Web design has changed a lot over the past few decades, with new technologies and tools appearing all the time. If you want to build a great website that converts visitors into customers, you might think that you should follow the latest flashy trends. But there are some fundamental principles of web design that have remained constant. While trends come and go, and can quickly make your website look outdated, design principles that have stood the test of time guarantee quality design that lasts. Read on to learn about 3 timeless principles of web design that can boost your business’s website!

Consistency and Standards

Imagine a person visiting your site for the first time. They should be able to navigate around easily, without getting lost or experiencing unnecessary confusion. Adhering to well-established web design conventions and maintaining consistency throughout your website helps visitors find what they are looking for, which makes them more likely to make a purchase.

Adherence to Conventions

Over time, many conventions have become entrenched in the world of web design. For example, most websites have the logo at top left. The main navigation is shown along the top on desktop computers, and collapses behind a clickable hamburger (or three line) icon on mobile devices. Besides the hamburger icon, there are many other familiar icons, such as the shopping cart on e-commerce websites. You might be tempted to do something different on your website, thinking yourself more creative, but making use of these familiar design patterns and elements ensures that visitors to your site can leverage their previous experience with other websites to quickly navigate through your site.

Internal Consistency

Your website should also maintain internal consistency, meaning it should have a consistent layout and navigation, a specific colour and typography scheme, and consistent use of images across all the pages of your site. Remember that it’s not just about how it looks, but also how it functions! For example, buttons and menu items should both look the same and behave in a consistent way when they are clicked. Creating cohesion and organization gives visitors a sense of familiarity and trust when they’re browsing different pages or sections within your site. And trust is important to people when choosing which business to buy from.

AESTHETIC AND MINIMALIST DESIGN

Clear and minimalistic design guides visitors through your website and presents them with content in a logical order – without unnecessary clutter. Someone visiting your site usually has a clear goal. They want to understand what you’re offering and decide whether they want to purchase from you. Keeping your site simple and aesthetically pleasing makes it easier for visitors to complete their goal without distraction. You can create a clean look by utilizing white space, and keeping the number of different colours and fonts used to a minimum.

USER EXPERIENCE AND USABILITY

User experience and usability are often overlooked aspects that can determine whether a visitor decides to stay on your site or leaves. User experience design focuses on making sure you’re always designing with your audience in mind. One part of that is usability, which focuses on keeping your website easy to use.

Responsive web design is one of the most important aspects of user experience and usability. Making your website responsive gives visitors a seamless experience across all screens, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. With many people accessing websites on their phone and abandoning them when they don’t work well on mobile, it’s crucial to make sure your site is designed for the way people use their devices.

Get a Free Web Design Consultation for Your Business

At Longevity Graphics, we work with business owners to create websites that convert! We design and build WordPress websites using the latest trends and technologies, but with an understanding of proven design principles.

For a limited time, we are also offering 25% off web design and no interest financing. Get in touch with us for a free 1-hour web design consultation to learn how we can help your business reach its online potential.

Awarded to 1 Archbishop Carney Secondary Student Yearly

My daughter Zoe Boudreau graduated from Archbishop Carney Secondary School in 2013. She took part in all of the art programs while she attended including participating in the design of the school yearbook which won multiple awards. At the graduation ceremony, we were overwhelmed with the generous scholarships and grants that she was awarded for her achievements in the art programs that she was a part of. Zoe attended Emily Carr University of Art + Design. With the award money that Zoe received, she was able to pay for her whole first semester. It really helped out a lot.

We wanted to show our gratitude by supporting one graduating student of ACRSS who was pursuing post-secondary education in the field of art. Each year we donate $250 to a student who is selected by the school.

If you are interested in applying for this grant, contact student services to get more information.

Welcome Kelvin

A New Addition to the Longevity Graphics Team

We’re very excited about our growth here at Longevity Graphics over the past two years. We have welcomed many new faces to our team – the most recent being Kelvin – a new Web Developer at Longevity Graphics.

To help introduce him to our clients and followers, read below for a brief Q and A.

1. What are your hobbies and interests?

In my spare time, I like to listen to music and watch movies/TV shows at home. I also like to go camping, crabbing, and hanging out with friends on the weekend.

2. What do you bring to Longevity Graphics?

I have worked as a web developer for a few years now. During this time, I have had the opportunity to work on many interesting projects. My goal with each project is to create a website that the client is proud to share with their friends, family and of course, clientele.

3. Why did you get into the industry?

I chose to pursue Computer Sciences in University because I knew I was passionate about working with computers. The more I studied computer programming, the more I loved it. It’s like playing a game – you are instructing the computer to follow your command to achieve the desired goal.

