Flash websites have been enticing web visitors and creators since their emergence.  However, there is debate over how effective this type of design technology is when it comes to online marketing. For some, Flash sites are considered to be preferred in comparison to the static HTML websites that have little to no moving parts. In spite of the popularity that Flash web design has garnered over the years, many businesses and online marketers concerned about  SEO rankings should beware!

Flash websites look cool, they add more visitor interactivity and make web sites more entertaining. However, there is  a lot more to the web than just having fun.  And, as we all know, there are a TON of things going on behind those beautiful and bright graphics that the average user views when surfing the web.

One of the biggest drawbacks to using a Flash website is the negative impact it has on the site’s SEO rankings. There’s no point in having a beautiful, exciting new website if no one can find it, right? So let’s take a look at  why Flash websites are still not compatible with search engine optimization (SEO) principles.

Flash is simply a software name created by Macromedia, which provides excellent animation quality on the web. Flash Plug-ins embedded on websites have the capability to make images, graphics, logos and animation appear to be in 3D mode, which is a lot livelier than basic HTML. In theory, the entertainment factor or enticement factor helps boosts up the odds that people will find your website more attractive and help to increase the amount of traffic on your site.  People who argue in favor of Flash web sites might also suggest that this type of design increases the likelihood that your audience will stay on your site for a longer duration of time, converting more prospects into customers.

While Flash websites are more appealing to the human eye, these websites will not be indexed by search engine spiders. In spite of showcasing enticing websites, owners of Flash sites may find it harder to rank decent in search engines because search engine crawlers have difficulty in detecting websites that utilize Flash. Yes, what the user sees on your website is incredibly important. At the same time, however; what web crawlers see is just as important. The difference between users and web crawlers is that web crawlers read the code that is hidden behind the images and graphics. In order to know how to rate and and rank your website in search engines, web crawlers MUST be able to view this code.

The myth about a customer staying longer on your site also does not mean a 100% conversion of sales. Based on statistics, the majority of online viewers are impatient, in terms of looking through what they really want. When it comes to web visitors looking to make purchases, price and product are the first items and information that users look for. If people need to sift through a ton of animation or close out introduction videos before they can get to what they are really after, this could be a deterrent and turn people away from your website.

Load time is another drawback with Flash websites. Both users and search engines are not fans of sites that take longer to load. Google added load time as a signal in their search ranking algorithms over two years ago and it has stuck ever since. Flash sites take much longer to load than HTML sites. As a result, they have lower SEO rankings and less popularity among users.

At the end of the day, simpler is better when it comes to your website. Sure, Flash in websites is appealing and enticing for some audiences, but it does not mean it appeals to everyone. The important thing is that you utilize web development  and design techniques that are both SEO and user friendly.

It seems as though ecommerce and open source technology infiltrated the online business industry equally as fast and as furious in the last five years. As a result, many businesses are now utilizing these types of 24/7 web-selling solutions in a variety of lucrative ways. Of the many open-source options available, Drupal and Magento seem to have risen to the top as the most popular e-commerce solutions being used today.

As new technologies breed new demands in the world of ecommerce, the push to create and deliver cost effective and efficient web applications continues. So which ecommerce solution is better: Drupal and Ubercart or Magento? In this article, we will examine the features currently being offered by each application, see what makes each solution unique, and hopefully help you determine which platform is best for you and your online business.

The first application we’ll examine is Ubercart. This solution utilizes a robust open source application and is specifically tailored to link with Drupal, which is considered to be one of the best technologies that many websites are using today. The combination of Drupal with Ubercart is a highly efficient scheme that makes for a magnificent internet shopping experience for customers. Developers utilizing Ubercart are able to integrate or enhance any type of feature your online shopping store is using. Ubercart has also been tagged as a one-stop, complete ecommerce solution for all types of internet marketing requirements. Currently, Ubercart offers the following list of notable ecommerce features:

• Configurable product catalog
• Flexible product creation system
• Flexible product attributes system
• Single page checkout
• Automatic account generation (anonymous checkout)
• Simple order processing
• Simple order creation and editing
• Integrated payment system
• Activity logging
• XML import/exporting

The combination of Drupal and Ubercart is said to be a powerhouse ecommerce solution. Having been built on Drupal and fully integrated with Drupal’s core systems helps to strengthen the power of both Drupal and Ubercart together.

The Drupal platform is extremely search engine friendly, providing for URL optimization, smart.htaccess and a number of other contributed modules that enhance a website’s SEO. When it comes to ecommerce, nothing seems more important than security. Maintaining a secure and trusted platform for your customers and their private information is essential. Drupal, is considered to be a very secure application framework. Developers consistently work to keep and update code so that the data on your website is safe from hackers.

In addition to being SEO friendly and secure, Drupal’s framework is a powerful and versatile content management system that allows users and developers to do more with less. Drupal was developed to be a community site. As a result, more features become available that work to extend, customize and help enhance the user experience each day.

Presently, Drupal is a bit easier to initialize because it has a new installer that can basically aid you through the whole installation process. Drupal utilizes any languages that you desire from the start and it is very easy. You will just have to import translations of the Drupal interface and you are good to go. Another efficient procedure that can be done in a quick manner is posting content. Drupal can also maintain your website menu by utilizing the easy-to-use system of drag and drop. You can modify your platform and move contents by moving blocks.

Another thing that can be attributed to Drupal is the enhanced multilingual interface support. This characteristic can be utilized to make translation automatic on the verge of installing a new module or even incorporate a new set of language. There are tons of Drupal modules that can be used while utilizing granular control. Drupal 7 merges necessary modules such as Access Rules and Throttle into the core to be able to help configure and enable an easy installation process. The latest interface will supplement a new layer of database and has the capacity to supply a vast array of support to any kind of database platforms.

