MacGyver was known for using simple everyday items to solve difficult problems.  For example, MacGyver might use a paperclip, Dixie-cup, lighter fluid, and toenail clippers to create a highly effective booby trap.

Many Web Impakt clients find resourceful ways to solve complicated business problems and processes.  A popular “everyday” item to help them is Microsoft Excel.   Excel, for those of you who just use your computers to read blogs, is a spreadsheet program.  When it was designed, the idea behind it was that it would be used to manage and organize columns of numbers, but Microsoft probably didn’t realize how many MacGyvers had purchased this application, and all of the amazing things they would end up doing with it.  If MacGyver had decided to work at a desk instead of being a troubleshooter for the Pheonix Foundation I’m sure Excel would be his favorite program.    

MacGyver Spreadsheet users set up complicated formulas and color schemes and enter in numbers in just the right way that will allow them to retrieve the desired results.  This works for a while but in time usually becomes too complicated and time-consuming, not to mention the fact that it can be virtually impossible for somebody else to use a spreadsheet without a decoder ring!  That’s where Web Impakt steps in.  We have taken dozens of situations like this and created simple cost effective online programs that will allow our customers to do minimal data entering to receive desired results.  Not only that, but our clients can access these applications anywhere there is an internet connection. 

Contact Web Impakt today for a free quote on what it would take to turn your MacGyver Spreadsheet into a simple, cost-effective, online application.

According to Grow Idaho Falls, 15% of the Idaho Falls population works in the high technology industry.  The national average is only 9%.    Web Impakt wants to help you and your business take advantage of everything that technology can offer.    

Most business owners know that the internet is a great way to connect with customers.  But did you know that your website can also serve you?  Client and employee rosters, invoices, expenses… Any information that is an integral part of your business can be securely accessed anywhere in the world.    The internet is a powerful tool.  If you are a business in Idaho Falls, or anywhere else,  don’t miss out on what being in the heart of the Idaho Technology Corridor can offer.

For more information about Web Impakt, check out the Web Impakt business profile in the Nov/Dec issue of the Idaho Falls Magazine.

A savvy businessman approached me about a website the other day.  He was a specialist in his field and didn’t have time to learn the ways of the web.  That’s why he was inquiring of me.  He needed a website to boost his business to the next level.  I put my price quote together and sent it to him.

His main concern was the monthly web hosting charge.  He didn’t understand what he was getting in return for the monthly hosting charge.  I suspect many people are the same way.  If their expertise is in another field then how would they know what “hosting” was if no one had ever explained it to them.

What is hosting?

According to Wikipedia, a web hosting service allows websites to be accessible via the World Wide Web.  If a website was sitting on my computer there would be no way for someone on the outside of my network to access it.    Therefore, in order to have a website you must have a public host.   

Technically, you could use your own PC as a host if it is connected to a network but it is most common to use an Internet Service Provider.   If you were to host your website on your home PC it would require a permanent high speed connection, server hardware and software.   This W3C schools article explains the different aspects of hosting.

Web Impakt Hosting offers many hosting plans for very little cost.  Each of our hosting plans comes with email, storage, backup and everything you need for your online presence.

One of the foundations of web design are images.  If your images are shabby, your web design will look shabby.  I follow some pretty simple rules when deciding how to save an image for the web.  I choose one of the following three formats:  GIF, JPEG or PNG.

The PNG format (pronounced “PING”) was designed to replace the GIF format.  It supports transparency in most browsers and as browsers continue to evolve it will become the superior image format.

Typically try to use the PNG format instead of GIF.

The GIF format is limited to 256 colors.  It was developed back in the day when a PC could only display 256 colors.    A PNG is 20% smaller than the same GIF image.  One benefit that the GIF format has over PNG is the fact it has animation support. 

Use the GIF or PNG format if your image is a line drawing, simple cartoon or text.

Go here for the W3C quality assurance tips about Gif vs. PNG.

The JPEG format supports full 240 bit color (16 million colors).    Any photographs displayed on your webpage should be saved as a JPG.  One major downfall of the JPEG is that it does not support transparency.    

Use the JPEG format if you are displaying a picture or something without sharp edges.

Go here for common JPEG Myths and Facts.

I would have to say my least favorite font is Commic Sans.  If I get an email from someone or go to a website with a nice big pink Comic Sans my stomach begins to rumble.  For potential customers to take your business and website seriously stick with professional fonts that are available on everyone’s computer.

I would recommend sticking with the following fonts when creating your website:

I would recommend NOT using this font for your web design:

This article from Sitepoint discusses the art of typography and its graduation to the computer screen.

