SiteBuilder

• Backgrounds should allow for vertical stretching (don’t  use images for  backgrounds unless specifically requested)

• All images should be sliced so they can be replaced by the customer easily

• Leave room in navigation menus for growth

• Create a page without text or page-specific images, but all design elements and name it new-page

• Use Sitebuilder shape elements when possible

• For image borders, drop shadows and glows, please use the SB+ options when possible.  If you do need to create the effects in Photoshop, shadows should be sliced so that the image can be replaced without losing the shadow effect. (Sitebuilder+ has image effects like shadows and glows available in FF and Chrome, as well as IE 9.  They won’t render on the live site in some browsers, but it should not adversely affect the site.)

• Place elements that are always on the site in the same position in the template master (i.e. logos and other header elements).

• Rounded corners need to be created using SB+ so that these can be easily replaced by the client.

• Previously we would only do stylized company names using text boxes in Sitebuilder Plus.  We would now like to offer images that are stylized from more unique fonts (from places like www.dafont.com , and that even have some subtle photoshop effects to make them look more like logos.

• Standard page width should be 1024 with 10px allowance on each side, so the sites should be 1004 unless a different width is specifically requested.

• The automatic footer created by SB+ must be turned off (Page Settings Background, Links, Footer)

• Tracking code is placed in an html box near the footer of each page for all Full Service and SEO projects. Try to make the box relatively small because customers may delete it without realizing what they are removing.  (Homestead will provide the code snippet).

• "Do not place tracking code on a page with a Simplestore or Shopkeeper. The tracking code will break the store.

• Layering the tracking code HTML box on the top layer prevents the site from loading slowly. Please have the tracking code always on top layer."

• Link logos to the http://www.domainname.com url of the site
• Ensure that http://www. Is prefixed for the domain name linked to the logo and home links.

• QA finished sites in IE, FF, Chrome and Safari

• Use CSS to style H1 tags. 
• Common snippet: 

• Include the navigation menu on 404 pages

• "Generate xml sitemaps for all SEO and Full Service projects. Note that the domain MUST be associated with the site before this step can be completed. If the primary domain isn’t attached, please let the design consultant know the step was skipped.
  
  • Use www.xmlsitemaps.com.  
  • Set the change frequency to monthly and leave priority at the default of none.  
  • Download the un-compressed XML Sitemap and then upload it into the file manager of the site.

• Unless otherwise requested,  use the standard footer format.
  
  • Primary navigation in the footer
  • Left, center or right justify per mockup the following:
  • Copyright 20xx:  Company Name:  Primary keyword.  All rights reserved.
  • Customer address and phone number.  Email address.
  • For Design only projects skip the keyword in the footer.

• If the build-out requires a textured background - ensure that the image is updated in PNG format - so that the customers can easily change the background color later on.

• Font size needs to be 11 for body text areas unless specifically requested for another size.
  Changing the Design Templates - ends up deleting files from the Assets folder - Do not change design template - its okay to build without the Master Template.

• Do not change the file names of images - as these could be SEO Key Words.

• Do not publish sites with lorem ipsum or dummy text.  When a project has a page with no provided text, please just leave the body text blank.

• Ensure that the background used for the navigation does not repeat withinSiteBuilder as multiple stripes

• When adding hours of operation (this is usually on the contact page), please use 2 text boxes, one for the days, and one for the hours and align them appropriately.  Use this method, instead of tabs/space.

• When a site has multiple HTML elements (example multiple paypal buttons) these should be placed in separate HTML boxes instead of one large HTML box

• When adding the location map, please make sure not to include the Company Name in the address field.   Please include ONLY the address information.

• Never copy graphics / contents from 3rd party reference sites

• Upload the PSD file version for any  additional graphic created or modified - at the ftp location within the  related folder.

• Upload the sliced PSD (with any changes updated)

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