Recently, there has been an explosion in the areas of smartphone and tablet development, addressing the demands of on-the-go display of information. Users’ appetite for Mobile web is increasing day by day as more and more companies launch mobile-optimized interfaces. If you are considering a move to mobile to provide easy online access for your customers anytime and anywhere, then you should think about optimizing your website for mobile devices.

Developing websites for mobile devices is somehow different than designing them for desktops. Some aspects, like user attention, usability and screen size variations play a more critical role in the design of mobile websites.

Before starting to develop a mobile website, one should take into consideration features like:

• User friendly navigation. One of the first things you should keep in mind is simplification. Focus on the most critical elements and basic navigation options to address and simplify, as these components are fundamental for keeping visitors on your mobile website. Considering some Internet connections are slow, and limitations on device screen space, it is key to make sure users have access to the information that is most important for them to meet their needs.
• Second, don’t forget that many mobile devices have a touchscreen interface. You should think of creating bigger clickable areas around links, and placing more space between close links and increasing button size. Eliminate images that don’t benefit in delivering your message to customers. No one benefits from slow loading images that scroll up and down and left to right on their Smartphone. Additionally, limit scrolling to one direction, as much as possible.
• Pop-ups and new windows can disturb the browsing process and interrupt your customer’s visit on the website. This approach should be avoided as much as possible, but if it is absolutely necessary to open something in a new window, make your visitors aware so they know what to expect.
• Relevant content. The content displayed should be highly user-focused. Don’t consider banner ads or any other kinds of internet advertising for the mobile version of your website.
• Screen size variations. Because of the continuous development of mobile technologies, designers should stay in-tune with the latest developments in screen sizes offerings. But remember, that any mobile website should work on not only modern mobile devices but also on those that that are still in use.

At CodeMyIMAGE we believe that mobile websites must be easy to use and accessible. We have experience in optimizing mobile websites and we can help your business achieve an effective presence in the mobile web zone.

In our latest article, we discussed some of the features one should take into consideration before choosing a blog theme. Today, we would like to bring you more insights from blog field specialists:

• Blog Checklist: 60 Must-Have Items
• 10+1 Tips for Choosing a WordPress Theme
• Corporate blogging: Essential features, platforms, tools and resources
• WordPress Theme Confusion? How To Choose A Premium Theme For Your Blog

A good theme is essential to keeping a visitor tuned-in to blog pages long enough to identify what your business has to offer. Even though relevant content is one of the main reasons that readers bookmark, subscribe and follow blogs, the design will also play a significant role.

When it comes to choosing a blog theme, one has three options – to go for a readily available theme, which might not be unique, buy a custom theme, or create one from scratch. While all are viable options, one should consider factors like the content of the blog, the target audience, and the color of your background.

Consider the following before choosing the appropriate theme for a blog:

1. Ease of navigation. The blog theme should support pagination, for easy access to previous and next pages. An effective navigation feature may also be the display of current posts and comments, or a list of the most relevant posts.
2. User experience. Remember to consider subscribe buttons, banners and social media sharing integration. Interested visitors always look for ways to follow your posts, and your theme should support easy access and visibility to these buttons. Look for an easy to follow comments’ display as visitors would be more encouraged to participate in discussions or to offer useful feedback.
3. Search options. Help visitors search for specific keywords on the blog and find the information that they really need. As with any effective business website, a search box is the most important tool for users to maintain interest. Make sure that it is visible and user friendly.
4. Colors choice. Although we mentioned the background color selection aspect, keep in mind font colors and styles. The color that you choose for your fonts and links will determine the readability of the content. An appealing color for the font may not fair so well against a certain background, so make sure to keep it complimentary.
5. Theme size and compatibility. Choose a small theme size, as not all of your website visitors have the luxury of fast Internet connections. Small size themes are easier to load, navigate and read through. Always ensure that your blog theme is compatible with different browsers like Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari and don’t forget mobile browsers.

At CodeMyIMAGE we assist our clients in selecting the theme that not only looks attractive but is best suited to compliment their business style. Depending on business features and domain area, we select the most appropriate theme and deliver all the necessary options your visitors may need.

In our latest article, we discussed some best practice tips for using textures in designing your website. Today, we would like to bring you some examples of textures:

• The Elements of Retro Web Design
• How to Create a Clean Design
• Patterns and textures in web design: awesome examples and resources
• Grunge In Web Design: Samples And Best Practices

The use of textures in web design has become very popular over the past few years. Textures can add character to a website and convey a certain “state of mind” for your website’s visitors. One of the main reasons that website design appears realistic is courtesy of these textures, and the quality delivered through their level of detail.

Using a web design texture can make the difference between a really attractive website and one that is less inviting. As web design styles continue to evolve, it appears that we are headed in the direction of seeing even more use of subtle textures.

There are many creative ways of using textures, but before starting to design your next website one should keep in mind that:

• Less is more. Clean and simple websites are getting increasingly more popular today. Users enjoy discreet designs with light layouts, free from complex design elements and elaborate color combinations. The main idea of effective web design is to convey a simple, clear, and accurate message through image and content. Take Google for instance, with its white background, it is perhaps white is indeed the most effective background.

• You should use website texture styles according to your audience’s features. Decide who your target audience is and choose textures that reflect the specific personality and interests. There are a wide range of textures to choose from for integrating your design into your business’ characteristics such as: wood, paper, stone, leather, fabric or the grunge style. But, you should keep in mind that today’s major websites rarely use these kinds of textures and prefer white color.

At CodeMyIMAGE, we believe your website should reflect your business style and we can assist you in creating a clean and concise message with the use of the right textures.