Pro Web Marketing » web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog Web Development & SEO Experts Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:39:43 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Using Non-Standard Fonts – Solutions and Issues http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-site-tools/using-non-standard-fonts-solutions-and-issues http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-site-tools/using-non-standard-fonts-solutions-and-issues#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:55:06 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=375 One of the more challenging obstacles in website design are the limits imposed on designers by the idea of “web fonts”.  Web fonts are the few type faces which are installed on every system globally.  To maintain a consistent look to all users, most designers will stick to using those few fonts (Verdana, Arial, Times, Georgia, and Palatino are most common) or use images to replace headers.  This former solution causes a very stale, plain look that users see on every website they visit.  The latter can seriously hurt your search engine rankings.  Neither of those sound very appealing!

Innovative and curious as the developers are Pro Web Marketing are, we’ve found several alternatives that can avoid the downsides of traditional solutions.

Fahrner Image Replacement

Fahrner Image Replacement is a technique that was originally thought up by Todd Fahrner, but it is simple and obvious enough that many other designers and developers have thought of it on their own (Us included!)  The idea is that you may use CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to “Hide” the heading, and superimpose the graphic version of that text over it.  This is good for basic header replacement, but it requires a lot of manual work.   The text is also impossible to “copy” for an end-user, which is bad for accessibility.

…Read more about FIR

(Scalable) Inman Flash Replacement (sIFR)

sIFR is a technique which uses Adobe’s Flash Player to replace text with a dynamic flash layer automatically.  It utilizes Flash, JavaScript, and CSS to create what is probably the most full-featured option to show your fonts in their full glory.  The only downsides?  It is a real pain to set up, and it requires that your users have a modern version of the flash player.  It can also cause havoc on slower PCs!

…Read more about sIFR

Cufon – My personal favorite!

Cufon is a project designed to replace sIFR.  It uses JavaScript and a custom “Generator” to create a script directly from your font.  All you have to do is generate the script, include it, and deploy it at specified selector tags (headings, etc).

Cufon works in all major browsers and does not interfere with any text interaction such as copying and pasting, and even allows for perfect search engine spidering.

Check it out here

Looking to the future – CSS3 and Modern Browsers

CSS3 includes the “@font-face” property as part of its specification.  This will allow developers to specify which font they want to use by uploading a copy of it to their server.  The code will work like this:

@font-face {
  font-family: <a-remote-font-name>;
  src: <source> [,<source>]*;
  [font-weight: <weight>];
  [font-style: <style>];
}

Once all major browser vendors have implemented this into their specification, this technique will become more popular.  Learn more about the spec here.

Conclusion

Using non-standard fonts still requires a bit of extra work at this point, and all of these techniques should only be used sparingly.  Your pages main body text should still be a web-standard font, for most cases.

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-site-tools/using-non-standard-fonts-solutions-and-issues/feed 1 New Website Project For Northern Granite http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-website-project-for-northern-granite http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-website-project-for-northern-granite#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:28:15 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=312 Northern Granite Website

Northern Granite Website

We are wrapping up a new website for Northern Granite. Located in Northern Michigan, Northern Granite leads the way in great products and services in the tabletop industry. We chose a great color palette the suit type of company they are. We kept it earthy and also fresh vibrant. keep a look out for the live site in the next few weeks.

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-website-project-for-northern-granite/feed 0 New Project for Hertler Construction http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-hertler-construction http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-hertler-construction#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:44:34 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=240 We are in the works of a new Website for Hertler Construction. This Website has been specifically designed to keep the consistent brand of the logo and the company’s mission of how they work inline with each other. They are recognized for being a well organized, clean and efficient company. They create high end construction projects on any scale. This site clearly showcases two galleries of work consisting of Residential and Commercial projects. The site displays some new project sections to display what Hertler Construction has been up to.

Look for www.hertlerconstruction.com to launch in the next few weeks!

Hertler Constructions Website

Hertler Constructions Website

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-hertler-construction/feed 0 Brand New Website Finished for Creative Stone Designs http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/brand-new-website-finished-for-creative-stone-designs http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/brand-new-website-finished-for-creative-stone-designs#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:43:05 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=247 We just finished a new Website for Creative Stone Designs in Traverse City. The client wanted a very clean and simple Website that really emphasized the work that they have done. This is exactly what we did for them. The site is a showcases all aspects of their business in galleries. These galleries use jquery galleries to slide you through each image. The images are navigated by the viewer at their own speed. The site also has two clearly viewed Google maps to show each company location. There is also information regarding detailed services along with frequently asked questions about the business.

Visit www.creativestonedesignsinc.com to view the site!!

Creative Stone Designs Website

Creative Stone Designs Website

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/brand-new-website-finished-for-creative-stone-designs/feed 0 CSS and Divs vs Tables http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-standards/css-and-divs-vs-tables http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-standards/css-and-divs-vs-tables#comments Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:19:37 +0000 brad http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=282 When it comes to building sites some people are still using tables to create their layouts.  While these still may work they are outdated and can look unprofessional.  This is where CSS and Divs come in.  Not only are they the new and latest design technique but they also can give your site a superior look.  Some other benefits to using CSS and Divs include faster load times, cross-browser compatibility, lower hosting costs, less time spent, consistency maintained, easier for SEO, etc.

