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WordPress Website Examples

WordPress Website Examples

The wonders of WordPress as a CMS (content management system) website development tool. Tusler Design use WordPress a lot. Its become one of the most useful pieces of software used in Internet development. WordPress is so versatile it can be used for almost any type of website. It has a worldwide group of developers who [...]

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Welsh Holiday Cottages New Website

Welsh Holiday Cottages New Website

Welsh Holiday Cottages, Pond House Cottages wanted a new version of their website. And we’re happy to announce the site is now ‘live’. Visitors can review availability of Pond House and Pond Cottage and book online using the in-built booking system. There’s also a good directory section featuring activities in West Wales and a What’s [...]

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Wordpress is a very easy to learn and use tool for your content management system.

CMS like WordPress is best value

It might sound like a bold statement but using a content management system to run your business website is actually about the best value you can get. Many clients (and clients of our friends who are web designers) say that the cost of updating, adding and improving their websites went down when they switched to [...]

Continue reading →
Natural animal bedding from Wales

Natural animal bedding from Wales

Animal bedding experts ‘Huwbryn’ recently commissioned a complete overhaul and revamp of their website at Huwbryn.com. Huwbryn supply a variety of premium animal bedding products, all grown on their family run farm in west Wales. Was a pleasure to work with them to develop the new site and animal bedding shop.

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Go Camping in West Wales

Go Camping in West Wales

Ty Gwyn Caravan and Camping Park at Mwnt have a new website up at www.campingatmwnt.co.uk. They have static caravans and facilities for camper vans, towing caravans and tents. Wonderful location, where visitors are treated to beautiful sunsets and seals and dolphins swimming in Cardigan Bay.

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Alpha Oak New Blog

Alpha Oak New Blog

Alpha Oak have taken the leap into the unknown and begun blogging. Alpha Oak are based near Carmarthen and supply oak floors, doors and bespoke joinery. Take a look and see how they’re embracing the world of social networks to market their family-run business. http://alpha-oak.co.uk/blog/

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Orissa Designs - site is live

Orissa Designs – site is live

Orissa Designs specialise in hand crafted, up-cycled, shabby chic furniture and Hindy deity reliefs. Orissa Designs also sell high quality, ‘temple-grade’ incense. Their new shiny website is live now from today so well done to them for getting it there. All done with WordPress and PayPal. Then there is the Facebook and Twitter – but [...]

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Rathayatra UK site updated

Rathayatra UK site updated

Tusler Design recently spent some time updating the Rathayatra UK website at www.rathayatra.co.uk. The site now uses the popular WordPress (wordpress.org) content management system. It has all the latest information on the London festival and also lists UK and European Rathayatra festivals. Visitors can sign up for the mailing list and also follow festival news [...]

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Open Source

Tusler-Design use and recommend open source software for content management system (CMS) solutions and for online shops. Open source has the advantage that it is being constantly improved by developers all over the world and is also free (or very low cost). WordPress Blogging Platform WordPress is a fully customisable web publishing platform and content [...]

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WordPress Website Examples

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WordPress Website Examples

The wonders of WordPress as a CMS (content management system) website development tool.

Tusler Design use WordPress a lot. Its become one of the most useful pieces of software used in Internet development.

WordPress is so versatile it can be used for almost any type of website. It has a worldwide group of developers who make it and keep it secure.

Tusler Design recommend most new websites and website re-vamps to use WordPress if they’re not already using it.

Example WordPress Websites

Some examples of websites designed and developed by Tusler Design working with WordPress.

Welsh Holiday Cottages

Welsh Holiday CottagesWelsh Holiday Cottages are owned and run by Nick and Glyn Falcon.

The website is a perfect use of WordPress combing information pages, a what’s on blog, and a specially added online booking system for visitors to book the cottages and make payments using PayPal.

http://welshholidaycottages.net/

Orissa Designs

orissa designsOrissa Designs is owned and run by artist Tracey Jenkins. She specialises in producing art and shabby chic furniture.

The website uses WordPress and is linked to a PayPal account for  accepting payments for online orders. Tracey updates the site herself adding new items as her catologue grows.

http://www.orissadesigns.co.uk/

Camping at Mwnt

Camping at MwntTy Gwyn Farm and Caravan Park (on the cliffs above Mwnt in Ceredigion) wanted a new website and commissioned Tusler Design.

The website gives an instant feel for the unique and wonderful location of the site. To improve the search engine recognition of the website ‘CampingatMwnt.co.uk’ was chosen as the domain name. Site includes a blog and is linked to the Facebook page for Ty Gwyn.

http://campingatmwnt.co.uk/

Completeness

CompletenessCompleteness is the online home of Kasturi Tusler, creative artist and crochet teacher.

