Responsive Web Design Archives - Prairie Magic Design

Why We’re Lovin’ WordPress

August 29, 2015

We do love WordPress. We often recommend it to our customers. This is not to say we always suggest WordPress, but nine times out of ten, this platform just makes the most sense as we feel it is very versatile.

Our customers often want to know what makes WordPress the right solution for them. Our response is pretty standard. WordPress is:

Flexible – It can be used for general Websites, blogs, e-commerce, and most templates are automatically mobile friendly.
Customizable – There are so many plugins and themes available. The customer gets exactly what they want!
Easy to use – If the job is for us to build a Website that will be handed off to the customer for general updates, this is one of the easier platforms to learn. Most of our customers get the gist of the WordPress interface in a matter minutes!

While WordPress is usually the best option for our customers, we have to let you in on our little secret…part of the reason we love this platform is that it is the best option for us, too! By using WordPress we can build sites faster and more efficiently than with some of the other platforms. Some of the things about WordPress that make it so useful:

WordPress is ready to use immediately after installation. No waiting.
WordPress is search engine friendly. Search Engines pick up the WordPress site because it’s written using standard compliance, high-quality code and produces semantic mark up. That’s pretty much tech speak for, “Google likes WordPress.”
Multi-user capability – In many businesses there are a variety of people performing multiple tasks. Just because one person should have access to post the “weekly special” maybe they should not have access to Web stats and the blog. WordPress makes it very easy to assign different levels for Website administrators.
Universal platform – WordPress was built to play nice with every browser so the backend is easy to maneuver whether you are using Firefox, Google Chrome, or the ever-challenging Internet Explorer.

Because so many people want to have control over their own Website once it is built (and why shouldn’t they) we are happy to design and build a site, then turn it over to the customer for regular updates. In fact, we provide our customers with a tutorial specific to their Website so they can modify content as needed and even update plugins and their theme! Our customers love this this additional service.

If you are still questioning whether WordPress is right for you, WordPress is open source so there are no costs to download, install, or upgrade. WordPress has more the 20,000 plugins available to install for slideshows, contact forms, SEO optimization, backup functions, etc. It is easy to edit, change hosting sites, and is secure.

If you want to talk more about whether or not this is the right option for your company’s Website, contact us. Share your concerns and we can help you determine if WordPress will work or if there is a better CMS to meet your needs.

Visit some of the WordPress Websites we created:

Choosing a CMS for My Website: Where Do I Begin?

February 24, 2015

When talking with a new customer about the development of their Website, one of the first questions they often ask is, “what platform are you going to use to build my Website?” They are often disappointed when we can not answer this question right away. The truth is there is a bit of research to be done first…

Our customers all have their own unique set of needs. Some are only looking for basic functionality and page management, while others need support for running multiple Websites. Some of them want us to be their Web support and handle all updates, while others want us to build the site and turn the reigns over to them for daily updates. All of these unique needs are taken into consideration when we are looking for the right Content Management System (CMS) for our clients.

So “what’s CMS” you say? CMS is a Web Application that allows for an easy and efficient way to create and manipulate HTML content. It basically allows for “non-tech people” to easily manage their Website with little to no knowledge of HTML and CSS or other coding.

Whether you are planning to go it alone on a site build or if you plan to hire a developer, there are some pieces of information that can help you narrow your search for the right CMS, as there are literally hundreds to choose from these days:

First, think about some key areas like managing media, customization, search feature, how many Websites you will run, and how many people will have a hand in operating your Website. Some of these needs will definitely limit your potential CMS platforms. Make a list of your criteria so that when you’re researching a particular CMS and it doesn’t meet one of your needs, you can easily cross that CMS off the list!

This comment might seem a bit silly, but make sure to choose a CMS that is aesthetically pleasing to you (or whoever will be working on your site). It does not help anyone if you do not find the site interface to be intuitive, and intuitive can be different things to different people.

Most important, don’t go with one of the major players just because they’re one of the major CMS players. Just because they’re a massive well-known brand doesn’t mean a thing. Build your list of unique needs and use that list to guide your search…even if it means crossing off a popular platform.

WordPress is the CMS we use most often because it’s inexpensive and meets the needs of most of our customers, but we have experience building in other platforms, too. We’re often commissioned to make changes to an existing Website and we’ve never heard of the platform, but as developers we’re accustomed to find our way around the backend of almost any CMS. If you have something already in place and need help with updates, no matter the platform, contact us. Or if you’re ready to get rolling on a new site and this blog confused the heck out of you, definitely call us. You kinda’ need us.

It’s Time to be “Responsive”

February 10, 2015

In our last blog about Web designs trends for 2015, we mentioned the importance of having a responsive Website. Since then we have had a couple of people inquire about what responsive really means and how to accomplish this.

Responsive Web Design (RWD) is a Website design that is optimally displayed regardless of the platform/device being used. A few years ago, before Websites were built with RWD in mind, it was difficult to view most Websites on mobile devices. As Smartphones became more popular, companies were searching for ways to make sure their site could be viewed from anywhere. This led to the creation of RWD. Now it’s a staple and without RWD, you’re probably missing out on sales.

The nice thing about RWD is that if you’re starting from scratch with your Website or even redesigning it, it’s super easy to build your site using RWD from the start. In fact, if you’re using one of the many Content Management Systems (CMS) that most small- to medium-sized businesses are using, there is a pretty high chance the template you’re using is already setup to be responsive. WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are just a few of the many systems that offer plenty of responsive templates. If you’re planning to build a site from scratch, it might be a little more difficult, but still not impossible.

If you’re happy with your overall Website and you just want to make it responsive, this is where things get a little more difficult. Chances are if your site is not optimized for mobile, you’re not using a template that is already setup to be responsive, or your site just wasn’t built with this design in mind. Adding in the responsive code just isn’t as easy as one might think and can be costly. If you’re planning a site overhaul for 2016, you might actually be better off waiting to make your site responsive at that point as it will save you some money (but at least look into the costs now). On the flip side, if you’re having a Web Builder create your site from scratch, they sometimes give you two quotes: one will include responsive in the first round and the other quote is in case you want to save money now and add the responsive on at a later date. Just have them make the site responsive in the first go-round. More money upfront? Yes. But you will actually save a significant amount of money by doing this.

If your Web Builder is using one of the CMS mentioned above (and some others) to create your site, chances are they can choose a template that will automatically generate a responsive design and it won’t cost you anything additional. But it’s still worth asking about upfront.

There are two Website trends that we are starting to see a lot of and it’s due, in large part, to RWD. One we mentioned in our design trends for 2015 and that is simplification. Because more people are starting to view Websites on their mobile devices, they are getting used to simple, straight-forward content. No fluff. No add-ons. They just want the message. Because of this, more companies are creating their marketing materials and Websites with much more streamlined content.

The second thing that we’re seeing a lot of is Off-canvas Navigation, or Hidden Menus. Showing a menu on a Website on a mobile device can take up a lot of space, so developers started using the three horizontally stacked lines at a top corner to let the user know more information exists if you touch that icon. This has been a welcomed addition to the design world and more designers are now using something similar for Websites being viewed on desktops as well.

If you’re not sure how to proceed on making your site responsive, contact us. We’d love to look at and evaluate your current site and provide you with more information on what your next steps should be.