The Management Consulting Group

You’re almost set. The content of your website, e-book, or software is complete. Ready to put together your e-book or software on the market. In order to turn your prospect into buyer, the look of your e-cover is just as important as the content. What to do? If you’re adventurous and seeking the how-to’s of self-design below is a short list of terms you’ll need to know. If you’re considering having your e-cover professionally designed (smart move) the terms below will help you talk intelligently about your project.

Aliasing
Aliasing happens when a computer monitor printer, or graphics file does not have a high enough resolution to represent a graphic image or text. An aliased image has the “jaggies.”

Anti-Aliasing
Anti-Aliasing is smoothing or blending the transition of pixels in an image thus making the edges appear smooth, not jagged.

Banner
A banner is a graphic image placed on a web site as an advertisement. Banners are commonly used for brand awareness and generating sales.

Bevel
A beveled effect to a graphic gives the image a raised appearance by applying highlight colors and shadow colors to the inside and outside edges of the graphic.

Bitmap Image (bmp)
A graphic defined by specifying the colors of dots or pixels that make up the picture. Common types of bitmap graphics are GIF and JPEG

Cast Shadow
A cast shadow creates added emphasis on perspective. Cast shadows can be stretched, rotated, and skewed to create a realistic 3-D effect

CMYK
CMYK stands for the colors Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black. In print design colors are defined as a percentage of each of these 4 colors. For example, the color black would be 0-0-0-100. Display devices usually define colors using RGB.

Color Cast
Using a color cast will change the hue of a selected part of an image, while keeping the saturation and brightness intact. Looking at an image with a color is like looking at it through colored glasses.

Dithering
Dithering is combining pixels from a 256-color palette into patterns that approximate other colors. At a distance the eye merges the pixels into a single color. To display a full-color graphic on a 256-color monitor, computers must simulate the colors it cannot display.

DPI
DPI stands for dots per inch. DPI specifies the resolution of an output device, such as a printer.

Drop Shadow
A drop shadow gives an image depth by creating shading offset behind the image.

Duotone
The application of two colors to provide richer tones than a single-color image.

Emboss
Embossing a graphic image adds dimension by making the image appear as if it were carved as a projection from a flat background.

Feathering
Feathering the edge of a graphic gradually diffuses the edge, making the edge look blurry.

Font
A font is a complete set of characters in a specific size and style of type. Some examples are Times New Roman, Arial, and Century.

GIF
GIF stand for graphic Interchange Format. GIF images are the most widely used graphic format on the web. GIF images displays up to 256 colors.

Glow
A glow creates a surrounding highlight of an image. A high radiance creates a soft, subtle, glow and a low radiance creates a hard, bright glow. An example of a bright glow is neon.

Gradient
A gradual transition of colors.

Graphic Backgrounds
The bottom layer on a web page, usually with either a design or color that highlights the copy above.

Grayscale
An application of the color black that simulates a range of tones. Grayscale images have no hue.

Hexadecimal
A numbering system using a base of 16. The first 10 digits are 0-9. The next 6 are A-F. Hexadecimal numbers are used to define colors on the web. For example the color white is hexadecimal #FFFFFF.

Hue
Hue is the actual color of an object. It is measured as a location on a color wheel, expressed in degrees.

JPEG
JPEG is the abbreviation for Joint Photographic Experts Group. JPEG images allow for more colors than GIF images and are usually smaller in size.

Kerning
Kerning is the horizontal spacing between the letters in a word.

Leading
The vertical spacing between lines of text.

For more graphic design terms see Graphic Terms - The Basics Part II

Andy Eaton has created a 10 day ecourse, which includes informative articles, training videos, special offer discounts, plus lots more - finally learn to create your own amazing ecover graphics. simply send a blank email to arpgraphicslist@graphicsecretsexposed.com or visit http://www.graphicsecretsexposed.com

Given the nature of the internet it is only natural that
abbreviations should be created. Shortenings such as ROFL, lol
and ttfn have become common in their usage, allowing the writer
to type faster and still be understand by the vast majority of
those they attempt to start a conversation with.

Not so with the dreaded phrase ASL.

Whereas many of the other phrases exist for ease, ASL is
naturally intrusive. Age, sex and location - three of the very
things many people use the internet to conceal. A person is
immediately judged upon them or worse still, if the answer is
somehow pleasurable to the other user one of the following
questions are almost always close behind.

“Married?”

“Got a boyfriend?”

“Want to cyber?”

I am a woman, but it has not stopped me claiming to be a seventy
six year old male just to get the wrong person off my back. And
guess what? They never sent me a message back. Even when a
person uses ASL perfectly innocently, because they see it as a
standard opening gambit, many people’s backs are already up.

