Digital Clutch

There are many different ways to create your own web design with good content.  I have learned several ways to speak to my audience. This includes developing links on a consistent basis and writing as if talking face-to-face.  Links are definitely a blogger’s best friend.  Links helps pull the information to readers and builds a network of associations.  Blogs link to websites which creates an online community with many different resources.  It is all about publishing great content that is valuable and keeping the reader in mind.

Designing your website

Writing like you talk puts the reader at ease.  It is almost like having a conversation face-to-face.  It is important that your content should be clear and free of jargon.  However, common expressions help you connect with readers.

As we continue to develop our websites, it is important to include content that is tailored to your business.  The content that is essential for all websites is a Contact page and an About us/me page.  Other content that can be included is Tutorials, Games, What’s new, and Interview pages.  It depends on what you want your website to be about and what your purpose or goal for your website.

Your purpose may be to educate, improve customer service, entertain, or sell!  You can have more than one purpose.  Whatever it is, make it your own.

Social Media Icons

Integrating websites with social media is important for two reasons.  People discover websites from personal recommendations in social networking sites.  Websites establish an online presence; however, their online presence extends when websites owners publish content on other websites.  As a result, website owners increase their visibility.

This biggest name in social media is Facebook with the largest social network.  For many people, this is the number one online destination.  Integrating with Facebook gives you a detailed look at who is visiting your website.  For instance, Facebook can tell you how many people recommend your site, and their gender, age, and country of origin.  This is very important in determining a target audience for a website.  Facebook gives more information for websites at http://www.facebook.com/insights.  This is really convenient for website owners.

Facebook also has social plug-ins that shows visitor feedback.  These plug-ins include like buttons, recommendations, and activity feed.  The popular like button is a button for visitors to click that will recommend your site to their Facebook friends.  It can also show how many people have recommended your page.  Recommendations include a box of links from the pages that users have recommended.  Activity feeds is a section that shows visitors what their friends have recommended on the site recently.  It is really effective for websites who have many visitors and share activity.

It is a good idea for website owners to get more traffic to their website through Facebook.  In order to be really effective is to choose a non-generic name for your Facebook page.  Also, choose the best URL for your Facebook page.  The URL is also the Facebook username.  Another piece of advice is to create an “Info” tab that contains important data about the page.  Include keywords, prose, and links that will increase more visibility of your Facebook page for many types of Google searches.  This is why it is very important to pick a category that best fits your business.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNe7BL4A8_M

Images help narrate a story.  They tell a thousand words.  Images can be appealing and attractive to the eye.  So, why not become a photo expert?  You can pull visitors in with a single image.  That is the power of a good image. 
There are a few basic ways to take better images.  Some ways are so routine.  We do not think about it.  We are programmed to do it.  Other ways come in handy when taking more detailed pictures.  In the video, there are tips for taking good images such as creating enough light for your images or including captions with your images.  Some other tips are to capture eyes, gestures, and emotions and taking candid photos.  Candid photos are the best photos because it captures the essence of what the object or person is about. No matter if you are taking pictures for a website or creating family photos, these tips are easy to use.
To place images on your website, there are four easy steps to follow.  First step is to tell the browser to display your image at any size on the screen.  Resizing large photos will enhance your website.  Step Two is to choose to save a copy of your image in a file format.  JPEG is good for color in a small space.  GIF and PNG are good for graphics, text, and logos.  The next step is to choose the quality level.  You can cut the quality without damaging the appearance of the image.  The last step is to check the file size and the quality.  Then you have a good enhanced image to share.
With so many different types of cameras to use, it can be overwhelming to shoot images. This is why it is good to explore the device you use for images.  Learn all the buttons and ways to enhance your photo.  Practice taking pictures from different angles and distances.  That is what makes photography really fun.  You can explore numerous ways to take images and photos can be easily edited.  You are the artist and photographer.  The world is full of images to take.

The English Channel performed live Wednesday night at Yayo Taco Blues. The show began at 9pm. There was a strong loyal crowd of about 25 people as English Channel performed their original songs. The band also gave the crowd a sample of new songs. Also, the entire show was free.

The genre of the band is alternative rock. Some of their original songs they performed were Any Second Now, Saki Sunrise, and Take Me There. The band has an eclectic rock sound mixed in with a hint of blues and reggae.

The English Channel live at Yayo

 One opening act for the band was Just Alliance who gave a great solo performance. This was one-man band style mixed with reggae and soft rock. He played four songs.

The second opening act was a duo. David Varnado and Wes Vernon performed two original songs. David Varnado sung main vocals and Wes Vernon sung background vocals. Wes performed a rap verse in one of the songs. The duo had an R&B and pop style along with Wes’ solo rap performance.

The English Channel members are two best friends: Adam Knaff and Narayan Singh. Adam Knaff rocked the bass guitar and performed the background vocals. Narayan Singh played the guitar and performed main vocals.