The website features her crochet patterns, video crochet tutorials, a blog, downloadable recipes for home cooking (including one for homemade deodorant!). This site is also linked to Completeness’ Facebook page.

http://completeness.co.uk/

Custom House Cardigan

Custom House CardiganCustom House Cardigan is owned and run by creative designer and artist Karina Servini. The Custom House is one of Cardigan’s oldest buildings and has an atmosphere all of it’s own. It now houses a gallery and shop where over 300 local artists and craftspeople have their work on display and available to buy.

The website uses WordPress alongside an e-commerce shop using Magento E-commerce System. The whole thing is integrated within the main website.

http://www.customhousecardigan.com/

Cardigan Bay Company

Cardigan Bay CompanyThe Cardigan Bay Company wanted a super simple site that could show some of their great designs and artwork that was also ready for them to build upon.

This is a fine example of using custom graphics with WordPress to create an instant impression upon the visitor.

http://www.cardiganbaycompany.co.uk/

HuwBryn

Huwbryn homepage screenshotHuwBryn is owned and run by Huw Jones of Bryn Farm near Cardigan in west Wales. HuwBryn produces specialised natural animal bedding for a whole range of pets and animals.

Visitors to the website can order varieties of combinations of natural meadow hay, straw and chippings for practically any animal kept domestically. Visitors can purchase products using PayPal.

http://huwbryn.com/

JR Fabrications

JR FabricationsJR Fabrications is owned and run by Jason Rice and are a welding and fabrication company based in Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire.

The website uses WordPress and features many examples and testimonials from clients of Jason’s. He updates and adds things to the website himself with the occasion bit of tech support from us.

http://jrfabrications.com/

Get your new website built in WordPress and enjoy the benefits of creating and publishing your own content whenever you like…

WordPress Promotion

Contact us now to get your WordPress website rolling.

Community, co-operation, collaboration and the Internet

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Community success involves co-operation and collaboration in order for everyone to be happy.

Let’s get real here.

We all have to live in the real world – right?

The media and politicians presents us with their own view of things but our lives go on whether we listen to them or not.

As members of society and of the world family we can be responsible for our own lives and our own actions.

Modern life involves using the web to buy things, sell things, learn things, exchange ideas, play games, meet new people and keep in touch with friends and family.

All of us can tell our story, give our ‘testimony’ online.

Community success involves co-operation and collaboration.

Community success involves co-operation and collaboration in order for everyone to be happy.

Community is essential

In real life ‘community’ is an essential part of a successful, harmonious, productive society.

‘No man is an island’ and all that. Surely its obvious that we are all benefited by making the effort to co-operate.

Another trite but wise saying; ‘Together everyone achieves more’.

On Mother Earth everything is provided, all we have to do is learn what our purpose is and make the most of our time here.

When we get isolated we can easily succumb to mental health issues, depression and general ill-health.

When we are able to be an active part of a community we function much better. We have support around us for getting through hard times.

Those of us who can help others, could and should help because all communities need active members to make them sustainable and ultimately to flourish.

Co-operation and collaboration are strengths

Through co-operation and collaboration individuals and small groups of people can use the Internet to achieve great things for their communities.

Often new groups go through a process of forming, storming, norming and then performing. So we should expect some listening on all sides before our communities can flourish.

And the basis of it all of course is mutual  respect, trust and ultimately transcendental love. But this is not the place for discussions on the more esoteric aspect of life as humans!

Tusler Design have been involved in communities since the late 1980s, Thatcher’s Britain.

Since the Internet revolution of the 1990s Tusler Design have worked with a consistent emphasis on developing community through working together using the Internet. This is with large, medium and small businesses, organisations and individuals. All our work is aimed at utilising joined-up thinking to help our clients.

“We’ve lots of experience in helping turn ideas into reality!”

So contact us today to talk about your community and your project. We’re happy to have the opportunity to work with you and your group no matter what the cause or subject.

Make it work on all devices

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Modern websites need to work on many different devices.

Modern life means using a desktop computer, a tablet, a smart phone, a web-tv or something else.

You want your website representing you to the best it can and this means making sure your site looks good and works properly for all users, no matter what device they are using to contact you and your services.

It’s not always easy but we’ve got lots of experience of making it work for clients like yourself.

Modern websites need to work on many different devices.

Modern websites need to work on many different devices.

Improve search engine ranking

Google has made it clear that they give extra weight in their search engine results pages to those websites that have been set up to work on multiple devices.

Get help.

Tusler-Design work with our clients on a one-off basis or more regularly to help make sure everything is working properly on all devices.

