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As we celebrate Labor Day Weekend (currently on sabbatical camping at Cedars Of Lebanon!) my thoughts as I sit around the camp fire is one of relaxation, refreshment and rejuvenation after a long hot summer but as my mind wanders off into the sounds of crickets and the coolness of the evening I naturally think about work and the upcoming fall. Given the time of year, social media marketing starts now. OK – probably not what you should be thinking about on a camping trip but sometimes your best clarity can come in the most peaceful moments. Not sure why but I feel inspired so time to share!

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Introducing The New Google+

This week Google has introduced a fully redesigned Google+ that puts Communities and Collections front and center. Now focused around interests, the new system is much simpler. This should encourage more and more businesses to start using it. 

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While sitting in line last month to get my annual auto emission test, I was searching on my mobile. That was when I noticed a tag in results “Mobile-Friendly”.  I had never seen it before and recognized immediately what it meant. “Google is telling mobile users what sites are going to be a good experience to visit on your mobile”.  Google’s Search Engine’s aim is to lead you to the best search results but it is now drawing a line in the sand and basically saying if your website is not mobile friendly (no matter how much wonderful content you have on that site) – it is not going to get the all important “Mobile-Friendly” tag.  This tag in my opinion will help users decide whether they actually visit your website. And long term I suspect google may even consider listing Mobile-Friendly results first.

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What Makes Great Website Content?

This year website content and content marketing are at the forefront of any results focused website. So what is great content? Is it frequency? (how many times you update your website), is it fancy fonts and highlights with every page designed uniquely? Or, is it content copied from a leading competitors website that you know must be good since they are a great company?
In essence there are three basic forms of content on a website.

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Our company has traditionally worked closely with our client base to ensure that they fully utilize their content management system (Joomla). This maximizes their website results and their visitors experience on the website.  We have done this primarily by teaching classes – both formal classes and onsite training. Additionally, we have provided a “how to” support role to ensure that the client has a great looking and functioning website. As well as the content updated with fresh, up to date and relevant information.  This is not only great for website visitors and but also great for Google. The content on your website determines your search engine and keyword positioning. This determines how many prospects you are reaching (Google is all about the prospect!).

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Responsive Design

We do our best to help you  “Go Responsive … Responsibly.” When we build websites with responsive design at Bear Web Design we focus on what a mobile, tablet or desktop visitor is wanting to accomplish.  Working with our clients we try to create a user experience that is optimal in varying device sizes. 

Some Key Quotes from Article: 

What Makes a Responsive Website Design Successful?

It’s not just about resizing the site. Responsive design should serve the user’s needs clearly, quickly, and intuitively. The quote below summarizes one of the most overlooked principles:

“…viewing websites on mobile devices is generally quite slow, most people are reluctant to start tapping all over a page. This means that design must make it visually clear what elements on the site allow for user interactions. Buttons, links, form fields and other points of user interaction must be large enough to be clicked easily, and spaced far enough away from other page elements that users don’t risk clicking the wrong elements.”
— Website Magazine

Practical Mobile UX Tips

Here’s another takeaway from the article that speaks directly to menu usability:

“A safer approach for many sites will be to use a drop-down or ‘select’ menu. The user simply clicks the menu and scrolls to the selection (or category) of interest.”

In other words, design should guide interaction—especially on mobile. Clear labels, tappable elements, and thoughtful spacing aren’t just design choices; they’re usability essentials.

The Importance of Responsive Design

“… viewing websites on mobile devices is generally quite slow, most people are reluctant to start tapping all over a page. This means that design must make it visually clear what elements on the site allow for user interactions. Buttons, links, form fields and other points of user interaction must be large enough to be clicked easily, and spaced far enough away from other page elements that users don’t risk clicking the wrong elements.”

“A safer approach for many sites will be to use a drop-down or “select” menu. The user simply clicks the menu and scrolls to the selection (or category) of interest.”

If you are like me, in the last 24 months or so you most likely have started using your mobile phone more and more for browsing the Internet.  Larger mobile screens, voice recognition software, and better wi-fi access are just a few of the advances that have made this possible. Let’s explore how mobile website usage continues to grow!

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