried about the year ahead – and that’s despite it being another year of celebrations for UK citizens.
Along with the Olympics, the Queen is set to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Whilst this is certainly something that will boost morale and generate some much needed excitement and enthusiasm across the country, it doesn’t necessarily translate to an improvement in productivity and growth. On the contrary, the extra bank holiday to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee actually means the country’s GDP will be down.
In a similar way that the Royal Wedding affected productivity last year, analysts predict the same will happen when we have an extra bank holiday for the Diamond Jubilee this year. This means for the second quarter of 2012, growth will be down. However, the third quarter will bounce back even stronger, all thanks to the Olympics and the extra income that this will generate – especially through the £700million expected from tourists.
However, something that analysts are hoping is what’s known as the feel good factor. Despite the extra day off affecting growth, some are hoping that the Queen’s Jubilee will help generate a feel good factor and create a surge in consumer spend. Retailers wait with baited breath as to whether an increase in sales will happen.
The UK economy is made up of three sectors, the primary sector (agriculture and mining), the secondary sector (manufacturing) and the tertiary sector, also known as the services sector. This sector makes up 73% of the UK’s GDP and so it’s vital to the economy. It’s quite broad in its spectrum, but it includes consumerism, so the sale of products and services to consumers. In this sense, it is hoped that the excitement surrounding the Queen’s Jubilee will help get people spending and contributing to this large section of the economy.
The current situation for consumers does not look good though. The amount people are earning is shrinking as wages are either slashed or frozen. Considering the rising loan of living, things like food, fuel and bills, people are having less and less disposable income. So, people are spending less, and are often seeking short term personal loan Singapore solutions, just to help get by from month to month.
This has spawned an ideal climate for short term lending solutions, like payday loan Singapore moneylender Singapore, to flourish. Despite media criticism, these are an ideal way to help pay for the essentials or emergencies, provided the applicant pays the money back (including added fees and interest) on time and in full.
So, the UK economy is set for stagnation, or small growth in 2012. Despite the celebrations surrounding the Queens Jubilee, the extra day off will actually affect GDP; whilst retailers are hopeful that the added enthusiasm will spark an interest in spend, the current climate is actually quite unforgiving because disposable income is not as high as it once was – and this is reflected in the popularity of short term moneylender Singapore such as payday loan Singapore moneylender Singapore.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
7 Tips for Prioritizing Tasks Effectively
Most web design Singapore ers, regardless of whether you are self employed or an employee, have a to-do list full of all kinds of different tasks that are fighting for attention. It may include finalizing a project for one client, working on an estimate for another client, responding to emails, recording payments and working on financials, etc. With so many different things going on and a to-do list that likely includes tasks related to several different projects, knowing how to effectively prioritize can be a real challenge.
Having productivity in your work day is important, but having productivity on the right tasks is what will really lead to a successful use of your time. In this article we’ll look at 7 tips that may be of help to you when struggling with knowing what to work on next.
1. Respect Deadlines
When working for clients the most obvious factor that determines priority and urgency is the deadline. If your project has a deadline approaching or if you are behind the pace to meet a deadline in the future, the work should have some added urgency. Meeting deadlines is an important part of giving your clients a positive experience working with you, and most web design Singapore ers understand the need to use deadlines in prioritizing work.
2. Set Milestone Deadlines
If a client project only has a deadline for completion of the project, make an effort to break down the work that is needed to complete the project and put it into a few different steps or parts. Assign each part with a deadline to hit a certain milestone that will allow you to move on to the next step, and use these self-imposed deadlines to help with prioritizing. This way rather than just seeing the final deadline, which may seem like it is far off into the future, you’ll have a clear understanding of the smaller steps involved in the project and what you need to do now in order to stay on pace.
These milestone deadlines that you set for yourself may not even need to be shared with the client, they can be used just to help you stay on track and to view the big picture of the project. Staying on pace with a project can also have an impact on everything else that you are working on. If one project gets off track you may need to dedicate extra time to getting caught up, which of course takes time away from your other projects. So staying on course will allow you to prioritize effectively, rather than being forced to dedicate your time to certain things because you’re behind.
3. Consider the Consequences
Most likely there will be times where you’re not sure how you’re going to be able to get everything done. If you have several different things that are pressing for your attention and you’re not sure how to prioritize, consider the consequences of not getting the work done or not meeting the deadline. Chances are, there will be much different consequences from one task to the next.
For example, you may have a client project that would be disastrous if you can’t meet the deadline. Maybe the client has other things, such as a marketing campaign, that are dependant upon you getting your work done by a specific date. On the other hand, you may have a client project that has an upcoming deadline, but there really are no significant consequences if it falls a little behind schedule.
Another factor to consider is your relationship with the client. If it’s a client that you have worked with for a while and have always met deadlines, they may be more understanding if you’re struggling to meet a deadline (depending on the situation). Or you may have a situation where you’re working with a new client and hoping to get more work or referrals in the future from this client. In this case, your relationship with the client may be important enough to shuffle things around to get the work done.
4. Consider Payment Terms
You’ll also want to take into consideration the impact that a task will have on getting paid. You may have a project where you will be paid at various milestones throughout the project. If you are just a small step away from reaching one of those milestones you may want to give added priority to getting it done and getting paid.
Likewise, there may be a situation where a client has already paid for your services and you just need to complete the work. Completing this client’s work may take priority since they have already paid for your time.
If you’re a freelancer you’ll always need to be considering your cash flow situation. So taking into consideration the situation with Money lender Singapore and how/when payment will be made will help you to know what you need to be working on to keep your Singapore business directory functioning smoothly.
5. Consider Time Required
There may be times when you have two or more equally urgent tasks that are competing for your attention. However, although they are equally urgent they may not require the same amount of time to complete. My preference is to prioritize the tasks that will take less time to complete so that I can get it crossed off my list and be able to focus more effectively on the remaining tasks.
6. Set Monthly Goals and Work Backwards
Setting goals can be very helpful for determining what needs to go on your to-do list. This process is made a little bit easier if you take a look at the big picture before setting your to-do list for a particular day. Try starting with monthly goals of what needs to be done. Then look at the specific actions or tasks that need to be done in order to reach this goal. For the first week of the month take the most urgent actions, those with deadlines and those that are foundational for other tasks, and put them onto a to-do list for the week. Then you can plan your week more effectively by splitting them up and setting certain things that need to get done each day.
This can be a much more effective way of prioritizing tasks than simply trying to decide what to work on for a particular day without really giving much though to the big picture. With weekly and monthly to-do lists in addition to a daily list you’ll be able to see how each task impacts the other things on your list, and priorities tend to clearly emerge.
7. Schedule a Percentage of Your Time for Personal Projects
There are other tasks that are important aside from just working on client projects. Things like working through tutorials, reading a book on a topic that you’d like to learn more about, re-web design Singapore ing your portfolio site, maintaining a blog, etc. often get pushed to the back burner because they don’t seem to have the same urgency as other things on your to-do list. In the long run though, these types of personal projects and opportunities for development or improvement are very important.
The best way to make sure that you get time to work on these things is to prioritize them by setting aside time in your schedule. You can decide that you’ll dedicate 10% of your time (or some other amount) to working on projects like this, and set aside time each week to do something for your own improvement. If you don’t set aside the time, most likely you won’t get around to it since other things will always come up.
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