We provide training, guidance, support and can do it all for you too if you like.

Contact us today and we’ll work with you to get things right on all devices, on all platforms, all the time. So you don’t miss crucial sales and enquiries.

 

Welsh Holiday Cottages New Website

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Welsh Holiday Cottages New Website

Welsh Holiday Cottages, Pond House Cottages wanted a new version of their website.

And we’re happy to announce the site is now ‘live’.

Visitors can review availability of Pond House and Pond Cottage and book online using the in-built booking system.

Welsh Holiday Cottages

Pond House Cottages at welshholidaycottages.net

There’s also a good directory section featuring activities in West Wales and a What’s On Guide.

Take a look at http://welshholidaycottages.net/

CMS like WordPress is best value

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Wordpress is a very easy to learn and use tool for your content management system.

It might sound like a bold statement but using a content management system to run your business website is actually about the best value you can get.

Many clients (and clients of our friends who are web designers) say that the cost of updating, adding and improving their websites went down when they switched to using a CMS like WordPress.

The simple explanation for this is that once you’ve understood how to use WordPress’s publishing tools you no longer need to pay for all your changes and updates.

WordPress is very easy to grasp

Within one hour most clients are comfortable creating and editing new pages and new posts, adding links and images or whatever they need quickly and without needing to attend a long-winded training course.

Even use your smartphone to update

You can use your smart phone or tablet to add pages and posts. Upload images straight from your device, tag and publish them to your blog or news pages.

wordpress logo

WordPress is a very easy to learn and use tool for your content management system.

Hi-end web publishing for us all

We all benefit from access to high-quality web publishing tools nowadays without finding enormous budgets to run it all as in the past.

The Internet and accessible technology has given us the opportunity to present ourselves as we like to be seen.

So, if you have a mission to accomplish, a purpose, aim, target, goals, intention, idea, message or whatever; the Internet is the place to present it.

Use Facebook and Twitter to deepen connections with audiences

Inter-linking your website with your Facebook and Twitter pages gives your visitors and customers a ‘seamless’ experience and connection with you. So your dialogue can continue with your online followers and friends all the time – even when you’re asleep in bed.

Tusler Design can help you with your CMS

Tusler Design create websites using WordPress (and other systems) regularly and can help you set it all up and configure it correctly. Tusler Design also give you training and support in using WordPress and getting the most out of your system.

And use Google Analytics to see what is working

Tusler Design can help you use and understand Google’s great analytics system to improve your website’s performance and conversion rates.

Why not see for yourself?

Please ask about WordPress via the contact page.

And, if you already have a WordPress site and would just like some help, then please also ask via the contact page.

Thinking about design

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Variety of different website design examples

Good design can be vital to making your website work to its best potential.

Design is an important but subtle element.

People (like you and me) like easy-to-use websites. We like it to be so clear and easy that we actually enjoy the process.

Variety of different website design examples

Variety of different website design examples

So ‘don’t make me think’

A few years ago I came across a book on website design called “Don’t make me think!” by Steve Krug of Advanced Common Sense.

Steve’s point is that people don’t like to be made to think when they come to a website.

Just like if we go to a new town we look for reliable things like street names and if they are not there we can get disoriented quickly.

It’s not that we are un-intelligent; its that the Internet and computers, smart phones, tablets and all are actually not so easy to use.

Technology is even more challenging when the circumstances are pressured; low or broken connectivity for example disrupting you while you’re trying to book train tickets.

Simplicity rules

Internet users like websites to be easy to use and understand. So it makes perfect sense to keep things as simple as possible.

Of course, you don’t want to over-simplify and lose the main purpose of your site’s offering. But concepts, ideas etc. need to broken into bite-size-chunks to make them easier to understand.

Think of any major website and how easy it is to use. These guys are spending millions of pounds on research and development to create their sites and keep improving. We can learn from them.

Take a look at your favourite websites with a view to their design and notice the elements and how they are working together.

Websites can be excellent examples of synergy – where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

As you can see from our own website we tend to prefer things clean and clear. How about you?

Websites as communication tools

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Signs are useful to help guide your visitors

Each website has a voice. And the visitors listen to the voice.

They do this by reading, or hearing, your text.

They are influenced in this hearing, by the colour scheme, layout, type-set, and graphics of your website.

Images are a powerful means of communicating

Your choice of images tell a story because, “A picture is worth a thousand words.”

So, ask yourself, ‘What are you trying to say with these thousand-word images?’

signs are useful to help guide your visitors

Signs are useful to help guide your visitors but there is more to finding your voice and communicating effectively

Email enables direct communication and interaction without having to use the telephone or meet in person. You still have to remember your voice in your email communication.

