Blog - Americaneagle.com http://blog.americaneagle.com Just another WordPress site Sat, 26 Jan 2013 00:02:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 Are you a Cyber Security Target? Protecting your Digital Identity http://blog.americaneagle.com/2013/are-you-a-cyber-security-target-protecting-your-digital-identity.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-you-a-cyber-security-target-protecting-your-digital-identity http://blog.americaneagle.com/2013/are-you-a-cyber-security-target-protecting-your-digital-identity.html#comments Fri, 25 Jan 2013 23:59:19 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=1223 Privacy is dead.

With the influx of social sharing and geolocation services, the fact is, the internet might know more about you than do many of your close friends. In a test of this theory, an online investigator only needed one hour to uncover intimate details of  one woman’s life, including her relatives, all 41 countries and 161 towns she’d visited, not to mention her schooling and previous employment.

While we may not be able to dissuade you from some aspects of the social sharing revolution, there are some steps you can take to avoid truly confidential information, like where you live and your bank account, from getting into the wrong hands. Read on for security tips on how to keep yourself cyber-secure.

Be Smart About Passwords

When presented with that “create a password” screen, there’s two things that typically immediately jump to mind: “password” and “123″.

Don’t even think about it.

According to Splash Data, the most popular passwords- and the most likely to be hacked- were ones that included password or a string of consecutive numbers. Here’s their round-up of the worst passwords of 2012:

  • password
  • 123456
  • 12345678
  • abc123
  • qwerty
  • monkey
  • letmein
  • dragon
  • 111111
  • baseball

Choosing a smart password

Our CTO and general security guru, Ryan McElrath, weighed in on the best way to create a password. “Create strong passwords for your different accounts that have at least eight characters, made up of upper-case/lower-case letters, numbers and at least one special character.” Stuck on choosing a password you’ll remember? Choose a phrase of words and include spaces or underscores, like “Home at 6!”

Change it up

It might not be convenient or easy to remember a frequently updated password, but it might mean the difference between a hacked account and one that remains safely in your hands. McElrath suggests changing your passwords every 3 months.

Another password no-no is using the same password on multiple sites. “If you use the same password on multiple sites, then all of your accounts are in danger if any of those sites are ever compromised,” explained McElrath. “Millions of linkedin.com users recently had their passwords leaked on the Internet. If those users had that same password on Facebook, then their Facebook accounts would be in danger of being compromised as well.”

Be Ready for Attacks

Unfortunately, we don’t live in a world where you can surf the net worry-free. Even if you avoid phishing and scam sites, you may be prone to attacks from unexpected sources.

Get Antivirus Software

Use the latest anti-virus software on your computer and regularly check for updates. Typically, updates include the latest virus definitions.

Update all software

Get your computer set up so it’s automatically patched when software vendors release updates to protect against the latest security vulnerabilities. This includes the underlying operating system (e.g. Windows or Mac) and other software on the computer (e.g. Adobe Flash).

Don’t open suspicious attachments!

It’s tempting to peek at attachments from people you don’t know (what if Vacationz4Free does have a free trip for me?), but it’s not worth satisfying your curiosity. Any suspicious-looking email or attachments, from people you do or don’t know, should be left unopened.

Don’t Share This

It might sound like a good idea to check in, share a photo, or tweet to a new follower, but there are some things you should avoid sharing on your open or closed networks. Consumer Reports claims that 52% of social network site users posted  personal information that make them vulnerable to cyber attacks. Some of the most commonly shared personal information included:

  • Email address
  • Birth date with year
  • Photos of children
  • Children’s names
  • Home street address
  • Information indicating when they will be home or away
  • Name of your bank
  • Your password
  • Any common banking questions, like “What’s the name of your first pet?” “What’s your mother’s maiden name?” “What was your high school mascot?” and “What’s the name of the first street you lived on?”
  • Sensitive or confidential information about your job

When it comes to social media, healthy suspicion is the best policy. If you think someone could use anything you share against you, don’t post it, message it, or tweet it.

 

You’ve heard our tips. What personal cybersecurity rules do you follow? Share your thoughts with us below!

 

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2013/are-you-a-cyber-security-target-protecting-your-digital-identity.html/feed 0 Deals, Data Mining, and Delivery: Email Tips from Pro Retailers http://blog.americaneagle.com/2013/deals-data-mining-and-delivery-email-tips-from-pro-retailers.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=deals-data-mining-and-delivery-email-tips-from-pro-retailers http://blog.americaneagle.com/2013/deals-data-mining-and-delivery-email-tips-from-pro-retailers.html#comments Thu, 10 Jan 2013 23:09:51 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=1150 In 2010, email marketing had an average ROI of $43.52 for every dollar spent . It’s undeniable- email marketing is one of the most powerful advertising channels available today.

