Blog archive for 2010

Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. is an exhibitor at a B2B Business Expo at Trace Routes in Perrysburg Levis Commons. What a huge success it is with lots of businesses visiting as quests...

Thank you to all who stopped by our booth to find out about what Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. has to offer.

We're already looking forward to the next Expo ~ thanks and way to go Trace Routes!!!

We've launched Genoa Area Chamber of Commerce new website recently ~ how exciting! There are many new features that were added and of course as always, the website is compliant with W3C standards and accessible to people with disabilities. Here are some of the new features:

• Google site search
• Online member applications with Credit Card payments
• Sortable member listing
• Sortable community directory listing
• Dynamic Google map and directions generation
• Calendar of events with events importable to Outlook
• New and exciting graphical look
• Much more... check it out for yourself!

Another website launched in August ~ what a busy month!

Compliance Resources specializes in providing, the much needed, help regarding OSHA regulations and compliance with those regulations. They provide training as well. We re-designed and re-developed their website to better showcase their varied services.

Some of the features of the new website include W3C compliant HTML code, compliance with Section 508 standards, as well as content management capabilities... That's more like it :-)

We have launched our 30+ website ~ Glass City Federal Credit Union (www.glasscityfcu.com) and here is what they had to say about it...

The organization, development and presentation of the new site are all top-notch. The process was clearly explained to us, and there were no "surprises" along the way. Everything that was promised, was delivered! No improvements that I can think of. The entire experience was very positive.

Melanie Ogrodowski
Director of Marketing
Glass City Federal Credit Union

Here are some of features/improvements that Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. made to Glass City Federal Credit Union's website:

World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) Standards compliant HTML

• Cross browser compatible
• Fast to download
• Website easy to maintain / easy re-design
• Foundation for Accessibility compliance with Section 508

Section 508 Compatible – W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 1.0)

• Barriers to accessibility for disabled eliminated or minimized
• Access to the website open to the widest audience
• Proper color contrast maintained for color-blindness
• Proper keyboard only navigation possible for motor-disabled
• User programmable access keys
• Skip links built in for quicker navigation via screen readers or keyboard only
• Focus indication for all hyperlinks ~ users know where the focus is and what will happen if they select the <Enter> key.
• All images have ALT tags ~ alternative; text explanation of what the image represents which screen readers utilize.
• Text sizing ability has been added; Selected text size is saved via cookies.

Improved Usability and New Features

• Overall organization of the website has been improved with most commonly sought features easily found such as login to Home Banking, reordering checks, and information on how to join the Credit Union.
• Skip links, access keys, focus indication all make access to the website information easier
• Breadcrumbs are implemented allowing the visitor to directly go to a page they have visited a few clicks ago.
• A prominent link to Facebook
• A prominent link to RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is added ~ subscribers will receive news from GCFCU in their news aggregators. This is a way to “push” information to clients/members who subscribe to the feed.
• Site search is added and implemented via Google search and will allow a search of the website for particular keywords.
• News blog search is added and will allow a search of older posts.
• Three separate style sheets are implemented: default, handheld, and wide for various monitor sizes and devices. The default style sheet is for monitors 800x600, handheld for mobile browsers, and wide for wide format monitors. Users can select the preferred style and browsers will “remember” the setting via cookies.
• Custom error pages, for example if there is a page on the website that cannot be found a custom error page will be displayed with suggested actions.

Jadwiga is a new member of the Perrysburg Area Chamber of Commerce Board. Congratulations, Jadwiga!

Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. will host a booth at the annual Rossford Business Fair. Please stop by and visit with us!

Rossford Business Association 2010 Business Fair

The 2010 RBA Business Fair was a great success!

We warmly invite you to stop by our booth at the Holland Springfield Chamber of Commerce 2010 Business Conxions Showcase that will be held Saturday, February 27, from 10am until 2pm at Springfield High School.

More information about this event at Holland Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

Having a website is not enough any more. The website must also have great content. Great content that is findable by search engines. Web standards, accessibility work together to help your website be findable by search engines and your human visitors will love it too!

Some of HTML tags used to create a website are more important in helping search engines to find your website. For example the <title> tag is one of the most important. There is a right way and a wrong way to use the <title> tag. Other tags that are also important are <strong>, <em>, and anchor tags.

Technologies such as Flash, JavaScript, audio, and video all create SEO headaches if not used properly.

What do search engines want to find in your website content? Content that is naturally keyword rich, content that is visible to search engine spiders, content that communicates clear information, content that loads quickly, content that isn't trying to trick the search engine. Web standards and accessibility compliance helps us achieve all that!

This information comes from the book "Building Findable Websites - Web Standards, SEO, and Beyond" by Aarron Walter

The last five years have gone by so quickly. It makes us stop and think of all that has happened during the last five years. Here is a brief recap of those first five years of Accessible Web Studio, Ltd.

January 2005

Company is formed. Operates under a different name - Simplex Web Solutions, Ltd. for about one year. We develop tools and processes to serve our customers well. We learn how to design and develop websites accessible to people with disabilities and compliant with standards of W3C.

January 2006

Simplex Web Solutions, Ltd. changes name and becomes Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. We re-design and re-deploy our new website, new look, new colors. Our first big project - The Way Library in Perrysburg. Library applies for a grant to get their website designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. implements the website.

May 2006

Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. applies and is accepted to the Guild of Accessible Web Developers. This is a huge honor and achievement for us.

November 2006

Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. gets certified as a WBENC company - a women owned company.

April 2007

Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. applies for and is accepted as an Authorize.Net Preferred Reseller. We develop eCommerce websites trusting in Authorize.Net as our payment gateway. We employ the highest security protocol - AIM - for data exchange with the gateway.

May 2008

Time for a new look - Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. re-designs its website. Website, brochures, business cards, fliers, display booth - it all now makes marketing sense.

December 2009

Accessible Web Studio, Ltd. applies for and becomes a Better Business Bureau Accredited Business. We get a highest rating (A) possible for a business that has been in operation for only 5 years.

Accessible Web Studio will celebrate 5 years in business this month. Wow ~ the time does fly when you're having fun! We love what we do and we do it well.

At Accessible Web Studio we believe that foundation for an accessible website is laid with a website developed by adhering to the standards of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). There are many advantages to a standards compliant website design. With this foundation in place, we make an extra effort to create a website accessible to all.

Check out our portfolio.