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Monday, December 19, 2011
Shopping Cart Checkout Login Example – Smart Design
While purchasing Christmas gifts online, I recognized an excellent shopping cart checkout login interface – See’s Candies.
 Excellent Checkout Interface
- Support Phone number is here in case you need it. And I did.
- Your website visitors, especially purchasers, want to know where they’ve been, where they are and where they’re going. See’s Candies doesn’t surprise you. They tell you up front what’s coming up next.
- My favorite feature: Checkout as a Guest. Many times, I just want to order and go, without spending time creating an account. Give me the option and See’s Candies does.
When designing a shopping cart login interface, learn by example.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 11:06 am
Comments: None | Filed under: Web Design
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Language Choice Splash Page Showcase
We are currently redesigning a website for multiple languages.
Upon visiting the site, we can offer visitors two splash (intro) page scenarios:
- Give visitors a choice: They can choose which language option they want.
- Don’t give visitors a choice: Detect their location and present the equivalent language page.
We prefer the former. Give your visitors the choice. Your visitors may be in a country where they cannot speak the language.
With this in mind, we were curious how other websites presented their language based intro pages. If you have other examples, please list them in the comments. (click the image for full view)
 UPS Website  Tiffany Website  Jaguar Website  FedEx Website  IKEA Website  Rolex Website  Ferrari Website  Jessie J Website  Hermes Website  Redit Website Posted by: Michael Swartz at 11:28 am
Comments: 2 Comments | Filed under: Web Design
Friday, January 21, 2011
MJS Web Solutions Launches Sobu Furniture eCommerce Website
MJS Web Solutions is proud to announce our new client’s eCommerce website, SOBU. SOBU designs and manufactures high quality, custom, modern furniture that is both functional and timeless in its design.
 SOBU Website The eCommerce website features PayPal integration along with a clear and concise design that showcases their product very effectively.
The owners are very special people and their authenticity reflects in their product that truly is one of a kind.
Mike Swartz says, “Check ‘em out!”
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 3:25 pm
Comments: None | Filed under: News, Web Design
Friday, January 14, 2011
Year of the Smartphone and Mobile Web Design
 Many analysts are predicting 2011 to be the year of the smartphone. I would agree. I just purchased my first smartphone this month. If I’m adopting, I guarantee others will in masses.
Market research firm Asymco predicts that 50 percent of the US population will be using smartphones by the end of this year.
I predict the market will only increase.
So what does that mean for you, the website owner?
It means you’ll have to be thinking about the smartphone user and whether your customers will be visiting your site on one.
- The first step is to inspect your website statistics. Google Analytics will show you if users are on an iPhone or even an iPad.
- Take a survey or poll of your current client base and ask them if they are using or plan on purchasing a smartphone. Ask them will they browse the internet on one?
- Next, test. Check out your current website on a smartphone. How does it look? Is it difficult to navigate, read, etc. Most likely you’ll need to convert your website into a more compatible view.
What does that mean for us web development companies?
We’ll have to begin offering mobile website design services. Good thing MJS Web Solutions has already started. We can take your existing website and create a slimmed down version that will be compatible with all the popular smartphones.
Contact us to find out how we can help your website become a smartphone friendly tool.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 3:47 pm
Comments: None | Filed under: Business, Web Design, Web General
Monday, September 13, 2010
Alameda Wine Walk Website Launched
 MJS Web Solutions has launched the Alameda Wine Walk website.
MJS Web Solutions created the look & feel of the website using elements from West Advertising’ collateral. Copy was provided by Giant Creative Services.
The Wine Walk event is sure to be a fun event while educating participants about the Park and Webster street districts.
Purchase your tickets and enjoy wine, shopping music and food from Alameda’s finest retailers & restaurants.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 4:16 pm
Comments: 2 Comments | Filed under: News, Web Design
Friday, August 13, 2010
Homepage Website Design Mistake: Where is Your Phone Number?
I recently wrote about the biggest mistake you can make on your website. Well, I found another example.
I needed to call Bank of Alameda, so I went to their website. Upon visiting the homepage, I was unable to locate their phone number. After, what seemed like a long minute, I found the Contact Us link, in small print at the top of the page.
 Where is the phone number? It’s funny. I just noticed in the top far right corner, the menu asks, “Can we help you find something?”. Yes, your phone number.
