Cool New HTML 5 Features and Advantages

HTML 5 was finally adopted and accepted as a standard by W3C in 2012. The new web programming language offers several tags that developers can take advantage of to produce high quality pages. HTML 5’s biggest advantages are the media-rich tags for animation, video and audio content. While older versions of HTML allowed developers to embed media, external applications were needed using the “object” tag to support the media. HTML 5 replaces this coding and allows programmers to more easily add media to web pages. HTML 5 was finally adopted and accepted as a standard by W3C in 2012. The new web programming language offers several tags that developers can take advantage of to produce high quality pages. HTML 5’s biggest advantages are the media-rich tags for animation, video and audio content. While older versions of HTML allowed developers to embed media, external applications were needed using the “object” tag to support the media. HTML 5 replaces this coding and allows programmers to more easily add media to web pages. The "video” Tag The adoption of the video tag has been slower than other tags, because a standard for video must be created. This means that developers must agree on the standard video formats the tag will support. To support video formats, the browser must have the right codec installed, which is an application that translates the video format to the viewer’s desktop operating system requirements. The video tag is inserted using the following code: The “src” property tells the browser where to find the movie, and the “poster” attribute displays a default image. The “controls” property displays browser controls for the viewer to fast-forward, rewind or pause the video. The web developer can also use JavaScript to customize video controls. The “audio” Tag The audio tag is mostly used to play sound in the browser, but W3C specifications also allow for speech-to-text input. For instance, Google implements the audio tag for its speech-to-text search text box on the search engine home page. Webmasters must use the Web Speech API to implement the functionality, but Google Chrome fully supports the new tag for both input and audio output. The audio tag is placed in HTML using the following syntax: Notice the “controls” property is used for audio and video. Again, these controls are rendered by the user’s browser, and they allow the user to fast-forward, pause and rewind the audio. The “src” points to the location of the audio file, and the “type” property tells the browser which audio codec to use. The “canvas” Tag The canvas tag is probably the coolest and most exciting new feature in HTML 5. The canvas tag lets the developer display animation, high-resolution images, 3-D shapes and interactive graphics. The canvas tag is widely known as the Adobe Flash replacement. Adobe Flash has been the choice for interactive animation, but it’s difficult to manage. Users must install an extra software component, and some malware writers focused on tricking users into installing malware based on Flash notifications. The user also needed to install updates to keep the version of Flash up-to-date. The canvas tag is more complicated than the previous two tags, but it replaces complicated Flash programming. The canvas tag uses raster-based graphics to display images. Raster-based graphics are images made up of a tiny grid of dots. When looking at these dots from a distance, they look like an evenly colored image. Looking closely at the image, you see different colored dots called pixels. High-resolution images have more dots per square inch. The canvas tag syntax looks like the following: The “id” property is used to control the canvas drawing and interface with the user. The width and height properties are the canvas dimensions set up in the browser. To draw on the canvas, you use JavaScript. The following example draws a rectangle on the screen using a white pen: var rectangleimage = document.getElementById(rectangleimage); var canvas = rectangleimage.getContext(’2d’); canvas.fillStyle = ‘white’; canvas.fillRect(20, 20, 65, 65); While these aren’t all of the new HTML 5 features, these are the coolest ones available and most widely used in new web development. These features make it easier to deliver video, audio and animation to the browser without much programming hassle. For media-rich content, developers can more easily use these tags to keep site code up-to-date and for faster website deployment.

HOW TO USE SEO TO DEVELOP A BETTER WEBSITE

In the digital age, most successful businesses already know that properly used SEO practices on their website will reap rewards that far exceed its cost.  While you may have already known this, did you know that using SEO before and while a website is being developed can help set your site up for success instead of failure?  Because most digital marketing firms perform SEO as an afterthought once a site is already live, they miss out on the value that it can add while developing a site.  It’s kind of like the old saying, “you only get what you put in.” While this may sound like a tired old cliché to you, its meaning in regards to digital marketing couldn’t be any truer.  Listed below are SEO tasks that should be performed on a website before and while it’s being developed.  Performing these tasks makes sure that any future online marketing you perform will be a success because you didn’t set it up for failure.

