ATILUS - Web Design | Internet Marketing

Web Basics - What is a Website?

After a brief discussion with everyone yesterday we decided to create a new series of posts called “Web Basics.” We agreed that we needed to take a step back for you, our friends and family, and stop talking about all this technical stuff. Web people have a habit of using web speak. I suppose, like most professions, we use the slang and acronyms pertaining to our industry; but we know this doesn’t help. It only succeeds in turning your eyes into the back of your heads and gets you frustrated…

Well no more!

So, what is a website?

I think a website can really be explained on two fundamental levels, the literal and the potential. For now lets concentrate on the literal. A website is literally a collection of information beamed to you through the Internet and reassembled through a host of very complicated processes (most of which we won’t get into). It is a series of codes, written in a language your computer can understand, that is automatically assembled revealing the pretty boxes and do-hickey’s you see on screen.

Your average website has 4 fundamental components. Backend Code, XHTML, CSS, Javascript

F!@(), Zach! You promised you wouldn’t use any of those fancy acronyms…

Yes, I know, but wait…. (I like to talk to myself)

Websites are a lot like any physical building or construction project. You have a base, a foundation of cement and steel beams on top of which you layer design elements. On top of the cement foundation and vertical wooden planks you add drywall, paint, molding, pictures, etc. Additionally, components are added to allow you to interact with the building. Doors are bolted on, windows are added, allowing light and entry into your new building.

Websites are just like buildings.

The basis of any website, its foundation is called XHTML (eXtensible Hypertext Markup Language). It is literally the support beams and concrete that holds everything up and together. On top of this base you layer on CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). CSS is the design element, it is a file that dictates how everything will look, what color paint will go here, what pictures will go there. Finally Javascript are the doors, the elements that control interaction - the fancy hover effects, the cool popups, the scrolling.

And finally, the backend code for any website really just spits out the XHTML, you can think of it as the mixer of the cement that will be used as the base or foundation.

In additional Web Basics posts we plan to explain more about the basics of XHTML, CSS, Javascript, web marketing, and much more. But, we’d love to hear from you. This whole series was really the culmination of input we received from friends, relatives, and clients and we want more. If you have any ideas for a post or have been wanting to learn something about the web or technology in general, please contact us and let us know.

What is a Client Representative?

Ok, so you’ve heard us flash around this title “Client Representative” and you might have a few questions about this position.

Questions like:

• Isn’t “Client Representative” just a fancy name for a Sales Rep?
• What does a Client Representative really do?
• What qualifications does a Client Representative need to have?
• Can anyone be a Client Representative?
• How did I end up with my current Client Representative?

Hopefully, after reading this post you will understand what your CR does and how you can utilize his/her services.

Isn’t “Client Representative” just a fancy name for a Sales Rep?

Well, I suppose it depends on what you define as a Sales Rep. If your definition is a person that handles a transaction for you one time or someone who comes back to you only when they want you to buy; then it most certainly is not. For the Client Representative (CR) selling is not the priority, no really it’s not. Instead your CR is your company’s personal web/marketing strategist. Which leads me to the next question

What does a Client Representative really do?

As your personal web/marketing strategist, it is the CR’s responsibility to ensure that all of your goals for the Internet are met and in many cases, surpassed. During the planning phase, the CR is there it make certain that your project is properly planned out and that you are only receiving the services that you require. In the production phase, the CR will be in constant contact with you to handle all of your questions regarding your project and meet with you whenever appropriate. After your project is completed, the CR analyzes the project’s outcomes and compares them with your project’s goals. The CR is always thinking outside the box to find ways to meet your company’s needs and relieve your company’s problems. In the ever-changing online world you will be glad to know that our CRs are working hard to make sure your company is successful on the Net.

What qualifications does a Client Representative need to have?

Your success is vital to our success, and your CR is Unique ID’s connection from our company to you. Your CR is not just an outgoing person who has your best interests in mind. She/he has an understanding of our products and has experienced their effectiveness. Though they may not have as much technical knowledge as our programmers or as much artistic flare as our designers they do have overall experience in utilizing all of our services.  They also have the uncanny ability to connect our services to your needs in an appropriately timed manner. Our company believes in ongoing education and we are constantly sharing ideas and testing theories to help make sure that your company succeeds.

Can anyone be a Client Representative?

I suppose you can be anything you put your mind to, however, our CRs are specially groomed for this position. They must be customer driven as opposed to sales driven. They must be able to strategize with you, our client, and have an overall feel for your mission, plans, troubles, and competition. And of course they must have knowledge of the Internet and a desire to learn about its ever-changing landscape. Although anyone could be a CR, our CRs are handpicked with you in mind.

How did I end up with my current Client Representative?

Well, currently CRs have been matched with you based on your location and size. In the future we will match clients to CRs who have the same interests as well. For example if you own a construction company and one of our CR’s has a construction background then they may be matched together, or if your company needs a large Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign and another CR previously worked with PPC budgets then we may match them together. Right now our CRs’ skills have and will continue to meet and hopefully exceed your expectations.

I hope this gives you more insight on the level of commitment we give to each and every client. If you are not currently utilizing all of your Client Representative’s potential, why not call him/her today. They will truly love to help.

Jermaine Primus

As many of you probably already know we have added a new client representative to the Unique ID Web Design team, Jermaine Primus.

Whether you’ve met him through an email, on a phone call, or in person, I would like to take this opportunity to formally introduce our new client representative, Jermaine Primus to our growing community.

A Naples, FL, native, Jermaine graduated from FGCU in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in business management and a concentration in entrepreneurship. While at FGCU, Jermaine served in a number of leadership roles, including chief of staff and director of Multicultural Affairs for the FGCU Student Government, and as president and vice president of the Organization of Students of African Descent. He also served as internal vice president for Lambda Chi Alpha, a fraternity that fosters personal character development through leadership, scholarship, and community service.

Outside of work, Jermaine spends time with his wife and is active in his church, New Hope Ministries, where he is a youth group leader and teacher. He enjoys being a role model for youth and has been a motivational speaker at other area churches.

Jermaine brings an outstanding portfolio of skills to Unique ID including graphic design, web and multimedia design, and networking and database management, as well as an extensive background in web and pay per click marketing. We know these skills will help you continue to prosper on the web.

Matt Cutts Quitting

Just moments after posting my revealing expose on Matt Cutts’ true identity it seems the pressure and outting were just too much for him:

Matt Cutts is the poster boy of Google and the search engine optimization (SEO) community. Thousands of webmasters follow every single word on this blog. Rumor has it that he is going to leave Google.

I’m sorry don’t quit.

Matt Cutts & Rand Fishkin’s Dirty (SEO) Secret

I was trolling around the net tonight looking at video footage of Matt Cutts and Rand Fishkin (two SEO experts) as I usually do every Friday night (not for SEO advice, but for hair and goatee trimming ideas) when I realized Matt Cutts & Rand Fishkin’s dirty little secret.

They’re one and the same:

Matt Cutts IS Rand Fishkin:

I had suspected for sometime. Rand has too much intimate knowledge about search. There’s only two ways to get that kind of info, sleep with someone at Google or BE someone at Google. It seems every day Rand dawns a fat suit or some kind of prosthetic, trims his goatee and slicks his hair back in order to transform into Matt Cutts.