4. What is your favorite part of the work you do?

My favourite part of the work I do is being able to dive into interesting projects. I like to keep myself up-to-date with modern web technology to always improve my programming skills.

5. Any words of wisdom that you would like to share with our readers?

You’re never too old to learn.

To connect with Kelvin, email him directly at [email protected].

Our team is made up of local, industry experts that help our clients achieve real results online. We specialize in online marketing services and website design and development.

If you are looking to increase revenue from online leads, get in touch with us. We offer a 1-Hour FREE Consultation on all of the services we provide.

At one time or another, every business owner has needed web design services. Around this time, they probably began doing research and looking into the best website designer in their area.

In this blog post, we will discuss the most reliable and trustworthy review and ranking websites out there. These are the first places you should look when seeking out the Best Website Designer in Coquitlam.

Google Reviews

Google has the option for people to write reviews about the places they’ve visited on Google Maps. Google Reviews allows your business to show up in the “Map Pack”. It displays the business name, link to its website, the address, phone number, and the total number of Google Reviews.

Three Best Rated

Three Best Rated is a website that helps you to find the best businesses in a specific category within any city. They display the top company’s information, including Name, Email, Phone and Website URL right on their website.

YELP – The Best 10

YELP’s The Best 10 is a search function within the review website that allows you to see The Best 10 in a specific category within any city. YELP uses automated software to recommend the most helpful and reliable reviews for the YELP community among the millions that they receive.

Are you looking for the Best Website Designer in Coquitlam? Look no further!

Longevity Graphics is rated as the Best Website Designer in Coquitlam on Google Reviews, Three-Best Rated, and Yelp’s The Best 10. 

View our Website Design Package Options or Contact Us to schedule your FREE 1-Hour Consultation, today! 

Longevity Graphics is a leading web marketing agency that specializes in website design for local businesses in Greater Vancouver.  We have launched hundreds of websites for top producing companies and we’re proud of our long list of loyal clients. Our specialized local experts are committed to providing exceptional customer service.

If your business operates in the construction and trades industries, then you understand that your reputation counts for everything. Traditionally, word of mouth was the best and most direct pipeline to new business. However, these days, that pipeline is likely to come through cyberspace. That means a professional Construction Website Design is essential in order to attract new clients.

No industry has been immune to the technology era. But few industries have seen the huge discrepancy between leaders and laggards as in the construction and trades industry. In other words, many construction companies have been slow to invest in good construction website design.

Fortunately, these same companies, which have relied on word-of-mouth advertising for so long, can still convey that hard-earned reputation and reliability within an online environment, without a major investment.

What are Qualities of Good Construction Website Design?

A Winning Portfolio

A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. In web design, the goal is to tell a compelling story in as few words as possible. You want to provide visitors with enough information to satisfy their curiosity without overwhelming them. A strong portfolio is a great way to showcase your past projects.

Videos for a Dynamic Presentation

A professionally produced video will help introduce your business and the competitive advantage of your services to each viewer who visits your website.

Powerful Testimonials

Talk is cheap. A section for testimonials or customer reviews will further solidify your credibility in the mind of a potential client. Your testimonials will not only communicate your expertise but also educate visitors on the value you provide to your clients.

A Proud Company History

It’s a great idea to include a detailed company history to highlight your reliability and credibility.

Clear Calls to Action

Your contact information should be clearly displayed throughout your website in the header, footer and on the Contact page. Include clear calls to action to motivate viewers to inquire.

About Longevity Graphics

The Longevity Graphics team has been working with various types of construction and trades businesses for over 16 years. We’re passionate about helping your business and we understand the intricacies of the industry you operate in. We are real people, with a real passion for what we do. Contact us today to learn how we can help you with Construction Website Design!

We understand the importance of making a good first impression – especially as a real estate agent. But, you won’t get the chance to make a good first impression in person unless potential clients first discover you.

In the past, this may have been through an advertisement you placed in the local newspaper or through a Canada Post mailout.

The Importance of Having a Real Estate Website

Now more than ever before, home buyers are looking at houses for sale online. A study by Google and the National Association of Realtors found that over 90% of home buyers search for properties online. That translates to a huge potential for online leads. If you don’t have a personal real estate website, then you’re missing out.

We recommend hiring a professional website designer who has previous experience building real estate websites.

Qualities of a Good Real Estate Website 

• Modern
• Professional
• Visually Appealing
• Easy to Navigate

Generating Leads Online

When it comes to lead generation, it is important to begin with the end in mind. What exactly does a “lead” mean to you? Defining this from the start will make your testing and analytics goals even clearer throughout the process. It will help you determine exactly what actions you want the user to take as they progress through each stage of your sales funnel. Your first step to generate leads from your real estate website is to get traffic.

