To set up such a huge server you would burn up a lot of power which, down the line, would definitely contribute to the environmental damage of the planet. To make the establishment safe and secured you have to install other equipments too; a cooling machines, power backup system to keep the servers up 24×7, backup facility to protect your customers’ data etc. would add on to the power usage.

What is Green Web Hosting?

As the term suggests, green website hosting means an environment friendly way to host the websites. In this process, renewable energy is used to power the entire unit, from the servers to the cooling system, backup facility and all. Simply put, the entire unit and all the activities required to run the web hosting system are powered by renewable energy only.

What is Renewable Energy?

When natural resources are used to create energy, it is called renewable energy. Natural resources which are available all over the planet and can be recycled are used to generate power.

Two most widely used source of renewable energy are water and wind; we have all heard of hydroelectricity in which the energy is generated from the power of water. Similarly the power of wind is also used to create energy.

Renewable energy is not a new concept; wide part of North America uses renewable energy.

Where This Green Website Hosting has Got Maximum Popularity?

Though renewable energy is not a new concept, green website hosting is, however, a new term. Hence it is quite easy to understand that most people are not familiar with the term green website hosting yet and only few people are opting for it. Major use of renewable energy is still observed in different areas of North America; rest of the world is still not much concerned about the inevitable energy crisis. Unless people become concerned and start using renewable, green energy wholeheartedly how can the technology become popular to run web servers!

But it is easy to speculate that green web hosting would become popular gradually and web hosting service providers would shift to green energy down the line. Owing to the fact that renewable energy is attractive, cost effective and good for the planet more people would shift to it in near future.

While hosting the websites for cheaper rates you would get a chance to do your slice of responsibility towards this planet. Natural resources used to create the energy are available across the planet. Unlike coal, sources of energy like water, wind and sunlight would not get exhausted if you use them to create energy. Sooner the world moves to renewable energy the better. And by option green website hosting you would reduce your carbon footprint significantly and contribute towards creating a greener planet.

A theme is basically the concept behind your site’s existence, how it should look, what the purpose of your site is and how it reflects the same. Make sure that you follow a consistent theme for your site that conveys the purpose of your site. From the look and feel of your site, to the functional services it offers, from the use of color scheme to the target audience that you are in search of, everything comes under the theme of your site.

These are some of the points that you should consider when deciding the theme for your website:

• Purpose of your site: Determine the purpose of your site and also its desired audience to start with. This information is particularly helpful in the designing phase of your site.

• Look and feel: Your site’s target audience and the services it offers should be reflected in your site’s look and feel. Look and feel should be consistent for all the pages and should reflect the theme of your site appropriately.

• Marketing aspects: Being clear about the theme of your site and in turn its desired audience helps the marketing team place the appropriate keywords for your business, that ensures that your site reaches the maximum user base.

• Content on your site: Content is one of the most important aspects of the theme of your site, its usually the content that you have on your homepage that communicates with your audience. Your content should reflect on the theme of your site, with words that have the potential to enter user’s heart.

Being clear about the theme of your website helps both you and your design firm develop that something special for your needs. Having a user friendly and consistent theme should always be in your priority list, something that always helps you in the long run.

Widgets are small pieces of code that can be integrated into your site or blog. Each widget functions as a program that performs a certain function. There are different types of widgets available and the best part is that they are all pretty easy to use, just copy and paste the widget code onto your site to see them work.

Widgets can be used to track visitors, syndicate RSS feeds, used for fun purposes and can also be used to display advertisements. Usually widgets are employed on a site to enhance the online experience for the users on your site, not only do they create brand awareness, they can also be used for direct sales through affiliate marketing.

There are a lot of widgets that serve fun purposes as well, like they are widgets that provide weather information, news headlines etc. which helps in generating engaging content for the users. There are also social bookmarking widgets that can be used to promote your site or blogs. Widgets are also a good source of making some money by using advertising widgets that can be used to display google ads etc. So not only are they useful in attracting the users onto your website, they also help in the Search engine optimization aspects of your website.