There is more to a person than their age, sex and location.
Discover those things. Start a conversation as you would in real
life, with a person you have never met before at a party, not
like some sleazeball in an internet chat room. It’s amazing what
friends you can make if you do!

People love stories. This must have originated from the time
when getting tucked up in bed means a story afterwards. Fairy
tales are colorful stories with colorful endings. Then came
those fiction books with twists and turns and sometimes not so
colorful endings. People early on are thought to see experience
and feel colors not just in its visual state but the colors that
come from words. Words can be made colorful. If we put it into
another prospective, visual and colors can also tell stories,
like words.

Visual and colors are put early on in coloring books to make
kids understand things in the most simple way. By arranging
chronologically, a story can be created, depending on the
understanding of the one reading the colors.

This is also true in prints and designs. People tend to get
tired of reading long and flowery words that only end up meaning
the same things. Some can be so predictable that after reading
the first paragraph, the ending can be told. Others may get too
jumbled up in the words that it will took awhile understanding,
if patience does not run out first.

Using visuals, stories become more compelling because people can
produce their own story, go into different directions with just
the colors. What makes them able to do this are the absence of
words that sometimes spoon-fed them into what they are supposed
to be reading. The story is laid out in front of them. All they
had to do is read. Imagination need not be used. This is in
contrast to colors that story tell. Expounding the imagination
is just one of the things these visuals can do. With just
drawings, a story can enfold before the reader’s eyes. It is
like creating your own story with no limitations as to when to
change and stop.

The colors are used to give meanings and not just to please. It
is common knowledge that colors are made to be refreshing and
pleasing to the eye. It is therefore a new way of looking at
colors when they are there to explain and to give directions to
a material. It is not a crime to exaggerate in using colors.
Because unlike what people are told, there is no such thing as
over colored. There is only more colors to choose from and using
it to its maximum can only make it best, not worst.

Colors are just like symbols. The seers get to think for
themselves. They make their own ideas. They do not wait, they
think ahead. That is what colors can do.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.
colorprintingwholesale.com

The usefulness of internet is because of its rich and varied content. The more valuable the content more would be the success on the web. People are online in search of useful and quality information. Everyone here is looking for current valuable information that can make their own work and life better.

Search engines too are a big success because of the way they organize information by keywords, popularity of a site and freshness of the content.

If you want your online business to be successful then you must focus on improving the quality of the content in your site to win customers and business.

Here are some key steps to improve your website content.

Keep the layout simple. Focus more on words than flashy graphics. Graphics can keep your visitors only for moments. Words and written content can keep them longer.

Words and phrases alone cannot sustain the interest of the visitor. You may adapt attention grabbing words and be witty or aggressive. But the interest is sustained by substance behind the words. Research well your subject matter then start writing. If you have personally experience what you are writing about, it has more credibility.

Presenting what you know is the major key to successful online presence. Learn to write what you know in a credible manner avoiding fancy words and jargons. Keep it straight and simple. Keep the paragraphs short. Avoid long sentences. Use numbers and bullets so that space is created between paragraphs and bullets giving relief and rest to the eyes.

Learning to write effectively is important. You need not be a great writer. But the information must be presented interestingly and comprehensively. The headline and opening paragraph should grab the reader interest or the next website is only a click away.

Keep your website or blog fresh with original new content rather than copy paste and linked paragraphs to free contents from other websites. This would also help search engines to rank you higher.

Content can really create a world of difference to an online entrepreneur. Check the most successful websites including this site and you would find the prime reason for its success is the excellent content.

R.G. Srinivasan is a managerial professional, Writer and Author. He writes a regular blog on management thoughts with interesting articles, resources, personal experiences and links useful for practicing managers at http://management-thoughts.blogspot.com

You have decided to put up a new website. Congratulations! Now
the work begins. Within this article, are some items you will
want to consider as your website comes to life.

An Internet Consultant would recommend that you have a domain
name that brings in at least one good keyword about your
website. The Internet Consultant will help you with suggestions
to get a good domain name.

You also need to select the purpose of the website. This is
crucial. You need to know if the website will be to drive leads
to build a customer list, whether you want people to fill out a
form to give you information on their situation if you are
offering real estate information, for example, or if you are
just looking to get information about you and your firm out to
the public. Do you want to use your website more as a savings of
time to send out reports to people that request information? Do
you want to portray an image of a modern fast paced type of
company or do you want to portray an image of a down home
southern charming retail store? Do you want to direct them to a
phone line for more information or an autoresponder or maybe
sign up for an ezine? Depending on the needs of the person
behind the website, the Internet Consultant can get a better
idea how to make the overall look and feel of the website, so
try to be clear on what you want your website to accomplish.

