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Robin and Marion Jones, Croque-en-Bouche,

Old Post Office Cottage, Putley Green, Ledbury HR8 2QN. t: 01531 670809   f. 0870 7066282

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I have personally built well over 100 websites since 2002, when we started commercially. I’d run our own restaurant site since 1997, and started with that experience. A main reason for hiring me, is that I know the technicalities and vocabulary of food and drink (and I can spell!). That way I spot the errors and problems ahead. But then I’m also practical about what my customers need from a site. I do know about running a business, what matters!

Technically, my sites are not trying to be too state-of-the-art. I’m designing for the real world, that sells stuff. Some use small Flash! graphic animations - adds expense in time (good fun tho’!). Most net users - your potential customers - really, just want easy, organised access to information - a quick download that fits their screen, and 17” flat screen is the very basic minimum these days. But most have bigger screens (or high resolutions like on laptops) and nearly all broadband. But remember up to 10% are not on broadband, and there’s plenty of alternative browsers out there, which we must cater for - a significant number are now on Firefox and Chrome. Internet Explorer isn’t for everybody. And, attention spans are very short on the net. Give fast service or lose punters.

The rule is... The homepage must show promise (i.e. be working) in 15 seconds, and be all there in 40 (even on dial -up). And no page more than three clicks in.

I do thoroughly test my sites. They are logically arranged... and they do work! But the acid test is to see the sites. Each has notes to show the salient features. Click ‘websites’ above left and choose a site. It will open as a page within a page. There’s quite a number of big files; sorry for the delay if you’re on dial-up.

Look also at the 10 web tips.

THE SITES