As most of you already know, we are going through a web transformation in term of techniques and authoring tools.

• Flash video is slowly being eclipsed by HTML5 formats like H.264 an MPEG4
• Wordpress is taking more and more market share from traditional web site creation tools like Adobe Dreamweaver
• SEO with Google now has to account for location of the viewer and has thrown much of old SEO out the window

The main thing I want to discuss today is web site creation. I have created and worked with both Wordpress CMS style sites and traditional HTML, CSS and Javascript based sites for years. Now I have many clients saying they want their site created in Wordpress because someone told them that’s the only smart way to do a web site. It doesn’t matter to them that their are design limitations, certain code compatibility issues and that certain things just don’t work easily within the Wordpress model.

Although it’s a great tool, and I am using it for this blog, the hype has far surpassed the reality.

What do you think? Does every client need a Wordpress site? Should we advise people of the options or just give them what they want? Is this the end of creative web site design? Will we all become “Theme Creators”? Let me know your thoughts and experiences.

In our Web Tech section of the blog are some options I like to tell my new customers about who think they have to have a Wordpress site. Good to know the options.

Thanks for visiting and see you soon!

Mike.

See our Web Tech Section of the blog for a Comparison of Wordpress vs. Traditional Site Design Options

Back to the Casey Design Group main web site…

Last week we interviewed Marketing Director, Marshall Johnson of Pink Mist Tech,  live on Ustream.com. My Video for the Web class at Minnesota School of Business did the whole thing. They arranged the lights and set, cameras, mixer, hook-up to Ustrem, script and interview. They did the whole thing in one week using MSB equipment and studios. I was there to guide and assist in overall direction and coordination.  I was quite proud of them. It’s not 100% perfect, but is really good under these circumstances.

Here’s the video and the link:

Back to Casey Design Group’s Main Web Site…

Is anyone else out there using Adobe Edge? It looks like Adobe’s response to “Flash is Dead.”

The alpha is free on-line at Adobe’s site.

Is Flash dead? What do you think? It sure has a big installed user base! I hope we see an adaptation from Adobe to be compliant with the new HTML5 and CSS3 standards.

It seems Adobe might be transitioning over to Edge. If you do the Edge tutorials there is a lot of reference to “If you know Flash…”.

That sure is a lot of ActionScript never to be used again! But, based on CS5 Flash, it might be for the best!

Am I the only one who hated the whole “This is the “new way Flash works” thing? Classic tweeens baby!!!

Anyway, would love to hear your opinions, as long as they make sense and are not psycho. 

I wanted to take a minute today to talk about Search Engine Optimization and the requirement of TIME.

When a site has organic targeted SEO applied to it, title tags, alt tags, keywords, copywriting, link planning, etc. the components of success are time, tracking and modification. Without any of these components you will have mixed or no results to speak of.

I have had situations where I let a customer know that once we optimize the site for SEO, we need to wait a few weeks, track the data, modify as needed and proceed in that manner. This same customer called within 24 hours complaining that “it isn’t working, I don’t see us in the search engine results!”

The process is:

1. SEO Reasearch
2. SEO Strategy and knowledge applied
3. Tracking applied
4. Site monitored and data researched
5. Changes made as data reflects is required
6. Repeat

Effective organic SEO is a process that occurs over TIME. It is not pay-for-click technology!

Call Google for that or a marketing firm that specializes in pay-per-click.

See you next time!

I am checking out Adobe Edge, the new authoring tool from Adobe to address the need for a HTML5, CSS3 creation tool.

Seems quite a bit like the Flash interface, so good news if you know Flash and bad if you hate it. I hope it is an improvement over Flash CS5.

Right now Edge is free and there is a ton of learning materials available.

Here’s the link:

http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/edge/

P.S. Also don’t forget to get the HTML5 addition to Dreamweaver.

New designers and creatives don’t have an accumulation of bad habits. If they are responsible, can take direction and have decent social skills they might be a great new team member. This generation is also on the bleeding edge of technology, which could also bring new light to the direction of your business.

It’s just good energy to be a mentor and help someone get started, like someone did for us when we were brand new.

The one I want to talk about next is HTML5 for video/web and it’s relationship to Adobe Flash. there is so much truth and fiction about what’s happening from Adobe Edge being developed as a GUI solution for designers to others saying Adobe will be out of this area (Very doubtful.) I will be covering what I find out over the next week or two. Please help me fill out this area with what you have heard on this topic.

Anyone taken the time to see the direction Apple is taking with the new Lion version of Mac OSX?

It looks like many new features that have questionable value and a complete break with the older Power PC friendly software?

My question is what will stop working that I use now?

Read more here…

I have been substitute teaching six different classes this week, so I have been spending ten to twelve hours a day at the Richfield, Minnesota technology division of Minnesota School of Business. In fact I am there right now and have been since 10:25 AM and it’s almost 9:00 PM… Good to be busy.

Make storyboards of what you plan to shoot!

The best way to save money on your next photo shoot or video is spend the extra time to create tight and detailed storyboards. It’s much cheaper to create storyboards than to re-shoot video or photos because of poor planning.