Salt Blog

Humans have always tended to gravitate toward things that provide instant gratification. The fact that mobile usage has now surpassed desktop traffic is further proof that we know what we want, and we want it now. The number of people searching from mobile devices for the goods and services they wish to buy continues to increase every year. Consumers can access the Internet virtually everywhere across Alberta, which means there are no limits to when and where people can shop online from their mobile devices. For business owners of any shape and size, this is a huge opportunity - don't miss out! Responsive Websites are Key to Attracting New Business In the not-so-distant past, mobile web development was a lot less common or, at least, very different from what it is today. Whereas, before, mobile website design typically involved a separate, mobile version of the website or mobile apps, today's...

Everywhere you look, people of all ages are searching the Internet from their smart phones. Add to that ever-growing trend the number of people who search the web from tablets at home, and it's high time you upgraded to a mobile friendly website. There was a time when businesses could get away with not having a mobile friendly website, but when the majority of people are now looking for the goods and services they want to buy via mobile devices, you can't afford not to provide a website that's user friendly for all devices. You have mere seconds to impress your website visitors and sites that aren't mobile friendly no longer impress. What's more is that it's not just consumers who are demanding websites that can be easily searched from any device, but Google also prioritizes sites that are mobile compatible - and rewards them with better rankings! There's no...

It wasn't that long ago that a mobile-friendly website was almost unheard of because the vast majority of people were still searching the web from their desktop computers. Today, when people of all ages are surfing the Internet for the goods and services they're ready to buy from their mobile devices, a mobile-friendly website is a must for those who want to compete online. Just like people's search habits have changed so, too, has the technology. If you own a business and you want to ramp up your visibility online, reaching people no matter the device they're searching from, the ultimate solution is responsive web design. With one platform to manage all your marketing content on multiple devices, this is the web design that's capable of taking your business to new heights, both today and in the future. If you own a business, one of the key goals for your...

You know your business needs a website, but you have no idea what your website should include. Sound familiar? If you're feeling a little lost as to what the best website design is for achieving your company's online goals, you're not alone. While the Internet offers an incredible opportunity for attracting new leads and sales, determining what your website needs to first be found online, and then what you've got to do to compel site visitors to become your customers, can seem like an impossible hurdle. At Saltmedia, years of experience and loads of super slick, small business websites later and we've got a good grasp of what the best website designs look like for businesses in any industry. For starters, 100% custom is the only way to go; your business is unique and your website should be, too. From there, first impressions are vital. Studies show that consumers are...

If you own a business and your website isn't mobile friendly, you're missing out on a huge opportunity. Not only are websites featuring a mobile website design favoured by Google in the search engine rankings, but they also get far better exposure. If you've been on the fence about mobile web development, it's time to choose a side, and in today's fast-paced technological world, mobile compatibility is a pre-requisite for success online. Here's why: Everyone is Surfing the Web from Mobile Devices Yes, that's right, people of all ages everywhere are searching for the goods and services they're ready to buy from their smart phones and tablets. While 10 years ago mobile made up a smaller portion of the search pie, lacking a mobile compatible site is a detriment to your success online today. The thing is, people don't want to have to scroll back and forth a hundred times...

There's a lot of planning and preparation that goes into a successful online presence. Especially on the Internet, it's important for you to put your business' best foot forward and, at Saltmedia, we feel the smartest web solutions start with a consultation and a well designed strategy. Complimentary Consultation & Quote When you choose to work with our Grande Prairie web design team, you will discover that we are whole-heartedly committed to meeting your goals and vision for a smarter website structure. Whether it's your business' first website or you're in need of a refresh, we start with a complimentary website discovery meeting to learn about what you hope to do and achieve online so that we can design the best possible web solution. This gets us all on the same page, right off the hop, and we'll provide you with a custom quote once we've got a plan in...

If you spend much time on the Internet, you probably know that there are a lot of websites that look really cool but load at a glacial pace and just don't function well, and other sites that aren't aesthetically pleasing but perform like it's nobody's business. At Saltmedia, we believe the best sites are not only visually beautiful, but super robust and designed to provide a great user experience. To build these all encompassing websites, we take an approach that's equal parts creativity and strategy - something which comes naturally to the founders of Saltmedia, two people who have always lived and breathed technology and design. Creativity & Aesthetically Pleasing Design Websites that aren't aesthetically pleasing fail to impress, and when you own a business, you've only got one chance to convince site visitors that they should become your customers. Our team is comprised of highly creative graphic and web...

If you're not sure if your website is compatible with mobile devices like smart phones and tablets, your business could be missing out. In fact, in today's fast paced, technological world, failing to provide a great user experience for the vast majority of people who search the web when they're on the go is likely what's stopping you from taking your business to the next level - both on and off of the Internet. Consumers Demand Mobile Compatibility Today's shoppers are savvier and more demanding than ever, which means your website needs to be up to the task of providing the information they need, precisely when they need it. Fingers and thumbs need to be able to navigate websites. Scrolling in every direction will no longer cut it, nor will super slow loading speeds. Failing to provide mobile users with a positive experience will ultimately prevent you from turning these...

With all of the advertising for DIY websites on the internet today, it seems some people are confusing the professional web development process with the act of choosing a generic template and colour scheme and plunking in text and images. To create a totally custom, high quality website, you have to read and write the languages of the website software, and it takes completing a 2 or 4-year course at the college or university level to become a true master of these skills. The Pro Web Developers' Skill Set At the very least, someone trained and experienced in web development will have a knowledge of and experience in the following: know how to read and write website software languages like HTML, JavaScript, CSS and PHP have a great grasp of the design process, with an understanding of colour, flow, balance and spacing be an expert in User Experience (UX), and...

