Experience has shown us that sometimes clients find it hard to write the content for their website. In order to help them, we have written a guide for content development which we offer free to our clients. The guide describes some pages and their content with some easy-to-use ideas regarding content writing.

If you wish to read or download the guide, click here (PDF file, 366 ΚΒ).

A successful electronic presentation, whether distributed through the internet or by CD, will combine the following characteristics:

• Speed: File size is of great importance since it is directly related to the download speed. We optimize all code by hand, which allows not only full browser compatibility but also significantly improved file optimisation: our files are up to 30 times less than our competitors’! It has been calculated that average users will wait up to 7 seconds for a page to download; if nothing happens after that, they will leave that website.
• Structure: Users must be able to quickly locate and retrieve the desired information.
• Navigation: Ease of navigation is an area that requires specialised knowledge, which we possess. We also taught this to postgraduate students at Napier University. For example, a common mistake is the disappearing menu which results in the user having to use the “back” button repeatedly.
• Content: All content must be updated frequently, and information included on a website must be accurate. Users tend to visit fresh websites more often, while inaccurate information commonly results in dismissal of the entire website.
• Design quality: Graphics must be clear, legible and interesting, with the balance between form and function maintained. Use of clipart is discouraged since it typically shows an amateur designer.

The professional web developer whom you will entrust with your presentation, must combine the following characteristics :

• S/he will have an excellent command of their area [we have been at it since 1995, and have taught various electronic publishing courses for postgraduate students at Napier University for three years].
• S/he will be able to balance form and function.
• S/he will optimize code by hand, thus ensuring browser compatibility and small files. This will result in dramatically improved download times.
• S/he will develop new designs with each client, and not repeatedly use the same designs.
• S/he will inform the client as to their actual needs, and not just promote the latest trend, which is commonly both untested and expensive.
• S/he will help clients understand the new media’s particularities, in order to present the desired information in a clear manner.
• S/he will know how to make any presentation easy to navigate, even if it requires major restructuring.
• S/he will be able to do the same for any database.
• S/he will stick to the time schedule.
• S/he will inform the client in advance of all costs, and never present them later with hidden costs.
• S/he will stick to the agreed budget.

The decision for a website should not be taken lightly. For the best possible results, a realistic analysis should be made regarding needs, expected benefits or the expected changes brought by the website. For instance, a contact form is useless if there is nobody from the company to read the emails on a daily basis and answer them.

For our clients, we have created a web development guide which we offer freely. In order to read it, click here if you have Acrobat Reader (Greek only).

According to research, 78% of Greek Internet users has reservations regarding the use of online transactions while 84% are concerned about the protection of the personal data, Below are some simple ideas for your protection and security during online purchases:

1. Update your browser frequently: It is good to use the latest version of a browser and to have activated the automatic renewals of your operating system and software.
2. Protect your computer: It is good to have a firewall, antivirus, antispam and antispyware, even if you don’t believe you need one. There are many free protection programmes like Avast, AVG etc.
3. Don’t trust unsolicited emails: When you receive an unsolicited email (spam), ignore it and delete it, however tempting the offer is.
4. Protect yourself from phishing: If you choose to ignore the above suggestion and open a link following an email that you have received, make sure that the url that is shown at the bottom-left when you put your cursor on the link is the same as the one from the email. Otherwise, do not follow the link!
5. Find misleading emails on the Internet: Many browsers check the addresses that the user is entering and inform is they are misleading. For instance, MS Internet Explorer colours these addresses in black.
6. make sure that your browsing through the Internet is a private matter: When using a public computer to check your email or make a purchase, it is preferable to use a private browser. For instance, Internet Explorer has the InPrivate Browsing.
7. make sure that the websites for payments are encrypted: In order to make sure that a website uses an encrypted technology when processing your credit data, follow the advice below:
   • The “s” after http on the url – the address should begin by “https://” instead of “http://”
   • The little icon locked lock in the url area or at the bottom right of the window.
   • Internet Explorer 8 colours green the url address to show that it is a trustworthy address.
8. Do not reply to emails or websites requesting personal data: No legal company will send you emails requesting access to your personal data or personal data of your clients (phishing).

What are the most common mistakes that people do when developing a website – clients and developers alike? How can they be avoided? What should the content be for achieving our goal which is none other than promoting our company and increasing our sales?

In order to asnwer all these questions, among others, we have developed a design guide which we offer freely to our clients. In order to read it, click here if you have installed Acrobat Reader (Greek only).

When the website photogramma went live, it wrote a useful guide entitled “5 steps to take better pictures”, for distribution through its website. You can read by clicking here.

COMET is the CRM that we have developed. Click here to read the user’s guide.