Website Design Blog of Alfred Fox

Maybe it's just me but I've always felt a little guilty for trying out different home pages that may better suit my needs, aesthetic wants, or what have you. Google has been like a father to most of us. Providing us timely search results, simplicity, reliability, and all for free. So how do you get an awesome home page that gives you the much needed Google Search as well as the freedom to customize it to match your personal tastes (without cheating on our favorite search engine)?

GoDark.us!

This is a project I started in June 2007. I built the beta (it's still kind of in beta) but hadn't had a chance to actually do what I wanted with it. There were a few features which were pretty neat but I always felt like it was missing something big. Basically the ability to customize it on a per user basis. The idea behind GoDark.us was to serve as a simple replacement for the classic Google.com landing page. I'm a huge fan of Google, I always have been, but I do not like blaring white backgrounds. Some may argue that I could use iGoogle for that, but I don't want all of that stuff cluttering my home page either (picky, I know).

So that brings us to this post. GoDark.us actually gets a large a mount of traffic which I've always been pumped about and hopefully all of its regular visitors will benefit from the changes that have been made to it. Here are the main features that have been added this time around:

• The ability to customize the look and feel (colors and background images)
  • There is a new settings option to change all of the website's colors, search result colors, as well as use a background of your choice (see screen shots below)
  • These settings can either be saved without an account (relies on Cookies) or you can create a free account and save your settings permanently
  • All changes take place immediately so you can tweak your page to your liking.
• And updated Videos, Rss Feeds, and Bookmarks manager
• The ability to access your Twitter account from your Godark page (You can see your most recent Tweets as well as post new Tweets)
  • A built in TinyURL-esque system which allows you to quickly append a link to any post with a smaller URL to ensure maximum post length
• Increased browser compatibility
• You can now access any of the websites features on any of the search pages instead of only the home page
• All results are still powered by GOOGLE

Screen Shots

That's about it. Enjoy. Let me know if you have any suggestions or questions about functionality. I plan to keep this a running project which continues to evolve as time permits. Feel free to set it as your home page and make the most of it!

Thanks for reading!

I haven't had the opportunity to devote time to making more templates for a while. I have had some ideas for new templates and have been excited to see them in action. Here are the results of one of them! I wanted to try something I've not really explored much and am fairly pleased with the results.

Feel free to use the templates in whatever setting you would like. They are completely free in every sense. You can add / remove to them as you wish. I only ask that as long as it resembles the template you started with that you leave my link at the bottom.

I'd like to know what you think about the new templates. Enjoy!

If you would like to download one or more of these templates CLICK HERE

I've found that many of my clients aren't really sure what to expect from a website designer. It can be difficult to say for sure as many designers offer their services to varying degrees. A quote from one designer may or may not include the same services as a quote from another designer. I've made it a policy to, from the outset, explain in detail the services I offer and do not offer so there is no confusion. Here's a list of things you should know about your designer to avoid any improper expectations.

1. Logo / Branding
Are you in need of custom logo and branding services? Is your designer including this in their quote? Do you need business cards, fliers, or brochures created and printed? Having a website built can be the start of an entire business plan or it can be an extension of an existing business model. If you do not already have a corporate identity it may be necessary to seek those services elsewhere depending on what your designer offers.

2. Content and Content Writing
Are you in need of content writing services? I personally do not write content for the websites I build. While many website designers do, you should always make sure who is going to be providing the content. My rule of thumb is simple: It is your (the client's) industry. You are the one best suited to write your content. Also the issue of images. Do you need your designer to provide the images or do you have images you wish to place on your website? On a side note: There are many resources to obtain quality, royalty-free images for use with your website. link

3. Custom Scripting / Programming
Are you in need of custom scripting or database work? Check with your designer if this is a service they offer. Many designers are multi faceted while others are very centered on the services they do offer. It is important to check with your potential designers as they may need to outsource this work and revise their quote.

4. E-Commerce / Online Stores
It is a common practice for most designers to provide an online store or e-commerce solution. The questions though are: To what extent do these services run? Will you be required to operate and input the products for your store? Is there written documentation or training that you will receive in order to learn about the ins and outs of your e-commerce solution? Is there an added fee for use of the store software (setup or monthly)? What is the store software going to be capable of? Will it fully meet your needs and expectations? Check with your potential designer and make sure that your e-commerce solution is just that: A Solution.

5. Search Engine Optimization / Marketing
Is your designer going to take care of your marketing and search engine optimization needs? It is common knowledge that just because you build it doesn't mean they will come. This is especially true with website design. The internet is a big place growing exponentially each year. It can be a real challenge to make your website stand out. Does your designer offer these services? If not, are they able to assist and point you in the right direction? Because SEO and Marketing are not a one time service; are there monthly or yearly fees associated with these services? As a designer I try to explain to my clients what they should expect in terms of traffic and success with their website. There are many different forms of marketing and SEO, make sure that you choose whats best for you. Your designer can most likely either provide the service or help you find someone who does.

