This is one of the most common requests that I hear weekly. As of December 2009 there were 233,848,493 million websites with an additional approximate amount of over 7 million being added monthly. “Yes but”, I hear you say, “we sell blue shoes”. At the last check there were 762 000 websites selling blue shoes. So how do you compete without spending thousands of Rands per month?

• Update, update and update. Keep your website updated weekly if possible. The more fresh your website is noted the more brownie points you will get!
• Relevant information. Don’t write about your new flowers in the reception. Let people know about upcoming product specials, new staff or longer customer service hours.
• Keep the article title on topic. Instead of calling your new article “New hours” rather name it “Empangeni Blue Shoes offers extended customer service hours”. That is more likely to be picked up by the search engines.

What is Lorem Ipsum?
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.

Why do we use it?
It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable content of a page when looking at its layout. The point of using Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using 'Content here, content here', making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for 'lorem ipsum' will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose (injected humour and the like).

Are there benefits of using a freelancer as opposed to an advertising agency? You bet. An ad agency can produce amazing work, but on the other hand, so can freelancers. Agencies have a lot to offer and are indeed a better fit for some businesses. More than ever, however, companies are discovering the many benefits of hiring a freelancer. A freelancer can…

It always amazes me to receive compliments from some incredibly happy customers. When receiving a service these days people are usually content with "just the basics" but, after providing them with consistent effort and determination, they notice and applaud top-notch performance.

I have updated the testimonials page which showcases comments from a range of overly satisfied customers based in various parts of South Africa. Before deciding on a new website website project, as with any other type of project, I recommend that you find out from customers how the service was. Often a website may look striking but the path may have taken longer than necessary or was filled with confusion.

Feel free to contact any of the mentioned persons via the top menu links for comment as well as others in the portfolio.

The web designer shows you her final version of your long-in-the- making revamped site. You clíck around and can hardly believe how gorgeous and rich it is.

"Love it! Launch it!"

Oops, not so fast. Too many times I've seen that sentiment lead to frantic scrambling, even to disaster. Before making your revamped site live, use this checklist to make sure you've caught or prevented horrible new-site glitches.

JW Designs now becomes known as Web Energy
Following the need for constant improvement JW Designs has now changed to a new name - Web Energy! All services will remain the same as well as the levels that you have come to expect. Please note that the only changes from immediate effect will be email contact details and website address - www.webenergy.co.za.

Festive wishes
I would like to take this time to wish all past and current customers a relaxing festive break. This has been an amazing year full of numerous improvements to service, skills and client base. Web Energy will be closed from December 05th 2008 and reopens on January 06th 2009.

Joomla upgrades to latest version
After a major upgrade of the Joomla framework from the 1.0.x series to the 1.5.x series all new Web Energy websites are being built using the latest Joomla version. I am also in the process of upgrading current versions of Joomla to the 1.5.x series at no charge to existing clients as a festive gift. If you are interested in having your Joomla website upgraded please contact me now for a quote.

With the power of the internet it is easy enough to work together on projects wherever you are stationed. Web Energy has taken grasp of that and now provides services to various established companies spread around South Africa.

Services that are extended include Joomla installation, template conversions from HTML to Joomla 1.0.x and Joomla 1.5.x, content setup and menu navigation.

Following the success of other Joomla Days in South Africa, the next step for the organizers was to conquer Durban! This past weekend I joined around 26 other participants to discuss various aspects of the Joomla Content Management System.

With a full day planned which consisted of diverse topics such as security issues, hosting, business strategies and general Q&A the group had an array of ideas and tutorials. Another particular item of interest was a talk provided by JCE WYSIWYG Editor Ryan Demmer who gave us sneak previews of some advanced features in the component.

After having the great experience of meeting with past clients and new colleagues I can confirm that the Joomla scene in South Africa is packed with a myriad of enthusiastic members.

New gallery software for certain websites is in use following the successful acceptance of a photographer with a large database of images. The client wanted to manage over 12 000 photos online so that potential customers could easily navigate to the ones they wanted. Update: Current amount of photos on the website is nearing 25 068.

Gallery2 allows members to create or edit images and albums with just a few clicks as well as the options for global keywords for quick search features.

Web Energy is pleased to mention that many completed websites receive awards on their design, content and overall appeal.

Websites are submitted review to the South African Web Awards and rated on a set criteria of four categories. Once this process has gone through at least three judges a result is given.

Recent websites winning an SA Web Award are:

• Sentilove
• Empangeni Baptist Church
• P & H Enviroscaping
• Jet Ski Unlimited South Africa

Write your website address on things. If your business has any physical objects, whether it's a product, a carrier bag or just the front of your office, make sure to write your website address on there. Even if people don't keep or remember the exact address, it at least lets them know that your website exists. When they remember it again they can go search and find it.

Go to specialist events. If there's some kind of trade fair for the industry your business is in, turn up to it and promote your website. While there might not be all that many people there, the ones who are there will be influential, and can get your site talked about.

Keep your website up to date. What's the point of getting people to come to your website if they see the same stale content all the time? Try and add a news article or something similar at least every two weeks. This gives you a better chance that people will check more often and helps your website get found easier on search engines.