RawkMedia Web Design | Saskatoon Web Design » design

What Is Google Plus?

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:36:47 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, Saskatchewan web design, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

Google+ is the google’s most recent attempt at creating a social network A La Facebook. Launched June 28, 2011 with a private beta, Google has yet to open it to the public, however all current members have the ability to invite users so you more than likely have a hookup somewhere.

Google plus is a collection of different social products, either existing or new to Google, including Profile Stream, Sparks (a recommendation engine), Circles (a friend management service), Hangouts (a video chat service), Huddle (a group texting service) and Photos, with more features such as Games and Questions expected in the near future.

Google+ was clearly designed to compete directly with Facebook however, it does seem to have already taken a few steps in a somewhat different direction in the way they’ve allowed their users to interact and connect with one-another. Unlike Facebook, a Google+ user can create their network outside of familiar relationships. Think Twitter meets Facebook, that’s Google+.

Here’s a video released by Google that offers a brief overview of the new Social Network.

What Is Google Plus? is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Designing for Smaller Screen Sizes

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Mon, 16 May 2011 17:04:52 +0000

Filed under: design, saskatoon marketing, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, website marketing

It’s obvious, the biggest difference between a mobile device and a desktop / laptop is the screen size. Although Smartphone screen sizes have been increasing, even the iPhone is still small compared to a standard 1024×768 screen. This gets more complicated when you factor in the range of screen sizes used by your mobile users. Also don’t forget that some smartphones change size based on orientation (think IPhone). The obvious result is that the user experience is often broken (but getting better) based on the resize experience. So what’s the solution.. There are several plugins and backend functions that can resize, re-orient, deliver appropriate template, or design as if your user would be using a smartphone and ensure the appearance is appropriate for a desktop as well. Floating properties are key, there are some CSS3 / html5 utilities out there as well. Whatever you do, know that your website is being accessed by smartphones, and will become to be more so, so a smartphone strategy is key to your online brand and identity.

Designing for Smaller Screen Sizes is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

A little bit of humour in the Web Designer – Customer relationship

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Sat, 14 May 2011 21:06:51 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, Saskatchewan web design, Saskatoon web design, Saskatoon website hosting, website marketing

Here’s a little comedic relief in the relationship between a customer a web developer… Perhaps other Saskatoon Website Design companies can relate better

A little bit of humour in the Web Designer – Customer relationship is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

New Website Design Complete for One Bad Son

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:10:45 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, saskatoon SEO, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Branding, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

SK export Rock Band “One Bad Son” requested a reinvention of their website that would include several new elements such as a music player, more dynamic homepage, a more integrated social experience, and a brand new aesthetic. Give us your thoughts on our follow through

New Website Design Complete for One Bad Son is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Making use of free online photo editors

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:51:41 +0000

Filed under: design, saskatoon marketing, saskatoon web consulting, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

The past couple of year’s leaps’n bounds made in web application platform development have brought some amazing browser-delivered web applications. Some that you may be familiar with are online document editors like google docs and Zoho docs. Some lesser known emerging apps are really worth noting including business management applications, business communication applications, and media editing applications. Among the most useful applications for editing your media via your web browser are online photo editors. Until recently, online photo editors have been complex desktop applications meant for the professional. Over the years, however, the average user was heard loud and clear and easier to use, smaller scale applications were developed.. to great fan-fair. And, as previously mentioned, with the power of browser-delivered platforms, these lightweight, easy to use applications have been redeveloped into online editing platforms, requiring no software installation and very little in-depth knowledge of photo-editing practices. A couple of the best that we really enjoy using for editing everyday photos are as follows: Aviary editor – Lightweight, easy to use.. some limitations Picnik – A much more function-rich applications (premium features available for purchase) Psykopaint This one’s very cool!.. more of a fun app for adding cool effects and overlays to your images. Give them a try, they’re free and totally worth checking out. And ofcourse, if you’re look’n for some pointers (or Saskatoon Web Design Services) feel free to drop us line Good luck.

Making use of free online photo editors is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Standard Website Design vs. Mobile Web Design

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 19:45:20 +0000

Filed under: design, saskatoon marketing, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Saskatoon website hosting, website marketing

Web Design for Mobile devices isn’t a new concept.. and likewise, the existence of mobile web browsing should be no secret either. Over 4 million Canadians are already using their mobile devices to access the internet.. for more than directions. Whether or not your business needs a mobile friendly version of your website design, should be less a question if.. and more a question how.

As a business owner, you should already understand the importance of website design for your business.. if not, you should certainly at least consider contacting a Saskatoon Website Design Company to discuss your options with regards to an online presence. When you do have a conversation regarding the design or redesign of your website, you should also inquire as to whether or not your newly designed website can be optimized for Mobile browsing. It’s important to understand that mobile web design is not the same as standard website design. Designing a website for mobile smartphone format(s) is more about presenting the data on your moble website in a clean & concise way that is easy to navigate and consume from a mobile browser, rather than how to recreate your standard website in a mobile browser format. Mobile browsers are designed with utility in mind and ease of use.. one hand (or thumb) browsing for example and larger more concise font. Heavy image or video transfer is also something to consider in that they will impact load time and general satisfaction with your web design on a mobile device. The bottom line here is to maintain restraint in design and consider the functional requirements of a mobile friendly version of your web design. Ensure that it’s clean, concise, and delivers exactly what you want to get infront of your customers with regards to content and corporate image. If you have any questions about mobile friendly website design, it’s utility, or whether or not it’s something to consider, feel free to contact a RawkMedia – Saskatoon Web Design consultant to discuss your options.