Just because email is a smart tactic doesn’t mean it’s easy. The fact is, email marketing seems to go hand-in-hand with sensitive spam filters, open rates in the single digits, murky R.O.I., and metrics up to your ears.

Check out this in-depth slideshow from one of our email pros, digital strategist Joanna Morrissey .Click through to see cool email samples from top clients Stuart Weitzman and Beretta USA. You’ll learn tips and tricks for creating powerful messages, using images to make a big impact, data mining to understand customer behavior, and the must’s for adhering to brand guidelines.

http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=1116 Depending on your business or organization, making imagery a focal point of your website can make a considerable impact on its overall look and feel. It is important to explore the options with your graphic artist and consider the purpose that images on your site have in order to determine how to best showcase them.

When used right, vivid photography and images have the ability to add value and depth to your brand and can help support your message. Below are some creative ideas for using imagery in your website’s design:

Slideshow

Considered one of the most popular outlets for showcasing images, a slideshow on your website’s homepage and/or interior pages can be a great way to showcase content in a convenient and organized manner. Slideshows, especially with image sliding capability, are recognized by almost anyone who uses the Internet and are therefore highly usable.

Scrolling Images

When used in the right context, scrolling images can be ideal for presenting many images in a quick manner. Scrolling images on a site can be used for logos, products, company awards, etc. Due to the fact they are often dynamically driven to scroll automatically on a page, they tend to be a successful way to attract attention.

Flash-Based Design

Flash technology provides one of the most creative outlets for showcasing imagery. Using Flash components on a site can be an effective means to entertain, build loyalty, and provide a more engaging online experience.

Headers

Often underutilized, website headers can be prime real estate for images. Given a header’s position at the very top of a website’s page, consider using headers to feature banners, advertisements, or other such imagery.

Collage/Scrapbook Style

A unique and creative approach to showcasing imagery involves displaying it in a scrapbook or collage style. This style can be used for various purposes and is often developed to be an interactive and fun tool for site visitors.

Background

Large images, whether photography, illustrations, or even video, can be used as a part of a website’s background. This type of use can often make a bold statement and can immediately evoke a particular impression about a brand or organization.

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/creative-ideas-for-showcasing-imagery-on-your-site.html/feed 1 December Website Launch Highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/december-website-launch-highlights.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=december-website-launch-highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/december-website-launch-highlights.html#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:46:52 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=1059 Americaneagle.com continuously works hard to provide the best Web solutions for our customers. Below is a snapshot of some of the websites we launched in December:

Chicago Park District | Spotlight on: Government Website

The Chicago Park District recently teamed up with Americaneagle.com for the redesign and development of their website. The project included a full redesign of the site, implementation of event and program registration software, the development of a mobile website, a bidding and procurement tool, and much more.

 

 

MARS Candy Company | Spotlight on: E-commerce Website

MARS chose to develop their e-commerce website for the Seramis brand on the idev® E-commerce Platform. This platform allows MARS to quickly and easily add, edit, and delete products, product information, and much more. Additionally, the new site was designed to serve as an informational resource by providing visitors with a plethora of information on plant care.

 

 

Connecticut Junior Soccer Association | Spotlight on: idev® Youth Sports Platform

The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association recently launched the new www.cjsa.org.  The newly redesigned site is built on Americaneagle.com’s idev® Youth Platform, giving CJSA access to Americaneagle.com’s idev® Content Management System.  The Content Management System allows CJSA to update site content, post news announcements, upload photos, manage events, and more.

 

Motion Hand and Physical Therapy  | Spotlight on: Healthcare

Motion Hand and Physical Therapy teamed up with Americaneagle.com for the redesign and development of their website. The new site features a graphically pleasing yet user-friendly interface as well as the idev® CMS.  The CMS allows for quick and easy updates so that patients always have the most up-to-date information.

 

Plews & Edelmann|Spotlight on: Product Catalog

Plews & Edelmann, a leading designer, manufacturer, and distributor of a broad range of automotive parts and tools, recently redesigned their Web presence. The new site was designed to showcase Plews & Edelmann’s 7 brands and corresponding products, ultimately encouraging visitors to find a retailer and make a purchase. To accomplish their goals, Americaneagle.com implemented a user-friendly product catalog that enables visitors to sort by brand and category.

