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Why do I need a designer?
You don't.
However a designer can save you a lot of time and money, even if you have a state-of-the-art WYSIWYG web design software programme. The Web designer is able to read and write HTML (the basis  of the Internet) as well as various other "languages" and knows the techniques to be used in reducing the size of files normally produced by WYSIWYG processes. Every site handled by CD & Associates is manually checked for errors and redundant coding.
The most important function that the designer/webmaster fulfills is in being able  to update/upgrade sites with minimal fuss and ensuring that web marketing is properly done to ensure decent rankings in the search engines.
CD and Associates maintains hard-copy as well as digital schematics of every site design so that even in worst-case scenarios sites can be accurately re-created.All site design and amendments are backed up and archived.

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Using the Web
How it works
Bang for bucks
Web marketing

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What's better? Plain and simple or modern and exciting?
It depends on the business and purpose of the site. The consumer also has preconceived notions of the image that should be presented (e.g. an undertaker versus a supermarket). Plain and simple is sometimes more difficult but usually occupies less server space and is more economical. Every "modern" element on a site eventually  boils down to larger file sizes and  greater delays for the consumer.
Nonetheless visual attraction can be created with modest file sizes and fast download times.
The internet is also the playground for fads and most  business sites avoid these.
However graphical elements  play a very important role, despite loading file sizes.

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Websites are expensive?
No, but they can be if you allow them to  run riot (as with any marketing medium).
The easiest way of  restraining costs to to set very firm objectives to the site: phrased very bluntly the 5W's  and H and may simplistically resolve itself  into this statement:
"I want this site to.........by doing the following ...............and reaching the .....................market and ............ interest groups in order to................. in this time span.........."
Ensure that site maintenance regularly prunes away outdated material (discontinued products etc) so that server space (the chief ongoing cost) does not increase exponentially (the pruning should be archived on backup media in case it is ever needed again).
Do not be misled by gimmicks: many of the flashy techniques used to brilliant effect  in the USA, Japan and Europe depend on availability at low cost of broadband technology rather than the common copper line technology of South Africa. These speed benefits are applicable in SA only if the target market is expected to rely on fibre-optical cable and ASDL lines (some business-to-business, intranet and less than 1% of the available market at this time)

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What are Meta Tags and "hidden commands"
An enormous number of things are hidden from view in the an ordinary web page. For instance, the code for this simple paragraph looks something like this:

<P> <A NAME="meta"><!-- --></A><B>What are Meta Tags and "hidden commands"</B><BR> An enormous number of things are hidden from view in the an ordinary web page. For instance, the code for this simple paragraph looks something like this: <P>

Most important in these concealed items are Meta Tags, Java Script, and Cascading Style Sheets.
Meta Tags: If you  have ever used a search engine  such as Google you will have typed in words to identify what you're looking for,   like" South african entertainment movies ". The search engine ( a super-computer) searches through its data bases until it finds matches for the words and then presents the results to you. The search engines have been helped by the web designer's inclusion of all of these words in "commands" better known as "Tags" and by the submission of these along with a key summary. However, search engines also dispatch a "virtual robot" to each site to ensure that the words used match  the contents!
Java Script is a programming language and despite the fact that it has been around for many years  it is still exciting. It can create special effects (page transitions, fades, and inter-active elements) but is easily abused and adds to the download time as well as the load on the consumer's  home or office PC, slowing rendering times.
CSS Cascading Style Sheets have brought greater flexibility to the placing and action of elements on web pages. For instance the font face and size of text on this page is controlled by CSS as is the change of colour of the  links as your mouse passes over them. However different browsers may vary in their ability to handle this useful tool thanks to their own proprietary  software design considerations.

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Some computers show websites differently?
Yes, for a variety of reasons:
-the type of computer: The IBM clone (conventional PC) differs considerably from the Apple/Mac. This may reflect in fonts being larger and colour change
- the browser software: these all have proprietary idiosyncrasies
- the computer user's own preferences: some use large monitors, others have entry level equipment, yet others exist on laptops! Then too they may their screen set at levels of brightness and coloration that are not standard. Some even disable the font-selection chosen by the designer!
The designer takes these into consideration but must plump for something as a standard.
CD and Associates benchmarks on an IBM/Clone PC operating  MS Windows and Internet Explorer with a basic entry-level screen size screen. Results are tested in IE as well as Netscape and Mosaic (accounting for over 90% of the  user market)

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Do I have to be in  Johannesburg to use CD's services?
No. The process can be done via e-mail or conventional post however the cost increases very slightly. The process is slower.

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