Web Design FAQ's

Below are some common questions asked by people looking to get their business online. Click on the question that interests you.

1. Why doesn't my web site look the same in different browsers?
2. How do I get people to visit my web site?
3. Who owns a web site once it has been developed?
4. Will TriMark Solutions register my domain name?
5. What makes a web site good?
6. When should I consider upgrading my web site?
7. What should I look for in a web developer?
8. What technologies do TriMark Solutions use to develop websites?

If you have a question that isn't listed here, please contact us and we will be glad to answer your questions.

Why doesn't my web site look the same in different browsers?

Web sites are programmed in XHTML or HTML, a language governed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The W3C develops standards for browser makers and web developers to help make the web a more uniform place.

Some browser makers, like Microsoft, don't always follow the recommended standards, or don't implement the recommendations correctly. This means that in order to make the web site appear correctly, developers have to work around the errors, making their code invalid.

Although invalid, the pages will still display in the browser. In the case of Internet Explorer, it will most often appear ok, but if the developer only works to Internet Explorer's modified acceptance of the standards, the web site may appear broken in other browsers such as Mozilla or Opera.

Having said this, there is no reason, other than lack of knowledge or interest, for a web site not to display correctly in all of the modern browsers (Internet Explorer, Mozilla and Opera). A good web developer will use the W3C's standards correctly, while still allowing for Internet Explorer's incorrect implementation to provide you with a web site that can be viewed by a number of browsers with exactly the same results, ensuring your web site can be accessed by as many people as possible.

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How do I get people to visit my web site?

There are two kinds of web site visitors - those you already know you, and those that don't. Therefore, there are two basic ways to get people to visit your web site.

The first, for those who already know who you are, is to tell them. Do this by including your web and email address on all your correspondence (letterheads, business cards, brochures, ads, signage, etc). That way, the people who already deal with you can use the web site to improve their interaction with your business.

The second, for those who don't already know about your business, is to promote your web site online so people can find you when looking for your particular product or service. The best way to do this is to ensure your web site ranks well on major search engines and have links to your web site placed on web sites associated with your industry.

TriMark Solutions can help you achieve this by formulating a collection of keywords and effective descriptions for your web site as well as submitting your web site to major search engines and recommending industry related web sites to link to or from.

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Who owns a web site once it has been developed?

This depends upon the agreement made between the developer and the client. In most cases, the web site will remain the property of the developer until full and final payment has been received. Once payment has been received, the web site then becomes the property of the client.

Copyright is slightly different, but in most cases the same applies. However, some aspects of the web site, such as back-end code or applications may remain the property of the developer. In this case, the client will be given a license to use the code, but the code does not belong to them. An example of this would be a Content Management System.

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Will TriMark Solutions register my domain name?

TriMark Solutions offers Domain Registrations and Management service for its clients. Contact us to find out how we can help you with your businesses domain name.

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What makes a web site good?

It is difficult to determine exactly what makes a good website. TriMark Solutions focuses on the individual needs of each client and builds a custom interactive marketing solution. However, the following points when used together can constitute a good website.

• Clear attractive design that ties-in with the businesses brand and identity.
• Useful and interesting information that your customers will be interested in and appreciate.
• Search Engine friendly content and construction.
• Simple, clear navigation and structure so your customers can easily find their way around and get to what they are looking for.
• A good website needs to be able to be viewed in whatever browser or service the customer is using, so cross-browser and platform compatibility together with accessibility features for the disabled are a must.

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When should I consider upgrading my web site?

The amount of time before a website becomes obsolete varies depending upon factors such as type and relevance of content, design, accessibility and usability levels, etc.

So, it is difficult to state an exact time, but generally, if your business has had a website for a couple of years and its starting to look a little boring, or perhaps the content is out of date, it may be time to consider an upgrade. Alternatively, if you feel your website needs a new feature that you've seen somewhere else or if you would like to improve your businesses image, it may also be time to upgrade.

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What should I look for in a web developer?

When appointing a web developer to create your businesses website, look for the following:

• A portfolio of work - The best way to find out whether a developer can do the job is to look at their catalogue of work. If possible, find a developer who links to the websites in their portfolio so you can have a play around and see how the website they have made work.
• References - As well as the portfolio, references and testimonials from their clients are an excellent way to find out about the web developer, their work, their attitude and their reputation.
• Are they a specialist? - Look for a web developer that specializes in web design. Because websites are all they do, they can keep up with what's happening in the industry and know everything there is to know about getting online.
• Do they have search engine knowledge? – Over 70% of all websites are found and visited through a search engine. If your website is not optimized and constructed properly your number of visitors will be minimal.

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What technologies do TriMark Solutions use?

TriMark Solutions make use of various technologies to develop their client’s websites. In particular, our development skills include: In particular, TriMark Solutions makes use of the following technologies:

• XHTML/CSS - general website coding
• HTML, DHTML, Flash, Active X, JavaScript, XML
• Server Side Technologies including PHP, ASP, .NET
• MySQL database

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