You might also show the Internet Consultant colors you like and
get their thoughts as to the colors that move the visitor to
certain actions. For instance, certain shades of green portray a
soothing feeling while red jumps out at you and makes you want
to take action. Use bold colors sparingly.

The Internet Consultant can also help you in regards to the
layout of the website, guiding the visitor through the website
by various links and graphics. Also, realize that sometimes more
words are not more effective. A visitor will spend only a short
amount of time viewing your website unless you have effective
headlines and subtitles. If you have ideas you want to use, let
your Internet Consultant know this before he starts to make the
“bones” of the website.

Another good thing to think about is the buttons and what they
will say. In other words, how many do you really need to get
your website point across and what type of links would you need
created to accomplish that point? Changing text is easier than
changing buttons for An Internet Consultant, so try to have some
idea what you want. Do not start out thinking you will have a
5-8 page website and then add six more buttons. This can lead to
six more pages and you can expect a price increase on the
website design. Most Internet Consultants are pretty lenient,
but do have to charge for extra time and effort above the
original price quote.

If you have any graphics you want to use, gather them up and
have them available from the beginning for the Internet
Consultant. He will also have graphics that he will add to make
the website more interesting. You will want to keep large
graphics to a minimum. The Internet Consultant can resize them
but note that clarity and sharpness may be reduced. Most good
Internet Consultants can help tremendously in this realm of
making the images fit your pages if the pictures you provide are
clear and crisp.

If you have the music clips or audio clips that you want to use,
be prepared to provide them for the Internet Consultant. He will
require music clips in mp3 format most likely. He will also
check various browsers to make sure the clips are good quality
in all browser settings.

Provide the Internet Consultant with all your contact
information and any comments he can use for the “About Us” page.
That would be items relative to your business and awards you may
have won, goals of your company, little bits of personal
information about the partners or owners, how long the business
has been viable or how long you have been in this sort of
business, how long online, things like that help a visitor to
know you better and feel more comfortable doing business with
you. That should be the goal.

Templates have their place in the web design process. Allow the
Internet Consultant to provide choices and pick out two or three
templates that would work for you. Most good Internet
Consultants like to use pure html, but some also will use the
Front Page format or Dreamweaver. The only reason for templates,
in my mind, is to get more of an idea what the customer wants
his website to look like. When the idea is presented by several
templates, then possibly designing a website based on those
ideas, is more effective. Do not count out An Internet
Consultant that uses templates, but also, do not count out An
Internet Consultant that takes template ideas and redesigns them
to fit your needs. Either will work and makes perfect sense
depending on the time and effort that is going to be involved in
creation of your new website.

Bottom line is consider your Internet Consultant an extension of
your business. It will be up to you to market your business, but
having a good website should be a collaboration of effort
between you and the Internet Consultant. Your website can come
alive with sound, graphics, and colors. The clearer you can be
on what you desire, the more the Internet Consultant has to work
with and will be able to satisfy you more thoroughly. Most
people are amazed at what Internet Consultants can do with just
simple outlines of ideas!

Most Internet Consultants want to make their customers happy and
will spend the time to work with you to make sure your website
is pleasing. Give them the courtesy of being reasonable in your
desires and needs and the website creation experience will be a
positive situation for everyone.

Windows Defender (formerly called Microsoft Antispyware) is a
free program that helps you stay productive by protecting your
computer against pop-ups, slow performance and security threats
caused by spyware and other potentially unwanted software.
Windows Defender has been redesigned with a simplified user
interface - Incorporating feedback from customers, the Windows
Defender UI has been redesigned to make common tasks easier to
accomplish with a warning system that adapts alert levels
according to the severity of a threat so that it is less
intrusive overall, but still ensures the user does not miss the
most urgent alerts.

Improved detection and removal - Based on a new engine, Windows
Defender is able to detect and remove more threats posed by
spyware and other potentially unwanted software. Real Time
Protection has also been enhanced to better monitor key points
in the operating system for changes.

Protection for all users - Windows Defender can be run by all
users on a computer with or without administrative privileges.
This ensures that all users on a computer are protected by
Windows Defender.

After downloading and installing the new Windows Defender, I
must say I was impressed. The tool found everything I threw at
it, including a few threats that AdAware could not find.
Microsoft has also implemented a network for people to join if
they wish to combat new spyware. I think that this tool will be
a great product for all computer users who are tired of
constantly fighting spyware and adware. I am telling all of my
clients at Best Web
Hosting to download it and try it out. You can find
Microsoft Spyware here.

