Want to Create Flash Intro? Follow these Tips

Having an advanced Flash intro in your web site design has its own advantages. Flash works wonderfully well in grabbing attention, particularly if you use proper animation and interactivity.

The advantage of having Flash intro is that it makes the home page look more attractive and eye catching. And if your web site is about video games, casino, lottery and other such interactive games, Flash serves as the icing on the cake. Viewers coming to the web site can get hooked to the games as the impressive Flash intro on the homepage works as a great enticement.

However do keep in mind that if you try to stuff the site with Flash where it is not required then it can be disastrous. To help you create an impressive Flash intro in an interactive web site design, here are some important and yet easy to apply tips:

1. Remember to insert a skip intro button in the Flash intro of your site in case any visitor wants to skip it.

2. Include a loading bar in the Flash intro. A loading bar indicates how much Flash has been downloaded.

3. Place HTML links to important webpages of your web site either on the top or the bottom of the Flash intro. This directs the visitor neatly to the section he/she wants to visit. It also aids the search engines in indexing the webpages.

4 In order to keep the visitor engrossed, put questions or some animated messages till the Flash is downloaded.

5. In order to help the search engines in indexing the site, make sure to use keywords in the META tags and in the text written below the Flash intro.

Follow these easy tips while creating a Flash intro and you would see how the Flash intro leaves your visitors spellbound. However remember to use an advanced Flash intro to enhance the look of the web site design and not to offend the visitors.

6 key design elements essential for the success of a website

The success of a website design is determined not only by the overall design scheme, but also by minor design elements. Imagine having an innovative design scheme and using colors which one can’t even stare at for longer than 30 seconds?

An advanced website design confirming to the Web 2.0 standards should deliver more with less in the following ways:

1. They should take the visitors straight to the site’s goal by using fewer, well-chosen visual elements to guide the visitor’s eye.

2. They should create the desired impact by using innovative yet expressive imagery thus saying more without using many words.

3. The design and content scheme as interactive website design elements is targeted at addressing the visitors’ need.

To help a web page achieve the above mentioned goals, the following advanced web site design elements play a major role:

1. How the primary call to action has been placed and the color of the action buttons

2. Whether the elements with links are placed as text or as images

3. How much breathing space has been given to the content i.e. how much “white space” has been left on the page to allow the content to gain notice?

4. How prominently the main heading is placed?

5. The number of visual elements that catch the visitors’ attention.

Using Flash…..Don’t Commit these Mistakes

Undoubtedly nowadays Flash has become one of the most important features for any website to do well and to attract visitors. Flash can enhance your website’s appeal, attract visitors and make it more user-friendly. But if used incorrectly and insensibly, Flash can drive away your potential customers.

There are some common mistakes made in Flash that must be avoided at any cost to attract and retain your visitors. Here are some mistakes which you must not commit:

Say no to blinking text

Strictly avoid using blinking text. There is nothing cool about it. If you think that the blinking text would attract visitors, then you are mistaken. In fact, on seeing the blinking text the first reaction of your visitor would be to depart from the site.

You may know all about Flash web site templates and components and their use. But it is not at all necessary to show all your knowledge about Flash and advanced web site design in one website, unless required for promoting the web site’s purpose. So be judicious in utilizing that knowledge and stay away from creating irritants like blinking text.

Use rainbow gradient sensibly

Do not use all the shades in rainbow gradient just because you have the option to use it. Go for the shades only if they enhance the look and only if they compliment the design.

Don’t use varied background colors

Use only one background color throughout the site and stick to it. If the background color jumps from one shade to another, then it would make it really difficult for the reader to focus on the text.

Don’t use deafening sounds

Use sound in Flash where it is required and do not stuff the site with unnecessary, irritating, loud, deafening sound or incessant music. Sound should be used to make the whole presentation complete not, make the visitor look for earplugs. If you do want to incorporate sound in your animated movie or presentation, go ahead, but do include a ‘turn off button’, so that visitors can switch it off easily.

