responsive design

Two new technologies have changed the way professional website developers create and manage websites. A website you build today could potentially last forever.

The First 20 Years of the World Wide Web

The term World Wide Web was coined in the early 90s by Tim Berners-Lee, who in 1994 founded the World Wide Web Consortium, which created the standards used by most public websites today.

For the first 10 years, websites were a hodgepodge of text, photos, databases and apps. Most businesses still weren’t on the web.

For the next 10 years, websites were static “online brochure” style websites, sometimes combined with a blog, and most businesses were building their first of several websites.

In 2013 the World Wide Web changed in two important ways!

First, Jason Tweed and Michael Rapino launched Mediastead! (Well, this didn’t change the entire web, but we are working on it.)

Second, new technology became the standards. These two technologies are CMS (Content Management Systems) and Responsive Design.

These two technologies enable companies like Mediastead to build your last website ever! Here’s why:

Content Management Systems (i.e. WordPress, Joomla!, Drupal)

Content management isn’t a new concept or even a new technology. In the late 1990s early Internet users began to create “web logs” a.k.a. blogs. Several companies developed software that helped those who were inclined to write for the web, but had little ability to do web design or coding.

For business users blogs weren’t extremely common. Most blog software wasn’t extremely customizable and most business owners didn’t have the time or inclination to write web content. However, in the early 2010’s, social media was growing rapidly and consumers were hopping online in droves. Suddenly business related content became critical to success.

Simultaneously large groups of developers began creating content management systems, often variations of these original blogging platforms. The most famous and ubiquitous of which is WordPress. Developers learned to customize the look and feel (themes), and other developers built small add-on applications (plug-ins) for virtually every piece of web functionality known today.

Professional designers and developers could now use these platforms to create highly customized and highly functional websites that could still be maintained by less tech savvy end-users.

Small business owners could add and update their own content, and larger businesses could work with teams of content creators in-house.

Web development thus becomes an ongoing process rather than a single event.

The Mobile Revolution Empowered by Responsive Design

Simultaneously as businesses became more focused on content, consumers began to demand mobile access to the Internet. Specifically, on June 29, 2007 Apple rolled out the first iPhone and within three years smart phones were outselling computers.

Today, 90% of email is read on a mobile device. About 60% of e-commerce transactions occur on a mobile device. Local businesses can generate traffic, or in another scenario, can watch their business be decimated by negative online reviews.

Web development reacted slowly to these mobile devices, unfortunately, for most business owners. For the first five years, web development companies tried to sell business owners additional websites specifically targeting mobile users. The problem was that this nearly doubled the content creation and web development expenditures.

Additionally as Apple, Samsung, Motorola and their competitors rolled out new phones and tablets almost monthly, developing websites for one device didn’t necessarily fit all devices.

Around 2013 Responsive Design became the dominant philosophy in website design.

Responsive websites “respond” based on the size and shape of the browser, regardless of the device. Not only did this accommodate mobile phones and tablets, but it means that web developers will be able to accommodate virtually any flat screen.

Today you can surf the web on many devices, PCs, televisions, and web content can even be served to billboards and more. Later you’ll have Web-enabled screens in your car, on your wrist, on your refrigerator or kitchen wall, and every store and restaurant will use web technology in their bricks and mortar store.

A Technological Marriage Made in Heaven

Responsive design and content management systems have changed the way businesses work on the web. Since 2013 our firm has built roughly 50 websites, and all of them are well-equipped to last forever. New content can be created constantly. Updating themes and plug-ins can change the look and feel as well as the functionality of your website. Responsive designs keep your website current with new technology.

It’s an exciting time to be a web designer, because we are no longer limited by standards and technology becomes a catalyst for evolution rather than a requirement for change.

Soon the web will move into the physical world through virtual reality and Internet enabled objects, and having a good team of technological and creative geeks on your side will keep your business at the forefront of tomorrow.

If you’re considering designing or redesigning your last website ever, please call Mediastead. We love this stuff!

Is Seo dead?

It’s a hot topic among web developers.

Some believe that search engine optimization is obsolete because of social media – while others believe SEO should be adapted to compensate for social media.

The truth is your web developer’s philosophy isn’t as important as the needs of your customers and your marketing strategy.

Let’s take a snapshot of three types of web transactions, and compare the SEO needs.

Example #1 – You’re shopping for a high-end laptop. You want to find the best value for your dollar.
You could ask your brother-in-law who is constantly tinkering with his computer, but you’re not sure he knows as much about PCs as he thinks he does…
You Google and find a few computer rating blogs. You read a couple and pick your favorite laptop. Then back to Google. You put the model number into the search and find several stores selling the model, plus you discover the manufacturer website which has much more detail. You order a great laptop at a great price and 72 hours later you’re making your brother-in-law jealous.
In this scenario, good search engine optimization is essential. – First, the consumer bloggers depend on traffic to encourage advertisers to support them.
The retailers depend on SEO to make sure they are on the short list every time someone is ready to buy.
Finally, the manufacturer wants to make sure you have all the information you need, and that support resources are easily accessible for each individual product.

Example #2 – You need a plumber. You need a quality plumber who will treat you fairly, because you have no idea why your water smells so bad.
You hop on Facebook and ask your friends and family for recommendations. Within a couple hours you have a few options. You check out their Facebook page, Yelp profile and Angie’s List.
Your plumber doesn’t need to have perfect search engine optimization, they do, however need to be well integrated with social media and actively connected to ratings and reviews websites. Word-of-mouth works best when your web presence is well integrated to turn referrals into sales.

Example #3 – A veterinary hospital. You’re driving to work one morning, and a dog runs out in front of you. Next thing you know you’re holding an injured dog on the side of a road with no owner in sight. The dog needs emergency treatment. – Your only pet is a goldfish your daughter won at a carnival. – You don’t know where to go, and you don’t have time to rely on social media.
You open your GPS app and find the nearest pet hospital. Minutes later you’re driving with the dog in the passenger seat and talking to the vet on the phone.
Luckily your local vet – who usually relies on word-of-mouth referrals – also has a website that is well optimized for local search and mobile friendly. The dog is happy. The vet is happy. She called the owner after scanning the microchip in its ear. The owner is happy.
Plus, you get to tell your daughter how you saved the puppy’s life today. Don’t worry, we won’t mention that you hit the puppy first.
Good news is everybody’s happy. The bad news is thanks to excellent search engine optimization and good social media optimization your daughter has found a new puppy and is texting you links.

Search engines aren’t dead. Depending on your business, their importance can vary, and integration with social media and mobile search may also play an important role.

The takeaway – Find yourself a web development team that truly listens and understands your business. They can work creatively to maximize your website’s potential. If you don’t have a team like that, pop Mediastead into your favorite search engine. – Trust me, we’re easy to find!