In the last year alone, our industry has seen a lot of changes in how websites are designed. The popularity of browsing the Internet via smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices has redefined the way many users access and interact with online content.

Similarly, the adoption of web standards such as HTML5, web fonts and CSS3 by popular browsers, means that more users are able to take advantage of everything that the web now has to offer.

It is often difficult for small businesses to stay up on the latest web design trends, which is why we at dzine it try and keep our clients up to date. As we look to 2011, there are some current technological trends that small businesses should consider incorporating into their sites.

One of the newest trends is the shift away from Flash. Although we at dzine it are experts in Flash design and development and do encourage it under certain circumstances, there is no denying the trend.

More and more sites and developers are moving away from Flash-only solution. Flash is still vital to fully interactive designs, but for small business owners trading Flash for HTML5, JavaScript and CSS3 makes more sense.

The move away from Flash seems to correlate with the rise in alternate ways of surfing the web, something that small businesses should pay close attention to.

More and more websites are taking the time to make their sites 'small screen' friendly. Having a mobile compatible website means that it will load faster and the content will be better formatted for the screens of smaller devices, making it easier to access and understand.

As smartphone adoption continues to soar, more online time will be spent via the phones. For small businesses, getting on that bandwagon is a great was to improve a website's effectiveness.

These are just two of the ways that small businesses can prepare for the latest technological trends in 2011.

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Google Preview signals yet another change to search engine marketing and this time it directly relates to the design of a website, rather than the way it has been optimized. There are simple design changes that can help small business websites take advantage of Google Preview and improve click through and conversion rates on search marketing strategies.

Google Preview was recently launched with the introduction of an additional magnifying glass next to each search result on Google, essentially offering users the ability to preview a website's content without needing to click onto the website.

This exciting new feature will potentially impact conversion of a website's search engine marketing activity simply because it provides another, more visual dimension for a search engine user to decide whether to visit the website. Right now, more than ever, the first impression that a website makes really counts and the design of a website becomes even more important.

It is probably not wise to redesign the entire home page for Google Preview, but there are some key points to consider. For example, website owners may want to re-consider the use of Flash on the landing page because it may not show up in Google Preview.

Website owners should also consider the fact that it is not just a website's home page that will show up in Google Preview. Also, make sure that company branding and logos are strong and located at the top of the page, because Google Preview windows are relatively small.

Small business website owners to consider using colors that contrast against Google's background and use white to give a sense of structure and make the page easier to read.

Font size and length of page titles should also be considered when designing with Google Preview in mind. A relevant headline or title that appeals to the consumer will drive better click-throughs.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Internet Marketing All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

These days, there is no excuse for businesses that do not have their own website. For those looking to take their first step into the online market, there are a number of mistakes that can and must be avoided.

Every business owner knows exactly what it is that they want their website to do. Some business owners want to use their website for lead generation or to sell online. Regardless of their needs, every business owner should write down their mission and, every time they need to make a decision about their website, refer back to that mission to decide whether or not the change will help or hinder it.

Once a business owner understands his or her website's mission, it will drive all other decisions. For example, having an animated introductory page may be on a website owner's wish list, but it may not be the best course of action for their mission.

Splash pages often annoy customers and should be avoided whenever possible. There are always exceptions, of course, but they are generally not a good idea.

Websites that are slow to load are also common, usually because the site is image-heavy.

Slow sites do not attract users. They turn them off and, as a result, they are more likely to close the window. Lots of images may suit some websites, but if you are looking for someone in the service industry, for example, you just want the contact details and you want the page to load fast.

While it may sound obvious, making sure that a business's contact details are easy to find is crucial.

Some people think having contact details makes them look cheap. In actuality, it makes a business appear more legitimate than a company that doesn't have their details there.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. website marketing All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

In the 1990s, website design was in its infancy and no one really knew the difference between right and wrong. Instead, everyone simply used the coolest features they could find from reading their HTML books.

As a result, some of the most annoying and slow-loading websites were created. Thankfully, website design has changed for the better, but some websites still feature some of the most annoying features of a nineties website and, unfortunately, that is really bad for business.

One of the most annoying 1990s trends is the flashing .gif image, which is an epileptic fit-inducing image that flashes bright colors every other second for no apparent reason.

Some websites still have them all over, or have a big row of them. They were annoying, ridiculous and pointless then, and they still are now.

A hit counter is another dinosaur element that has no place in the modern design world either.

Hit counters offer insight into how many times the web page was loaded. They are easily manipulated and go up with every page refresh, making a website look more popular than it actually is. They are silly and can really make a website look very amateurish.

If a small business website features either of these elements, it may be time to consult a professional website designer.

Copyright 2010 dzine it, inc. Internet Marketing All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.