Don’t know what you want from your new website? Follow these tips.
Feeling overwhelmed about creating or upgrading your business website? This guide simplifies the process by helping you define your website’s purpose, envision its design, and plan its content. From setting clear goals—like generating leads or showcasing your work—to choosing a cohesive color scheme and leveraging competitor insights, these practical tips will steer you toward smart decisions. Whether you’re starting fresh or giving your site a facelift, Starfire Web Design is here to support you in building a site that boosts your business and stands out online.
FontAwesome Introduces Duo Icons & Teases Duotone Colors
FontAwesome, a leading icon library used by millions of websites, is gearing up for exciting updates. In their recent 5.9 release, they introduced 421 new icons, including ‘duo icons’—clever pairings like laptop & phone or silo & barn. They’ve also teased the upcoming addition of duotone icons, promising customizable two-tone colors via CSS pseudoclasses like ::before and ::after. While still in beta, these features hint at a vibrant future for web design. At Starfire Web Design, we’re eager to explore these enhancements in our projects, confident that FontAwesome’s benefits far outweigh any minor impact on page load times.
Want to start an eCommerce site? Here’s what you need.
Thinking of launching an eCommerce site? From giants like Amazon to small family businesses, selling online offers lower costs and access to niche markets. But success requires preparation. In this guide, we cover the essentials: crafting compelling content to boost search rankings, showcasing high-quality product photos, setting up secure payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal, arranging reliable shipping options, and leveraging social media to build an audience. Whether you’re selling crafts or apparel, these steps will help you create a thriving online store with ease.
Should You Be Using WP’s Block Editor?
With WordPress 5.0, the new Block Editor (Gutenberg) became the default, replacing the familiar Classic Editor with a drag-and-drop, block-based system. While it’s user-friendly for beginners and code-free page creation, it lacks the flexibility of robust page builders like Elementor or the control of custom HTML. In this post, we explore the pros and cons of the Block Editor—its simplicity and REACT.js foundation versus its bugs and limited layout options. At Starfire Web Design, we stick to the Classic Editor for its customization power, but whether you choose Gutenberg or not depends on your needs and coding comfort level.
Basic WordPress Training
New to WordPress and unsure where to start? Starfire Web Design’s ‘WordPress Training for Clients’ guide simplifies the essentials for managing your site. Covering the basics—like logging in, navigating the WordPress Dashboard, editing content, and handling media—this tutorial empowers beginners to take control of their website. From creating pages and posts to managing users and menus, we break down the intuitive features that make WordPress the world’s top content management system. Whether you’re a client or a novice, this resource ensures you’re equipped to maintain your online presence with confidence.
Choosing Serif or Sans Serif Fonts
Serif or sans serif? The debate rages on among designers, and it’s just as relevant for websites as it is for print. Serif fonts, like Times New Roman, bring a classic, formal vibe with their decorative flourishes, while sans serif options like Arial offer a clean, modern simplicity. Though readability myths once divided them, it’s really about context—font size, style, and your site’s vibe. The best websites often mix both, proving it’s less about rules and more about the message you want to send.
Ways to Declutter Your Website
Clutter kills websites—flashing banners, crammed ads, and chaotic menus drive visitors away fast, tanking conversions. Declutter smartly by trimming excess without slashing value, starting with bloated sidebars and a messy above-the-fold area that muddies your site’s purpose. Redesign backwards from your core goal, ditch irrelevant ads, and prune unused or sloppy WordPress plugins. Test links, embrace white space, and periodically reassess. A lean, focused site keeps users comfortable and engaged, boosting both experience and results.
Flesch Reading Ease and SEO
Hard-to-read websites drive visitors away, spiking your bounce rate and tanking your SEO. Aim for a Flesch reading ease score of at least 65—plain English that’s easy to scan—for better rankings. Short sentences and simple words (one or two syllables) are your friends; long, complex ones drag your score down. The Yoast plugin can guide you, refining your writing over time. Google may not directly use this score, but readable content keeps users engaged, boosting your SEO anyway.
Asymmetrical Layout Web Design Done Properly
Achieve harmony in asymmetrical web design by pairing dissimilar elements—like text beside images—while keeping them related for a natural flow. Balance negative and positive space with bold text in empty areas or contrasting color blocks to guide the eye across the page. Get it wrong, and visitors fixate on one spot; get it right, and you control their journey, telling your story step-by-step. Mastering this takes experimentation, so don’t shy away from tweaking until it clicks.
How to Simplify Website Navigation Design
Poor website navigation is like a mall with no maps, tiny signs, and a confusing maze—nobody sticks around. Studies show users increasingly dislike hard-to-navigate sites, with 37% frustrated by mobile versions alone. Keep it simple: cap navigation at three layers, declutter with a site map, and use clear, general terms over jargon. Streamline for your target audience, balancing simplicity with value. Fix this, and visitors will stay, return, and boost your site’s success—otherwise, they’re off to your competitors.
