Whether you’re signed in or not, all the searches you run on Google are stored in your browser cookies. This data is referred to as your ‘Web History’ and Google uses it to customize your search results. If you’re not signed in, your Web History is stored for 180 days, then old data is replaced with new searches. If you’re signed in, there’s no time limit and you can manage your Web History.

So the searches you run and sites you visit will affect your future search experience. The sites you visit more often will be pushed higher in the search results on related queries.

As an example if you search for ‘website design’ and visit www.webdesign.com, next time when you search for ‘website design’ you may see www.webdesign.com in top 10 results even if it doesn’t rank there in the general impersonalized search. You can tell that your search results have been personalized by the ‘View customization’ link in the upper right hand corner. 

The personalized search results can differ significantly from the general SERPs. I ran a couple of tests searching for related keywords and clicking the same site each time. The results can be drastic – imagine a site page that is ranked for web design at number 30, it might be pushed to a ranking of 5 even if your signed out of Google.

To check a site’s rankings use a rank checker to get a list of impersonalized rankings.

Meta Descriptions have also changed recently

Your Meta description is a crucial factor that determines the CTR (click-through-rate) of your site in search results. The more compelling your description is, the more searchers will click it. When they click through to your site from search results this is recorded in their Web History. Next time they search for a product or service related to your site, it may appear high up in their personalized search results.

 Since everybody now gets personalized results, the scope of the effect your Meta descriptions have on your rankings can get really huge. That’s another reason why you should invest some time into testing and optimizing your Meta descriptions.

Google doesn’t always show the Meta description you provide. Sometimes it just compiles a random text snippet from your page that contains the keywords used in the query. But you can easily locate the keywords where your Meta description shows up by searching for them on Google.

There’s been a lot of criticism coming down on Google’s new design for introducing personal search to everybody. Some people are worried about privacy issues. Others don’t like it because this will help keep the small guy out of the game. And this makes SEO success harder to measure for search engine optimization firms.

Add a line of code to your pages and choose from hundreds of fonts. Simple, bulletproof, standards compliant, and accessible.
Customize your WordPress blog with Typekit fonts.

They have just rolled out a way to easily use fonts on the world’s largest blogging platform. With Typekit and WordPress working together, customizing and designing with the look of the nearly 10 million websites they host, now takes just a few clicks.

Log into your WordPress dashboard and click on Appearance in the left-hand navbar. There, you’ll find “Typekit Fonts” with a place to add your Kit ID (available under “Embed Code” in the Typekit Editor). That’s it — you’re ready to go. You can choose fonts from our rapidly growing library to add them to any of the WordPress themes to give your web design a distinct look.

And of course, Typekit works with WordPress web designed sites that you host yourself.
The WordPress developer community has begun to release plugins for web designers and web developers from Typekit.
Check out the options over at the plugin directory.

There seems to be some confusion about what these two roles are so we figures we would define and compare each of them here. IA’s and IxD’s and user experience professionals should all be living in the same space and their jobs really overlap, however some larger web site design requires some with special skills and know-how. If your saying “what the heck is he talking about, hold on… I’ll explain everything”

So what is IA

IA goes all into taxonomy design and database architecture. Changes occur when an IA adjusts categories and navigation structure. IA is about distributing content according their relevant category. Simplification of content and information it for website visitors to find what they are looking for more easily.

And what about IxD

IxD exists in the interaction experience itself, and is more likely to apply psychology and deeper cognitive principles to create a highly usable interface. They look at some of the same things IAs do (information flow, usability, etc.), but they’re the ultimate user experience – and so they excel at things like usability, content strategy, visual impact. 

Most UX professionals probably do both – among other things. So IxD deals a bit more with user experience, and IA is a fundamental part of this experience, let’s say the building blocks and IxD’s know what technology to use and where to render the best user experience, which is sort of the “magic” in a site that makes all the difference. but first you gotta start with good IA and killer web design!

Turn to the online crowd to garner feedback for your web design work. And as we all know, turning to an online audience of honest constructive criticism can often times be an exercise in futility and abuse. Well that is changing!

Check out Concept Feedback which offers a location for designers to submit their work for review by the community of participating creatives. This reciprocal system works based on a number of checks and balances to keep things both fair and constructive, for all those who are putting their design work out there.

By requiring reviewers to maintain a ratio of feedback offered to concepts submitted for critique, they make sure that everyone is actively participating and not just leeching off the community for free advice without giving any back. Also, by rewarding each reviewer reputation points that are taken away for leaving negative feedback, they ensure that people are actually being constructive in their comments. Reinforcing the if you don’t have anything nice to say (or in this case, constructive), don’t say anything at all rule, in a way, they keepcreative feedback for web design work  helpful not harsh and unwelcoming.