Standard Website Design vs. Mobile Web Design is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Air Canda’s Lesson in Social Media Marketing

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 23:05:08 +0000

Filed under: design, saskatoon marketing, saskatoon web consulting, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Saskatoon website hosting, Social Branding, social media, Social Media Marketing, website marketing

Do you recall the boy who’s wheelchair was damaged by Air Canada’s baggage handlers while traveling to New York in August? If so, you may also recall the fact that, following a tweet from the boy’s family regarding the state of his broken wheelchair and the fact that the family was now stuck as a result, the family’s twitter community went bananas and within 24 hrs Air Canada was serious online mud. A recap: The 10-year-old boy, who is fighting a terminal illness, travelled to New York City Wednesday to live out one of his final wishes, but his motorized wheelchair was damaged during transit. While Air Canada was, in fact, in the process of fixing the damage, it still took them 24 hours to communicate that to the public. Further, Air Canada issued no news as to the status of the chair, their actions to rectify the situation, or any general reaction to the online mud-slinging in their name. This is a huge lesson for large, naturally slow-to-react, companies in what it means to monitor your company’s reputation in the social web (facebook, twitter, etc). And further, not only to monitor, but to engage and communicate. There are tools available (some even free) that assist in the monitoring of specific keywords (ie company name) across the numerous social networks to ensure that their brand is protected and not dragged through the mud like Air Canada’s was back in august. Well, after learning the hard way, Air Canada has taken the lumps and has begun to at least push out a branded message across the social networks.. next step: engage, learn, resolve, be a better airline… oh, and please stop loosing my luggage.. tweet.

Air Canda’s Lesson in Social Media Marketing is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Website Design With Colour Palettes

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 02:41:18 +0000

Filed under: design, Hosting, saskatoon technology, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, website marketing

One core component to effective website design is the use of an aesthetically complimenting “website design color scheme” or “website design palette”. A web design palette is used to determine a consistent website background, website images and font colour of the content found in the website. Any Web Designer will tell you that choosing an appropriate colour palette is difficult but extremely important in conveying the appropriate image.

I’ts likewise no marketing secret that web design aesthetics play a huge role in business success and customer interpretation. Fundamental to selecting a website design’s colour palette, that appeals to a website’s visitors, is understanding your target audience. Chances are, you as a business owner have already refined your offline image to meet both contemporary and the general aesthetics that are congruent with your market. It’s important, nonetheless, to do some market analysis as well as analysis of your competitor’s websites and their design principles. Figure out which designs appeal to you. It never hurts to give your input to a website design consultant as you’re likely much more an expert in your market that they.

There are also excellent online resources that can help you put together quick web design palette ideas. Check out the following and please feel free to contact a RawkMedia web design consultant to discuss how we can help develop an aesthetically appealing website that drives business through beauty!

http://www.colorblender.com/

http://www.colorcombos.com/

http://www.degraeve.com/color-palette/

Website Design With Colour Palettes is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Kaid Ashton

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:32:18 +0000

Filed under: design, Kaid Ashton Photography, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, Saskatoon website hosting, website marketing

Project Brief

Kaid Ashton was looking for a website that would represent his extensive travel around the world working as a freelance photographer. His vision was to represent his photo galleries from various locations visually against a map of the world. He also wanted to manage every aspect of his new website, including an interactive map, photo galleries, and a blog.

…Check It!!

What The Client Thought

” Jeff and the team at RawK media provided me with around the clock assistance and advice when creating my website. Jeff made the process virtually stress free by providing step by step instructions as well as being open to suggestions and allowing creative freedom. My website surpassed my expectations and was designed and created in a short time frame.”

Kaid Ashton is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group

Marketing With FourSquare

Saskatoon Web Design Comapny — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:32:52 +0000

Filed under: design, Saskatoon, saskatoon marketing, saskatoon web consulting, Saskatoon web design, saskatoon website design, website marketing

Location based marketing is as old as commerce itself.. and marketing with incentive to be in a particular location has traditionally been a costly venture but not without success. The solution to such a heavy cost to a successful marketing stream… geo-location based automation via smartphones.. and social media – Enter FourSquare. FourSquare’s beauty lay not only in its low-cost nature, but also in its automation of the location “check-in”… and what makes it even more beautiful, the fact that any brick and mortar business can take advantage of Foursquare. Here are the essential steps to get started:

1. Add Your Business

To get your business on FourSquare, simply add it to the network by clicking “Add This Place”. You’ll then be asked to fill in some basic information about your business like your address and phone number. You’ll want to give your potential visitors as much information as possible.

2. Add Friends

Like any business-based social network, you need an audience to engage. Foursquare makes it easy to add contacts from your existing networks like Gmail, Facebook, and Twitter accounts. Ask your employees to add their networks to your new location as well!

3. Get Active

Just as should the standard practice for any social media campaign, engage with your Foursquare community. Ensure that your “check-in” to your business is often and likewise, get your check-in notification blasted to as many social media audiences as possible. You can automate the integration and propagation of your check-ins with the integrated social media network you’ve developed through twitter, facebook, tumblr, etc.

4. Reward Those Who Check In (important!)

The most important aspect of your FourSquare venture is the necessity to offer incentives to those members of your network (and anyone else) for “checking-in” to your FourSquare location. If you’re a bar, use FourSquare to push a free drink coupon to their smartphone (remember, this is automated if you’ve setup your reward program properly in FourSquare), and so on.

Let FourSquare be another gun in your social media holster.. and let a RawkMedia Web Design Consultant show you how!

Marketing With FourSquare is a post from: Saskatoon Web Design | RawkMedia Web Design Group