Traffic Sources that Generate Leads 

• SEO
• Google Ads
• Social Media Marketing
• Facebook Ads

The next step is to ask for the leads. Our realtor lead-generation forms are the best in the business at turning your website visitors into leads. How do they work? Fairly-simple, they ask people to input their contact information, based on a tempting call-to-action strategy.

While technology is effective at capturing leads, the human touch turns them into clients.

Longevity Graphics designs and builds the best real estate websites for realtors, agents, and brokers. We have launched hundreds of websites for top producing companies and we’re proud of our long list of loyal clients. Check out some of the real estate websites we have designed.

For more information, please contact us today! We offer a FREE 1-Hour Consultation.

Spring Into Action –
Mobile Optimization Coquitlam

Global data reveals that mobile devices continue to ingrain themselves into consumers’ daily lives. Here are some interesting statistics about mobile device usage:

• 80% of global consumers own a smartphone
• 50% of global consumers own a tablet
• 85% of Google searches are performed on a mobile device

The fact is, if you are not optimized for mobile you’re ultimately losing sales.

Navigating with a mobile device on a website that is not optimized for mobile use can be very frustrating, and most people today do not have the patience. Research shows that 57% of mobile users will abandon your website if it takes more than 3 seconds to load. On e-commerce websites, 30% will abandon a purchase transaction if the Shopping Cart isn’t optimized for mobile devices.

Not to mention, Google and other major search engines are giving you the hint, too.

“If you haven’t made your website mobile-friendly, you should.” – Google

What is Mobile Optimization Coquitlam?

A desktop version of a website can be difficult to view and navigate on a mobile device. It may require the user to zoom in order to read the page content. In comparison, the mobile-friendly version is readable and immediately usable. This is demonstrated in the image to the right.

The Mobile-First Index

In late 2016, Google began testing its mobile-first index. This index primarily looks at the mobile version of your website for its algorithm and ranking signals, falling back on the
desktop version when there is no
mobile version available.

If your website is not mobile-friendly, that will have an impact on where your website appears on the Google search results page.

Regular Price $1250

Spring Promotion $625

(Available until May 15, 2017)

If you are looking for an expert in Mobile Optimization Coquitlam, then collaborating with Longevity Graphics is the right choice for your business. Contact Us Today to learn more!

Get Mobile Optimized

Website Design Coquitlam

Does website design really matter? Despite your skepticism, studies show that a well-designed website will generate more traffic and increase conversions. Ultimately, this increase in conversions means more sales for your business.

How can website design impact the success of a business? There are many reasons why a well-designed website will attract your ideal customer and prompt them to convert on your website.

Are you a business owner in need of Website Design Coquitlam? Continue reading to learn how Longevity Graphics can help you.

Website Design Coquitlam

Navigation

The most important aspect of a website is the navigation. Website navigation typically includes a navigation bar or a list of different pages on the website. Good navigation should be easy to find and comprehend. In most cases, over-simplified navigation allows for ease of use for a wide range of users.

Branding

It is important for your clients to be able to recognize your company’s brand in all its forms of communication. When elements of the visual communication changes, it can create confusion. When designing a new website, your company’s logo, brand colours, brand messaging, and imagery must be used.

Trust

Trust is incredibly important on the web. It is often the limiting factor that determines whether a user will perform a desired action, like filling out a lead form or making a purchase.

Content

Most users don’t read each web page they visit; rather, they scan each page instead. Eye tracking studies show that most users scan computer screens in an “F” pattern. Because of this, effectively designed websites will display information in order of importance (left to right, and top to bottom).

Some effective tactics include using:

• Headlines
• Sub-headlines
• Relevant images
• Numbers and bullet points
• Sans Serif fonts

Search Engine Optimization

Search engine optimization is a way for your website to get traffic from the results pages on major search engines – for free! How does it work? Visit our Search Engine Coquitlam page to find out.

It’s easy to create a beautiful and functional website, simply by keeping these elements in mind.

Are you looking for Website Design Coquitlam services? Longevity Graphics can help! View our Pricing Packages or Contact Us to schedule your FREE 1-Hour Consultation, today! 

FREE 1-Hour Consultation!

Are you thinking about starting a business in Port Coquitlam? We’ve gathered some resources to help you get started.

Visit the City of Port Coquitlam Website

The City of Port Coquitlam  website is a great place to begin when thinking about starting a business in Port Coquitlam. The website has many resources that will help you, prior to ‘opening your doors’.  Click here to visit the City of Port Coquitlam’s Starting a Business page.