Don’t use pop-up and pop-under windows

Don’t use Flash to stuff pop-up and pop-under windows into your site. Pop-up or pop-under windows might be a great form of marketing but they are a major turn off for any visitor. In fact the immediate reaction of the visitor is typically to close the pop-up window, without even taking a look at it. And if he is unable to do that, he simply leaves the site.

Keep these tips in mind while designing an advanced web site design. As I mentioned earlier, don’t stuff the site with all the Flash templates you know. Instead use your mind and to identify the right places where Flash will enhance the appeal of the site and use it there.

4 Tips For Successful Flash Based Interactive Web Site Design

Interactive web site design holds enormous possibilities for the websites. It helps in attracting visitors and holds their interest to make them come back to the site for repeat visits. And in the process there are strong chances that a visitor would become a lead and eventually a customer.

Web 2.0 sensibilities and technologies coupled with Flash based advanced web site design processes have spawned some truly interactive websites. Talking about Flash, it is one technology which, if used carefully, can make each visit truly rewarding. Let’s see how one can make a Flash presentation in an interactive web site design truly attention grabbing.

1. Create an interesting pre-loader

In the web world first impression is the last impression. Pre loader is the first thing that a visitor gets to see. So be original and take your time to add details which will make a visitor decide in your favor even before he/she has actually visited the site.

2. Integrate it with other design elements

Don’t consider a Flash page as a canvas to showcase your creative prowess, Rather treat it as a studio where all design elements like content, navigation are seamlessly integrated to make visitors undergo cohesive and uncluttered experience.

3. Make use of the entire browser window

You should utilize the entire browser window instead of remaining limited to the area that fits within the lowest resolution. For this, apply Flash alignment components to make graphics cover the remotest corners. This gives the viewer a non-congested and visually complete experience.

4. Create Interesting icons and use them smartly

If given appropriate attention, icons can truly make the difference. Create icons and details for each section and to highlight important information. They should be such that a visitor would immediately understand what the icons signify.

Advanced and interactive website designs can enhance the appeal of the website many times more than conventional designs. The important point is to make sure that the graphics are not repetitive and the presentation gives the viewer an option to skip it if required. Subtle and attractive designs always win attention and enjoy high recall in the visitor’s mind.

4 Top Benefits of an Interactive Website Design

The toughest job for a website is to catch the attention of the visitor, make her explore it further and be interesting enough to make her return for more later. Interactive web site design is one of the most popular tools websites employ to attract eyeballs, enhance stickiness and encourage repeat visits.

An interactive web site design keeps the visitor engaged, allowing her to interact with it and also in the process, provide loads of useful information as well. In fact, interactive website design has several benefits over plain boring static ones, including:

Benefits #1: Inter-customer interaction

A major reason as to why interactive web sites are able to retain visitors more and attract repeat visits is that they encourage and facilitate customer-to-customer interaction. Customers can interact amongst themselves easily and add content to the site by making comments, giving feedback etc. Encouraged by the participation of the users, new visitors register themselves and take part in the discussion.

Benefits #2: Helps in customer research

An interactive web site also allows you to conduct research about your products and services. On your interactive web site, you can conduct surveys or polls and ask customers to voice their opinions. This feedback helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses and find out what’s hot selling on your website, where the glitches are and what your customers want from you.

Benefits #3: Gets updated easily

With interactive flash web site design, you can easily add any information or webpages anytime you want. Unlike HTML website, you don’t need to rush to your web designer for every addition or change. You can do it yourself by simply entering the new information through a user-friendly admin panel and rest would take care of itself.

Benefits #4: Aids in e-mail marketing

In an advanced web site design, the landing page typically has an e-mail form to help you capture ‘qualified leads’, in other words, potential customers interested in your products/services. Once you get their contact details through the form, you can use e-mail marketing to send more information to these interested visitors, read potential customers, rather than sending it randomly to a hundred odd people. This helps you to channel your energies and resources specifically to a high-potential target audience.

Overall, an interactive web site allows a company to establish and cultivate a strong and healthy relationship with its customers, leading to higher traffic, repeat visits and increased revenue.