6. Time Frame
What is your designer's time frame for your project? Are you in need of an expedited service? Discuss clearly with your designer to ensure you are both on the same page. A time frame estimation can vary greatly based on a number of factors. Is your designer able to reach you for questions or added details / clarity? Are you able to reach your designer? Does your designer have all of the information they need to complete your project? Is any of this work being outsourced which can cause added delays? Be sure to let your designer know what your goals are and what you expect. It does wonders to clear up any misconceptions right from the start.

7. Revisions and Changes
What are your designers stipulations on revisions and changes throughout the design process? Does your designer have a set limit of revisions they will make on your design during the construction? This is a really important thing to ask your designer as they may or may not place limits on the amount of changes they initially make. It goes two ways: If you as the customer are not quite sure what you are looking for and are adding to the workload of the designer by requesting many changes it would be prudent for your designer to work out a pricing system that is fair for both parties. If your designer is simply not hitting the mark with their attempts it may not be appropriate for additional fees to be imparted. Speak with your designer about this and make sure you are both on the same page.

8. Other Services
Discuss your needs and goals with your designer and make a list of the things you require to complete this project. It is important to make sure your designer has a clear idea of what you are looking for to properly give you a quote. Some services you require may not fall under the scope of what your designer provides, it is important to define these and take the steps needed to ensure your goals are brought to fruition. Your designer will no doubt have a list of companies or individuals that provide the services he / she may not offer. Check with your designer to see if they are able to help you obtain these other services you may need. This may save you the hassle of finding a reputable source that will perform the services you need.

9. Maintenance And Upkeep
A very important part of your website is maintenance and upkeep. Depending on your needs you may need to edit your website frequently while others may not. Does your designer provide a means for you to make changes or update requests to your website? Do they have a means to allow you to edit your own web pages? If you are planning on taking care of changes and maintenance your self, is your designer going to build your website in a fashion that you can easily update? Many designers, myself included, offer a monthly maintenance package to fill this need. Check with your designer to make sure their solution is something that works for you and your budget.

10. Communication
I mention communication as it is something that I feel is important in website design. Your designer is tasked with taking your ideas and converting them into a website that will not only please you but that will fill your needs properly. Make sure you are able to clearly communicate with your designer on all fronts as this will avoid any future headaches and ensure that both parties have proper expectations. Feel free to speak with your designer often as this will help you and your designer achieve your goals. If you have concerns or reservations about your designer, it may be a good idea to look elsewhere for the services you need. It is very important that you work well together so that everything goes smoothly.

These are all directed at those in search of website design services. On the part of the designer it is equally important to assist your clients in achieving their website design goals. Website Designers will generally have more experience and a clearer understanding of what is required to build a complete website solution. You should expect any potential designer to freely discuss with you what is required and expected when having a website built.

I wanted to take a moment and review a new website that has HUGE potential. Listomi.com. Listomi is a start-up that has taken user generated content to a new level. The ambitious title: "Cataloging the Universe", is exactly what this website is about. Think of a Wikipedia for lists. Lists of EVERYTHING!

It's amazing how beneficial this website has and will become. I didn't realize how valuable having a central repository for lists of everything could be. There are very few websites who are ambitious enough to take on such a task. Out of the very few that have tried none are growing as rapidly as Listomi.

• Currently Listomi offers the following features:
• Free accounts to anyone who wishes to contribute
• Create an infinite amount of lists
• Modify existing lists that you've created
• Stats for each list on Listomi (Records, Views, Creator, etc)
• Browse by list or categories
• Search all lists and categories
• "Share this list with a friend" feature
• Bookmark and Share popular lists via Digg, Technorati, del.icio.us, and others
• Contact any creator of a list for questions or revisions simply
• Much more

The Listomi developers are always adding new features and respond to any inquiries very quickly. If you have questions or suggestions or would simply like to extend your appreciation for this new services feel free to drop them a line and let them know.

I encourage everyone to sign up and participate as this is a great service that needs everyone's help to grow. It's a great idea that's worthy of the little bit of time it takes to contribute.

Here's some screenshots of Listomi's sleek Web 2.0 interface.

The Estetica Graphic Design and Web Design Forum which opened at the start of 2008 is offering Graphic Design and Web Design blogs to add their live RSS feeds to the Graphic Design Blog section. This means when you post on your blog it automatically posts it as a forum post with a link back to your blog meaning if the post is interesting enough, traffic will be driven towards your blog.

To add your Feed, sign up at the forum and use the contact form to tell the admin team why you feel your blog would be of interest to the readers. This is a great way to boost readers on your blog and also be part of a growing Graphic Design & Web Design Community.

As well as the forum the team have also launched a Social Bookmarking and Voting system for Designers using Pligg called Graphic Design Links.

This also has the ability to add your RSS feeds from your blog to automatically add your blog post link to the sections for people to comment and vote on and is also a free link back to your blog. To add your feed here contact the forum admin as above.