Here are some of the benefits of widgets:

• Presents interactive and updated content for users: Widgets provide constantly updated content to your site that not only generates user interest, it also helps in Search engine optimization of your site.

• Simple and easy to use: They can be put to use very easily, all you need to do is to copy and paste the code of widgets onto your site and that’s it.

• Great tool for promotion: Social bookmarking and RSS widgets are great tools for promoting your website. With just one click readers can share your content with their network.

• Generates traffic: Not only does it provide a healthy online experience for the users, these features also make sure that your site’s traffic always remains on the higher side

• Source of income: Using widgets like Advertising widgets, you can also make some quick bucks out of these small programs.

There is no reason why one shouldn’t use these smart pieces of code, the trick really lies in not overdoing their presence, remember with widgets balance is the key.

Is your business not making enough profits on the web, is your business loosing its steam to your competitors, is your site’s look now outdated, do you need a new content management system, is your business not present in the top bracket of search engines anymore?

Just as there are signs of aging, these are signs that showcase the need for your site’s redesign, maybe your site needs a revamp to compete with other websites. Change is the only constant thing in our lives and maybe that is what your site exactly needs too.

Here are some of the factors that signal, that maybe now its time to redesign your website:

• Your Business needs expansion: One of the biggest factors that showcase the need for a redesign is an expansion in your business, your business needs a expansion and so does your website to incorporate the new features that are going to be added to it.

• You need better Back end management: With the number of services that are being offered to the customer these days, you may want a new back end management system that caters to your needs, one that is customized according to your requirements.

• Your site no longer features in the top bracket of Search engines: The world of SEO has changed drastically over time. One of the main reasons that prompt a redesign is the need to incorporate new SEO techniques that could drive the users to your site.

• Outdated use of technology and graphics: Another reason is the continuously changing technologies, with new browsers and Operating systems coming every day, your site should be equipped with the latest technology to run smoothly and consistently under different applications. Also better graphics and look may also be one of the reasons why you need a revamp.

• Poor Navigation: Another aspect could be poor navigation of your site. Poor navigation not only hampers your site’s credibility, it also diminishes your brand image.

With the constant advancements in the world of web, its the responsibility of every business to keep itself up to date with the latest trends and site redesign is just one aspect of this process. Remember attaining quality is a continuous process of iterations, it comes with time and experience.

Well then a little knowledge on this topic is all you need to get started. Having knowledge about the stages of Web design always helps you in communicating your requirements to your design firm and having good knowledge of these stages helps you in planning your venture beforehand too.

Here are the different stages of Web design:

• Requirements gathering: The first stage of Web designing process is the Requirements gathering stage. Its during this stage that all the requirements considering your site’s purpose, functionality, services it offers, its target audience etc. are all taken into account before proceeding towards the all important design stage.

• Design Stage: This is the phase where the designing of your site takes place. This is where your site takes shape and users can get a good look of how their site will look before it goes online, from its color scheme to its navigation to its services that it offers, everything can be seen here and recommended suggestions can then be given to the design firm.

• Development: After your design is locked, comes the development stage. During this stage the actual development takes place. That is implementing your site’s services for the users, making a back end management system for the customer to control his site including managing content, inquiries, registrations, newsletters etc. Remember the services you need depend on your requirements and of course your budget.

• Testing: After the development, its time to test your site in all aspects from functionality, usability to performance, everything is tested in this stage, the back end management system that is presented to the customer is also tested here.

• Maintenance: After the site goes online, comes the maintenance stage. The maintenance stage takes care of any obstructions that might happen during the functioning of your site. Usually each firm provides a minimum Maintenance time for the site they make.

These are the different stages of Web design that every design firm follows. Keeping these in mind not only helps in communicating with your design firm, they also make sure that you don’t get cheated by any fake Design company, you see a little research always helps.