Last Christmas I visited my mother-in-law and was shocked that she still used a dial-up service. Are you kidding me? Weren’t these things banned? I guess I had just assumed that she was using Comcast high speed Internet. Regardless, it certainly wasn’t easy getting online and blocking out that horrible screeching sound.

What is your Internet service? Please tell me you’re not still struggling with a dial-up service. Hopefully you have converted to Comcast high speed Internet, or at least some cable Internet service. Sure, I know, DSL can be cheaper. Believe me, I’ve tried DSL and it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

This is why I choose Comcast high speed Internet or Roadrunner over the others. Have you ever tried watching a movie trailer with dial-up? This can be excruciating. You might as well pull up the clip in the morning before work and then watch it later when you return home. You will never encounter this dilemma with Comcast high speed Internet. Movie trailers and other great downloads will commence immediately. This way you don’t have to sit there and waste your valuable time.

I simply don’t see the small savings each month balancing out with the quality of the service. I would rather pay a little more for Comcast high speed Internet and be able to roam the net freely without all of the slow downloads and irksome surfing in low gear. It’s time to crank up the speed. If you haven’t already, try out a cable Internet service today.

I have been convinced that Comcast high speed Internet and other cable services are far superior to DSL. I am one of those individuals who spends a great portion of his day online. I can’t help it; it’s where I work, where I check my email, trade stocks, and simply surf for fun. The World-Wide-Web is a virtual melting pot for many of us. Therefore, I can’t fathom the notion of wasting time with a slow Internet provider.

I told her she needs to check into her local cable provider. If you too are still creeping through cyberspace with a phone line, you may want to upgrade to Comcast high speed Internet, or possibly even Roadrunner. This will save you oodles of time when taking care of those routine Internet chores. In addition, you will enjoy cyberspace at a completely new level with a cable connection.

The advantages of Comcast high speed internet are many.

Never underestimate the power of the internet. An increasing
number of people use the internet to search for a business or
service so having a web presence is an important media for
promoting your company. Web design is a real skill and if your
website is to not only look good but work well, it should be
constructed by a professional web designer.

Have you noticed these days that so many websites all look the
same - square box in the middle of the screen? That’s because
it’s fairly easy and cheap to use the many templates available
to build a simple website. There are many web designers or
friends of a friend out there that will offer to do you a
website for a few hundred pounds but there are many technical
issues to consider to ensure really professional results.

A good website should have the following attributes: Strong
corporate identity User friendly navigation Quick to download A
useful resource Expandable - needs to incorporate technology
that allows scalability Visually attractive to encourage usage
Must work in all browsers on all computers PC and MAC Good
investment / value for money Search engine friendly

Remember that first impressions count and a badly designed
website is worse than having no website at all. You wouldn’t get
a friend of a friend to do your company brochures or service
your nice new car you would go to a specialist, so why take the
risk and compromise on quality with your website.

A well designed website with good graphics and strong corporate
branding will last for years and should be a good investment for
your company. Updating the content is simple and inexpensive.

You can start with a small but well designed website that fits
within your budget. The key is to ensure that your website is
expandable so that as your business grows it can be added to -
you may even wish to add a database or e commerce functionality
at a later stage.

We believe that Flash is really designed for use in the
entertainments industry and we do not recommend using it on a
business website. Even with the increasing availability of
broadband Flash can be very irritating for users, it serves no
purpose, it can detract attention away from the important
messages on your website and it will adversely affect your
search engine rankings. Strong visual affects can be achieved
using other methods.

Using HTML is the most popular and cost effective way to design
a website. These can include original graphic designs and are
text driven to incorporate relevant search terms, which is good
for getting your site recognised by search engines.

DYNAMIC websites incorporate a database and offers more user
functionality. A dynamic website can be classed as a web
application and is a powerful tool for gathering and providing
data for your customers who will be able to log in and search
the site quickly for information. If you require a dynamic
database driven web design you will have to budget for the back
end coding required to build the database. This will be more
expensive than a HTML site and will need specialist hosting. As
a less expensive alternative it is possible to build a HTML site
which links to a third party database which you can access
through your existing ISP.

An E-COMMERCE WEBSITE is an online secure shopping facility so
that customers can purchase your goods by credit card over the
web.

graphic design
Edinburgh and web
design Scotland

In the marketing world, a lot of attention is given to the concept of “image”, both on an individual product level and for a corporation as a whole. Researchers know the perception of a product or service can be vastly different from actuality. Business owners are faced with the difficult task of communicating to their consumers exactly what benefits they will derive from using their product or service vs. the competition’s offering.