With almost every single web site that we design and develop, we have our clients asking about “Being found online”. Here’s our response… whell in the past people who built or created things like buildings, businesses, and stores used to say “…If you build it, They will come”. Now in the online space we say “If you build it they will come — if they can find you”. That’s where SEO comes into play! As a boutique web design firm in New York City, I stress a few things that will enable you to be found online in natural search engine searches (in order of importance) –

1. well written content with keywords and keyword density strategies in place

2. trusted, high quality inbound links

2.1. using social media, blogging, and social behaviors for linking strategies

3. links with good phrases to other internal pages within your site, and links to other external quality & related websites

4. title tags

5. meta descrition tags

6. alt attributes and tags

7. meta keywords

…And another thing we mention is that it takes time and it’s an ongoing process. Taking this SEO approach without buying high end links (such as Online Publicity, Article Marketing, Some Directory Submission, Social Media Marketing, Social Networking, etc…) SEO is an ongoing process that takes time to build the right way (onsite optimization and off site seo) and should not be rushed.

Then the question arises, how much will all this cost ? and I see offerings all over the web for 29.95 …

The cost to do it is :

1. creativity (how and where you form your linking and keyword strategies)

2. time (the time it takes to implement, test and refine)

First as a web designer , a web developer or digital strategiest or anyone selling and/or promoting these kinds of SEO services– test it out first! Refine your techniques and apply it. Many people know the strategies, which are all redialy available online… but there are few who actually know how to apply these principles to their web designs… and believe me once you start it’s a fulfilling task to see your web site climb the ranks in the search engines !

- Use headings to communicate the essential messages on the page.
- Segment content to make the page “scan-able”.
- Offer obvious and enticing links to your site or promotional page.
- Restrict paragraphs to three lines or less.
- Break key points into bullets rather than paragraphs.
- Include title, byline, and call-to-action in each paragraph and bulleted list area.
- If you have multiple objectives, chunk each one into bite size nuggets.

Remember, there is beauty in simplicity – especially in web design. People will need to consume the information quickly and cut to the chase. Or you may chase them right off your site.

I say crystallize a single idea, per module or page and use lists when writing, however some literary people will raise their nose at lists, but they are a good form of communication. Just don’t use lists not too much, because your web page also needs a mix and balance of substance. Don’t overwhelm readers with too many or unrelated messages. One objective is best per page and if you have multiple objectives, break it up into manageable sections.

Speaking about “section-izing” content or “chunk-ing” content

Success requires shapely, succinct, structured, engaging and easy-to-follow content. Once you master the form of these design strategies, over time your web design’s effectiveness will rise to the occasion.

For starters, a carefully chunked page–that is, a page broken into bite-sized pieces served under clear, informative headings–creates a palatable design tempting to even the pickiest reader. Content chunking is cousin to several essential design tactics. For example, avoid the formidable “wall of text;” present brief, quick-read paragraphs that prompt a “click” rather than teach a lesson; and buffer sections with plenty of white space and complimentary, appropriate imagery.
Keep the words to a minimum

Web design is a speed game, word economy is a must. Don’t take time getting to the point: say it now, fast, and clearly. Communicate enough benefit, briefly coined, so readers will want learn more.

In the end of it all, success favors preparation — acombination of knowing your goals, drafting a plan and executing with precision.

Like any message, a web design page saturated by multiple themes and intentions loses steam fast. Spare your readers the burden of too many links, options, and themes. If you don’t, they’ll likely abandon the search and leave. If your goal is to sell more, try saying less. Be precise!

So…what does this have to do with web design? …And I say everything! It is a true inspiration to everyone who is passionate about something. It is real hope for those of us who are creative, those of us who work hard, and those of us who believe. We are inspired to strive toward our true united goal – in whatever way we are set out on this earth to do it, as long as it is with great intention. Web design and creative spirited truth is no different. If we truly believe we can create – we will change the world with our creations, or our web designs or whatever we choose to do – will help change this planet for the great!

http://www.webdesign.org/showcase/site-of-the-day

Here’s what you get merging the right brain and left brain
fundamentals of web design and development.
Category: Design Portfolio
Style: Clean, Flash Site
Added: Jan 13, 2009

Mechanics of modules should all utilize the same logic and the look and feel for all modules should be similar, which will aid in making your web design more usable and intuitive. Once a web site visitor has understood one module, they have understood them all.

The approach “beauty in simplicity” – allowing for complex actions being very possible via a simple interface. This allows consumers to focus on the content, and the general user experience. Web Design visitors are fully engaged without questioning the technology behind it. Engaging viewers to not just visiting the website once, but to keeping them coming back to explore, and inviting friende or colleagues to experience the site as well !