Frequently Asked Questions:

1) What is Flash? Should I have it on my website?

At my web design company, I offer Flash as an option. Web designers like to use it as a tool because it can add some pizzazz to drab sites, and it allows design freedoms that cannot be achieved using non-flash methods.

Flash is a vector-based graphic design program which can be spotted on many of today’s websites. On this website it was used to create the moving graphics that you can see above. Although it can look very pretty, for most designs it should be used sparingly, since any content in a flash movie cannot be read by search engines and is hard to access by visually-disabled visitors. Be aware, that Flash design can be more laborious and will likely cost you extra.

2) Should I have a splash Page?

Unless you offer visitors a distinct choice (for example, between an English and a French version of a site) the answer is a resounding “no.” A splash page is just an extra step that a visitor will have to navigate to get to your website.

3) What about e-commerce?

E-commerce is just a term used for websites where visitors can buy products directly. If Mary, for example, would have chosen to allow customers to buy wool directly from her site, her website would then be labeled as an e-commerce site.
E-commerce sites call for more complex and costly coding since they need to be set up in concordance with a database. There are some cheaper alternatives (using the PayPal shopping cart for example) but each one of them has their own hidden cost structure. Still, for those who want to sell their products directly on the Internet, e-commerce capable sites are essential.

4) Are there different types of web-design?

Yes. The older model of website design uses a table-based design. I, myself, used it up until recently. This site, for example uses a table layout., while the one that you are browsing right now uses CSS. The newer and improved way to design websites uses style sheets. They allow for better access, especially for the disabled, faster load times, and better search engine results. Mind you, for the average person, there is no way to tell which site has been designed by which method. Most designers nowadays, however, have made the switch.

Should you have any more questions, feel free to call me at 902 406 4220. Alternatively, you might want to consult with one of my colleagues.

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