Pre-Web Development (SEO Expert)

Competitor Analysis

• Figure out actual competition
• Conduct competitor research & Analysis of all Titles, Descriptions and Keywords from competitors in the source code of their website
• Conduct competitor Keywords analysis using AdWords

Meta Title, Description, and Keyword Creation

• Come up with a large list of keywords that are highly searched and have mid to low competition
• Use the 25 best keywords in your sites source code, you don’t want to keyword stuff
• Come up with an additional 10-20 keywords that best describe each page that links off the home page
• Build Titles and Descriptions that are keyword dense but readable by customers

Website Content Creation

• Create home page content using the 25 Keywords that you put in the source code of your home page
• Create secondary pages content using the 10 – 20 keywords that best describe each page that links off the home page
• Use Bolding(‘’ or ‘’ tags)  , Italics(‘’ or ‘’ tags)  , Anchor Links and keywords on the home and secondary pages to create content that is searchable and relevant to search engines

During Web Development (Web Developer) On Page Optimization and Accessibility

Title Tag

• Must contain keyphrases that come from good keyword research. Generally should correspond or even duplicate what is in our h1 tag.
• Crucial for labeling the page and letting readers discern at a glance the contents of the page.

Page URL

• Must contain one of our core keyphrases that come from good keyword research. If using common open source CMS, this is often referred to as the pagealias
• Example: which do you think is searchable by Google bots for search queries?
• http://www.magiclogix.com/blog/seo/seo-vs-ppc-infographic/
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZuOhHUvY8k
• The first one of course because the second one has a bunch of numbers that don’t mean anything to Google or the user

h1 tags

• Must contain keyphrases that come from good keyword research. Generally should correspond or even duplicate what is in our title tag
• Good for labeling the page and letting readers discern at a glance the contents of the page, depending on how we style these tags

Image tags or alt attributes

• May contain keyphrases that come from good keyword research
• While ensuring that keyphrases are incorporated, the focus here should be on making sure that images are appropriately labeled and not just stuffed with keywords
• Rename files to correspond with what the photo is about so Google bots can find it during a search query

Anchor tags

• Should contain similar or close keyphrases to our page’s keyword targets in the anchor text as well the URL to which we are linking
• Anchor tags can help guide internal linking ( ‘link juice’) or passing on link juice from one page to another, also called PageRank
• Good for labeling the page’s resources as well as providing supplemental information on the topic being sought

Meta description

• This can be used to describe your page, so while not as important for search-ability purposes as other attributes, it can do as much harm as good in your PR or marketing efforts if not set up properly

Meta keywords

• Of low importance or weight overall. Should contain the page’s target keyphrases as well as relevant or closely-related sets of keyphrases

Site-wide Internal Linking and Site Mapping

• Ensure no more than 100 links per page
• Ensure optimized pages have html-based (i.e ‘’ tag) links
• Make other non-essential or spammy links ‘positively invisible’ through JavaScript or Flash, if possible. Otherwise, use rel=’nofollow’. Generally, try not to give up good link juice.
• Use content categories in Word Press that are keyphrase-based whenever possible
• Ensure accurate xml site map either through common plug-ins for CMS systems or other site map software and submit to (Google, Bing, Yahoo, ect.) Webmaster Tools

Install Google Analytics or Omniture for analytics tracking

• Find your personalized Google Analytics Tracking Code in Google Analytics
• Add the Tracking Code immediately before the tag of each page you are planning to track

Website Launch (SEO Expert)

Link Building Strategy

• Utilize (SEO PowerSuite) Software to review competitors’ link building strategies (ones with high page rank)
• Create a link building strategy for your client before the site goes live

Search Engine Submission

• Submit site to as many top Web Directories (Google, Yahoo, Bing, DMOZ, ect.) as you can

Blog set up

• Tumblr Account Setup
• Google Blogger Account Setup
• Word Press Blog Setup
• Submit blogs to RSS Feed Submission Sites
• Brand each blog to look like your website if possible

Social Bookmarking

• Setup Accounts for Stumble Upon, Digg, Delicious, and other top bookmarking sites to push your website’s content

Article Submission

• Setup Accounts on Bizsugar, Slide Share and other article submission sites to promote your content

Business Directories (Optimization)

• Places: Google Maps… For Businesses that are location based
• Local: Google, Bing, Yahoo, Super Pages, Search Local, etc… For maximum exposure for location based businesses
• ECommerce: eCommerce business directories… Only if your site is an eCommerce site
• Specific Directories: Submit your site to directories that are specific to your Business type (Music, Food, Investment banking, etc) to help target your niche market

Google Analytics

• Conversion Tracking: Create goal & ecommerce tracking in Google analytics to track how many people are buying a product, contacting a client, or requesting information

SEO Website Design Tips for higher ROI

Before designing a professional website, there are many design factors and procedures prior to the launching of any website. Whether you are designing the website from scratch or re-designing, it is important to sit down seamlessly plan out your vision for any design or development projects. There are very strict guidelines that must be considered when working with government agencies, including necessary procedures that comply with the user requirements for website usability goals, strong professional website design, powerful content, and promising output. Every website serves a purpose and is directed to a particular target audience, with unique specific performance goals. Let’s take a glance at a few design evaluation elements that can help ensure your website matches the necessary requirements of success.

