While many people think that the hard work may be over once their site is up and live, for many this is just the beginning. There will at some point, for any site, be a need to change the layout, update options and amend content. While there are two main ways to do this, via FTP access or the Control Panel system, there are differing opinions as to which is easier and which is safer.

Each option offers different elements, which include :-

FTP Access

This is the access which is favoured by many professional coders, and allows you to see the code in its full glory, and also save back up copies, etc. On the negative side it can take a little while longer to access, due to opening another program, signing on, opening folders, etc.

One major plus point for FTP access is the vast array of additional options available, on even the most basic of editors. They can take away a lot of the hard coding required in the Control Panel option, where there are no short cuts, and code needs to be added in its raw form.

Control Panel Access

The Control Panel has become the most popular of hosting entry points, offering statistics, file management systems and additional content including the likes of Word Press, etc. The file management system allows you to open, access and check what an actual page will look like live, although it does have limited use if you want to change large chunks of code.

Unlike many FTP editors, there are no short cuts which will add the raw code for you, you need to add it yourself, and there is more chance of making errors and possibly deleting files by mistake. However, Control Panel access is often a lot quicker, and if you know what you want to change it is possibly the best method.

Conclusion

A lot of the factors regarding which system you use to amend your files, site, etc will be dictated by your general competence and experience. Mistakes can easily be made in the Control Panel, but if it is a quick fix you want to make, it can prove the best option.

There are thousands of sites on the internet which do not quite get finished or need that last little touch to make it a success. Where can you go for that last bit of help, that advice from someone who knows?

In general you really have two main options about where to go for advice :-

· the professionals, who will charge you.
· one of the many webmaster forums on the internet where advice is often free.

Surely for that last touch it would make sense to ask fellow webmasters, and ask them what they think of your idea, your site and how you should finish off your idea. Well, if you want to open yourself right up, and give someone your idea before it is even finished then the “free” option may be the one for you!

However, if you are looking to protect your idea and hit the market with it when you are finished, then you need to look down the professional route. True, it will cost you money, and potentially a large amount depending on what you are after, but it is most definitely worth it.

Imagine you have been working on your site for months, and just about got there when you hit a PHP snag or the alignment of the site is not quite right in Firefox and you need advice. You post your site URL, your ideas and your problem for all of the world to see, and check out for themselves. Bang, next day a site along the exact lines to yours is launched and you have been beaten to the punch, the market is slipping away from you. Think it does n’t happen?

It is common knowledge that many online business people scour the webmaster forums for new ideas, new options and a look at what might be the next popular area. They will check your post, ask you a few questions, but ultimately they will not help you.

If your site is popular you will soon make your money back and more, but if it fails then it will soon die, but at least give it the chance to survive, and play your cards very close to your chest until launch.

While it often turns out to be a passing thought for many website owners, an eye-catching logo can do you the world of good, and keep the attention of your viewers for that vital extra few seconds. There are a number of ways to create your own logo, with both designers and logo creation software becoming more and more popular - but which path should you take?

Before you even look at how to create your site look, you need to confirm exactly what you are trying to do, and what part the logo will play in your site. Some issues to consider are :-

· While the logo will be one of the first thing your visitors will see, do you want the logo to play a prominent role?
· Your logo, while professional looking and often eye-catching, should also fit in with the theme and colours of your site.
· How much have you got to spend? Designers are not cheap, although an investment in some logo creation software would last forever.
· Are you looking for a unique design? Even the best logo creation software packages can created logos which look “manufactured”.

For those with the money to invest in a unique design, you should seriously consider that option because the success of your site will be directly linked to the look. If you have a unique and professional looking basis to your site, that is more likely to catch the attention of your readers and give the impression that you have invested in your business.

Alternatively, for those just starting out on the internet, or testing out a new approach to business a software logo creation package may be the answer. They are relatively cheap (especially when compared to the cost of a designer’s time) and can be used time and time again for all of your sites.

Ideally a unique look is the best, but in many cases tight finances will dictate which areas of the business will receive the vast majority of your money.

While its seems as though every area of the internet has seen price deflation, we have also seen a reduction in quality in many areas. Website design is an area which has been hit by such pricing pressure, with the market deeply fragmented and a large gap between the lower end and the higher end of the spectrum. Do you get what you pay for?