 

FanFare Eatery|  Spotlight on: Dining

FanFare Eatery, a new sports-themed restaurant, chose Americaneagle.com for the design and development of their first website. The launch of the website coincided with the opening of restaurant and was designed to reflect the quality of food and service provided by FanFare Eatery while maintaining a sports theme.

 

 

Kent & O’Connor| Spotlight on: Law Website

Kent & O’Connor recently launched the new www.kentoconnor.com. To encourage user interaction, Amreicaneagle.com created a customized navigation tool that displays unique graphics for each navigation path. These graphics are displayed when a user hovers over a navigation element. The new site now serves as a marketing tool, encouraging visitors to select Kent & O’Connor.

 

International Positive Psychology Association|Spotlight on: Association

The International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) teamed up with Americaneagle.com to develop a website that appeals to both members and non members. IPPA members can now login to view password-protected pages, including a customized article resources tool. For non-members the site serves as a user-friendly informational resource.

 

UIC – Department of Pathology | Spotlight on: Mobile

The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Department of Pathology teamed up with Americaneagle.com to develop a new mobile website to compliment their current online presence. The new mobile site was designed to display much of the same content as the desktop site but in a mobile friendly format. Users can now access the department directory, directions and program information from the convenience of their mobile device.

 

Open The Books Mobile App | Spotlight on: Mobile App

The Open the Books App is an app version of an existing website that Americaneagle.com launched, openthebooks.com. The app uses a mobile phone’s GPS location to return the salary history of Illinois government employees in a specific area. Users can also search by zip code or last name. The app is currently available for free in the App Store.

 

 

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/december-website-launch-highlights.html/feed 0 Mobile Email Marketing: 3 Small Changes for Mobile Readers http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/mobile-email-marketing-3-small-changes-for-mobile-readers.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mobile-email-marketing-3-small-changes-for-mobile-readers http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/mobile-email-marketing-3-small-changes-for-mobile-readers.html#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:52:02 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=1103 An email marketer has traditionally only had to focus on a consumer opening an email on a desktop. Now, mobile has been thrown into the mix. Here are 3 tips on improving your email marketing for mobile:

1. Content of Email: Just like a mobile website, keep in mind the size of images and graphics. The bigger your email file is the longer it will take the recipient to open the email. If it does not open within a few seconds, the person will most likely move on to their next email. An alternative option you can add to help readers view your email is to offer a link to view it as plain text or as a Web page.

2. Give a Digital Option with Promotions: If you are offering a coupon or special deal that requires the person to print a coupon or the email itself, give them the option to just bookmark a page in their mobile browser. Alternatively, you can have a QR code come up for the discount so that customers do not have to print anything out. This allows for one less step in getting the deal.

3. Subject Line: As with traditional email marketing, we recommend having a subject line shorter than five words. If you look at your own email on your phone how many words show up? Not that many. If you can’t get your message across in the first give words of your subject there is a big chance the person may skip over that email or delete.

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2012/mobile-email-marketing-3-small-changes-for-mobile-readers.html/feed 2 November Website Launch Highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/november-website-launch-highlights.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=november-website-launch-highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/november-website-launch-highlights.html#comments Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:51:55 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=1021 Americaneagle.com continuously works hard to provide the best Web solutions for our customers. Below is a snapshot of some of the websites we launched in November:

WeatherTech | Spotlight on: Graphic Design

WeatherTech recently teamed up with Americaneagle.com to give the WeatherTech family of websites a graphical facelift. In addition to a refreshed graphical interface, Americaneagle.com also upgraded several website features, including: interactive Flash elements, product education center and more.

 

 

Hackensack Univ. Medical Center | Spotlight on: Healthcare

Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) recently teamed up with Americaneagle.com for a complete redesign of their online presence. The new website was designed to fully represent the medical center as a premier national healthcare leader. Americaneagle.com updated the look and feel of the website to coincide with the new brand image of HUMC, resulting in a professional yet aesthetically-pleasing website.

 

City of Galesburg, Illinois  |  Spotlight on: Municipality

The City of Galesburg, Illinois recently partnered with Americaneagle.com to develop a new website aimed at promoting the economic development in the city. The new site provides improved access to government programs, news, policies, documents and more. In addition, it provides an enhanced economic development presence to foster entrepreneurial and start-up companies within the area.