In essence, Drupal and Ubercart work together to provide a top notch ecommerce solution for customers to enjoy a secure, dynamic and fruitful online shopping experience.

The Magento Community Edition is the free, open-source platform offered by the company. The Community Edition is unsupported and it is highly recommended that only the tech-savvy, non-mission critical utilize this version. However, as Magento has been around for quite some time, there are a number of Magento enthusiasts around who have contributed quite a bit to the platform, making for a substantial open-source, free ecommerce solution.

The Enterprise Edition (paid for version) of Magento, while also open source, is supported and offers a number of rich features including, but not limited to:

• Rich merchandising
• Full-page caching
• Persistent shopping cart
• Rewards Points
• Call Center Functionality
• Private Sales
• Store Credit
• PA-DSS Certification/Payment Bridge
• Staging, merging and rollback of content
• Price and promotion permission
• Return Merchandise Authorization (RMA)
• Gifting Options
• Minimum Advertised Price
• Gift Registry/Wish Lists
• Marketing Campaigns/Promotions
• Content Management Systems
• Customer Account Management

Depending on which platform you decide to go with, Magento offers a broad variety of options for ecommerce solutions. Regardless of the Community or Enterprise Edition, however, it seems that Magento has focused more of its efforts on the shopping experience and ecommerce aspects of their platform.

When determining which web application is right for your business, consider the differences between Drupal/Ubercart and Magento. If you are looking to offer a full website experience in addition to selling products online, Drupal and Ubercart might be something to consider. If an online store is your main focus and you have enough capital to invest in the Enterprise Edition, Magento might be the way to go. Either way, always do your research to see what any platform of interest if offering at the time to make sure if it the right fit for your business.

Lately, casually browsing through some websites, I have found some that caught my eye. It was because of their unique web design that seemed to inspire me to look further into it. There are definite web design trends that are exploding on the scene, which offer a visual appeal that draws you in, and perhaps makes you want to refresh your own site with a redesign. Of course trends are always changing at a rapid pace, but hopefully some of these current trends may be able to inspire you or give you a new idea.

Here we go:
1. The Retro Trend
Ad Packs

The Retro style seems to be a trend on the scene right now. I actually noticed quite a few of them while I was browsing. Perhaps this trend will be here to stay, but it definitely offers some inspiration for a creative edge.

2. The Ribbon
CJs Favorites

There has been a rise in the Ribbon trend used amongst web designers and developers recently. It is being used on both professional and personal websites. There is a debate whether or not the use of ribbons is becoming overkill, or if it adds a personal finesse. I personally like the Ribbon trend, I think it’s visually appealing.

3. Huge Headlines and Images
Second and Park

Lots of websites today are using huge headlines along with images to captivate you. By using such large words and pictures, it definitely grabs your attention and pulls you into the website. I think this is a great trend because sometimes you need something to jump out at you, and it definitely makes the experience more memorable. The headline and the images on your website set the tone for your visitors, so it doesn’t hurt if they are big and flashy.

4. Customized Typography
TapTapTap

This trend is one of my favorites. I always think different fonts add that extra “umph” that you otherwise might be missing. The typography (font, letters, style, print) trend has been exploding throughout the web design world, changing drab styles into fabulous custom fonts. It is now a possibility to create your own unique font, and I would highly suggest it.

5. Mobile Compatibility
H&M

Smartphones are EVERYWHERE nowadays, so it is important to cater to the mobile compatibility trend. This is especially if you are a business that is in constant need of marketing any product. I for one know that this function is very helpful, and I use it all the time. Since more smartphones have been enabled with CSS and JavaScript, this trend is definitely pushing web designers to be ‘mobile ready’.

6. Single Page Layout
Creative People

Sometimes it is necessary for your website to be straight and to the point. This is where the single page layout trend comes in. More and more sites are being designed to purposefully give visitors a little amount of information in a quick way. Having a one page layout allows web designers to focus on an effective strategy to appeal to visitors and users.

7. Minimalist & Creative
Get Finch

Like the one page layout trend, the minimalist and creative trend keeps things simplistic and clean cut. Instead of getting lost in a complex website, this trend allows you to engage the website in an easy manner. As opposed to busy layouts in the past years, this new white space concept is becoming ever more popular, as it is distinguishable and creative.

8. Social Media
Old Loft

There is no surprise that the social media trend is and has been growing at a rapid rate, it is almost never ending. Everyone you know uses or will most likely begin to use social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, etc. So it is very important that web designers include the aspect of social media links on the sites they create. It will allow your visitors an easier, more accessible way to keep in touch with your site on a daily basis.

9. Introduction
Kyle Standing

Introduction boxes and headlines are an expanding web design trend. You only have a few seconds to catch a visitor’s attention when they look at your site. Having a quick, upfront way of introducing yourself and what you or your company is about is why the introduction trend works so well. It’s very catchy, and I like it because it is straight and to the point.

10. Modal/Light Box
Digg

Modal/Light boxes are kind of like pop-up windows, except they are less annoying. These boxes offer web designers a different way of displaying pictures, text and videos. Its focus is to concentrate on the information presented that is relevant to the user. I like this feature, and I use it on various websites. For example, when I do online shopping sometimes a light box will appear when I click on a certain image that I am interested in, providing me with more information. This user-friendly modal/light box trend is upcoming.

Web design trends are changing at a constant rate. Hopefully some of these trends and examples can inspire you to create or redesign your own sites. You never know, maybe it will even lead you to creating a new trend that can be introduced to the web design world. Good luck with your future creations.

Source(s):

http://www.1stwebdesigner.com/design/web-design-trends-2010/

http://d-lists.co.uk/2010/11/02/web-design-trends-retro/

http://d-lists.co.uk/2010/08/24/web-design-trends-the-ribbon/