We can provide a simple way to help you comply with the May 2011 EU Cookie Directive by giving your website visitors control over and understanding of the cookies being placed on their computer.

Over 95% of websites use independent or third party cookies (e.g. Google Analytics). 

We provide a simple way to help you comply with the May 2011 EU Cookie Directive by giving your website visitors control over and understanding of the cookies being placed on their computer. 

On 26 May 2011, the amended Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations came into force in the UK and EU. They include changes to the rules for cookies on websites, and introduce new powers for the Information Commissioner to serve penalties of up to £500,000 on UK companies who break the law. 

The rules previously required websites to tell visitors about cookies they used and to provide information about how to ‘opt out’. Most organisations did this by putting information in their privacy policy.

The new rules require in most cases that any website using cookies must ask the user’s consent before installing cookies. i.e. that a pop-up box or page asks for the user’s permission before installing any type of cookie. 

The law now states - 

A person [website] shall not store or gain access to information stored, in the terminal equipment of a subscriber or user unless the requirements of paragraph (2) are met. 

(2) The requirements are that the subscriber or user of that terminal equipment-- (a) is provided with clear and comprehensive information about the purposes of the storage of, or access to, that information; and (b) has given his or her consent. 

A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers downloaded on to a device when the user accesses certain websites. Cookies allow a website to recognise a user’s machine. 

For more information please visit - http://www.yourcookies.co.uk

Most of the websites created for small to medium sized businesses tend to be ‘static’ websites rather than ‘dynamic’.

What is the difference between a ‘static’ and a ‘dynamic’ website?

Static websites can only be updated by someone with knowledge of HTML structure and FTP so content is fixed from the day the site was delivered. This means they are cheaper to build and host but their content is frequently out of date, inaccurate and stagnant and can make the company look dull and unprofessional.

With a dynamic website, content may be easily updated by the company through a simple browser interface usable by anyone - thus enabling the website to always be up to date, accurate and current. Some of the myriad of possible dynamic website features are -

• Website content management
• e-commerce systems
• Discussion boards
• Up-to-date news and events
• The ability for clients to download documents

All these features create a professional, interesting experience for your visitors making them more likely to revisit the site and more likely to be found by web search engines. If you need a fresh look, so-called “re-skinning” of the site is simple and affordable and can be achieved with no down time and without having to re-enter all your site content unlike a static website.

So is a dynamic website so much more expensive to create in the first instance? Not necessarily!

Solutions Express has extensive experience in creating content-managed dynamic websites, via a complete and powerful open source web content management system. We can rapidly convert your existing static website into a dynamic website. This will allow you to quickly update your own content and add documents, news and events.

As you expand and grow, we can add more dynamic features to your website to your own requirements.

For full details of our web development services please visit our site

Unfortunately, many of us treat our websites as if they were the "ugly step-sister".

Often ignored many websites have become "Cobwebs". This is an old term in the website design business that is defined as: "A website that hasn't been updated for a long time - or a dead web page".

Most Company’s Understand the Value of Having a Website

The reasons are many including:

• Serves as a tool to educate clients / customers about your services / products
• A critical component in your marketing plan
• It serves as a mechanism to create a dialog with your clients
• Offers you a revenue stream
• It's key to establishing your total online presence

Here's the disconnect, if you fail to update your website, you could be sending a negative message. Visitors tend to equate the lack of regular updating and attention to a website with how you run the rest of your business.

Typical Reasons Websites Aren't Updated

When consulting for websites, we begin our dialog with prospects by asking an important question; "How often do you update your existing website"?

The common reasons clients fail to update their website include:

• It's too difficult - my site editor needs to be more user-friendly
• I don't have the time
• I'm too lazy
• I'm not a writer and site editor
• Ignorant to the value web updates offer to SEO placement

Understanding the Need for Frequent Site Updates

Recent surveys among small business owners reveal that site owners realise the need for updating their websites however many refuse to take action. One survey stated 37% of small business owners update their site content daily. As few as 16% update their sites weekly. Here is the startling figure - 31% update their sites only once a year.

So What's The Solution to Updating Your Website?

A start would be to get a Content Management System that you do not need to spend weeks understanding.

Focus on the pages of your site that are important, there is little point in updating a blog which should be a gateway to your website if you have not updated your site.

The main objective of your web site should not be to save costs, but rather to create value. We have come across businesses that see the internet as an easy and cheap way to communicate and get stuff out. If they’ve got it up on the Internet, then their job is done. In real business, your job is not done until people have read, understood and acted upon what you are providing.

Your website has to achieve your business objectives, satisfy your clients’ or customers requirements and be stimulating enough to ensure your prospective clients read your information.

Making that connection is the first step in a successful conversion process, the rate at which site visitors actually complete a sale. You know that traffic to your web site is essential, but conversion is the key to online success.

Acquiring traffic is an ongoing cost of doing business online, but paying to amass millions of visitors is pointless if you have a low conversion rate. Designing for high conversion, a one-time expense, determines the difference between making and losing money

The Internet is teeming with dreadful websites - not just the purple and green with blinking flowers and flashing text, but also the beautiful, tasteful sites that simply aren’t meeting their objectives. They found a graphic designer to create a lovely homepage and enhance their products. And yet, a small number of people visit, hardly any venture beyond the landing page and even fewer make a purchase. So, what went wrong?

It’s tempting to over-emphasise the look and feel of a site while leaving out critical elements to site success. The site construction must be search engine friendly. The navigation must be logical and user friendly. Content must be rich with keywords and entice visitors into the site. It’s important to realise, and numerous usability studies verify, that you only have 3 to 7 seconds to make an impression and get that first vital click!

Very few people will walk through the door of a shop without logical signs or window displays indicating the sort of goods available inside. Similarly, online customers won’t enter your web site unless they receive the proper cues. Presented with a confusing home page and complicated navigation, closing the browser window or clicking away to another site is the online equivalent of walking past because your store doesn’t look interesting, safe, or relevant to their task.

So make sure the Company you choose can help and advise you after the site is launched BECAUSE that is when the real work begins