 

 

American Apparel & Footwear Assoc.|Spotlight on: Association

The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) chose Americaneagle.com for the recent redevelopment of their association’s Web presence. Americaneagle.com worked to match the website’s design with AAFA’s new brand identity. In addition to the new design, Americaneagle.com upgraded AAFA’s CMS to allow for improved front-end functionality.

 

 

Bella Cosa Jewelers|  Spotlight on: idev® E-commerce Platform

Bella Cosa Jewelers recently redeveloped their online presence on Americaneagle.com’s idev® E-commerce Platform. In addition to the many dynamic e-commerce store features, Americaneagle.com also developed a custom diamond search feature on the site. This feature enables customers to quickly and easily sort through diamond inventory by various facets.

 

 

Suffolk County Water Authority| Spotlight on: Government

Suffolk County Water Authority, the largest groundwater supplier in the country, recently underwent a complete overhaul of their website. Americaneagle.com helped improve the water authority’s administrative capabilities by enabling their website administrators to easily post content to password-protected employee-only pages. The new site also features a customized vendor database.

 

Spectrum Technologies| Spotlight on: International

Spectrum Technologies, a manufacturer that produces agricultural measuring equipment, recently partnered with Americaneagle.com to develop a new website with their international business in mind. The new site features unique functionality that allows the site’s content and functionality to change depending of the visitor’s country of origin.

 

 

Craig’s Shoes | Spotlight on: E-commerce Website

Craig’s Shoes partnered with Americaneagle.com for the redevelopment of their e-commerce website. Americaneagle.com built the new site on the idev® E-commerce Platform. This flexible platform allows Craig’s shoes to expand with new products, departments, etc. Additionally, the new site features an eye-catching and user-friendly graphic design that will help attract customers and generate sales.

 

 

Chiasso | Spotlight on: Mobile Website

Chiasso, a retailer of modern home furnishings and accents, recently launched a mobile version of their e-commerce website. The new mobile site was developed to accommodate the growing number of consumers that relay on wireless devices to surf the Web. The customized user interface effectively displays Chiasso’s product offerings and was built to achieve optimal usability. Customers can now quickly and easily place orders from the convenience of their mobile device.

 

 

 

 

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/november-website-launch-highlights.html/feed 0 October Website Launch Highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/october-website-launch-highlights.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=october-website-launch-highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/october-website-launch-highlights.html#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:36:44 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=979 Americaneagle.com continuously works hard to provide the best Web solutions for our customers. Below is a snapshot of some of the websites we launched in October:

WSS | Spotlight on: idev® E-commerce Platform

WSS, a leading shoe retailer in Southern California, recently launched a new e-commerce website on Americaneagle.com’s idev® E-commerce Platform. Americaneagle.com worked with the shoe retailer to develop a robust online e-commerce system that would increase sales and engage new and existing WSS customers. The new site reflects WSS’s brand and makes it easy and engaging for visitors to find items and make purchases.

 

Community High School District 99 | Spotlight on: School

Community High School District 99 recently partnered with Americaneagle.com for a complete redesign of their website. The new website incorporates a flexible homepage design, photo gallery, calendar system, department/staff directory, online forms, and much more. As part of the project, Americaneagle.com built 3 separate websites: 1 for the district, and 2 sites for individual district high schools.

 

ACHE  |  Spotlight on: Healthcare

The American Council for Headache Education (ACHE) chose to redesign their online presence on Americaneagle.com’s multi-site platform in order to make changes to both www.americanheadachesociety.com and www.achenet.org. This new multi-site platform allows site administrators to login to one central CMS and make changes to both sites.

 

 

Chicago Auto Show 2012 |Spotlight on: Association

The Chicago Automotive Trade Association (CATA) recently launched a new website for the 2012 Chicago Auto Show. CATA has been turning to Americaneagle.com every year for redesigns and enhancements. Indeed, the site for the 2012 Auto Show was revamped with a bold new design and several upgrades to functionality, including: a new homepage image slideshow, Flash accents, an interactive floor plan, and more.

 

Lynchpin BioMedia |  Spotlight on: Informational Website

Lynchpin BioMedia came to Americaneagle.com with no existing online presence and the goal of developing a site that would communicate their creativity, expertise and competence to potential clients. Americaneagle.com designed a customized design that appeals to all audiences while reflecting the Lynchpin BioMedia brand and showcasing their unique services.

 

 

Pharmacy Automation Supplies| Spotlight on: idev® E-commerce Platform

Pharmacy Automation Supplies (PAS) recently launched their new e-commerce website on Americaneagle.com’s idev® E-commerce Platform.  This platform enables continuous revenue generation through well-crafted navigation, search functionality, purchasing paths, and merchandising tactics.

