Website Lessons 3 | Websites Made Simple

Easy Error 404 page Creation Using Google Webmaster Tools

April 8, 2009 by Danny

The error 404 page is the webpage you’ll normally see when you can’t find the article or item you were looking for in an author’s website. Here’s a quick example of my error 404 page I tuned up. Now, because the error 404 terminology is commonly understood by tech-savvy users, it’s approach has been made … Read more

Basic Search Engine Optimization Tips

January 28, 2009 by Danny

A friend of mine showed me his new website pending launch on Tuesday. It was done by another Malaysia website design company and not us at Simpleet Solutions. He was rather concerned about the position of his company website in search engines – who isn’t today. So I agreed to have a quick assessment of his website.

I was surprised to find not even the basic of search engine optimization (SEO) steps were done for his website. So, here are 10 basic search engine optimization techniques you can tell your provider. :)

Have You Got A Location Map?

January 20, 2009 by Danny

location-map How often have you wanted to visit your client’s office but not sure where is it? Or, wanted to eat at a restaurant recommended by friends? Although I reside in Petaling Jaya, I’ve not been through all the roads in Kuala Lumpur and even Petaling Jaya. Plus, I’ve a better visual memory than one of text. So if anyone asks me for directions and mention road names, I’m as lost as them.

Therefore, most of the time I’ll ask, “have you got a location map?”. Most of the replies have been “No” and I can’t understand why. Why is it so difficult to come up with one? You don’t need Adobe Illustrator to design it so your customers can see it better. It’ll look more professional but the goal is to be able to get to the location. Which means, clear landmarks and directions or names of the roads.

Malaysia Website Hosting versus International Website Hosting

January 13, 2009 by Danny

network-cable It doesn’t take a genius at this moment to realize our Internet has slowed to a crawl – especially Streamyx users. Some of your favourite websites or blogs even, take more than 3-5 minutes to load on a single connection. I can’t even bear to mention the number of times I’ve refreshed and reset my connection, just to get a better IP address. For those who don’t know, selected IP connections do give a faster browsing speed. Don’t ask me why. *points to TMNet*

You may have noticed selected local websites still loading at the normal speeds. Well, it’s because the local connections aren’t fully affected by the international cables – which are down now. Yes, apparently there’s an underwater cable disruption on TMNet’s website which they always assume for its customers to refer instead of informing us via email. Well, the next common question some clients ask me is; what’s the difference between hosting in Malaysia and outside of it?

Digg Designer Daniel Burka Teaches a Thing or Two

October 1, 2008 by Danny

Good email newsletters are a valuable source of information and inspiration. As such, I’d like to share a few snippets from Sitepoint’s 50th Design View issue. They interviewed the lead designer at Digg; Daniel Burka, and he had a lot of stuff even Malaysia website designers can or should relate today. For example.

Of course, other web sites in our area too–sites like Facebook, for instance. I think the crew down there are doing some really interesting UI work. Even if they’re borrowing from Digg *cough*. Ha ha, I’m referring to some of the new UI stuff on the new Facebook feed — they borrowed a couple of ideas. It’s funny.
Not to say that we haven’t taken a few ideas from them too!

How to Start an E-Commerce Business in Malaysia?

September 16, 2013July 15, 2008 by Danny

picture of shopping cart with money With the advancement of online (web) applications, starting an e-commerce website and selling products online has never been easier. The best part is it sounds easy and it IS easy. So what do you need to start an e-commerce business today? I’d say, around RM10,000 or USD3000 for the investment.

And I wasn’t kidding about the figures. If you’re asking, why are the figures so high? It’s because I’m talking about professionally designed, real search engine optimized, online advertising and marketing type e-commerce businesses. If you’re still saying; but you said it’s so easy to start selling online today, yes I did say it but easy doesn’t always equal to cheap. Let me give you a quick breakdown of where the investment would and should go if you wanted to start an e-commerce business.

The Malaysia Website Design Portfolio Mistake

June 21, 2008 by Danny

Like you, I’m a Malaysia website designer. However, I’ve been absent from the freelance scene and am now running my own company; Simpleet Solutions. One of the most important tools for any freelance website designer is to host their portfolio. The works you have completed for big timers or big names and would like to proudly brandish it to future clients.

You may think hosting a terrible portfolio is a mistake. Well, it is but I know of another mistake Malaysia freelance website designers should avoid. And that is, linking to websites which companies no longer use and it now belongs to some cybersquatter.

Are You Still Wasting Money On Your Website?

May 23, 2008 by Danny

Back in 2005, I shared about how some websites are losing money because they were announcing the commonly used message; Under Construction. Today, many Malaysia website owners, entrepreneurs and managers are still having the same mentality.

If the webpage isn’t ready or prepared by the appointed deadline, they would say…

Nevermind, it’s a small matter. We could just put the message “Under Construction”.

The luckiest client I’ve seen avoid this pitfall replaced and suggested this message…

We are currently reviewing the content of this webpage.

but this also makes you and your company lose credibility.

When Your Website Structure (Information Architecture) is Flawed?

September 14, 2007 by Danny

Sitemap flawed Part of any website strategy is to plan your web site architecture also known as website information architecture. In short, the information architecture is a blueprint of your information or a website sitemap.

It’s always easy hearing about it and this is deemed one of the easiest because it’s just organization of information in your website itself. However, I have found many who are ignorant of organizing their content in a manner only made sense to them and not the user.