 The band also announced that this performance at Yayo Taco Blues would be the last performance before heading back in the studio to record more songs for a new EP. The band started performing at Yayo Taco Blues about six months ago. They have also performed at other venues on and off the Las Vegas Strip.

To capture this experience, I used my Andriod phone and my Kodak 8.1 megapixel camera.  Their remarkable guitar playing and the harmonious vocals created a beautiful intriguing sound. Their stage presence was very inspiring and appealing. The crowd was loud and immersed in all three performances. I loved it. Not only did I enjoy good food at Yayo, but I really enjoyed their performance.

Twitter.com

People want to take their news along with them wherever they go and access it whenever they want.  Journalists want to access information wherever and any anytime too.  So using Twitter to deliver news seems like a good idea.  Don’t you think so?  What are the benefits to being a part of an online community and getting straight to the point in 140 characters or less?  How do we convince our fellow journalists who think tweeting is a waste of time to jump on board?

First, we have to look at what is to gain from having an online presence from Twitter.  Journalist can tweet breaking stories and continue to tweet developing stories.  Most users access content they want to read initially through Twitter.  In other words, Twitter is the bridge between readers and information networks.  That is pretty convenient. 

Twitter allows journalist to give interviews.  Journalist can ask multiple questions for their readers.  In return, readers give their responses and can ask questions.  Therefore, qualitative information is exchanged in far less time than making phone calls or interviewing several people face-to-face.

Journalist and news organizations can use Twitter as Your Letters columns from print media.  Readers give their feedback including their opinions to journalist in print.  The same concept can be used through Twitter.  Also, journalists can get quick answers to fill in details.  Essentially, the online social circle is sharing brief info and interacting instantaneously.

The focus for a journalist is to announce new content and link to his or her website as well as embed the latest tweet in the website.  Twitter makes it easy for people to recommend a website to online communities.  So tweets can be mini advertisements to drive online traffic and get the audience’s feedback.  Nice promotion.  So journalists- join the circle and tweet!

Blog design should be appealing to readers.  It should be clutter-free.  Readers should find the design template easy to use and be legible.  The blog theme should express the author’s creativity.  These are important factors of an effective blog design.

The theme for this blog is named “Fancy” designed by AZ Money.   I chose Fancy because it is upbeat and happy.  I think it is also flexible and contemporary.  The site is packed with both color and white space which can be altered.  The main color scheme is pink, yellow, and green.  These colors are vibrant and eye-catching.  The colors of the sidebar blocks include green, violet, and yellow.  The colors definitely make the look and design of the blog stand out.

Making Web Designs

The blog theme offers multiple options.  It supports two columns along with a right-sidebar, theme-options, and threaded-comments.  Also, the typography is large and legible at the top.  The typography on the side bar is highlighted which makes it easier to read.  The design is uncluttered and clearly distinguishes main ideas, links, and headings.

Although, this blog theme has a limited amount of customizability, I can change the colors and menus in the sidebar as well as change columns.  This blog theme is has an attractive sidebar to customize.  The sidebar can incorporate feeds and gives a steady stream of content.  Moreover, I can place images along the sidebar.

There is ample room to customize the banner.  There are twenty background variations to choose from.  Although, I can change the background, the solid black helps draw attention to the pages and enhances the theme.  I also think the background makes it easier to read content on the white pages.  The design template is easy for readers to use.  Readers will have easy access to older blogs and sub-pages.  It makes it simple to highlight, share, and comment.

This blog theme is easier to set up and maintain.   It is distinctive and sophisticated.  The theme is a professional representation of my ideas and creativity.

Learning how to converge is key to staying relevant to your audience!  Newspaper columnists should become blogging experts as well as use other digital techniques.  Why so? Columnists have the advantage of building online communities where they can have meaningful discussions with their readers.  Thus, readers can have  with other readers.  One active role for online readers is the power to contribute. Readers can share their own ideas and thoughts.  Also, readers can share their passions on an equal platform.  Online communities connect with each other and soon your audience can expand fairly quickly and reach beyond your local community. 

Readers have easy access online from anywhere and at anytime.  Instead of information being pushed to readers, readers pull the information.  Readers pull the information that is relevant to them. 

Some columnists say their time could be better spent on making their columns more appealing.  I believe blogging does just that.  Readers want the option to pick and choose what appeals to them and share their thoughts and own ideas.  The online columns are relevant to its audience.  Also, it may be time consuming for journalists.  However, it can also be insightful by creating two-way communication.  You cannot effectively get that in print!

Other columnists believe they cannot be trusted by their readers.  They will not be considered good columnist by using social media.  Through media convergence, there is a vast of information that is accessed with a click of a button.  Columnist can easily find trusted resources that support their columns and can quickly link those resources for readers to find.  Linking information for readers is a great benefit that would not be as convenient in print media. 

The use of social media allows readers to quickly grab the information they want, where they want, and when they want.  Also, columnists also have the opportunity to get to know their audience and know what is on their minds.  These are the great pleasures of convergence.  Everyone is in the know while on the go!