Just thought this was an interesting topic being addressed by other SEO's in the field. Many would wonder if complying with W3C Standards would affect your rankings in Search Engines. Personally, I really haven't noticed a difference between websites W3C Compliance rank different than other websites with messy code.

However, having a messy code could lead to a couple problems. First of all, if a search engine can't index your website correctly due to incorrect coding, this would definitely cause a problem with your SEO Ranking.

Another fact, is that different browsers like Internet Explorer and Mozilla FireFox read code differently. Internet Explorer tends to read code a bit loosely than FireFox does. This would affect your visitors that use a browser displaying your website incorrectly.

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I know we have all made typos, it happens.  When it is on your own personal project…you fix it and move on.  When it's on a clients project…you risk giving the wrong impression.  You risk the client thinking you might not be as professional as they thought.  

So…what do you do?  Well.  Spell check is nifty.  Almost everything has it.  There is also this incredible tool, it's been a trusted resource for centuries and can give you the confidence to say, "Yes it is spelled n-e-c-e-s-s-a-r-y!"  I'm talking about the dictionary.  It's simple, we all know how to use it and we even have an online version to make our life even simpler.  

Dictionary.com has a Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, and Reference section.  It's like your very own virtual library.  

So, when in doubt about the spelling of a word, or when you are trying to prove that you are right, check out dictionary.com.

P.S.  Don't bother checking for typos in my article on typos. LOL  I double spell-checked it already   

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White space is the space within a design where no text or graphics appears.  And despite the name, the space does not have to be white. 

White space in a design can lead your visitors eyes to the important part of your design, give the eyes a chance to rest OR just strengthen your design by giving more power to what is on the page.  Sometimes less is more, you do not have to cram as much "stuff" as possible into your site.  

A website needs to convey your message quickly and if it's just overflowing with everything you want your visitor to know about you and your site, you are bound to overload their mind.  And that means a quick hit to the "back" button or they will just close the window.  

When designing your site, ask yourself if things are starting to get too cluttered and add white space to remedy that.  If it looks empty, you might need less white space.  Balance is the key here.  Just be honest with yourself, or possibly get some opinions from people you trust to be honest about whether your site design is too busy or not. 

The new trend is to go towards more white space.  It makes your visitors slow down, read the information, and absorb it better.  Maybe after a few years of having massive portal sites crammed down our throats…a little extra white space isn't such a bad thing.   

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Clients hire a designer or an illustrator because they either lack the skills to do it themselves or they don't have time to do it themselves.  if your case involves the latter, then showing a series of progressive rough drafts will be beneficial.  Your client will recognize the creative process and give you feedback to help you along.  When your client has hired you because they do not have the skills needed to make what they want, then a rough draft could mean all the difference in the relationship you have with your client.  

If you've got a contract with your client and they've paid up front (which is standard and recommended) then you will probably not be as effected by their feedback when viewing rough drafts.  But if your agreement is that they will hire you upon approval of a rough draft and you are in a position that you have no choice but to agree (haven't we all been there are one time or another) then how do you handle showing a "rough draft"?  

I've come across this quite often lately, as clients are requesting jobs I can do, but that I have no comparable material to show as a sample of my skills.  They want to see a rough draft before they decide.  A rough draft takes an hour of research and sketching ideas and then probably about 2 or more hours to get to a stage that might be acceptable, but nowhere near final…of course, this depends on the complexity of the illustration, it could take less time.  Being able to sell the client requires having incredible communication skills, a lot of courage and hopefully some imagination on the client's part.  It also means you could have spent a lot of time on something you won't get paid for.  It's always a gamble, but usually it's worth the risk.

If you are so lucky as to have a great team behind you and your sales people can sell refrigerators to eskimos, then you can expect to have an advantage over the majority of designers who are on their own and have to sell themselves both verbally and visually.  Artistic people usually express themselves better through their work, rather than verbally.  Communication skills and experience can help convey the ideas to your client even when they insist on seeing the work while it's still hundreds of little layers of shapes and gradients that don't really mesh yet.  It's another talent to be learned, and it's an asset to you if you can do it well.

Comments are most welcome on this subject, both from a designer and client point of view. 

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When you developed a branding strategy for your business, you covered every area that could possibly be branded.  You have your logo, your colors, your style all over your letterhead, business cards, advertisements…everything!  Potential clients recognize you in seconds, they think of you when they need your services.  Your award winning strategy is working wonderfully.  But, did your strategy include the internet?  Have you only recently decided to test the waters and have a website built?   Branding applies to every aspect of your business and that includes your website. 

Make sure you have your rules and guidelines written out for your designer.  They will need to know what your company requires in order for your website to stick to the path you've spent so much time creating.  By giving a clear outline of your business and it's philosophy and goals, you will help your designer create a site that matches your business, not just by having the right colors or by including your logo, but by incorporating your style into every part of the site.  If it's done right, it's a seamless trip from your website to your email to your letterhead to your invoice.  And every bit of it helps the client remember you when it counts.

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