In today's world, where everyone from tweens to senior citizens use smartphones and other mobile devices to surf the web, it's vital for business owners to market their products and services effectively. This means that in addition to a mobile website design, businesses will benefit from adding mobile marketing to an online strategy that's tailored for bringing more leads and sales. Mobile Marketing at a Glance So what is mobile marketing and why should you care? Mobile marketing consists of placing ads on mobile devices. There are several mobile marketing platforms to choose from, each offering their own unique styles of advertising. Some of the channels include app-based marketing, ads that appear in games or text messages, and QR codes that users scan to be directed to a specific website. Google AdWords has also jumped on the mobile bandwagon, and offers mobile marketing options, as well. Adding Mobile Marketing to...

In business, first impressions are everything. You've got one shot to impress people or they'll move on, taking their money elsewhere. It's that whole instant gratification thing, where people want to see that you've got what they need - right away - or they're gone. On the internet, where your website is your business' online representative, the user experience you provide has the ability to turn those site visitors into your customers or leave them hitting the back button. User experience includes everything from how quickly your website pages load to the quality of the design and information you provide, or how easy it is to navigate. Invest in a Website that Delivers Results When you own a website (and you should!) with a great user experience, you're armed with a powerful tool for driving more leads and sales to your business. These are just some of the many things...

If you own a business, your goals for 2016 probably look a lot like the goals you've set every year before; increase the number of people who contact your business looking for more information on the products and services you sell, convert more of those leads into sales, and overall, make more money. Sound familiar? It's pretty obvious that growing a business requires a clear vision, a plan of action for achieving your goals and a whole lot of hard work, but in today's world, one of the fundamental tools for attracting the attention of new customers and convincing them that yours is a brand they can trust is a great website. Whether a business sells baked goods or tires, rents equipment for oilfield companies or provides beauty services, a beautiful and highly functional website that presents the brand in the best way possible is the ticket to growing that...

This time of year, I can't help but reflect on all the new people we met over the last 12 months, the exciting projects we were and are lucky enough to be a part of, and to wonder what's in store for 2016. We created Saltmedia to help businesses and other organizations achieve success online, through cutting-edge website development, graphic design and internet marketing, and one of the biggest perks of our job has been getting to know fellow business owners and to learn about what it is that they do. Taking the time to build lasting relationships with people who have come to us in need of a new website, graphics or many of the other elements of a successful online presence has been an enriching and highly enjoyable bonus to our job as web designers (because you're AWESOME!), but more importantly, it's also helped to cement our clients'...

For any website design company that's worth its weight, staying on top of the latest trends in the tech world is a must. When it comes to website design, you need an online presence that's compatible with the most cutting-edge technologies on the market, or else you risk owning a site that's more of a frustration and less of a resource to those who wish to learn about you or your business and consume your content from a variety of devices. One of the latest trends - and, some would say, challenges - in website design is wearable devices, which is the topic of today's post and the first in a three-part series on web design trends for 2015. If you're at all in-tune with the tech world, you've likely seen or read about smartwatches, the latest in a line of super cool technology that keeps people more connected than...

Last time, I talked a bit about what it is that programmers do when they're holed up in their offices for hours on end, punching away at keyboards. For anyone who doesn't work in this industry, what web development involves - and more importantly, what's possible - can seem a little foreign. Today, I want to share with you some of the things that make up the ol' Saltmedia IT toolbox, or rather, the types of skills that our web development team has mastered and how they can be put to work creating a highly customized, robust website for any business. Saltmedia's Skills & What They Mean for You ● HTML/HTML5 ● PHP ● JQuery ● JavaScript ● CSS/CSS2/CSS3 ● CPanel ● MYSQL I could give you a run-down of how a website development team might use any of the above for specific purposes and in different applications, but I'm sure you'd rather I saved the tech...

You don't need to believe in karma to know that the simple act of paying it forward or lending a hand to someone or something that could use your help is totally gratifying. If you haven't done it in a while, volunteer or make a donation to a not-for-profit organization - it's amazing how good it feels to give! While the holidays tend to bring about the spirit of giving with a little more force than other times of the year, Saltmedia is a great proponent of paying it forward and giving back to the community, wherever possible, and all year long. Whether we're volunteering our time at fundraisers, events and meetings for the several organizations we support, or donating services from our web design company to help an organization that does so much good for the people in our community, we truly believe that everyone benefits when you choose...

People of all ages now turn to the internet first when looking for the products and services they want to buy, which means that a business without a website can no longer expect to be a leading competitor in their industry. So whether you're a small scale contractor in Valleyview, Alberta, or own a large drilling company in Dawson Creek, BC, the time to build an online presence is now. Not knowing what they should be looking for in a design team, many businesses sink large sums of money into sites that lack creativity and aren't user-friendly or up to date with the latest in mobile web design. Really, they end up with sites that add little or no value for their businesses. So, what makes a team of professional web designers unique to the industry? When we started Saltmedia, we did so with the intention of making technology simple...

Here is a short visual demonstration of a responsive website.

A responsive website presentation given at the 2013 Tech Forum at Centre 2000. 

Up until now organizations that wanted to deliver a smooth and pleasant mobile website experience have had to develop separate mobile-specific websites, develop apps or a combonation of the two.  The result can be expensive and carries signifigant management overhead above and beyond that of a single website.   One website for all devices!  This type of web design technology is called  responsive web design .   The responsive design approach was created to give website visitors an optimal browsing experience across a wide rage of devices.