Flash Website design and development

Everyone that visits a Flash website cannot help but be impressed by lustre and quality these websites exude.

But why are there not more? The main problem with Flash is that it has, traditionally, required a plug in from Adobe to display the content. That was until Internet Explorer 6. Now most, if not all, web browsers support the loadmovie command meaning that the Flash content will now play automatically.

We have seen a surge of Flash website design demand in the last 6 months and we believe that Flash has come of age. Even mobile devices now support flash player enriching the user experience all the more.

However, we still suggest caution, as search engines can still find indexing Flash websites tricky. To a large extent we have overcome this problem by separating the content from the movie. This is done by using external Extensible Markup Language (XML) to feed the movie with the data.

You may or may not know that Google uses XML generated site maps to help indexing websites. Which is a pretty strong endorsement.

As a separate file, the XML, is easily readable by search engines and importantly easy to update, no Flash needed, meaning that just about anyone can change the content.

Our XML Flash websites are driven by Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), which comply with accessibility standards. As an extra step and for added assurance we wrap it all up in a standard HTML / CSS wrapper.

We are developing a range of e-commerce solutions based on Flash and XML using MySql and PHP to automatically generate the XML in real time. This provides a rich environment to display your products and, at last, getting away from messy and clunky table driven systems.

Our custom Flash / XML websites start from as little as £1,200 and e-commerce solutions from £2,500. So make your website stand out from the crowd. Flash has come of age.

The new range will be available from August 2009. But if you want a sneaky preview call us on 01285 711699 and we will take you through a couple of previews.

Table-based website design and search engine optimisation

We have many enquiries to optimise table-based websites, which is rather like asking to put a Ferrari engine into a tractor. Yes, it may be possible but the result would be a compromised, as it is then neither a Ferrari nor useful tractor.

Websites "should" be optimised to achieve your goals from the bottom up. Hence, we thought it would be a good idea to provide some free guidance on the subject.

The purpose of tables is to contain tabular data. A common use would be to collect information to add to a database i.e. a contact form or order form.

All too many website designers have exploited tables to create websites. These, commonly, are DIY website packages or website templates purchased "off the shelf". However, there are still those who will charge for new custom websites and use tables to create them.

A compliant website will always out perform a table-based website because:

• Table-based website design generates a lot of extraneous code
• Websites are slower to load, as a browser needs to pre-load everything locally before displaying it on-screen. As a result slower load time generates ranking penalties.
• Search engines need to work harder to establish the content away from the structure. This is never a good idea!
• Table-based websites are fixed in size so compromise either modern display technology or older legacy systems. Hence, no one wins.
• Table-based websites cannot conform to accessibility requirements so the visitor cannot change the font or font size via their browser. This gains additional penalty points.
• Modifying table-based websites cost more as each table needs to be changed to accommodate any new additions or deletions to the structure
• Table-based websites do not comply with current standards so in reality they are “outmoded”.

For these reasons, it would not be advisable to try to optimise a table-based website. No matter what is done it will always be penalised versus an equally matched compliant website.

To optimise the website it will need to rewritten using HTML and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). However, this may not be as expensive as you think. Using compliant standards is actually quicker and far easier, once you have the expertise, to create websites. All non compliant penalties removed the website can be optimised further to obtain your goals.

How do I know if you have a table-based website? Simple on any web page you can view the code. To do this load your website into a browser, select ”VIEW” from the main menu and then select either “CODE” or “SOURCE CODE”.

If the code is full of the following: <TABLE> <TR> and <TD> then you have a table-based website. However, if you have any doubts you can just ask us to look, no obligation, and we will let you know.

We have a lot of experience in converting table-based websites into optimised compliant websites. The results are always pleasing and the return on investment is usually within 90 days.

So call us on 01285 711699 or email us and we will be happy to provide a “no obligation” quote.

Fairford Festival Sponsorship

Winning Inch web design and marketing was delighted to develop the race entry system for the Fairford Festival. With the race over the system registered over 450 entries using a custom solution consisting of MySql database, PHP, JavaScript and Ajax to provide a simple interface with a robust architecture.

The solution proved invaluable when the race lost its major sponsor within weeks of the race. Fortunately all entrants were informed to collect their running numbers on the day averting a major disaster.

New sponsors were found and the race was able to be run.

If a manual system was used, as in previous years, the race would have been cancelled as it would have been impossible to communicate with everyone to keep them up to date with what was going on.

A great day was had by all and the race registration system delivered to an overall charity contribution of circa £4,000.

Registration for the 2010 race is now open and Winning Inch web Design and Marketing look forward to supporting the race event for another year.