It is common place to see many comments across the webmaster forums where customers have been disappointed with their website designs, even though they have paid relatively little for the package. Initially many designers had been prepared to reduce their prices in the hope of bringing in new customers for the future, who would then pay “normal” rates. Unfortunately this did not happen, with more and more budget designers appearing on the scene, pushing prices lower and lower.

Rather than follow the general trend lower, many of the better design companies have distanced themselves from this area of the market, and moved back to premium pricing. For those looking to make their website unique and striking, there is a real need for a top quality design, something that will cost. We are therefore starting to see many serious webmasters realise that you do get what you pay for, and for something special and unique you will have to pay the going rate.

As more and more websites appear each day, it is vital that you stand out from the crowd in some way. The easiest way to stand out is visually, as this is the first element which will hit your readers. A professional and well designed website can hold some ones attention for that split second which you need to “grab” them - and in today’s market that is a priceless commodity.

While we have recently covered the potential to obtain substantial numbers of link backs by sponsoring WordPress themes, sponsorship is an area of online marketing which is starting to show more signs of growth. As more and more people advertise their WordPress themes for sponsor, the strategy is now entering other areas of website design, but will it last?

WordPress themes aside, we are starting to see even the simplest of CSS templates up for sponsorship, flooding the market with free and cheap templates. While many designers can make good money from these sponsorship deals there is a real danger it may effect the sell on value of unique themes, and bring prices lower. While this may not be a bad thing for the end buyer, the bottom line is that if the prices are not there, then we may soon see some of the better designers pull out, thereby reducing the quality of products on offer.

The internet tends to go through different phases, whereby different products and different strategies will become a hot topic for a few months and then die. The sponsorship of website designs may well be a little different, but the internet’s thirst to reduce prices and slash cost will at some point effect the quality of products and services available. We have already seen such movements in the forum paid posting market which has been hit by cheap offers, which are not always to the standard that you may expect.

As we see online prices continue to fall, there will come a point when we will realise the need to pay for quality. Low value and often low quality work is fine for those not looking to make a living off the internet, but the serious business person will always need good quality products and services - and at some point this quality will again show through.

Flash is a powerful application for adding visual candy to your website. The question is should you use Flash? There are arguments for and against the use of Flash. Two of the main problems with Flash concern its long loading time and if too much Flash is used, most search engines cannot index a website, which will reduce the amount of visitors to your website.

The Good Things About Flash

Flash web design is a way to add graphics and animation to your website. Flash is used as a marketing and promotional element on many websites and is very effective at drawing the eye to the Flash component. Visually attractive websites draw in visitors and this is why Flash is so popular on the Internet. Examples of flash elements that you can add to your page include video, sound, graphical animations, presentations, banners, logos, pretty introduction pages and sound effects. Flash videos can be stopped, forwarded and rewound by visitors to your website and this is particularly useful for educational Flash videos.

If Flash is used right, it will not interfere with the ability of your website to be search engine friendly. If a web designer is careful with their use of Flash then the Flash components will not drive visitors away through its large size, long load or because it obscures other content.

Flash may not work for all websites and customers, although for the right customer, Flash will add a professional touch to their website without taking over the site. Flash is suitable for banners, ads and interactive fun for your visitors.

If tastefully used, Flash can create a wonderful display that visitors will remember and neither will the Flash display take attention away from the content on a website. Many web designers use Flash components because it is compatible with many platforms.

The Bad Things About Flash

Flash will work differently on assorted browsers although this is true for most technology on the Internet.

Many people do not have the Flash plugin installed so this means that Flash is not browser compatible for many viewers.

Many people do not want to watch long Flash introduction pages; they will skip the introduction page to go directly to the main content.

It is not a good idea to use Flash as an introduction page because your introduction page will not be search engine friendly. If you want to use Flash, keep it small and do not let it dominate your website. Keep your Flash use to no more than about thirty percent of the total content of your site.

Flash components, especially those with embedded graphics, video and sound effects, take a long time to load for most computers although the Flash designer can choose which elements can be seen first.

Flash designers will sometimes disable a browser’s back button and when people cannot use the back button, they will usually close the browser window. Google AdWords also will approve pages with disable back buttons for their program.

Sites that are made entirely from Flash are not searched and indexed by the search engines.

You can decide for yourself if Flash is right for your website. The reasons for and against the use of Flash can be compelling either way. If Flash is used in such a way that it does not create such a long load time that your visitors leave before it is fully loaded or it does not prevent your site from being indexed, Flash could be a good thing.