And of course video telephony is available via Skype and other similar systems. These are an effective means of communication. Often Tusler-Design will communicate with clients over Skype. One advantage being it is instant and thus avoids long distance travel to attend meetings and briefings.

Social networks, (i.e. Facebook) are a great place to promote your messages and to interact with your ‘community’ as there is a balanced audience of male and female users. Twitter is mostly male (though not entirely) and has a different feel and emphasis to Facebook.

So use your unique voice

Keep in mind the idea of who you are talking to when writing your content. Imagine you are speaking to just one person; the reader.

It’s a personal thing

Your visitors will almost always be alone with you. Websites communicate with individuals and though you might have many visitors, few of them will be with someone else when they’re on your site.

So, why not make the most of the opportunity given us through technology and use the Internet to speak and communicate to your audience and the world at large?

Step-by step guide to planning your website

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Step-by step guide to planning your website

Start-out in the right way on the Internet and you’ll achieve success much faster.

Here’s a simple tried and tested step-by-step guide to help you plan your website. Tusler Design use this process.

A collection of websites

1. Your site is a combination of:

  • content
  • design
  • technology
  • and (much more subtle) credibility

2. Your website needs to flow from your mission. At least it should have a clear theme or subject.

3. Most websites (yours included) require certain pages in order to be credible. These pages include:

  • home – a welcome message, introduction, links to products and services, call to action
  • about – aims and mission, history, who’s-who, principles and values statements
  • contact – all the ways your customers can contact you; telephone, email, postal mail
  • terms of use – includes the copyright statements and disclaimers notices
  • privacy policy – a statement about your commitment to keeping personal information confidential.

Of course, the above list does not apply to a one-page CV or PR site.

Your products, services, messages, articles, insights, testimonials, picture galleries, video sections, feedback forms, shopping carts etc. will also need pages too.

4. Search engines like it if you also have a sitemap and special ‘robots.txt’ file.

5. Over recent years ‘Community‘ has become an important and relevant factor to consider. Particularly this aspect is covered by having a Facebook and Twitter presence.

6. Remember to follow the 10 principles of online success. The primary one being, ‘keep it simple‘.

7. Plan your content, your messages and how you want your visitors, followers, clients, customers, fans and friends to interact with you.

8. Keep adding and expanding your offering. Don’t let it become stale.

9. Maintain a long-term vision for your website. Allow it to grow for at least five to ten years. Longevity is a powerful influence on credibility.

10. Remain confident and determined. Just keep building your website and it will grow and develop it’s own character.

11. Tell others about your website, your services, your blog, your offers. That way they will know to keep checking the site for new content.

12. Regularly review your visitor statistics and the pages they are looking at and using. What number of contacts come via the site? Try to create content to increase the traffic, click-throughs, contacts, sales, newsletter sign-ups, etc.

The above is a guide to help you in thinking through your site.

Contact Tusler Design to get your website designed and online working for you.

Websites made easy

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Websites made easy

The Internet is actually a personal place.

Because we are all persons, (I hope you agree). We are all interacting with webpages, sites and applications all the time when we are online.

So it is a personal environment where we want to establish a connection, or relationship with our readers. This means you and me.

As website owners we can control the content of our pages so that our visitors are rewarded when they come to see us. Seem obvious doesn’t it?

Just like real customers in the real-world visitors to websites love to get fresh content, insight, ideas, inspiration, products and services. If they are pleased, and have a pleasing interaction; they come back.

Its personal and it always was...

 

3 things to remember about your visitors.

Keep your visitors in mind all the time when developing your website;

  • What are visitors to your website looking for?
  • What are they hoping to obtain from you?
  • How can you deliver it for them in a timely and affordable way so they want to return?

Next steps towards online success.

Take a look at our own website planning guide where you can get a good idea of what you need to include in your website.

When you’re ready either phone or email and we’ll be able to help you. Contact us.

Ten fundamental principles for online success

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10 fundamental principles to achieving online success

  1. Keep it simple. Speaks for itself doesn’t it.
  2. Be yourself. This applies to companies and organisations as well as individuals.
  3. Be unique. Promote your USP, your unique selling points on your website.
  4. Make it easy to use your site.
  5. Continually add fresh content.
  6. Maintain a blog about your industry or niche.
  7. Keep it positive.
  8. Clearly display your contact information.
  9. Be approachable. Allow your visitors to connect with you and keep up to date. This can be achieved via a newsletter email list, Twitter account or Facebook page.
  10. Keep an open mind. There’s always something new to learn to improve what you’re doing.

Join the mailing list and Pat will send you the 11th principle.