Every site is built with a purpose and its very important to keep that purpose in mind when thinking of an optimum design for your site. Each page of your site should be consistent in the message it provides and the services your site has on offer. Navigation of links in your site should be well thought and preplanned anticipating user behavior and most importantly everything should be SIMPLE in its implementation.

Here are some of the features that make for a good website design:

• Clear and Precise Functionality: A site’s design should reflect the site’s purpose and should precisely define the services the site offers. The moment user lands on your site, he should be able to gauge your site’s functionality in an instant.

• User Friendly: Research shows that a site that is easy to use is bound to get more hits than a site that is not that easy in its approach. User friendliness has always been one of the most important factors when it comes to diverting traffic onto your site.

• Easy Navigation: A good site always anticipates user behavior; a good site knows what a user expects. Good design comprises of efficient navigation, one that leads to appropriate places and presents the user with the info he is looking for.

• Consistent: Each of the sites pages should be consistent in their theme. Consistency always helps in making a brand image of your site in the users head.

• Attractive Look and feel: Look and feel of your site should be attractive enough to grab the attention of the user; small things like Look and feel go a long way when it comes to ensuring success for your site. Remember, these small things that matter the most.

All in all beingsSimple, clear and concise is the mantra when it comes to a good website design. Following this rule not only would ensure massive traffic for your site, it also helps in carving a unique brand image for your site in the user’s mind.

Most of us don’t pay too much attention on this aspect of Web design, thinking, after all they are just colors. But colors my friend play a big role in forming a brand image for your site, using colors that match your site’s purpose and that are pleasing to the eye not only add a  buzz to your site, choosing the right colors also effect the usability pattern for your site for e.g. we should always choose colors that don’t obstruct the visibility of text written on our site, we should never choose colors that don’t go along with the theme of our site, for e.g. if your site is a business site, you should try avoiding ultra bright colors like yellow or red and try to go with something more soothing like a white or a grey.

Anyways different sites have different purposes and different color needs. Here are some of the few points that will help you in deciding that perfect color for your site:

• Choose color according to the purpose of your site: You should always be clear about your site’s purpose, whether its a formal website or a business website or is it a fun based website for kids like a gaming site for example.

These categorizations help in choosing the right color for your site. e.g. if its a business site you should look for something elegant like a white or grey, for kids site you are allowed to experiment with bright colors like yellow or red, all depends on your site’s purpose.

• Your target audience: If your site has a gender specific target audience like, if your site’s target audience is just males or just females or maybe old people, then while choosing the right color the gender specifications too should be kept in mind e.g. Men prefer blue and orange colors as opposed to red and yellow and women on the other hand prefer pink and yellow to colors like blue and orange. Similar specifications can also be made according to the age group your site caters to like old or young people etc.

• Choose colors that go along with your fonts color: Always choose colors that go along with your fonts making sure that your content is easily visible. Always choose contrasting colors for your font and site’s background and avoid bright colors like white and yellow for the text of your site.

• Don’t use more than four colors throughout your website: Don’t use more colors for your website. Make it a point not to use more than four colors for your website throughout because having numerous colors can sometimes be irritating to the users.

Normally there is no thumb rule that defines which color to use and which not to use, besides different people have different choices. But keeping these broad points in mind will at least help you in grabbing the attention of the user and not turning them away, because trust me Content and Color are two aspects of your site that have the potential of turning the users away from your site, always try to treat these C’s with utmost respect.

Using this information, not only can vast improvements be made in your site, you can also come to know about the medium people are using to come to your site, whether they are coming from search engines or ads etc, and also the keywords that they are using which further helps you in optimizing your site’s ranking.

Website Analysis presents your business with the following useful information:

• Visitor Information: Using website analysis you can easily know the number of visitors logging onto your site in a week/month/year. It also tells you about the medium that has been used by them the most to come to your site, what are the most popular parts of your site etc. This info can be pretty useful in developing a strategy for expansion of your business.