Keep in mind, it is difficult to know what browser and operating system your users are using so try to keep a font that is accessible to the majority of users.

There are two options a company can take when faced with a software development and web design projects. These options are to hire an in house development staff or outsource the project to a company with expertise in software and web development.

The benefits to outsourcing include the following:

1. You want to spend time managing your business, not managing your software development project.

2. You have expertise in your business not in software and web design.

3. You don’t have to pay full time employees when there is no work to do.

4. You don’t have to provide insurance or any other benefits to sub contractors.

5. You can discontinue the contract if you are unhappy with the quality of services you are receiving.

6. It is difficult to attract and hire qualified web staff.

Web Impakt provides outsourcing services to many industrious successful businesses.

These include the following:

Mountain View Hospital

Jensen Jewelers

Pacific Empire Radio

These companies benefit from outsourcing all their software and web design needs to Web Impakt.

Many of Web Impakt’s customers require control over the content of their site. Web Impakt has a comprehensive content management system that will allow users to control their site without any technical knowledge. Here are some examples of user managed sites:

www.hot106point3.com 

www.jensen-jewelers.com

There are pro’s and con’s to using a content management system. The con’s of implementing a content management system are as follows:

Security when browsing the web is a big concern for many website visitors. One way to instill a feeling of security to your website guest is to install a Digital Certificate. Digital Certificates use SSL to offer authentication. SSL is an acronym for Secure Socket Layer, it is a protocol used to manage secure message transmission via the Internet.

When data is sent over an SSL it allows the users web browser and the web server exchange data over a 128-bit encrypted connection. Anyone who purchases an SSL must prove their identity to the Certificate Authority. Therefore, when you view a website that has an SSL you can trust that they are who they say they are.

The Jensen-Jewelers website is an example of a site that has an SSL Certificate installed.   Note the padlock and HTTPS in the URL.

Anyone who has an E-Commerce site must have a Digital Certificate. Also any website that collects sensitive information like credit cards or social security numbers also needs to have a SSL Certificate installed.

You can purchase a digital certificate from webimpakthosting.com

More information about SSL can be found at the Microsoft website here.

This is a pretty bold statement considering I don’t know what your business does. If you are in business today, having a website is essential. Websites are the business cards of this era. It is often the first place people go when making decisions on whom they should do business with. Thousands of companies have websites and you can be certain that your competition already has one.

Other benefits of a website include:

*  Allows your business to complete in a global market

*  Allows you to provide more company and product information

*  Is less costly than any other type of media

*  Allows you to change your product and service info for less money than reprinting catalogs and brochures

*  Allows you to reach potential customers 24/7/365

According to this comscore press release, a massive 772 million people were online in May of 2007. Don’t let these users pass you by. Web Impakt can help you design a functional website that will get these customers contacting you!

*DEAFENING MUSIC*

*AMAZING DISPLAYS*

*MIND-BLOWING TECHNOLOGY*

You might think I am describing the last rock concert I went to, I’m not. I am describing the last Flash site I went to. I left the site shortly after getting there because I was annoyed at the loud music and having to wait for the menu to show up.

There are times when interviewing customers for a new site, they are sold on the idea that their site needs to be created in Flash. Macromedia Flash (now Adobe) is animation software that web developers use to develop interactive and lively interfaces for web sites. Flash sites are very showy and web customers love them. Visitors and potential customers to their sites usually don’t.

Flash sites pay a high price for their dynamic nature. They usually come with longer loading times, higher costs and less accessibility. Back in the day of dial-up-modems, we were used to waiting for a page to load. Today, with our speedy DSL connection speeds’, waiting for a page to load is out of the question. Most users will hop back out to Google and find a play they can get their information quicker. Another disadvantage of a flash solution is cost. Web Impakt charges 3 – 4 times as much for a full flash site then we do for a html based site. Finally, a huge drawback of flash is that it isn’t tremendously accessible to users or search engines. In order for a user to see your super expensive flash site, they have to download a flash player. Search engines will by pass your site unless you have made huge concessions to help them index your site.

The answer to having a cool website with all the Flash benefits is simple. Web Impakt, has found that a hybrid site is the answer. A nice mix of html and flash gives our customers the cool look they want while allowing users and search engines to quickly find what they are looking for. 

Le Ritz Hotel, in Idaho Falls, is an example of a Web Impakt hybrid site.

Remember, next time you are thinking you want to have your site done 100% in Flash, refer to this flow chart by theGoogleCache.com.