Magic Logix Recognized as a Magento Silver Solution Partner

September 13^th, 2011 – Dallas, TX – Magic Logix was recently recognized as a Magento Silver Solution Partner in order to focus on developing and implementing Magento’s Enterprise Edition product with customers. As a Silver Partner, Magic Logix will continue to use the Enterprise Edition as a growing part of the business and will receive visibility, support and backing from Magento in pursuit of Enterprise Edition opportunities. Magento Solution Partners are experienced and successful providers of complete ecommerce solutions, and support the customer after the sale. Magic Logix is in the top three Gold/Silver Solution Partners in Texas, and top two in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

With over ten years of experience, Magic Logix delivers elite ecommerce expertise - recent projects include Dom Fight Gear, Tailwaters Fly Fishing Co., Colorco, and Colour Me. The Magento Enterprise Edition provides a robust, powerful and flexible ecommerce platform that can scale to support even the largest online stores. Combined with Magic Logix’s exemplary technical proficiency, alluring aesthetics and flawless implementation, our team is able to craft and deliver customized solutions to meet every client’s need.  The Magento Enterprise Edition platform provides the perfect foundation to create highly customized ecommerce sites that reflect each brand, adapt to the products or services, integrate with the business infrastructure, all while providing the highest level of marketing and merchandising tools to serve each unique customer base.

Facebook Contest for Graphic Designers

Facebook contests are a great way to promote your business and brand recognition. Implementing creativity will often encourage customer/user engagement on your business social media platforms. Your brand is continuously measured by your message, and most importantly, how you deliver that message. Magic Logix recently launched a Facebook Contest called Where is Magi?, allowing customers to download the company mascot, Magi, and upload a creative picture of themselves with Magi. The most creative picture will be awarded an Android 2.0 Tablet PC.  Before the current contest, Magic Logix held a contest during the NBA playoffs, and awarded a Facebook fan an official Dallas Mavericks Championship Jersey.

The contest is aimed for graphic designers wanting a chance to win an Android 2.0 Tablet PC. Want a chance to win? Be sure to Enter the Where is Magi Contest! 

Top 7 Reasons Joomla CMS is Efficient for Business

Joomla CMS is an efficient management system that will save you from exhausting your time uploading and adding pages. Static websites with only a few pages may not require a content management system; on the contrary some business websites require large amounts of information that needs to be updated on daily basis. Joomla’s simple text editor and administration panel allows for easy updating and editing of menus, content, modules, etc. Another great aspect of Joomla is the countless number of plug-ins and free extensions. Joomla is powerful system and will save you lots of time and headaches.

Top 7 Reasons Joomla CMS is the Best:

1. Because “Open Source Matters”: It’s customizable to your liking, meaning you can update the design, functionality and navigation until you have a site designed specifically for your business.
2. 4,000 + Plug-ins, Modules & Extensions: Web developers have created free plug-ins and extensions that contribute to the productivity and efficiency of Joomla. These include anything from integrating analytics, Ecommerce features, social media plug-ins, multi-lingual features, and more.
3. Joomla’s Online Community: When you visit www.joomla.org , there is a section called Community which includes links to resources such as Joomla’s Forum, J!People (a networking site), Joomla’s Magazine, The Joomla Community Portal (blog, events, and groups), Joomla User Groups, and Joomla Days (events near you).
4. Joomla’s Resource Directory: Need a developer skilled at open source web development? Joomla’s Resource Directory has a list of business that can assist you with the development of your new Joomla website. For example, Magic Logix is listed on the directory as a Joomla Web Designer. If you need any help, Joomla will point you in the right direction and guide you to the right people.
5. Two-Directional Text: Allows website content to be used in languages based on the language of their region.
6. SEO Friendly Features: Not only will your site be easily customizable and manageable, but it will also be visible and optimized for search engines.
7. Everyone Is Using It! Joomla is used by multiple industries and professional organizations, both private and public. For example: online magazines and publications, Ecommerce retail stores, nonprofit organizations, government websites, small to medium-sized businesses, and large Fortune 500 corporations.