 

 

Cosmedent | Spotlight on: B2B Website

Cosmedent teamed up with Americaneagle.com for the redesign and development of their online store. Americaneagle.com built the new Cosmedent store on the robust idev® E-commerce Platform, giving Cosmedent the unique ability to continually update the website with new products and information. The site also includes a resources library and other educational materials.

 

ACP Annual Conference  | Spotlight on: Mobile Website

The American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) recently launched a mobile website for their annual conference. The new site allows members attending this annual meeting to quickly and easily view schedules, speakers, exhibitor lists, and much more all from the convenience of their mobile phone.

 

 

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/october-website-launch-highlights.html/feed 0 Eliminate Threat to Your Brand Reputation by Removing Risky Data from the Environment http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/eliminate-threat-to-your-brand-reputation-by-removing-risky-data-from-the-environment.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eliminate-threat-to-your-brand-reputation-by-removing-risky-data-from-the-environment http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/eliminate-threat-to-your-brand-reputation-by-removing-risky-data-from-the-environment.html#comments Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:57:48 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=957 With the number of records breached increasing 37.4% in the first nine months of 2011* over 2010, it has become increasingly important for retailers to implement a security program to protect their cardholders’ data in the event of a breach.

Hackers are becoming increasingly savvy and malicious in their pursuit of cardholder information, particularly primary account numbers (PAN). Ensuring that this data is unavailable is critical to protecting brand image, especially as breach incidents quickly become front page news.

The smartest and simplest solution to make data unavailable to hackers is to remove it from the environment entirely. Many companies today still house payment data in databases within their own networks to facilitate payments, reconcile accounts, and perform customer service activities. However, the risky exposure to data theft is extremely high.

With solutions available today, those same retailers can entrust the storage of that highly sensitive data to a secure third party service provider that houses the data in their own PCI-certified compliant data vaults, significantly reducing security risk to the retailer.

If the solution is so simple, why aren’t more retailers moving to this platform? The answer; Most retailers falsely believe that giving up access to that data hinders them from performing market analysis or customer service activities..

Both these concerns can be alleviated as service providers are considered partners in keeping data safe. Service providers will not restrict a retailers’ access to data, and allow for retrieval if needed. (Note: Reintroducing payment data into a retailer’s environment will bring related systems back into PCI DSS scope).

A reputable payment security service provider will also offer services allowing a retailer to continue performing reconciliation and back office activities just as they did before. These services generally include generation of format-preserving tokens, which are strings of data that replace PAN data in the retailer’s systems (ERP, data warehouse) but retain four digits of the account number enabling customer identification. [For more information on payment security solutions, download the Enterprise Payment Security 2.0 white paper.]

These solutions not only help lessen risk of liability to a retailers brand in the event of a breach, but also decreases overall costs associated with managing an internal security program. Leveraging a payment security service provider negates the need for high management overhead, as it is primarily outsourced and shaves costs associated with PCI DSS compliance, as tokenization solutions reduce overall scope of the audit. [For more information on how tokenization can reduce PCI DSS scope, see the PCI Security Council’s “PCI DSS Tokenization Guidelines” information supplement.]

 

*Identity Theft Resource Center, http://www.idtheftcenter.org/artman2/publish/lib_survey/ITRC_2008_Breach_List.shtml#

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/eliminate-threat-to-your-brand-reputation-by-removing-risky-data-from-the-environment.html/feed 0 September Website Launch Highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/september-website-launch-highlights.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=september-website-launch-highlights http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/september-website-launch-highlights.html#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:26:01 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=923 Americaneagle.com continuously works hard to provide the best Web solutions for our customers. Below is a snapshot of some of the websites we launched in September:

Garrett Popcorn | Spotlight on: E-commerce Website

Garrett Popcorn, a gourmet popcorn company, teamed up with Americaneagle.com for the redesign of their e-commerce website. The new site features a custom-built Flash Tin-Builder Application that allows site visitors to personally select tin size, design, popcorn flavor, and fill combinations.

 

 

Stuart Weitzman Canada | Spotlight on: International Website

In an effort to cater to a wider international audience, Stuart Weitzman chose Americaneagle.com for the development of StuartWeitzman.ca. The new Stuart Weitzman Canada features a unique product rotator tool and convenient one-page checkout. Additionally, the new site features navigation and complete site content translated into French with Canadian shipping options.