Make it Easy
Many people are going to want to contact your company. Give them every opportunity. The easiest way to do this is by adding your phone number on every page of your website.
If you’re unwilling to add a phone number, at least add a large Contact Us button or provide some clue as to how to make contact with your company.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 12:02 pm
Comments: 2 Comments | Filed under: Web Design
Friday, June 11, 2010
MJS Web Solutions Launches WordPress Powered Website
MJS Web Solutions is proud to announce a completely, fully functional website powered by WordPress.
The website, jodyharper.com, was built under the WordPress platform and is a complete content management system (CMS). Jody can update her blog and her web pages all through a web administrative interface without having to know HTML.
 Website Powered by WordPress WordPress is becoming the new standard in website design CMS. It’s not just for setting up blogs. WordPress plans on launching the latest release, 3.0, soon which is moving farther towards a full CMS platform.
Setup Your Website Using WordPress
MJS Web Solutions has also helped other companies utilize the power of WordPress, including Red Condor, Alameda Boys and Girls Club, Autism Answers and others.
Contact us to find out how your business can profit from this amazing solution.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 3:13 pm
Comments: None | Filed under: Blogroll, News, Web Design
Monday, May 17, 2010
Google Analytics Not Working With Magento
 We were having a heck of a time trying to figure out why Google Analytics wasn’t capturing any data with a new Magento eCommerce (V 4.1) website we just built.
We added the Google Analytics account ID within the admin area, but no results.
We then noticed the error:Â _gaq is not defined being displayed from the browser.
Searching through the Magento community, Google search and blogs we were given various fixes and advice that suggested replacing the original code or updating the Magento core files. We did not want to change the existing code or core files because we wanted our client to be able to use the eCommerce portion of Google Analytics with Magento and we’re suspect about some of the fixes.
So we took matters into our own hands.
Since the error was not being defined, we defined it.
- Open /app/design/frontend/default/yourtemplate/page/html/head.phtml
- Add the code
var _gaq = _gaq || []; on line #38 to the head tag of the head.phtml file after var BLANK_IMG = '<?php echo $this->helper('core/js')->getJsUrl('spacer.gif') ?>';
- Refresh your Magento Cache
- In a few hours Google Analytics should start registering your data.
I hope this helps others who may be experiencing the same issue.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 4:55 pm
Comments: 5 Comments | Filed under: HTML, SEO, Web Design
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Design Your New Website in 3 Simple Steps
 So you need to get your website up and running fast or you just want to know how it’s done?
A website can usually be broken down into 3 simple steps.
- Get a Domain Name
- Setup Web Hosting
- Design Your Site
1. Get a Domain Name
Whether you use your business as the domain name or choose a vanity domain name (i.e. ilovesushi.com), you will need to have it registered. A fun and useful tool for researching a variety of domain name ideas is BustaName.com. After you decide on a domain name, register it at GoDaddy.
2. Setup Web Hosting
Hosting is fairly straightforward. Two important considerations are web server uptime and customer service. It’s hard to find out if the company you’re choosing will keep your site up, but contacting customer service shouldn’t be a problem. Two companies I trust and work with exclusively are Westhost & Alentus.
3. Design Your Site
Whether you choose to design it yourself, go with a pre-designed website or hire a professional, you will need to have something available online (A one page website can be sufficient). There are many do-it-yourself choices: GoDaddy Website Tonight, Homestead, etc. You can also purchase a pre-designed website and have a web company or web designer set it up for you. Or you can hire a professional web design company and get the exact website for your business. Hiring a professional should offer you a completely customized website design, giving you a design that showcases your business and is well represented by your customers.
In our experience, a website will usually consists of these 3 steps.
If you have any questions or you would like assistance on setting up your own website, please contact MJS Web Solutions. We’re here to help.
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 5:32 pm
Comments: None | Filed under: Business, Web Design
Thursday, April 29, 2010
How to Remove the Blogger NavBar?
 We’re doing many Blogger conversions this month and Blogger has decided to keep the Blogger Navbar intact. (i.e. we can’t switch it off).
We’re not a big fan and wanted to remove it.
Here is how we removed the Blogger NavBar.
- Login to Blogger
- Click on the Template tab
- Add this code to the <head> tag:
<style type="text/css">
#navbar-iframe {
display: none !important;
}</style>
- Click the Save Template Changes button
- You’re done
Posted by: Michael Swartz at 3:40 pm
Comments: None | Filed under: HTML
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