SEO 101 – The Basics of How to Get To the Top of the Search Engines

 Search Engine Optimization (commonly referred to as SEO) is one of the best ways to get traffic to your site. The best thing about SEO is that the traffic you get is free! It is also a permanent way to build traffic unlike PPC. If you manage to get top ten listings in a major search engine like Google, you can get hundreds or even thousands of visitors to your site.


Depending on your site’s subject matter, for example if you’re a restaurant you should be able to start earning a significant income purely from the popularity and driving traffic from your site. For example, if you have a site on schools you might be able to drive a lot of traffic but not earn a significant income.

On the other hand, if you have a top ranking site on Google for the keyword phrase “web hosting”, you’ll be able to earn at least millions per year from that site alone. However, to get into the top 10 in Google for the phrase “web hosting” is extremely difficult, you would need to be a search engine pro to do it - even then, it might take you two years to get there with a team of 5 people working around the clock. It is much more difficult than most people think. Not to mention very costly. So it should be left up to the experts.

A profitable site will be based on a good keyword phrase, a good topic (or subject material) and be different enough to stand out from the competition. If you can combine these elements successfully you’ll increase your chances of turning a profit from your site.

I’m going to focus on SEO for Google because it’s the largest (and the best) search engine which will generate the most traffic, especially if you can master all of the right optimization methods. Google has a very complicated system for determining which sites make it to the top of the search engine. There are many factors involved and there is no precise formula. A further consideration is that Google often changes its formula so you can’t rely on it being the same from month to month. However, there are a few key factors which are unlikely to change dramatically:

Keywords phrases should be one of the most important considerations when you are optimizing your site (remember that for each page of the site you should concentrate on one or two keyword phrases).
Keyword phrases (which you want to get to the top of the search engine for) should be well researched. There are many methods to do this. Your time would probably be best spent by hiring a professional who is adverse in the process.

Key factors for getting to the top of Google:

• The keyword phrase in the title of the page - you should have the phrase in the title of the page.
• The keyword phrase in the text of the page – you want the keyword phrase to be up the top of the page, preferably as high up the top of the code on the page as possible. You also want the phrase repeated a few times on the page. Don’t worry about how many times, just at least 3-4 times and more if you think it fits in naturally with the content of the page.
• Links into your site from other sites, links within your site, links to other sites, links into your site from other sites are all important factors in driving traffic to your site. (This is probably the most important factor for getting good search engine listings. You need to have good links coming into your site from other sites.)
• You want those links to be from popular sites that also have lots of links coming into them. Google uses a Page Rank system which is a rough measure of how many links are coming into your site. You want links from sites that have good Page Rank. Creating 50 of your own sites and interlinking them won’t increase your page ranking.

How do you get links from other sites?

• The main ways are to: Create a great site that people naturally want to link to, Get an affiliate program so people can link to your site and get paid, swap links with other sites, get listed in directories such as dmoz.org and buy links from people who have sites with a high PR (Page Rank).
• The most important consideration with incoming links is that you need to have the keyword phrase in the link that directs traffic to you your site. Getting listed in directories such as DMOZ (Open Directory Project) can also help you significantly in getting a good search engine ranking in Google.

- Optimizing your site too carefully –

If it’s obvious that you have optimized your site for Google (for example, if all your incoming links use the same keyword phrase) you may be penalized. Google looks for sites that are more ‘natural’ in their structure, so if all links look the same this won’t look like an organic site to Google robots and you may be penalized for it.

So that’s the basics of how to get to the top of the search engines. We’ll have a look at the more advanced stuff later on. It takes a lot of time knowledge, dedication, and usually expertise to get there but once you master it, SEO is a fantastic way to get traffic and make money on the web. SEO is key for your Website Marketing Campaigns. Having a crisp website design may not be enough to get your viewers attention. You need to stay up to day, optimize your website code, generate relevant content on a consistant basis and follow webstandards. Magic Logox is a digital marketing solutions company that develops dynamic websites to be Search Engine Friendly, with integrated custom blogs, digtial catalogs, ecommerce features and more. To learn more about Magic Logix digital marketing please visit http://www.magiclogix.com/.




This Blog was written by Steve Parker - Business Development and Sales Manager of Magic Logix