Get to know the area… and your competition

If you don’t already live in Port Coquitlam or the Tri-Cities area, it is a good idea to spend some time in the city. This will allow you to get a sense of the successful businesses that are currently operating in the area – including businesses that you will be in competition with. If your business is going to have a store front, you can use this time to search out potential areas for your business to operate.

Create a Website and Social Media Pages

If you’re thinking about starting a business in 2016 – you MUST have a website and social media pages. There is a vast amount of competing businesses in Port Coquitlam and the surrounding areas.

In order to be discovered by potential customers online, you must have an experienced, knowledgeable online marketing company who will be able to optimize your website and social media pages for optimal rankings.

Your online marketing company should be able to:

• Help your website gain top position in search result lists
• Perform keyword research to discover vital search combinations for your business
• Perform meta and title tag development
• Establish HTML code optimization
• Perform inbound link building

If this sounds like something that you will need help with, contact Longevity Graphics for a FREE 1-Hour Consultation. We specialize in working with local clients and helping them rank for their industry specific keywords.

Are you considering outsourcing your website design?

Below are some Pro’s and Con’s of hiring a local web designer vs. outsourcing your web design.

Pro’s of hiring a local web designer:

• Personalized, one-on-one service
• It’s easy to get in contact with your web designer if you have any questions
• You know exactly who will be working on the design of your website and social media pages

Con’s of hiring a local web designer:

• Well, we sure can’t think of any con’s!

Additional Resources

• Sign up your business on the Shop PoCo BIZ Directory; Click Here
• Join the Port Coquitlam Business Improvement Association (BIA); Click Here
• Join the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce; Click Here
• Contact Longevity Graphics for a FREE 1-Hour Consultation to learn about the online marketing services they offer; Click Here

Responsive Design – What is it?

Responsive design is having a website that is coded so you don’t have separate mobile, tablet, and PC versions of your site: the site adapts to whatever size screen it’s being displayed on. With a responsive web design, visitors will get all the content they want, in a format they can read. If you don’t have a mobile site at all, 61% of visitors will return to Google to find a site that is easily readable.

Moving forward, it will be extremely critical that your website provides mobile users an easy-to-use experience as this directly impacts the growth of your business. Despite the impressive points shown below, many businesses still do not yet have responsive friendly websites or communications.  Here’s why we think you should upgrade to responsive today:

1) Mobile usage is booming.

•    Over 20% of Google searches are performed on a mobile device.
•    The average amount of time spent on mobile / tablets is about 3 hours a day.
•    Almost 60% of all website traffic is from mobile devices
•    25.85% of all emails are opened on mobile phones, and 10.16% are opened on tablets.
•    80% of internet users own a smart phone.

2) Higher conversion rates & happy visitors.

A well structured and user-friendly responsive website will drive more sales and also make it easier for visitors to find / share information. Responsive design helps modern websites appeal to modern users. According to a calculated figure, 5.1 out of the 6.8 billion-world population are smart phone users. If a user lands on your website and is confused or doesn’t see what they are looking for, there’s a 61% chance they will leave immediately and go to another website (most likely a competitor). It’s also said that if they have a positive experience with your mobile website, a user is 67% more likely to buy a product or use a service.
Mobile users that find your business online have a conversion percentage nearly three times higher than the same search done on a desktop or laptop. Why? Mobile users are on the go. They grab their device and have a specific intent in mind. Mobile searchers are buyers,  assuming you can meet their needs. With 80% of consumers regularly using their smartphones to shop online – this isn’t something you want to miss out on.

3) Search engine optimization.

Responsive development is Google’s recommended approach for mobile web design. Responsive websites will perform better in search rankings because they provide a better user experience than sites that are not mobile friendly.

Going responsive makes it easy for search engine robots to crawl and index your website, ensuring that your page rankings are as high as possible. If you’re sharing links (especially through social media) to your website and it’s responsive you will experience improved brand perception, less bounce rates and boosted website conversions. If you don’t have a

responsive website, not only will you have a lot of frustrated visitors but Google will interpret the high bounce rate as a sign your website isn’t offering relevant content, which is likely to drop your rankings. Mobile phones have a separate Google search algorithm than desktop searches too; so you will want your rankings high for both desktop and mobile searches. Most people do their browsing on mobile and complete their transactions on desktop, so the marriage of the two and having a responsive friendly site is important for complete conversions.

Are you ready!?!

As you can see responsive web design plays an integral role in the level of success of your business and search rankings. Switching over to responsive web design will be a big challenge, but it will prepare you for the future and put you a step ahead of your competitors.

If you are looking for an expert in Responsive Website Design then collaborating with Longevity Graphics is the right choice for your business. Contact us today to get a no obligation quote for your next responsive web, SEO or marketing project.