One way businesses do this is through their logo, or their corporate identity. Part of a logo’s impact comes from repetition, the very act of seeing a familiar symbol on a continual basis. Every company, every branded product or service needs a logo for this purpose.

Because logos are everywhere, it is essential for a logo to have meaning; to present to the subconscious mind of the consumer a message about the corporation and/or the product it represents.
Of all the factors that comprise corporate image , the most significant one is that of integrity. Integrity, in itself, has components: honesty, loyalty, determination, strength, completeness, dependability.

Another element that is important for a corporate or product image is value; the consumer must perceive that they will be receiving something of worth for their money.

Leadership is another factor; it connotes a knowledge of the marketplace and the ability to conduct business in such a manner that others in the field acknowledge this company’s worth.

Innovation is another important component of image. Businesses want to be seen as creative, knowledgeable and able to meet consumer needs with the newest and best products and services.

To build such an image through logo design requires the use of all of the tools a graphic artist has in his armory: fonts, color, placement, size, pictures and design motifs. Logo designers know that some images require a sense of movement in the logo design; some need the strength of heavy block lettering; logos for products for infants, for example, would be best served with soft pastels and lines that are rhythmic and flowing rather than having sharp angles.

Any entrepreneur seeking a logo for his company or product should first choose the elements he or she wants to present as a communicator of the corporate image.

Knowing the relative weight of each factor, a logo designer can then create a logo that catches the public eye and imagination, sends a subliminal message about your company’s image and indelibly imprints the logo in the consumer’s memory.

There are four options for actually getting the design work done. From a freelancer, an ad agency, from an online logo design specialist like LogoWorks, or by doing it yourself. All have benefits and drawbacks, but for most small businesses hiring a freelancer or using an on-line company are the most effective and affordable methods.

Noelle Bates writes articles for major Logo Design companies such as LogoWorks.com. Visit LogoWorks.com, an excellent resource for everything related to Company Logos.

Off-site airport parking is a boon for travelers. Often they
prove to be cheaper than parking lots run by airports and online
discounts and other conveniences make the option even more
attractive.

Satellite parking lots face competition and so it is easy for
those in the know to save big.

Here are a few insights:

1. Keep a tab on offers. As the race for success becomes
intense, all sites run attractive offers giving away coupons or
web only deals. Many offer an e-coupon that entitles the user to
a day’s free parking at selected parking lots. This means a
saving of US$ 18. Other offers give away a day if you park for
two days or 50% off on the first days parking fee.

2. If you are a frequent user of parking lots check for offers
where a parking operator with a major presence near airports you
use offers a 50% discount if you purchase a certain number of
parking vouchers online or on the phone using your credit card.

3. Many parking sites have a different rate for different
parking positions. Check on the kinds of parking and rate
differences. You could save up to $ 55 for a seven day parking.

4. Ask for rates depending on the length of stay. Rates vary so
if you are going to need parking for a week then you could get a
higher discount than the daily rate on offer.

5. Many run a frequent user program where repeat customers are
offered many facilities. This is similar to frequent flier
programs.

6. Find out if the lots you use offer special discounts to
members of AARP, AAA, or other such organizations. In fact, AA
members save between 10-20% on parking. Some sites even offer
the service of picking up and dropping your car from the airport
terminal.

7. Do your research well compare providers, the rates on offer,
as well as facilities at the place you need to park. If you are
clever you can get more for less.

8. Before you travel use the internet to check on daily and
weekly parking offers. There are free days, discounted weekly
rates, and guaranteed rates on offer at various times. You can
avail the offer by making a booking online or printing out the
page with a code and presenting it to the cashier at the parking
lot. 9. Keep track of promotions especially during holiday
seasons. Many lots accept coupons and give away discounts
offered by consumer products

10. Often pre-booking parking can get you a saving of even 60%
and more. 11. Hotels often offer parking specials, so make use
of the extra facility being offered by the hotel you plan to
stay in.

12. Some travel agents who book flight tickets offer advice or
coupons for parking at the point of exit and entry. Ask you
agent when you book your flight.

Off site parking is not just fast and convenient it can be a
saving too.

About the Author: Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for
http://www.1888discuss.com/airport-parking, the premier REVENUE
SHARING discussion forum for Airport Parking including topics on
secured parking, gate parking, discounted parking, traveling,
and more. He also freelances for the premier Airport Parking
Site http://www.1888AirportParking.com.