 

 

Gordon Sinclair | Spotlight on: Product Catalog

Gordon Sinclair, a leader in providing high-quality promotional items throughout the U.S., recently redesigned their Web presence. The new site was designed to showcase Gordon Sinclair’s line of promotional items and ultimately to encourage visitors to request a quote. To accomplish their goals, Americaneagle.com implemented a user-friendly product catalog that enables visitors to sort by department and sub-departments.

 

Canal Radiology | Spotlight on: Healthcare Website

Canal Radiology chose Americaneagle.com for the redevelopment of their online presence. In order to meet the needs of their patients, the site is available in both English and Chinese. Not only is the site’s content available in English and Chinese, but it also features Flash videos in both languages. The new site provides a user-friendly interface for all visitors.

 

 

Gianna Rose Atelier® | Spotlight on:  E-commerce Website

Gianna Rose Atelier®, a leader in the design and manufacture of fine, triple-milled soap and personal care gift soaps and accessories, teamed up with Americaneagle.com for the redesign of www.giannarose.com. Given that Gianna Rose is a brand of Casswell-Massey, the new site was designed to match their design and branding standards.

 

 

BuyProud.com Inc. | Spotlight on: idev® E-commerce Platform

BuyProud.com Inc., an online retailer of products made in the U.S.A., recently launched the newly redesigned www.buyproud.com. Americaneagle.com worked with BuyProud to implement the idev® E-commerce Platform. The site’s intuitive navigation allows for customers to easily find what they are looking for. Customers can now easily shop by gift occasion, recipient, vendor, or item.

 

Idaho Youth Soccer | Spotlight on: idev® Youth Sports Platform

Idaho Youth Soccer chose to implement Americaneagle.com’s idev® Youth Platform for their website. With this unique platform, Idaho Youth Soccer now has an identifiable website with an easy-to-use backend.  Using Americaneagle.com’s  idev® Content Management System, Idaho Youth Soccer can easily update content, post new announcements, upload photos from tournaments, and manage their events calendar.

 

MDI Access | Spotlight on: Construction Website

MDI Access chose Americaneagle.com to design and develop a website to match the quality they deliver to clients across the country. The goal of this project was to develop a site that not only encourages increased usage by MDI’s existing client base, but also entices site visitors unfamiliar with MDI to reach out for more information. The new site also features an impressive portfolio section which displays MDI’s breadth of telecommunications infrastructure experience.

 

Proviso Township High School District | Spotlight on: School District Website

The Proviso Township High Schools District reached out to Americaneagle.com to develop a site that provides the end user with an up to date, highly relevant, and engaging website experience. To accomplish this, Americaneagle.com designed a graphically pleasing yet engaging website that highlights district news, events, and more.

 

]]> http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/september-website-launch-highlights.html/feed 0 Optimize Your Web Design through Navigation http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/optimize-your-web-design-through-navigation.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=optimize-your-web-design-through-navigation http://blog.americaneagle.com/2011/optimize-your-web-design-through-navigation.html#comments Thu, 20 Oct 2011 22:15:20 +0000 admin http://blog.americaneagle.com/?p=880 Navigation is one of the most important elements to good Web design. With any website, regardless of size, proper planning is critical to developing solid Web architecture. A clear navigation system will enable you to easily guide site visitors throughout the site and ultimately create an enjoyable user experience. Below are 3 quick tips to ensure an optimal navigation structure:

Effective Organization

By effectively organizing your navigation, you can ensure that site visitors can easily find exactly what they are looking for. The best way to organize your navigation is to first determine how your audience will likely browse your website. Organization can be by audience type, product department, category, etc. Simplicity is often the driving force behind successful navigation. Drop-down menus are a great way to help filter down on a broad navigation item and establish a hierarchy, but keep in mind that too many sub-menus can also negatively affect usability.

Follow Web Standards

While there are many options to be create with Web design and navigation, it is also critical to follow standard Web convention when it comes to navigation location and naming. This will ensure that your website’s navigation is understandable and usable by the average user. Most websites utilize a top menu system, with additional navigation options often presented in the left or right rail of the page. Naming should also follow standard protocol. Recognizable words include, “Home”, “About” and “Contact”.

Consistency

Navigation menus should always be consistent throughout the site. Always use the same design, fonts, style and titles for navigation options on each page of a website. This consistency helps establish familiarity on each page and helps users from getting lost on the site.

 

For more information on how to plan and implement your design strategy online, download our quarterly magazine eaglevision.

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