Redesign of the old website for Fennessy's Hotel.

I have to say I have been very busy that I have not blogged in a while, a good complaint, here are some new websites I launched last month:

• Clonmel.ie
• County TipperaryChamber
• Ireland Sports Info Conference
• MBI Social Care Websites.

I will do an extended piece on each website as soon as I can.

Who can forget the GIFs of the ‘90s, or the more up-to-date focus on flat design?

Recently, we’ve seen a surge in popularity of responsive web design, as more and more sites join the drive to become ‘mobile ready’ which is now even more important in the wake of Google’s Mobile Friendly update.

Let’s examine some of the most popular for this and the coming year.


The Proliferation of UI Patterns
One of the side effects of responsive design has meant that a lot of sites look similar. However, responsive design isn’t solely to blame. The rise of WordPress sites and the booming theme market also have a hand in it.

Here are 5 notices in design I have spotted this year:

1. The hamburger menu: While some criticize this pattern’s use, there’s no doubt that it’s widespread use makes the function easily recognizable for users.
   
2. Account registration: You’ll find this pattern whenever you try to register for a site. There might be a form to fill out or a button that’ll allow you to use a social account to sign up. Multi-step form wizards are also effective since they “chunk out” the required fields, reducing friction and encouraging users to flow through the process.
3. Long scroll: Placing all your important elements above the fold is now a well-known myth. Furthermore, almost everyone is accustomed to long scrolls thanks to mobile devices. The technique works especially well for sites that want to lure users through storytelling, and you can still mimic a multi-page site by breaking the scroll into clear sections.
4. Card Layouts: Pioneered by Pinterest, cards are everywhere on the web because they present information in bite-sized chunks perfect for scanning. Each card represents one unified concept. Since they act as “content containers”, their rectangular shape makes them easier to re-arrange for different device breakpoints.
5. Hero images: Since vision is the strongest human sense, HD hero images are one of the fastest ways to grab a user’s attention. Thanks to advances in bandwidth and data compression, users won’t suffer from slow load times either. One common layout you’ll find is a hero image above the scroll, followed by either zig-zagging sections or a cards-based arrangement.

Longer tweets are coming soon to Twitter.

Twitter is building a new feature that will allow users to tweet things longer than the traditional 140-character limit, and the company is targeting a launch date toward the end of Q1, according to multiple sources familiar with the company’s plans. Twitter is currently considering a 10,000 character limit, according to these sources. That’s the same character limit the company uses for its Direct Messages product, so it isn’t a complete surprise.
There is no official launch date set in stone, these sources say. It’s also possible the character limit could fluctuate before it rolls out the final product, which people inside Twitter refer to as “Beyond 140.” Re/code first reported that Twitter was building a product like this back in September. A Twitter spokesperson declined to comment.
Twitter is currently testing a version of the product in which tweets appear the same way they do now, displaying just 140 characters, with some kind of call to action that there is more content you can’t see. Clicking on the tweets would then expand them to reveal more content. The point of this is to keep the same look and feel for your timeline, although this design is not necessarily final, sources say.
The design aspect is key. Making Tweets bigger by adding more content or bigger pictures has diminished user engagement in the past, according to one source. That makes sense. If tweets take a long time to consume or take up more space on your screen, it’s likely that you’ll view (and engage with) fewer of them. So Twitter is trying to add more content without disrupting the way you currently scroll through your timeline.

It’s hard to tell if changing the character limit will make much of a difference for Twitter. CEO Jack Dorsey has been looking for ways to jumpstart user growth for some time, and the company has thrown a number of product updates at users (including new event summaries called Moments) to make this happen. None of it seems to be working, and giving users more real estate to share their thoughts may not be the answer.
Still, it’s an important update in what it represents: A willingness to change one of Twitter’s most established product features. The 140-character limit has been around as long as Twitter has; it’s part of the product’s personality. Expanding the limit is a sign that Twitter and Jack Dorsey are willing to make serious changes in hopes of luring new users. Twitter is also tinkering with the idea of changing its reverse chronological timeline — another core Twitter feature.
With regards to expanded tweets, Twitter is also working out a plan for how to deal with potential spamming issues that might arise with an expanded character count, according to sources. It’s unknown, for example, if Twitter will restrict how many users can be mentioned in a single tweet, but the company is apparently thinking through those scenarios. Twitter plans to talk with some of its analytics and measurement partners to prepare them to handle longer tweets beginning later this month, sources say.

Here are some tips when choosing a website design company:

• Mobile friendly
  
• SEO
• Easy to use
  
• Easy to edit
• Easy to update
• Back links
• One time cost

Let's face it, we all need some help in design when needed. Is your website starting to look a bit flat :(
We can re-design your website and give it a whole new look and feel.

Content Management:
A great content management system (CMS) allows you to become your own “webmaster”. You can manage your content quickly and effortlessly. We can tailor your website to have a unique theme, or enhance an existing theme and its functionalities. We will help you decide what will work best for you and your needs.

QUESTION? Call for a free quote on 083 4268754

Over 70 percent of the world's purchasing power is located outside of the United States, according to the U.S. Commercial Service. This means that increasing your global market share can be great for your bottom line.

Here are some simple tools and features that can help your eCommerce business reach a global audience.

Choose The Right Domain Name

Every country has a two letter country code domain such as .uk for the United Kingdom or .ie for Ireland. Many local search engines favour sites with their own country-code domains, according to Export.gov, a site managed by the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration.

In addition, choosing a domain name that is localized for your target markets can boost brand awareness, loyalty and even overall sales. “A URL for an online exporter's website should be short, simple, descriptive and memorable to customers in the target market," the organization reports.

You may also wish to pick a name written in language-specific script so customers can search for your site in their native language.

Talk Straight About Shipping

To streamline payments and improve the customer experience, make sure your shipping costs are clear and that you provide an easy-to-find link to your international shipping policies on your site.

Also consider providing localized FAQs, clearly posted contact information, and personalized responses to customer questions, advises Export.gov in its Basic Guide to Exporting.

There are a range of international shipping options based on your customers' location, the amount they are spending and how much the total order weighs.

Simplify Returns

When returns are easy, customers are more likely to make repeat orders. Start with a clear return policy that keeps customers in mind.

According to a UPS study, 45 percent of consumers returned an item that was bought online, and 42 percent made an additional purchase during a return. In addition, some 67 percent of shoppers review an online store's return policy before making a purchase.

Be sure to provide an easy-to-print or in-the box return label and communicate with customers to let them know a return credit is on the way.

It's easy to communicate with shoppers from your Store dashboard. You can use the Return Policy field to create a Return Policy that will display on your store's checkout page. It's also important to understand the rules of commerce in any country in which you do business. Shoppers in the EU, for example, have 14 calendar days to cancel a purchase.

It's also simple to send automated emails to your customers, including a refund email, through the Orders section of your dashboard.
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For eCommerce sites, exporting can be a great way to boost your global market share — and your bottom line. To connect with international shoppers, start by creating a localised domain name, setting clear shipping policies and simplifying your returns. If you'd like to learn more please contact us.