• Traffic Analysis: This feature tells you about the time of the day when traffic on your site is maximum. Which portion of your site receives the maximum traffic and which the least, how long does the user stay on your site etc.

• Marketing Information: It also tells you about the keywords that have been used the most by users to come to your site. This info helps you in optimizing your site around keywords that are mostly used and those which are favorite with the users.

• Mistake Reports: Sometimes a part of your site isn’t accessible or your site maybe having some broken links. Mistake reports underline these concerns to you, correcting these concerns go a long way in adding credibility to your site.

• Target Audience: Website analysis also tells you a lot about your target audience. Which country are they from, which language do they speak, are they students or professionals. This information helps you focus on your target audience and also devise a strategy for the same.

With the amount of competition on the web, every company these days is making use of Web Analytics tools to outdo their competitors. Using this information not only gives you a hang of the market, it is also pretty useful when it comes to planning your site’s growth story.

A landing page is always built keeping the user interest in mind. Users come to your site searching for the services you offer, and therefore it becomes of utmost importance that they get what they are looking for and that too in the most hassle free manner. Your landing page should contain all the info that a user might need, put across in the most simplistic of manners, it should be self explanatory and should efficiently lead the user to the next step.

The first few seconds that a user spends on your site pretty much decide the fate of your site, so its always recommended to design the landing page for your website keeping these important points in mind:

• Make sure that the user gets what he is looking for: If a user has logged onto your site, then there has to be a reason behind it, he is looking for something and hence it becomes your responsibility to get him that something in the most simplistic way possible. A landing page that is not self-explanatory is a sure shot cause of irritation to the user.

• Easy to navigate: A landing page should be easy to navigate and should lead the user to the next phase without any hassles, it should also have proper contact us and feedback links just in case the user has any doubts.

• Should structurally organize all the banners, ads and graphics together: Make sure that you have your most important schemes and services flashing on the landing page itself, also make sure that your landing page does not overdo the graphical part for your site. Everything should be structurally organized.

• Text should be easy to read: This is very important, make sure that the text on your site is easy to read.

• Pleasant look and feel: Also make sure that you have a pleasant look and feel for your site. Remember a site that looks good makes the users feel good as well.

If you want your business to land with the profits that you desire, then make sure that your Landing page portrays your business in the most efficient and simplistic manner possible, after all first impression is the last impression.

Especially on the web, everything depends on your site’s response time. According to a survey that happened across 11 countries, an average user doesn’t wait for more than 3 seconds for your site to load. In other words if your site takes more than 3 seconds to load completely, you may well be out of business soon. One of the two most irritating factors for any user on the Internet is Usability and Performance. You toil with any of these, and you can be sure of losing the customer base that you have created.

A site that loads faster and that is easy to use is always ranked high on the priority list of users. Ensuring that your site has a faster response time goes a long way in forming a credible image for your site as well. Here are a few points that ensure faster loading time for your website:

• Use less images, animation and flash: If your site is crowded with a lot of images and funky animation graphics, then chances are that it may take a long time to load which can be pretty irritating to the users. Always use images and flash where they are really required, don’t just use them for the sake of adding a buzz factor to your site.

• Employ a good web hosting server: Another reason for your site’s response time being slow could be the hosting server that you have chosen. Always choose web hosting services from a reputed company, one that has already made a name for itself in the market.

• Use Cache Plugin: Using cache improves your site’s performance by storing data for future requests. This is one of the most widely used phenomenons to increase the speed of your site.

• Avoid nested tables: Having nested tables not only is considered a bad practice, it also hampers the speed of your operation, avoid nesting and yes, also try to keep your code clean.

• Remove extra stuff: Remove all the extra stuff that is of no need. Remove extra banners, ads that are of no use. Not only does this offer a clean outlook, it can do a world of good for your site as far as speed is concerned.

Improve your site’s performance to improve your business’s performance. Ensure faster loading time for your web pages and tag them along with the usability factor, trust me this simple strategy always works.