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-standards/css-and-divs-vs-tables/feed 2 New Project For Cedar Creek Interiors http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-cedar-creek-interiors http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-cedar-creek-interiors#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:31:24 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=268 We have been working on a another new and exciting Website for Cedar Creek Interiors. We have put together for them  a very unique Website that will display there vast inventory of in-house products and also catalog only items. The site has a break down of four categories; Cottages, Rustic, Traditional and Transitional. Each page will highlight the category and give a brief view of what they offer. As a customer your able to just scratch the surface of the site or you can dive in deep to get full catalog views of all products available. Cedar Creek Interiors originally wanted a site that gave a very strong sense of who they were in the design. We took this in mind and created a site that is elegant and informational at the same time.

Look back later for the new www.cedarcreekinteriors.com Website in a few weeks!!

Cedar Creek Interiors

Cedar Creek Interiors

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-cedar-creek-interiors/feed 0 New Project for Daddy Mac’s Snacks http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-daddy-macs-snacks http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-daddy-macs-snacks#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:04:34 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=234 Another one of our newest client Websites is for Daddy Mac’s Snacks. Located in Traverse City, Daddy Mac’s has been a large part of the snack industry in the area and decided it was time to take his business to the next level. That meant taking sales online with a great looking Website that would attract new customers and generate interest in his many products. The site consists mainly of the company information and will soon be taking sales of his snacks online.

Check back at www.daddymacsnacks.com for the Website launch!

Daddy Mac's Snacks Website

Daddy Mac's Snacks Website

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/new-project-for-daddy-macs-snacks/feed 0 FIM Group – An Extensive Re-Design Project http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-site-re-design/fim-group-an-extensive-re-design-project http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-site-re-design/fim-group-an-extensive-re-design-project#comments Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:00:11 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=225 FIM Group is a fee-only investment management firm located in Traverse City.  They serve a lot of high-profile clientele and bring a lot of online functionality to their services with their website.  One of the challenges of this project was maintaining that functionality while adding ease of use and a new design to the entire FIM Group network.  Their old site was hard to navigate and even harder to update.  We redesigned the site based on a content management system to make it easy for developers and FIM Group staff alike to update their content.

FIM Group Old Site

FIM Group Old Site

FIM Group Re-Design

FIM Group Re-Design



Look for the new FIM Group website to launch in the next few weeks!

http://www.fimg.net/

]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-site-re-design/fim-group-an-extensive-re-design-project/feed 0 Pro Web Marketing Sponors Iceman Race http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/pro-web-marketing-company-news/pro-web-marketing-sponors-iceman-race http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/pro-web-marketing-company-news/pro-web-marketing-sponors-iceman-race#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:33:28 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=198 We are proud to announce that Pro Web Marketing is sponsoring a mountain bike racer Rob Hulwick, in the annual 2009 Iceman Cometh Challenge Race. Rob is an avid biker, enjoys training with his wife Robin Hulwick and has prepared for this race all year.

The race is to begin this weekend, Sat. Nov. 7th, 2009.  The trail route is a grueling, off-road 28 miles starting in Kakaska, Michigan and ending at Timber Ridge RV & Recreation Resort on the eastern edge of Traverse City, Michigan. Ages range from 3 years to 82 years old and range in all skill levels.  The race attracts thousands of spectators and athletes from all over the country and in 2008 3,001 athletes from 36 states competed.

We wish Rob the best of luck and are happy to be apart of this event. For more information about this race please visit: www.iceman.com

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/pro-web-marketing-company-news/pro-web-marketing-sponors-iceman-race/feed 0 Tracey Madder Photography http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/tracey-madder-photography http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/tracey-madder-photography#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:43:12 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=196 One of our newest clients, Tracey Madder, came to us to design a website that portrayed her artistic abilities as well as her experience.  We came up with a solution that offers a lot of functionality through website tools.  We are using JavaScript and Flash techniques to display her photography in an interesting and easily accessible way.


We will also be implementing a unique image upload service so that her clients can view and download their photos.

Look for www.traceymadder.com to launch in the next few weeks!

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]]> http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/new-web-design-projects/tracey-madder-photography/feed 0 Quality Web Content and Why it’s Important! http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-content/quality-web-content-and-why-its-important http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/web-content/quality-web-content-and-why-its-important#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:53:35 +0000 Pro Web http://www.prowebmarketing.com/blog/?p=135 Many people believe that content on the web is just text that has been added to a site to tell about the company. It information is actually much much more than this. A Web sites content is the backbone of what a Web site is there to do. All of this important content needs to be relevant to the business and quickly and directly tell the target market what it is this business does before losing there interest in a sea of letters and paragraphs.Good content is comprised of a combination of text, professional photographs, well thought out graphics and also the overall layout of the Web site. A good combination of these factors will result in a “sticky” page. What does being sticky have to do with a Web site? This basically just means that you want people to stay for a while and take a look around. They want to see what your site has to offer them. Brains process information quicker with images, so this is where these come in handy. Having to much text with lose the interest of your visitors. They didn’t come to your site to read a novel and frankly they really just don’ t care to put in the extra effort. So make content straight forward, short and to the point using keywords that are relative to the type of business.

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